Volkswagen (VW) Polo insurance group and costs

The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car produced by the German manufactuer since 1975. It is the personification of the efficient vehicles that Volkswagen are known for producing. In this guide, you’ll discover the key facts about insuring a Volkswagen Polo.

In the UK, all cars get assigned an insurance group from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive). Volkswagen Polo models are classed between insurance groups 1 to 28, so there can be a lot of variation in how much it may cost you to insure.

For example, a 30-year-old driver in an average postcode could pay around £556 for cover on a Volkswagen Polo S 1.0 65PS 5d, or around £902 for a Volkswagen Polo GTI+ 2.0 TSI 200PS DSG auto 5d.

You can find how much you’re likely to pay for Volkswagen Polo insurance, based on your model’s insurance group, by using the table below.

Volkswagen Polo insurance cost by driver’s age

• How we got these rates

  These rates are based on the average cost of cover for cars in the insurance groups shown, for drivers of different ages with a Newcastle (NE1) postcode, which our research suggests represents an average for insurance rates in the UK. Updated: March 2021 (source: Quotezone)

Average Volkswagen Polo insurance costs

To give you an indication of how much it might cost you to insure your Volkswagen Polo, we used a scenario and ran several quotes to find an average figure. Our results estimated that, on average, a Volkswagen Polo with a comprehensive policy would cost £64.09 a month if the driver paid monthly, or an annual sum of £713.88.

• How we got this rate

  For our enquiries, we used the following information:

  • The car is a 2018 model
  • The driver is a 30-year-old teacher from London
  • Manual transmission
  • Petrol
  • 10,000 mileage per year
  • Factory-fitted Thatcham-approved alarm system
  • 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

Volkswagen Polo insurance cost by location

While the table above shows the average cost of insurance for various Volkswagen Polo models based on insurance group and the age of the driver, there are other things that affect the cost of your premium, including your job and marital status. Where you live also has big impact on your insurance rate.

To show the power of the postcode, here are some average quotes for a 30-year-old living in three different locations. The quotes are for a Volkswagen Polo 1.2 Moda 3d.

• Expensive: £750 (London SE1)
• Average: £631 (Newcastle NE1)
• Cheap: £439 (Galashiels TD1)

• How we got these rates

  These rates are based on the average cost of cover for cars in the locations shown. Our research suggests SE1 is one of the most expensive locations, NE1 represents an average cost location and TD1 represents one of the cheapest locations. Updated: March 2021 (source: Quotezone)

Which factors affect my Volkswagen Polo insurance rate?

As well as your vehicle’s insurance group, these three factors have the biggest potential impact on the cost of your insurance:

• Engine type and capacity. Cars with larger or more powerful engines are typically more expensive to insure. For example, an average 30-year-old may pay £631 for the 1.2-litre Volkswagen Polo 1.2 SE 3d, but could pay around £756 for the 1.4-litre Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI SE Design 3d.
• Driver location.Where you live impacts the chance you may be involved in an accident or have your car stolen, and therefore the cost of your insurance. As an example, a 30-year-old in central London will pay £805 for insurance for a Volkswagen Polo 1.0 S 5d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £672.
• Driver age. The age of the driver also determines the cost of insurance premiums, and young drivers will generally pay more than more experienced drivers. The average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £1,471 for the Volkswagen Polo 1.4 Match 3d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £771.

However, there are a lot of other factors that can also impact the price of your premiums. These include:

• Your marital status
• Your credit history and job
• Your car’s safety rating, security and anti-theft precautions
• The model and age of your car
• Annual miles driven
• Optional extras
• Your driving history
• No claims discount

Car insurance premiums are very personalised. If you want to know more, check out our guide to how car insurance premiums are calculated. The key is to balance the right cover level with good service at the cheapest price.

How can I save on my Volkswagen Polo premiums?

When it comes to car insurance, naturally you want to find the best deal. We’ve devised a list of tips and tricks for you to help keep your premiums low:

• Pay annually rather than monthly. By paying annually, we saved an average of £55.20 a year in our scenario.
• Be economical about your car usage. By limiting your car usage, you will keep your mileage, and premiums, down.
• Don’t just accept your renewal quote. The renewal quote you’re given isn’t always the cheapest option out there, so make sure you shop around before you commit.
• Install extra safety precautions. Companies don’t like insuring risks, so investing in some extra safety measures may help you to save money on your premiums.
• Give an accurate mileage estimate. It doesn’t make sense to pay for miles that you won’t be driving, so always check that the mileage estimate you’re providing is accurate.

Volkswagen Polo facts

• The Volkswagen Polo has been voted the third Best Small Car.
• It is currently considered the fifth most popular car on the UK roads, with almost 3,000 of them sold in April 2018.
• The Volkswagen Polo won the World Car of the Year Award in 2010.

How safe is Volkswagen Polo?

When tested by Euro NCAP in 2017, the Volkswagen Polo was awarded a 5/5 safety rating. It received an excellent score of 95% for adult occupant safety, and a score of 85% for child occupant safety. Whilst its safety features only merited a score of 59% for safety assist, the Volkswagen Polo comes with an array of fantastic features and keeps you safer than ever before.

Standard safety features for the Volkswagen Polo are technologically advanced and equipped to deal with an unexpected event. The AEB Pedestrian and Front Assist can detect if something appears in front of your car, and will help you to emergency brake. In addition, AEB Inter-urban and AEB City are designed to help you avoid rear-ending and low speed collisions, with the ability to braking in an emergency. Other standard features include Speed Assistance, to help you maintain the legal speed limit, and seat belt reminders.

For the Volkswagen Polo, there are several optional safety measures. It’s worth negotiating with your insurer to see if investing in extra safety features can bring down your premiums. These include a Blind Spot Detector, so that you can always have a complete view of the road, and an Adaptive Cruise Control, so that if the car in front slows down, your cruise control will sense it and slow your own vehicle down.

What is the top speed of a Volkswagen Polo?

The top speed a car can reach depends on the engine size and fuel type.

Volkswagen Polo models with a 1.2-litre petrol engine can reach a top speed of 162.9kmph, while Polo models with a 1.6-litre petrol can push up to a top speed of 183.8kmph. The diesel models of the car come with a 164kmph speed mark.

If you have a need for speed, you can get one of Volkswagen’s TSI models with a turbocharged 2.0 engine, which can reach a top speed of 190mph (but make sure you drive it safely!).

Can I get a hybrid or electric Volkswagen Polo?

Volkswagen don’t currently have a hybrid or electric version of the Polo. However, the company’s announced it is developing a Polo-sized electric car, likely to be available in 2021.

Hybrid options are available with the Volkswagen Golf or Passat as well as the Arteon.

Is a Volkswagen Polo a good choice for younger drivers?

As a small car, the Volkswagen Polo is a good option for young and new drivers.

The basic model has a 1.0 engine, which is cheaper to insure, and comes with easy to use tech installed. For extra safety measures, you can opt for the company’s SE models.

Why choose a Volkswagen Polo?

The choice of what car to buy is a personal one, but if you’re looking for a small car with good safety ratings and a range of tech and comfort features, a Volkswagen Polo is a great option for you.

The Polo is considered to be a very smooth ride and comes in a variety of models with varying engine sizes and strengths.

It’s not the cheapest car to buy, but is amongst the cheapest to maintain.

Bottom line

This famous car can cost a relative pittance to insure, although more powerful models will cost a lot more. Either way, our guide will help you cut the cost of your premium.

Frequently asked questions

• What Volkswagen Polo models are available?

  The Volkswagen Polo comes in a wide range of models.

  The most basic version has a 1.0-litre engine, while the most robust are the GTI models with a 2.0 TSI turbocharged engine. You also have the option to choose between petrol and diesel engines, with various strengths.

  A full list of Polo models, with average insurance costs for each, can be found further up this page.

• How much does tax cost for a Volkswagen Polo?

  This varies depending on the model, but runs between £150 to £215 for newer cars.

  Diesel engines usually require higher tax, as they tend to have higher emissions rates.

• Is a Volkswagen Polo good on the motorway?

  The Polo makes for a very smooth ride in most situations, particularly for its size. On the motorway, it stays mainly steady and does a great job at suppressing wind and road noise.

  Speed wise, even the smallest engine on offer – at 1.0-litre – can easily handle motorway driving if you opt for the turbo-charged TSI models.

• Is the Volkswagen Polo a good car?

  If you’re after a small, practical car, the Volkswagen Polo makes for a great option.

  Its sleek design and many comfort and safety features make it an easy, comfortable ride. It handles the road well and offers a smooth ride, even at high speeds.

  It’s not the cheapest car to buy, but is cheap to maintain.

  The Polo comes in a wide range of models and engine sizes, and offers the choice between petrol and diesel.

  Safety wise, the Volkswagen Polo was awarded 5 stars out of 5 under the Euro NCAP safety analysis. Volkswagen Polo models average across the board with 96% on adult occupant safety and 85% for child occupant safety.

• How long does a Volkswagen Polo last?

  Volkswagen cars typically last around 100,000 miles plus, depending on the vehicle’s history. Newer cars might push past that figure if properly maintained.

  Taking your car for regular servicing and sticking to the manual care instructions will prolong its life.

• How expensive is a Volkswagen Polo to repair?

  A 2018 report by online garage and repair marketplace specialists WhoCanFixMyCar.com found the Volkswagen Polo to have the lowest overall average repair cost in the small and city car category, coming in at £214.05. This number was reached by examining more than 300,000 data points for the best selling hatchbacks in the UK.

Compare insurance for other Volkswagen models