Courier van
insurance
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A better way to cover your courier van
Courier van insurance is essential for anyone who relies on their van for commercial purposes. It provides financial protection in case of accidents, theft, or damage, ensuring your courier business can continue operating smoothly.
We use a combination of technology and our courier van insurance expertise in the commercial vehicle market to give you better cover at more affordable prices.
We understand that your courier 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 to keep your courier business running
Fairer prices for all
We compare the market to find you the right courier van deal for your needs.
World-class support
We’re here for you now and as your courier business needs change.
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 courier 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 courier van insurance?
Since couriers spend long hours on the road and make multiple stops, the right insurance is crucial to safeguard both the van and the goods inside.
If you use your van for personal trips, standard van insurance may be enough. However, if you deliver packages or transport goods for others, you’ll need specialist courier van insurance. This ensures you’re covered for the risks involved in frequent driving, high mileage, and carrying third-party goods. Policies can be tailored, whether you work for a courier company, operate independently, or run a fleet of delivery vehicles.
Types of cover
Choosing the right level of cover is crucial. These are the main categories of use:
- Social: Covers personal use, such as weekend trips or hobbies. However, it does not include commuting or any form of business use.
- Social and Commuting: Suitable for those who use their van to travel to and from a fixed workplace but do not use it for deliveries or business purposes.
- Own Goods: Designed for self-employed tradespeople who transport tools, stock, or equipment for work. This does not cover carrying goods for others as part of a courier business.
- Carriage of Goods for Hire and Reward: Essential for couriers transporting third-party goods. It covers both the van and the packages being delivered, ensuring protection in case of damage, theft, or an accident.
There are three main types of courier 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.
Since couriers rely on their vans for work, having the right protection is vital. We offer flexible cover options to suit your needs, ensuring you can operate with peace of mind.
What you’ll need to compare the best courier van insurance prices
Our mission is to give you the best courier 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 courier van insurance cost?
Several factors can influence the cost of a van insurance policy:
Usage and mileage
High mileage increases the risk of accidents, leading to higher premiums. Couriers who drive long distances or make frequent stops may face increased costs.
Value of the van
A more expensive van costs more to repair or replace, leading to higher premiums. Keeping your van secure and well-maintained can help reduce costs.
Use of van
Using a van for courier work raises insurance premiums due to increased road exposure and delivery-related risks. The more deliveries made, the higher the potential for incidents.
Type of van
Larger or high-performance vans typically have higher insurance costs. Modified vans, especially those with performance upgrades, may also lead to increased premiums.
Driving record
Previous accidents or motoring offences can raise premiums, while a clean record and no-claims bonuses can help reduce costs. Safe driving is key to keeping insurance affordable.
Storage and security
Where you park your van overnight and the security measures in place can impact your premiums. Installing alarms, trackers, or secure storage can help lower costs.
Courier 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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