Third-party only
You’ll need at least third-party cover to legally drive your van, but you’ll only be covered for damage done to another person, their property or their vehicle
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1 Accurate as of April 2024
Van insurance is a type of motor insurance you take out to protect you financially if you're in an accident while driving your van.
Different Levels of Cover: While third-party is the minimum requirement, there are different levels of van insurance available, offering varying degrees of protection.
Fully comprehensive van insurance provides the most extensive cover, surprisingly, at the cheapest price of the three levels of cover, protecting you in the event of an accident, even if you're at fault. It covers repairs to your van, any damage caused to other vehicles and property, injuries sustained by others, and even legal fees.
Just like car insurance, you are legally required to have your van insured to drive in the UK. Whether you drive your van for business or commercial reasons, while it’s separate from car insurance, van insurance works in a similar way, protecting you if your van is damaged or stolen.
You can take out private van insurance if you use your van for social, domestic, or pleasure reasons, but if you use the van for work then you’ll need business or commercial cover.
If you're a van owner, van insurance protects you after an accident by helping with repair costs and getting your van back on the road after an accident. Accidents happen, and even the most careful driver can find themselves in needing the protection van insurance offers. If you get into an accident these are the steps you should take:
Be sure to report the accident to the police and contact your insurer to inform them about what has happened.
Take as many pictures as you can and exchange information with any other people involved.
Contact your insurer and submit a claim with all the information you've gathered.
This is when your insurer will take charge, assess the damage and arrange settlements or repair options for you.
Whether you need business van insurance or commercial, van insurance policies come in three levels, just the same as any other motor insurance:
You’ll need at least third-party cover to legally drive your van, but you’ll only be covered for damage done to another person, their property or their vehicle
Third-party, fire and theft is the mid-level option for motor insurance, and it adds cover for your own van if it’s stolen or damaged by fire or an explosion
Fully comprehensive van insurance is the most extensive level of van insurance you can buy. It combines both covers into a single policy
While any van insurance is mandatory, fully comprehensive offers the most extensive protection. Here's a breakdown of what it typically covers and what it usually excludes:
Injury to other people
Damage to other vehicles or property
Theft of your van
Repair costs
Flooding damage
Theft caused by leaving your van unlocked
Driving with an invalid licence
Wear and tear
Uninsured named drivers
Driving under the influence
There are a variety of extra policies you can take out with your van insurance policy to boost your level of cover. These aren’t useful for every van owner, but there’s something for everyone:
If your van breaks down on the road, breakdown cover will get your van repaired and help your continue on
Sometimes included with breakdown cover, this will give you a replacement vehicle while yours is being repaired
This will cover any legal costs that arise after an accident with your van that wasn’t your fault
Public liability cover covers business vans for costs when a member of the public is injured as a result of your actions
This can cover you against claims of negligence by your employees – useful if employ other people to drive
Especially useful if you use your van for work, as it covers the cost of replacing your damaged or stolen tools
This can cover your possessions if they’re stolen or damaged while in your van, but keep an eye out for exclusions
This covers the repair costs if you accidentally top your tank up with the wrong type of fuel
Many providers offer multi-van cover, which lets you cover two or more vans under a single policy
No-claims bonus protection is an optional feature that preserves your earned discount even if you make a claim, helping maintain lower insurance premiums
You may notice that it's more expensive to insure your van than it is your car and there are a few reasons for that. The external reasons for your van insurance premiums rising are a mixture of the economic climate and the increased repair costs. Insurance is affected by inflation and the rising costs of vehicle repairs and replacement parts also raise premiums. q
Other reasons why your premiums are higher may be down to you and your vehicle. What you’re using your van for affects how much your insurance will cost you. Anything business-related tends to come with a higher cost. Your age, and driving history also play a huge role in your premiums. Lastly, your van, where your main usage will be, how old your van is and its insurance group will all play a huge part in how much your premiums will be.
Van insurance policies can become expensive, especially if you are regularly transporting commercial cargo. However, there are a few things, other than considering a telematics van policy, that you can do when searching for a van insurance policy to save money, including:
Use anti-theft devices like immobilisers, alarms and trackers. Parking in a garage overnight, and making sure you don’t keep goods, tools or other possessions inside the van
The higher the voluntary excess you offer to pay, the lower your monthly premiums will be. Just make sure the excess you opt for is affordable in the event that you do have an accident
If you can afford to do so, paying an annual lump sum for your van insurance policy is almost always cheaper than if you were to pay monthly instalments
The best way to get a better deal is to compare your options. Insurers reserve their best prices for new customers, so if you auto-renew with the same provider, you may be charged over the odds
According to a recent study from Consumer Intelligence, van insurance rose by 35.9% during 2023, the biggest annual increase seen for over six years.
At MoneySuperMarket, we've also noticed a significant increase in the cost of van insurance in the past year, which could be due to a number of factors, including a rise in claims, the price of replacement parts, and the cost of carrying out repairs.
The way you use your van can also have a big impact on the type of cover you need. It’s important to make clear whether you use your van for work, pleasure or both. There are several ways you can reduce costs such as not storing goods or tools inside your van, limiting your mileage, and shopping around for the best deal.
Protects vans used for personal reasons, such as transporting hobbies equipment, furniture during a move, or everyday errands.
Designed for vans used for commercial purposes, covering deliveries, transporting tools, or any work-related activity. Offers broader coverage compared to private insurance.
Provides short-term cover for vans, perfect for one-off situations like borrowing a friend's van, moving house, or taking a test drive before purchase. Can be purchased for hours, days, or weeks.
Lightweight vans specifically designed for frequent deliveries and collections. May require specialized courier van insurance due to the higher mileage and stop-and-go driving typical of this profession.
Vehicles combining a car-like cabin with an open cargo bed in the back. Typically require similar insurance to vans, though usage (personal or commercial) will determine the specific policy needed.
Drivers under the age of 25, statistically considered a higher risk group by insurers due to less experience. Young driver van insurance often comes with higher premiums due to this perceived risk.
A bit about you, where you live, your job and your driving history. And the same for any named drivers.
The van’s registration number, as well as the make and model. We’ll also need the van’s age, estimated value and any modifications you’ve made.
We will need to know your intended use for the van and how many miles you’ll do in a year. You’ll also need to say where you’ll keep the van parked.
Sharing your no-claims discount information can help cut insurance costs. Use our no-claims discount tool to find out how many years your insurer will honour.
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Van insurance is up 13.6% since the start of the year, according to the latest data from Consumer Intelligence. Most insurers raised prices significantly in January due to the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA’s) new rules banning 'price walking'.
Van insurance is more expensive than car insurance due to a number of factors, including relative size and weight. Vans also have bigger engines and larger storage capacity, and usually carry more valuable cargo. As vans are often used for commercial reasons, that also affects the cost.
Commercial van insurance is cover you can take out if you use your van for any business-related reasons, while private van insurance is designed more for social or domestic reasons. If your van is used for commercial purposes, a private van insurance policy won’t be enough to cover you, even if you only use it for commuting to and from your work place.
Many insurers offer multi-van policies that let you add cover for more vehicles, which is often a cheaper option than insuring each van under its own policy. Learn more with our guide to multi-van insurance.
You’ll also be able to include additional drivers in your policy, even if you use the van for business, though the specific details of the cover you can get will depend on the provider you use. This is called any driver van insurance.
Some van insurance providers offer policies that give you cover when you’re abroad, though the list of countries covered is likely to vary between providers. It might be a good idea to consider European breakdown cover if you’re driving abroad – you can either take it out separately or as part of your van insurance policy.
Every van on British roads is categorised into one of 50 van insurance groups, which rate them from the cheapest to the most expensive to insure. The more powerful, expensive and rarer your vehicle, the higher the group it will be in.
The lower your insurance group, the cheaper your van will be to insure.
Many insurers allow you to use your no-claims discount on any vehicle, including cars, vans and motorbikes, though they may restrict your discount to one insurance policy at a time.
You can get black box, or telematics, insurance on your van. This is a device or app attached to your van which measures how you drive and adjusts your insurance premiums accordingly. Find out more about how telematics insurance works here.
Temporary van insurance is available if you want to drive a van for a short period of time, as an alternative to annual cover. It’s available as short-term, daily or monthly van insurance.
You may be able to drive your van with a car insurance policy – however it will depend on your provider and policy documents. It’s always best to check with your insurer to make sure.
It’s worth noting that car insurance policies that offer fully comprehensive cover for your car may also offer third-party cover for vans you add to the policy – again, check your policy documents for certainty.
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