Van insurance

Insurers consider several factors to calculate the cost of your insurance:

Your age

Younger drivers tend to be less experienced and are viewed by insurers as a higher risk than older more experienced drivers.

Where you live

Van drivers living in areas where more claims are made are likelier to pay more for insurance than those living in areas with fewer claims.

The van you drive

A van in a higher insurance group can cost more to insure than a lower group. The same can apply for the value of the van. More valuable vans can be targeted by thieves and cost more to repair, so insurers charge more to cover them.

Van security

Fitting your van with a security device or system can help reduce the cost of your insurance. Check before investing in security features, as some could be considered a modification by certain insurers.

Your driving history

Having driving convictions and points on your licence can make you a higher risk to insurers. You could consider black box insurance as a way of combatting expensive insurance.

Previous claims

Any claims you've made in the last 5 years will increase your level of risk. Many van insurance policies cover any tools you use as part of your job, but you must check this with insurers before buying.

• Exclusive deals

  We negotiate our best deals and exclusive discounts with our van insurance partners. Look out for our special offers that are highlighted on the prices page to compare van insurance quotes.

• Renewal reminders

  We'll let you know next year when your renewal is coming up, giving you plenty of time to find your next deal.

• Customer fairness and protection

  We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and take your finances seriously. We ensure you are treated fairly.

• We'll beat your renewal price

  We guarantee to beat your renewal³, and if we don't, we'll match your quote and give you £20 on-top.

³Single annual policy only. T&Cs apply. Must be a like-for-like policy.

What you use your van for should dictate what type of insurance you'll need to buy. To compare van insurance quotes, you need to tell us the class of use according to how you use your van. There are 4 options:

Social only

Also known as private van insurance, this is suitable for visiting family and friends, shopping or transporting kit for a hobby. It does not cover work or business related travel such as commuting. Pick-ups are classed as vans rather than cars when it comes to insurance. So to make sure your pick-up truck is covered, you need a van insurance policy.

Social and commuting

This would be necessary if you use your van to drive to a single place for work, as well as for social use. If you're travelling to a bus or train station as part of your commute, this also comes under social and commuting.

Business use

This would cover you to transport goods, tools, or work equipment that belongs to you, your business partner, or your employer. It's also known as commercial use or carriage of own goods. This cover is particularly suited to professionals like builders, shopkeepers and cleaners who rely on their van for their business. Business use is also available as temporary cover for short term use.

Haulage use

This is for situations where you use your van to transport goods for hire and reward. This type of cover is especially important for professionals who handle deliveries, such as delivery drivers, couriers, and haulage contractors.

Adding extras or add-ons to your van insurance policy can give you more protection, but it could come at an additional cost. Some add-ons come as standard with your policy, but you'll need to check before you buy. When you get a quote, we'll show you policies that may or may not include the following extras:

Breakdown cover

Can help avoid you being left stranded on the roadside if your van breaks down. Some policies also include cover for breakdowns at home.

Courtesy van cover

Provides you with temporary replacement transportation while your van is being repaired.

Windscreen cover

Covers the repair or replacement of your van's windscreen, side windows or rear window.

Legal expenses cover

Can help cover legal costs such as solicitor's fees if you're involved in an accident that's not your fault. Generally you're covered if your claim has a greater than 50% chance of success.

Driving abroad cover

Gives you the same level of cover for driving your van in Europe as you have in the UK. It's usually limited to 90 days per trip.

Personal effects cover

Offers cover for the loss or damage to valuables such as mobile phones that are carried by the policyholder or stored securely in the van. Exclusions may apply.

Pay annually

Insurers charge extra if you decide to pay monthly. Choosing to pay monthly can cost 16%² more, so it's worth paying annually if you can afford to do so.

Don't auto-renew

It's best to shop around for a better deal first. Many insurers offer introductory prices for new customers, which can undercut your renewal price. Getting a quote is the easiest way to find out if you could save by switching insurers.

Increase voluntary excess

If you're willing to contribute more to a claim, you could find cheaper van insurance quotes. Remember, there's also a compulsory excess to pay that increases your total excess amount if you make a claim. Just make sure you can afford the payments first.

Add a named driver

Having a spouse, family member or even an unrelated driver with a good driving history on your policy could save you money. Be mindful of adding young drivers under 25 or those with points to your policy as this could have the opposite effect.

Use a dash cam

Some insurers offer discounts to van drivers with a dash cam fitted as the footage recorded can be used to support claims. When you get a quote we'll ask you if you have one fitted in your van.

Try a black box policy

Black box policies are a type of telematics policy that monitors your driving using an app or a small device installed in your van. The device will collect data based on how you drive.

²Based on Confused.com data January - March 2024