Vans
The ultimate guide to the best vans for new drivers
Based on load capacity, affordability and safety
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 05/06/2025
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 05/06/2025
If you’re new to driving a van, you’ll want to feel comfortable as you build up your confidence in a different type of vehicle.
Thinking about getting behind the wheel of your first van? It's a big step, and finding the right one can feel overwhelming. But don't worry, we've done the research for you!
You’ll want your first van to be affordable, reliable and practical for your job. This means factoring in aspects like how much equipment the van can handle and how much you’ll be spending on fuel and insurance—whether you’re going with an annual policy or temporary van insurance.
Driving a van for the first time can be a nerve-racking experience, so we’ve put together a list of the best vans for new drivers [1]. We explored factors including safety ratings, miles per gallon (MPG), size, purchase price and insurance groups, ensuring the best balance of practicality, running costs, and ease of driving.
Rank | Van | Maximum load length (mm) | Maximum load height (mm) | Maximum load width (mm) | Maximum load volume (cu m) | Cost (£) | MPG | Safety Assist Performance | Insurance Group |
1 | Volkswagen Caddy Cargo | 1,797 | 1,272 | 1,613 | 3.1 | £24,025 | 57.6 | 68% | 28.5 |
2 | Renault Kangoo | 1,806 | 1,215 | 1,570 | 3.3 | £20,250 | 54.3 | 78% | 31 |
3 | Mercedes Citan | 1,806 | 1,256 | 1,524 | 2.9 | £21,310 | 54.3 | 87% | 29 |
4 | Vauxhall Combo Cargo | 1,781 | 1,236 | 1,630 | 3.3 | £20,850 | 54.4 | 62% | 31 |
5= | Ford Transit Courier | 1,802 | 1,253 | 1,535 | 2.9 | £16,200 | 54 | 93% | 35 |
5= | Toyota Proace City | 1,817 | 1,236 | 1,550 | 3.3 | £22,412 | 48.5 | 68% | 28 |
5= | Fiat Doblo | 1,817 | 1,200 | 1,527 | 3.4 | £21,000 | 54.4 | 62% | 31 |
5= | Peugeot Partner | 1,817 | 1,236 | 1,550 | 3.3 | £20,000 | 53.15 | 62% | 29.5 |
6 | Citroën Berlingo | 1,817 | 1,236 | 1,550 | 3.3 | £23,050 | 55.6 | 62% | 31 |
7= | Ford Transit Connect | 1,753 | 1,269 | 1,538 | 2.9 | £23,500 | 52.1 | 83% | 29 |
7= | Nissan Townstar | 1,806 | 1,215 | 1,570 | 3.3 | £21,825 | 41.5 | 78% | 31 |
Our research found the following vans scoring highly;
Claire Wills-Mckissick, Temporary Insurance Expert at Tempcover, said:
"For new van drivers, finding the right vehicle to build confidence is important. It's crucial to consider factors like load capacity, fuel efficiency, and insurance costs to ensure they have a vehicle that is practical, affordable, and easy to handle. Our research highlights small vans that strike the perfect balance of these key features, helping drivers choose with greater assurance.
Temporary van insurance is an excellent option for those looking to test drive a van. It allows drivers to assess whether the van meets their needs without affecting any existing insurance, giving peace of mind."
In addition to offering comprehensive cover while taking a van for a test drive, Tempcover’s temporary van insurance also lets you share a drive or borrow someone else’s van. You could get temporary insurance for a few weeks while you learn to drive in a van. This will give you extra time to consider other insurance options.
Each insurer on our panel has its own eligibility criteria. Please pay close attention to their Proposer’s Declaration.
There is so much choice when it comes to choosing your first van. Make sure you feel comfortable with the way it drives and that it has space for everything you need. If you’re focusing on value, factor in asking price and MPG into your research when it comes to picking your van.
A seedlist of the best small vans has been created using articles from AutoExpress, What Car? and Discount Van Sales. Any vans with incomplete data and that had a load volume outside of 2.9 and 3.4 cubic metrics were removed due to being outliers. The ranking of the best small vans for new drivers prioritises load capacity while also considering affordability, fuel efficiency (high MPG), and low insurance groups. This ensures the best balance of practicality, running costs, and ease of driving for new van users. Each metric was scored out of 10 and then averaged to determine the overall ranking.
The following sources were used:
Vehicle Size: Parkers, Carwow & Autoexpress. Basic trim specs were taken where possible. This is not an exact science.
Yes, new drivers with a category B licence can drive most conventional vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. If you want to drive a van that weighs more, you will need a different licence. To get this, you’ll need to pass a test in one of these larger vehicles.
Driving a van is different to driving a car, but whether it is deemed ‘harder’ will depend on the individual. If you’re driving a van, the first thing you’ll notice is the size of it. Most vans are wider, taller and longer than the majority of cars.
You’ll need to make the necessary adjustments to things like your mirrors and seat and prepare to drive at a slower speed. National speed limits are 10mph lower than for cars: 50mph on single carriageways/60mph on dual carriageways.
There are many factors when it comes to choosing your first van. The most important things to consider are if you’re happy driving it and if it is roadworthy. Our research for best vans for new drivers – based on factors including safety ratings, miles per gallon (MPG), size, purchase price and insurance groups – found the Volkswagen Caddy Cargo, Renault Kangoo and Mercedes Citan ranking highest.
Yes, if the police pull you over they will use AskMID to check if you are insured to drive the vehicle.
Yes, it’s quick and convenient to enter your registration number on AskMID.
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Tempcover