Consumer Intelligence has warned van drivers that despite prices dropping 0.9% in the past year, insurance premiums will rise.

Its Van Insurance Index shows average premiums climbed by 1.2% in the three months to December with the rising cost of claims the main driver for price increases.

The value of claims is increasing as technologically advanced vans cost more to repair while the cost of importing parts is increasing as most popular makes and models are manufactured overseas.

Consumer Intelligence’s pricing expert John Blevins said: “The price rises in the past three months are signaling a turn in the market after a sustained period of premium reductions.

“Insurers have passed on price cuts where they can but claims costs are dictating premium rises with the increased cost of importing spare parts a major factor when repairing vans following accidents.

“That is likely to remain the case this year with claims frequency and cost the big drivers for any further rises in premiums.”

Van drivers aged 50-plus are already feeling the effects – their average premiums rose by 1.6% in the past year to £609 and by 2.5% in the past three months.

Under 25s benefited the most from price cuts with average premiums dropping 5.9% in the year but their average premiums are £3,679 and they rose by 2.5% in the past three months.

Drivers aged between 25 and 49 saw prices drop 0.3% in the year to £918 but rise 0.4% in the past three months.

Drivers using their vans as substitutes for cars and insuring under social, domestic and pleasure policies are so far avoiding the worst.

Their average premiums of £1,276 fell by 2.3% in the past year and even fell marginally in the past three months by 0.1%.

That contrasts with customers using their vans for business – Carriage of Own Goods average premiums dropped just 0.6% in the past year and increased 1.5% in the past three months with prices currently at £1,305.

Their claim costs tend to be higher as they can include loss of earnings, cargo and tools.

PRICE MOVEMENT	MARKET AVERAGE	CARRIAGE OF OWN GOODS USERS	SOCIAL, DOMESTIC AND PLEASURE USERS
Year to end December	-0.9%	-0.6%	-2.3%
Last three months	+1.2%	+1.5%	-0.1%
Last six months	+1.0%	+1.2%	Unchanged
Since April 2014	+36.5%	+34.9%	+43.1%

Average premiums are still 36.5% higher than in April 2014 when Consumer Intelligence started tracking prices.

Drivers using their vans for business insure their vehicles under “carriage of own goods” policies and are generally rated by insurers as being more careful and less likely to claim due to the potential impact on their livelihoods.

But the value of claims they make tend to be higher.

Carriage of own goods cover can also include social, domestic and personal use. Drivers opting for social domestic and pleasure use generally have past-times or hobbies that suit having a van as either their sole vehicle or as a second vehicle.