Third party
Third-party is the minimum legal requirement for any kind of motor insurance, and it’ll cover you for any damage you do to another person, their car, or their property for the day
What is van insurance?
One-day van insurance is a type of van motor insurance that gives you all the benefits of a van insurance policy without a long-term commitment. This kind of temporary van insurance you can take out if you only need cover for a period of around 24 hours.
How does one-day van insurance work?
With one-day van insurance, you can cover yourself to drive any given van for a day. The cover will generally last for 24 hours, usually from midnight to midnight – so if you think you might need the van for longer, it could be better to look for something more long-term to give yourself peace of mind.
Fortunately, temporary van insurance can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, giving you more flexibility on short term cover options. It’s best to talk to insurers and compare your options before taking out a policy.
What does one-day van insurance cover?
A one-day van insurance policy can cover you in much the same way as a standard van policy, depending on the level of cover you get:
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Third-party, fire, and theft
Third-party, fire, and theft (TPF&T) includes everything covered by third-party policies, as well as protection if your van is damaged by fire or stolen
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Fully comprehensive
A fully comprehensive one-day van insurance policy includes all of the above, but it also covers damage to you, your van, and your property – even if it’s your fault.
When would I need one-day van insurance cover?
One-day cover for your van can be useful in a number of situations:
Sharing the driving during a trip
Moving house / helping someone to move house
Needing a van for a long day trip
Test driving a van before you purchase it
Transporting items (usually large ones) from place to place, or to the tip
Buying a new van and bringing it home before you’ve bought an annual policy
Borrowing a van from someone else e.g. a family member or a friend for the day
If you're looking to use the van for business use, it's worth considering business van insurance instead, which offers more suitable cover.
Remember that driving any vehicle without insurance is against the law, so if you do plan on using a van for a day getting the right cover is important.
Our expert says…
One-day van insurance works well when you need cover in a hurry and it’s a one-off such as borrowing a friend’s van to move house, test-driving a van before you decide to buy it, or sharing the driving on a long journey. But if you might need to drive the van regularly, consider being added to the main driver’s policy instead, if they’re happy with that, as it could work out cheaper.
Sarah Tooze Car & Van Insurance Expert
What affects the cost of one-day van insurance?
The main reason for one-day or any kind of short-term van insurance is to save money by avoiding a yearly expenditure for a service you only need temporarily. However the price is still likely to depend on a number of factors, including:
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Age
Often the younger you are, the more you’ll have to pay for cover as insurers generally see younger or inexperienced drivers as being at a higher risk of claiming
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Location
Your location could also affect your premium costs, as areas that have higher crime rates can increase the chances of you making a claim
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Vehicle
Generally speaking the bigger your van, the higher your premium is likely to be
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Claims history
If you have a history of making a lot of claims on motoring insurance, this is likely to increase your premiums
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Excess
Most insurance policies will require you to pay a compulsory excess fee and choose your excess amount. The more you choose to pay, the lower your premiums could be as a result
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Security and storage
Keeping the van secure and stored in a safe spot when you aren’t using it, and proving this to your insurer, can also help you reduce your premiums
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Benefits of one-day van insurance
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Quick and easy
One day insurance is usually quicker and easier to arrange than being added to the main driver’s existing policy
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Only covered for the time you need
You can get cover for exactly the time you need the van. You do not have any early cancellation fees as you would with cancelling an annual policy early
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Comprehensive cover
Most one-day van policies come with comprehensive cover as standard, which is the highest amount of coverage you can get
What optional extras can you get with one-day van insurance?
Depending on how you’ll be using the van, you may also want to consider add-on policies such as:
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Legal cover
This is to cover any legal costs related to accidents that weren’t your fault
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Public liability insurance
If someone is injured as a result of your actions and they make a claim against you, your insurance will cover the costs associated with the claim
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Employers’ liability insurance:
Cover provided if one of your employees is injured while working for you e.g., lifting heavy items from the van and getting injured as a result
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Breakdown cover
A very popular add-on as it provides assistance if your van breaks down while you’re driving
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Tool cover
Tool cover provide protection for your tools if they get lost, damaged or stolen while in your van
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Courtesy or replacement vehicle
This means you’ll be offered a replacement vehicle to use while your van is being repaired
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No-claims discount protection
This prevents your premiums from rising when you renew your car insurance if you’ve had to make a claim
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Foreign-use cover
If you're driving a long distance and need to cross the border, you will be covered for van use overseas
Van insurance guides and expert tips:
Am I eligible for one-day van insurance?
Just like any type of motor insurance, there are factors about your age, location, and driving history that can affect the price of your premiums. All UK insurance providers have different eligibility criteria for one-day van insurance but the first thing you will need is a valid driving licence.
Can I get van insurance for more than one day?
If you need cover for more than 24 hours, but you don't need to commit to an annual policy yet, you can opt for temporary van insurance. Temporary cover can be set to last between a few hours and a few weeks.
Can I drive someone else’s van?
You can get insured on someone else's van. Be sure to inform your insurance provider if you are not the registered keeper or owner of the vehicle.
What is the difference between one day van insurance and temporary van insurance cover?
One day insurance only gives you cover for 24 hours, whereas temporary van insurance can cover you from a few hours to a few weeks.
Can I have multiple drivers on a one day van insurance?
No, you cannot have multiple drivers on one policy. If you are sharing the driving with someone else, they will need their own insurance, either a one day van insurance policy or a temporary van insurance policy, unless they are already insured on the vehicle.
How does MoneySuperMarket make money?
We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is van insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy van insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £15, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions
Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos
To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
Is van insurance eligible for Price Promise?
Yes, van insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
give you a gift card worth up to £20
Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 8 Dec 2025 by
