Van insurance you can rely on
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A better way to insure your van
Van insurance is vital for anyone who relies on their van for personal or business use. It provides financial protection in the event of an accident, theft, or damage. For those using their van for business, whether carrying tools, equipment, or goods. Commercial van insurance is essential to keep your operations running smoothly.
We use a combination of technology and our van insurance expertise in the commercial vehicle market to give you better cover at more affordable prices.
We understand that your van is your living and it’s vital that you stay on the road no matter what happens.
24/7 claims service
We’re here for you round the clock when you need us most.
Fairer prices for all
We’ve been around for over 50 years, so you know you’ll get a better deal.
World-class support
You’ll get your own UK-based human to look after you for the duration of your policy.
We partner with some of the leading UK insurers, and we’ll work tirelessly to keep you as a customer year after year.
We’ve been keeping businesses running for over 50 years by providing top-quality, affordable van insurance.
What does van insurance cover?
Accidental damage to your van
Covered for the costs of repairs
if your van is damaged in an accident*.
Other bad things that could happen
Damage by fire, storm or vandalism
are all covered as standard*.
Broken glass and windscreens
All the glass in your van is covered.
You won’t lose your No Claims Discount*.
If you injure someone
Your cover will pay for any damage to
property or injuries caused by you.
Theft
If your van is stolen, it’ll either be
replaced or you’ll be paid the market value.
* Subject to your chosen level of policy cover and the prevailing policy excess.
Power up your cover with a host of optional extras
Additional cover options that you can
tailor to your own needs, ensuring
complete peace of mind and keeping you
on the road whatever happens.
- Up to £1,500 excess protection
- Motor legal protection
- RAC breakdown, rescue and recovery
- SmartFob key cover
What is van insurance?
If you’re using your van for personal purposes, such as leisure trips, a personal van insurance policy may be suitable. However, if you need to commute to work or use your van for business, you’ll need a different policy. Business owners or tradespeople can opt for tailored cover like Own Goods for tools and equipment or Carriage of Goods for Hire and Reward for couriers and delivery services.
Types of cover
Choosing the right level of cover is crucial. These are the main categories of use:
- Social: For personal use, such as leisure activities that require space for equipment like surfing or fishing gear. This cover is perfect for those who need a van for hobbies or weekend trips, but it doesn’t include commuting to work.
- Social and commuting: For those who need to use their van for commuting to work and personal trips. It covers travel to and from a single place of work, making it ideal for those who use their van as their main mode of transport during the workweek.
- Own goods: For tradespeople and business owners who transport tools, equipment, or stock as part of their work. Business van insurance protects both your van and its contents, ensuring you’re covered when carrying items for business purposes, such as building materials or plumbing tools.
- Carriage of goods for hire and reward: For businesses involved in delivering third-party goods, such as couriers or movers. Courier van insurance is designed to protect both the goods you’re transporting and your van when you’re paid to carry goods on behalf of others.
There are three types of van insurance cover:
- Third Party: The legal minimum, covering damage or injury to others but not your van.
- Third Party, Fire and Theft: Adds protection for fire damage and theft of your van.
- Comprehensive: The highest level of cover, including accidental damage to your van, even if you’re at fault.
We understand how crucial it is for you to keep your van on the road, which is why we allow you to tailor your cover to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for comprehensive or third-party, fire, and theft cover, we ensure that you’re protected without compromising on the essential cover.
What you’ll need to compare the best van insurance prices
Our mission is to give you the best van insurance deal in the shortest possible time. But we’ll need some information from you to make sure we’re giving you an accurate price.
Your personal information (which is 100% secure)
Apart from the obvious reasons, we’ll need your name, address and date of birth to make sure you are who you say you are. Insurance application fraud is at its highest ever level and our background checks ensure everybody pays a fair price.
Your vehicle registration number and details
We’ll search DVLA and SMMT data to ensure we’ve got accurate information about your vehicle.
Details of any No Claims Bonus you’ve earned
If you’ve been insured as a van driver previously and are accident-free, the chances are you’ve got a No Claims Bonus (“NCB”). Your NCB will usually reduce your premium by 30-70%, so it’s important you know exactly how many years’ entitlement you have.
Full details of any additional drivers you want to drive your vehicle
You’ll need to provide the same information about any other drivers, and you should have their permission to do so before you get a quote.
How much does van insurance cost?
Several factors can influence the cost of a van insurance policy:
Usage and mileage
How frequently you use your van and the distance you drive can impact your insurance rates. Greater use or longer trips may increase risk, leading to higher premiums.
Value of the van
The value of your van affects your premium. Higher-value vans typically have higher insurance costs due to the greater expense of repair or replacement.
Use of van
How you use your van can affect your premium. Vans used for business purposes typically lead to higher premiums, while personal-use vans tend to cost less to insure.
Type of van
The type of van you own can impact your premiums. It’s best to avoid making several modifications to your van, as modified vans typically cost more to insure.
Driving record
Your driving history, including any previous accidents or motoring offences, can impact your premiums. A clean driving record generally leads to lower rates.
Storage and security
Where you store your van and the security measures in place can affect your premiums. Installing anti-theft devices can help lower your insurance costs.
Van insurance frequently asked questions
I’m confused about the different types of use – can you explain?
A lot of online quote platforms still use dated terminology when it comes to how you use your vehicle. Here’s a quick overview.
Carriage of own goods:
This effectively means that you use your van for your business and only carry your tools and materials for the job you’re doing. For example, a self-employed plumber might keep their tools in the van along with copper piping and fixings for the day’s work.
Carriage of goods for hire and reward:
Broadly speaking, this means that you carry other people’s stuff and charge for this service. An example would be a courier or delivery driver collecting and delivering parcels.
Furniture removals:
This probably doesn’t need much explanation but it’s important to note that house clearances and furniture removals (even man and van hire) is priced differently from courier or delivery driver usage.
Commuting:
If you travel to a permanent place of work but need to carry more stuff than would usually fit in a car, commuting use would usually be sufficient cover.
Social, domestic and pleasure:
In a nutshell, this encompasses your general day-to-day activities that don’t involve any business-related use. For instance, shopping, visiting friends and family, and traveling on holiday are a few examples of this type of use classification.
How would I know if my licence entitles me to drive a certain van?
This depends on when you passed your driving test but you should be able to drive a van if you have a full UK licence. If you passed your test before 1997 and your licence shows a Category B entitlement, you’re good to drive any van or truck up to 8,250kg in weight. If you passed your test in 1997 or later and your licence shows a Category B entitlement, you can drive a light commercial van up to 3,500kg in weight. For larger vans or trucks, your licence would need to show Category C, Category CE, Category C1 or Category C1E. You can check your entitlements on the Government website.
How old do I need to be to be able to get van insurance?
We can usually sort your van insurance cover no matter how old you are, provided you hold a full UK licence. Of course, if you’re under 21 your cover is likely to be considerably more expensive than more experienced drivers might pay.
Can I add other drivers to my van insurance policy?
Yes, absolutely. Provided the other drivers meet the acceptance criteria of your current policy, then you can usually add up to 4 additional drivers. If you have a lot of additional drivers and they’re all aged over 25, then you will probably need cover for any driver.
Can I cover more than one van on my insurance policy?
No, we can only cover single vehicles on a van insurance policy. However, if you have more than two vans, we can arrange cover on a fleet or mini-fleet policy.
Are my goods and materials covered?
Almost all van insurance policies exclude cover for your goods and materials. Don’t worry though, we offer goods in transit cover as an additional policy for a small charge.
Are my tools covered?
Just like the goods and materials you might carry, tools are not usually covered on a van insurance policy. But that’s not a problem – you can choose to add tools cover as an optional extra.
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