Volkswagen insurance rates

From the introduction of the first VW Beetle in 1952, Volkswagen has enjoyed a cult following in the UK. Today, Volkswagen is the second best-selling car brand in the UK, with the VW Golf and VW Polo both in the top ten best-selling models.

See how to get cover and how much Volkswagen car insurance costs below.

Where can I find Volkswagen car insurance?

You can get Volkswagen insurance from a range of providers in the UK. If you want to get a quote on insurance for your VW, you can compare car insurance quotes here.

Volkswagen UK also offer insurance, which is underwritten by U K Insurance Limited.

What’s the average insurance cost for a Volkswagen?

According to our insurance quote comparison, we found that the average cost of insurance for a Volkswagen Golf is £771 per year, or £95 per month. This is for fully comprehensive cover and no optional extras, but your premium may vary significantly based on which model you want to insure, as well as things like your age, location and driving experience.

The average annual cost of insurance for other popular Volkswagen models is as follows:

VW Golf – £760 per year
VW Beetle – £615 per year

• How we got these rates

  To determine our estimated annual cost, we aggregated quotes from insurance companies using this profile:

  • 2018 Volkswagen Golf
  • The driver is a 30-year-old teacher
  • The driver is single and owns a home in Greater London
  • Manual transmission
  • Petrol
  • An average of 10,000 mileage per year
  • Factory-fitted Thatcham-approved alarm system
  • The car is used for social, domestic and commuting purposes
  • The car is not modified
  • The car is parked in a car park during the day
  • The car is parked on a driveway at night
  • Five years’ no-claims discount
  • No driving or other convictions for the past 5 years

How a vehicle from Volkswagen affects the cost of insurance

Insurance companies look at several car-related factors when determining the cost of insurance, including the car’s safety ratings, its likelihood of being stolen, replacement costs and overall damage susceptibility.

Volkswagen models are generally known for being reliable cars with tight handling. They typically garner strong safety ratings, which helps to lower insurance premiums. However some models, especially the Golf, is more popular with criminals, which could push insurance premiums up.

Other factors that affect the cost of insurance include the model, mileage and trim package. Personal factors like your driving history and age also affect your premium.

Are there any standout models?

Back in the mid 70s, Volkswagen unleashed the Golf GTI, an altogether sportier and faster version of the Golf, showing the world how to do affordable, reliable and top performance in one car. Now in its seventh generation, this iconic car is still a big hit. Alloy wheels, lowered sports-like suspension and leather steering grace the latest model, with prices starting at £28,465.

About the Volkswagen brand

Germany-based Volkswagen was founded in 1937, and its mission was to create a car that was affordable and efficient. When Beetles started to appear in the UK in 1952, after British servicemen arrived back home from Germany with their cars, the VW vision started to gain momentum. The following year in 1953, just under 1,000 cars had been sold in the UK. And the rest is history.

In 2014, Volkswagen vehicles were found to emit higher levels of nitrogen oxides than was reported in official environmental standards tests in the US. As a result, Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal was uncovered: The manufacturer had installed software in its engines to circumvent proper emissions testing. VW later recalled millions of vehicles worldwide, on top of paying billions of US dollars in penalties and civil settlements and has been working hard to shake off the dent in its reputation.

Volkswagen car facts

• Volkswagen sells cars with a wide spectrum of prices, from the smallest VW Up! priced at £9,600 to the high-end New Touareg starting from £48,995.
• Volkswagen models have scored extremely high safety ratings from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), regularly getting the maximum 5-star rating.
• The VW Golf has taken the top spot for World Car of the Year twice, 2009 and 2013. The VW Polo was crowned the winner in 2010 and VW’s smallest model, the VW Up! won in 2012.
• The VW Golf took third place for the world’s most popular car in 2017. At the time of writing in September 2018, more than 34 million have been sold.
• Other Volkswagen models fair well in sales across the world. The VW Tiguan was 8th, the VW Passat/Magotan came 10th place, the VW Bora/Jetta/Sagitar/Vento took 18th place and the VW Polo sat in 19th place for the world’s best selling cars list of 2017.
• You may want more than just third party cover for Volkswagen, especially if it’s more likely to be targeted by criminals. Expanding your protection to third party fire and theft or comprehensive cover might be a better fit for your needs.

Pros and cons of insuring a Volkswagen

Bottom line

You may find reasonably priced car insurance for your VW, unless it’s a popular target with thieves, which could mean your premium rises. But be sure to shop around to find the best car insurance for you.

Other car brands you might want to see rates for include:

• Alfa Romeo
• Audi
• BMW
• Chevrolet
• Chrysler
• Citroen
• Ford
• Hyundai
• Kia
• Lamborghini
• Land Rover
• Lexus
• Lotus
• Maserati
• Mazda
• Mercedes-Benz
• MINI
• Mitsubishi
• Nissan
• Porsche
• Toyota
• Vauxhall
• Volkswagen
• Volvo

Frequently asked questions about Volkswagen

• Are Volkswagens still made in Germany?

  Yes. But they are also manufactured in the US, Mexico and other locations around the globe.

• Are VWs safe?

  Yes, Volkswagens do well in safety tests.

• What car-related factors affect the cost of insurance?

  A car’s safety record, the cost to repair and maintain the car and the car’s likelihood of being stolen all can affect the cost of car insurance.

Written by

Esther Wolffowitz

Publisher

Esther Wolffowitz was a publisher at finder.com specialising in insurance. Esther holds an MSc in Media and Communication Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). See full bio