Van insurance covers you against all kinds of risks relating to owning and driving a van, in the same way that car insurance protects car drivers and users. Many people mistakenly think that their car insurance policy will cover their van, which is rarely the case.
Van insurance can cover you if you end up in an accident, and can also help you repair or replace your vehicle quickly and efficiently to keep your business on the road in the meantime. All drivers legally need insurance when they drive a vehicle in the UK. If you drive a van for business, you will need a specific business or commercial van insurance policy to cover your business endeavours. Some policies may be able to insure you for both private and business use.
Coverage and Quotes
Before you shop around for an insurer, make sure you’re clear on the level of cover you would like, as well as any add-ons. Coming armed with knowledge on what you’re looking for will help you track down the best deals and quickly and easily compare policies between providers. Have your vehicle details to hand so that you can generate quotes fast, and be prepared to try multiple providers before you find the perfect policy.
The main things to decide before you begin your search is whether you want a single van policy or a multi van policy and whether you want third party only cover, third party, fire and theft cover (TPFT) or comprehensive cover. On top of this, you might want to consider extras like breakdown cover or cover for your vehicle contents, depending on how you use your van. It’s important to note, most providers will issue you a quote online in just a few minutes but make sure you have the following information to hand if you want to generate an accurate quote: your occupation, the number plate of your van, van modifications, the yearly mileage, the type of license you own, claims, points or accidents and any additional drivers.
Finding a Provider
As one of the more expensive vehicle insurance products on the market, finding van insurance can be a headache. The best trick for finding the best deal is to leave enough time to do your research. If you leave it until the day before you need it to buy a policy, you’re looking at a far more expensive premium than if you give yourself a month to shop around. Fortunately, you have several options when it comes to finding van insurance.
- Going directly to an insurer – Almost all van insurance providers advertise their van insurance products online, and most of them can generate a personalised quote within a matter of minutes. If you’re looking for particular cover features or have any specific queries, you can phone the insurer directly and speak to one of their sales advisers, who can give you advice on a policy suitable for you. This is particularly helpful if you aren’t sure whether to get cover for carriage of goods for hire or reward or haulage cover. Insurers will be able to recommend a product to you based on your specific commercial needs.
- Going through a broker – Van insurance is expensive, and finding a policy offers you tailored cover for a reasonable price is no mean feat. Going through a broker gives you the advantage of added support, industry knowledge and usually better prices. Not only will they know what kind of coverage is out there allowing them to build a plan which works for you, but they usually have access to far more competitive prices than those offered directly to customers. Even after taking a cut of commission, you could find yourself with a much better value deal than if you’d approached an insurer directly. Make sure that you use a broker regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- Comparison websites – Finally, you have the option to go through a comparison website. Most of these sites will enable you to filter the results by the level of cover provided, the price or other features, helping you see the best deals for you, all in one place.
Van Insurance Providers
AXA
One highly rated van insurance provider is AXA, with 96% positive feedback on Feefo and a five-star rating on Defaqto. AXA offer tailored cover for particular tradespeople and professions, such as their business and courier van insurance policy. Their standard plans include cover for repairs at an approved garage nationwide, as well as roadside accident repairs and a guaranteed courtesy van to use while an AXA-approved mechanic repairs your vehicle. You can also add cover for entering the wrong kind of fuel, and policyholders can enjoy up to 93 days’ travel in the EU included as standard.
Optional extras include legal assistance, breakdown cover and trailer cover. They also offer a significant no claims discount, which you can transfer from your current van insurer if you purchase a new policy with AXA. While AXA only offers single van policies, they may be able to provide you with a discount if you take out multiple policies with them. One downside of AXA’s cover is that it only insures standard vans and pickups. For refrigerated vehicles, catering units, motor homes or camper vans, you would have to look elsewhere.
More Than
The comprehensive policy offered by More Than includes windscreen cover and cover for driving abroad. It also provides new van cover of up to £3,000 on top of your vehicle’s market value, should your vehicle be involved in a total write-off claim when the van is under one year old. Optional extras include No Claim Discount protection, temporary van hire and breakdown cover provided by RAC. If you have valuable belongings that you transport in the car, you also have the option to insure your in-van electronics or personal effects.
You can also choose the ‘any driver’ option if you want to insure multiple employees on your van, though all drivers must be over 25. More Than also offer 24/7 assistance following an accident and their policies come with a lifetime guarantee on any repairs carried out by one of their approved mechanics. More Than also have a five-star rating on Defaqto, owing to its comprehensive and competitive range of features.
Direct Line
Van insurance policies for Direct Line can cover vans used for leisure, work, or both. Their standard cover includes van replacement if your van is written off, where they can either find you an equivalent replacement or pay you the van’s value in cash for you to replace the vehicle yourself. They can also find you an upgraded van, where you will only need to pay the difference.
Their highest level of cover includes third party liability cover, accidental damage cover, windscreen repair, tools and equipment cover up to £500 and personal belongings cover up to £250. It also provides personal accident cover up to a limit of £5,000 and medical expenses up to £100 per person, making it one of the more comprehensive products on the market. Optional extras include a No Claim Discount protection and motor legal expenses up to £100,000.
Dial Direct
Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars based on over 10,300 reviews on Trustpilot, Dial Direct offer an impressive level of cover as part of their van insurance. Their highest level of cover includes total excess, RAC breakdown cover, driving abroad, personal belongings cover and motor legal protection as standard. On top of this, their comprehensive cover includes emergency transport, windscreen cover and personal accident benefits as standard.
Being one of the more extensive policies on the market, policyholders will also benefit from a range of optional extras and a 24/7 UK claims helpline. Exclusions to note are loss or damage resulting from incorrect fuelling, and theft if the keys are left in or on the vehicle while it’s left unattended.
Admiral
The new and improved van insurance policy offered by Admiral is five-star rated on Defaqto. They can insure all types of vans up to 3.5 tonnes, whether they’re small vans or transit vans. Their policies are flexible, offering comprehensive, third party, fire and theft, or a third party only deal. They offer four types of cover for van drivers: social, social and commuting, own goods and haulage. These last two are applicable for drivers using their van for commercial purposes.
Their top level of cover includes windscreen repair, courtesy van and European cover as standard. Other benefits include £5,000 of personal injury cover, a named driver no claims bonus and Sat-Nav and personal belongings cover up to £150. They also offer a black box van insurance policy, which can help younger drivers demonstrate their safe driving skills and lower their premiums. Policyholders will benefit from an around-the-clock emergency helpline for advice and support following an incident. Finally, their comprehensive van insurance policies include new vehicle replacement as standard, provided the vehicle is less than a year old.
MCE Insurance (Broker)
A policy through MCE includes an extensive range of features as standard. These include breakdown cover, personal accident cover and six months of European cover as standard. Additional policy features include lost key cover, should you misplace your key and misfuelling protection, if you accidentally put the wrong fuel into your vehicle. Finally, you can opt to add windscreen and window cover to your policy, to replace or repair any damaged glass in your vehicle. Quotes through MCE are only available over the phone.
Hastings Direct
Hastings Direct offers two levels of cover which each of their policy types, the standard level and more extensive coverage provided under Hastings Premier. Their comprehensive policies include cover for a courtesy vehicle if your van needs to go in for repair, up to £5,000 personal accidental cover, windscreen and glass cover as well as up to £300 of personal items cover, which is more than many of its competitors. Premier customers can receive breakdown cover, and motor legal expenses cover as part of their policy, and all policyholders will benefit from a 24-hour claims helpline for round-the-clock assistance.
Devitt Insurance (Broker)
Rated Excellent by 9420 reviews on Trustpilot, Devitt Insurance can compare rates from a broad range of insurers to help you find the cheapest quote. Benefits of their van insurance include windscreen cover, 30 days European cover, new van replacement if your van is totalled while it’s less than 12 months old, and up to £2,500 of personal accident cover. Additional policy features that you can choose to add to your policy include legal cover and a No Claim Discount, as well as cover for your personal possessions or audio equipment. Devitt Insurance can provide a van insurance quote online in several minutes. Alternatively, you can contact one of their advisers by phoning their UK contact centre.
Churchill
Drivers who opt for the comprehensive package with Churchill will have cover if their van is stolen, damaged by fire or accidentally or deliberately damaged by other means. Policyholders will also have cover for claims made by third parties for bodily injury or damage to their property of up to £2 million. Windscreen cover also comes as standard in the comprehensive product. Other perks include 24-hour accident recovery, as well as guaranteed repairs for five years if you go through one of their approved repairers. Their No Claim Discount protection gives you the option to protect your No Claim Discount if you have had it for four years or more.
Optional extras include up to £100,000 in legal costs if you have an accident in your van which isn’t your fault and like-for-like temporary van replacement cover to keep your business on the road if your van is damaged or stolen. You can also opt for tools in transit cover, which covers you against theft or damage to your essential tool. Finally, you choose to add on RAC Roadside Recovery, where RAC will come to you to repair your vehicle wherever you are in the UK. If your van is irreparable, they’ll take you and up to seven passengers to a destination of your choice.
Autonet (Broker)
Autonet is the UK’s largest independently owned broker for van insurance and have provided van insurance for 17 years. They therefore pride themselves on their extensive industry experience and excellent customer service. They can insure a wide range of vehicle types for a variety of commercial purposes and professions. They work with some of the biggest insurers in the UK, including Aviva, AXA, Ageas and RSA, allowing them to find you a suitable policy at a competitive price.
Features of cover taken out through Autonet can include breakdown cover, guaranteed hire vehicle, cover for goods in transit and tool cover for tradespeople carrying their own tools from job to job. For business owners with a host of vans and employee drivers, they can also find you a fleet van insurance policy.
Aviva
Aviva offers a comprehensive commercial van insurance policy, which comes with a 24/7 claims helpline should things go wrong, as well as a 24-hour pickup service, where they can pick you up and arrange for your car to be dropped off wherever you need. Their policies also come with an uninsured driver promise, ensuring you don’t lose your no-claim discount if an uninsured driver hits you.
Other benefits to Aviva’s policy include a lifetime repair guarantee on any repairs carried out by Aviva-approved mechanics for as long as your vehicle remains insured with Aviva. They can also offer up to £500 in tool cover as part of their comprehensive insurance cover, as well as replacement car and van options available, to ensure your business stays on the road. One of their best benefits, not offered by many other insurers, is passenger cover for your colleagues, maintaining your protection if you give a colleague a lift to the office.
RAC
A policy through the RAC can cover a range of commercial van types used for a variety of businesses. RAC has partnerships with a range of highly reputable van insurers, offering comprehensive insurance packages which cover third party, fire and theft, accidental damage, vandalism and windscreen protection. Most RAC panel insurers also include personal effects insurance to protect any of your own belongings that you might have in your van. Other perks include up to £100,000 of motor legal cover as well as a 24/7 motoring legal helpline, and the option to add RAC breakdown cover to your policy.
Gladiator
Whether you have a transit van, box van, pickup, flatbed or tipper, Gladiator can cover you. They insure vans up to 3.5 tonnes for a variety of purposes. For commercial use, you can choose between their Own Goods or Haulage policies. Their highest level of cover comes with windscreen repair, the use of a courtesy van while yours is being repaired at a Gladiator-approved garage, up to £5,000 in personal injury cover and a No Claims Bonus for any named driver. They also offer personal belongings cover of up to £150 and European cover for up to 90 days driving in Europe. All comprehensive and third party, fire & theft customers will have access to a 24-hour emergency helpline if they have an incident.
Ageas
Sole traders, small businesses or start-ups can insure their van for an affordable price with Ageas. They insure vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and will offer a replacement van while yours is being fixed or replaced if it gets damaged or stolen. Unlike some of its competitors, Ageas can provide commercial van insurance to a younger and older audience, insuring drivers aged between 21 and 74. Ageas offer Carriage of Own Goods cover and Carriage of Goods for Hire and Reward cover, suitable for different trades and professions.
Other perks of Ageas’ product includes up to £2 million of cover for damage to third party property and new vehicle replacement if your vehicle is written off when it’s less than 12 months old. They offer up to nine years No Claims Discount as well as a three-year guarantee on all repairs carried out by an approved repairer. Van insurance by Ageas is digitally traded and is only available through a broker.
Van Quote Direct (Broker)
If you’re after a cheap quote, Van Quote Direct has been offering cheap insurance for over fifty years, and specialise in low-cost van insurance. Their skilled brokers can help you build a tailormade policy for a competitive price. They also provide many specialist insurance packages targeted at specific drivers, such as their Specialist Young Driver insurance offering lower premiums than many other providers. Other tailored policies include their Courier Insurance policy, fleet insurance and specialist van insurance for modified vehicles.
Features of their cover include goods in transit cover, van breakdown protection, legal expenses insurance following an accident or injury and European cover if you go abroad within the EU. They can also provide replacement vehicle cover if your van is written off at less than one year old.
A-Plan
A-Plan insures nearly 350,000 motorists every year. They offer a range of products tailored to the needs of van drivers in a variety of businesses, offering specific policies for trade and retail businesses. Eight out of ten clients renew with A-Plan each year owing to their high level of customer service and a friendly and helpful team of qualified advisers. A-Plan is one of the largest van insurance brokers in the UK and offers third party, third party, fire & theft and fully comprehensive cover.
Adrian Flux
Ideal for those looking for insurance for a niche van type or purpose, Adrian Flux offer a broad range of policies suitable for a variety of professions. For example, they offer policies tailored to the catering profession under their refrigerated van insurance policy as well as other tailored policies such as tipper van insurance, HGV van insurance and short-term van insurance.
Features of a policy with Adrian Flux can include misfuelling, tools in transit cover, breakdown cover as well as goods in transit cover. Most of their policies include legal cover and personal accident cover as standard, as well as European green card cover. Adrian Flux is an award-winning provider, having achieved the Insurance Company of the Year award by What Van? in 2019.
