Short term van insurance

Key takeaways 

• Short-term van insurance is flexible insurance for short periods (from 1 hour to 31 days) and is ideal for occasional van use, moving, or holidays 

• Factors affecting short-term van insurance premiums include age, driving history, the type of van and level of cover 

• An annual van insurance policy will be better if you drive the same van on a regular basis all year round

How does short-term van insurance work? 

Short-term van insurance is used when you are borrowing or lending a van. It can cover you when you drive someone else’s van with their permission, or another driver to drive a van that you own. 

You can buy short-term van insurance for time periods as short as one hour, up to 31 days. Short-term van insurance can also be known as: 

• 1-day van insurance 

• Pay-as-you-go van insurance 

• Temporary van insurance 

Short-term van insurance is a flexible insurance option designed for those who only need to drive the van for a brief period. If you regularly drive a van you own, an annual policy will work out cheaper. 

Short-term van insurance can be taken out as a separate policy to any existing insurance policy on the van. This means if you make a claim on the short-term van insurance, it won’t impact the main policy on the vehicle. 

Another option is to add a named driver on existing insurance on the van.

But if the short-term driver has an accident, this will affect the main driver’s no-claims bonus. You’ll need a different type of cover if you hire a van, rather than borrow one. 

Can I get temporary insurance on a van I own? 

Yes, you can buy short-term van insurance for your own van.  You might do this if you only drive the van occasionally. But you’ll need to keep the van off the road and get a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) the rest of the time. 

Another scenario when you might need short-term cover for your own van is when you buy a new van and have not yet had time to research and buy annual cover. 

Who needs short-term van insurance? 

You might need short-term van insurance in the following circumstances: 

• You borrow a van to move house or to transport large items or take things to the rubbish dump 

• To test drive a van you are considering buying 

• As ‘drive away’ cover when you buy a van 

• To share the driving on long trips  

• You lend your van to someone else 

• If you borrow a van for short-term business use 

How long does short-term van insurance last? 

Temporary van insurance can last from 24 hours up to 31 days.  Costs vary depending on how long you need cover for. You don’t have to be the registered owner of the van to get short-term cover, but you will need the owner’s permission to drive it. 

What’s covered by a short-term van insurance policy? 

The level of cover you can get from a temporary van insurance policy will depend on the type of policy you take out. As with car insurance, you’ll be able to pick one of three types of insurance: 

What policy extras can be added to short-term van insurance? 

When tailoring your short-term van insurance, you can usually add: 

• Breakdown cover 

• Courtesy cars 

• Driving abroad 

• Personal belongings 

• Legal cover 

• Additional drivers 

• Excess protection 

• Personal accident cover 

How much does short-term van insurance cost? 

Short-term van insurance costs vary between different insurers, policies and the level of cover you chose. The following factors will affect how much you pay: 

Can I pay monthly for van insurance? 

If you buy an annual van insurance policy, you can normally pay for it monthly. This will make budgeting easier, but will usually cost more overall.  You can read more about annual vs monthly van insurance in this guide. 

How can I get cheaper short-term van insurance?

There are several options to reduce costs for short-term van use, such as: 

• Paying a higher excess 

• Choosing a smaller van 

• Reducing your expected mileage 

When it comes to short-term van insurance, the key is to assess your needs, understand the cover options, and choose a policy that offers the right balance of cost and protection.

Just make sure the excess you opt for is affordable in the event that you do have an accident.

Compare van insurance quotes

The best way to find the right car or van insurance policy is to compare deals on MoneySuperMarket. Just tell us about yourself, your vehicle, and how you’ll be using it, and we’ll show you quotes from the biggest providers on the market.