Van insurance

In just a few clicks, MoneySuperMarket can compare a range of quotes from some of the UK’s leading insurers.

It’s not just about finding the cheapest van insurance quotes, it’s also about finding the right level of cover to match your requirements.

Our comparison service allows you to tailor your cover to suit your specific needs. For instance, if you keep tools in your van you’ll need to cover them under the terms of your policy, or you may need additional cover that insures goods in transit if you operate a courier service.

You can add or remove optional extras at any time, but getting the right level of cover is more important than simply finding the cheapest van insurance quote.

So compare van insurance quotes now to get the perfect policy at the right price.

Insuring your vehicle is a legal requirement no matter what kind of vehicle you have, as long as you use it on the road. As vans won’t generally be covered by car insurance, you’ll probably need to take out a van insurance policy to get cover.

Cover must be in place all year round under the continuous insurance enforcement regulations. Even if your van is idle in a yard for weeks or even months on end, it must be insured. The only exception is if you get a statutory off-road notice (SORN) from the DVLA.

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.

Commercial van insurance comes in different forms, depending on how you use it. You’ll be able to choose from:

• Own goods: A ‘carriage of own goods’ policy covers you for carrying certain items, such as tools for your business or stock you buy from a wholesaler
• Hire and reward: ‘Hire and reward’ cover is a legal requirement if you carry goods or people that aren’t yours in exchange for payment – usually for one-off jobs, such as furniture removal
• Courier and haulage: If you use your van to make deliveries within a specific location, usually directly to the recipient of the goods, you’ll need a ‘courier’ policy. However if you’re making commercial deliveries to one specific location, often over distances, a ‘haulage’ policy will be more suitable

If you need to make a claim on your van insurance, you should call your insurer as soon as possible and let them know. You should also have a claim form, though you can request one from your insurer if not, which you fill in with the details of your claim.

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.

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, though the specific details of the cover you can get will depend on the provider you use.

Many commercial van insurance policies also include cover for business abroad, though you should check whether this comes as standard or as an additional policy. You should also make sure which countries are covered, as you may require an extra level of cover for countries outside of the EU.

If the van is owned by your business then it can be insured under your business’s name.

A no-claims discount (NCD) or bonus is a reduced premium your insurer gives you when you haven’t claimed over a set period. It normally applies to one vehicle, so if you replace your car with a van you might be able to transfer your NCD.

If your van is an additional vehicle you’re unlikely to be able to transfer a no-claims discount from your car insurance.

Yes. If you get into an accident and you decide not to claim on your insurance, it’s a good idea to let them know what happened so they can keep their records in line with yours.

Legal cover can be an important part of any policy, and with motor insurance it can be useful to have the legal support if you get into a car accident or incident. However if you’re driving your van for commercial reasons then you might also want to consider legal cover as part of a business insurance policy.

For example you might be liable for any goods you’re carrying if they get damaged as a result of your driving. Having legal cover as part of a commercial van policy means you might be able to claim for legal costs and damages.

Depending on your provider and level of cover, you may be able to get a courtesy car if your van is out of action – thought the replacement is more likely to be a small hatchback.

You may be able to get replacement vehicle cover, meaning a van suitable for your needs, while yours is repaired. However you may only qualify for a replacement if the accident wasn’t your fault.

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