Compare The Best Van Insurance Quotes For You

This depends on the level of protection the policy offers.  Just like car insurance, there are three levels of van cover to choose from:

• Third-party insurance is the minimum legal requirement and will only cover the cost of any damage you cause to another person (including your passengers), other vehicles or property. Your own van and its contents will not be covered
• Third-party, fire and theft van insurance will cover you for damage caused to third parties as well as fire damage or theft of your own van
• Comprehensive insurance is the highest level of cover and will insure your own van for theft, fire and other damage, as well as damage to third parties and their property. Although it provides the highest level of cover, it won’t necessarily be the most expensive.

While van insurance offers the same three levels of cover as car insurance, you cannot use a car insurance policy to drive a van. Both vehicles come with different levels of risk and separate insurance policies must be taken out for each.

Vans are often used for business purposes, whether that’s carrying goods or making deliveries. They also tend to cover more miles and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Van insurance can be tailored to cover these additional risks. Car insurance can’t be.

Your V5C logbook will tell you whether you own a car or a van. If your vehicle is classified as M1, it’s classed as a car. But if it’s classified as N1 or N2 it’s classed as a van, and you need van insurance.

When choosing your van insurance policy, you will need to consider what you will be using your van for. If you only use your van for private use, such as visiting friends or going shopping, or maybe moving your personal possessions (or someone else’s, without receiving payment), you’ll need private van insurance.

If your van will be used for business purposes, you’ll need business or commercial van insurance.

You will then need to choose one of the following types of cover:

• Social van insurance covers you if you only plan to use your van for personal reasons and not commuting
• Social and commuting van insurance provides cover if you’re using your van for your own use, but also to travel to and from a single place of work
• Carriage of own goods cover will protect goods, tools or work equipment that belong to you, your business partner or your employer, when they are carried in your van. You’ll need this type of cover if you’re a builder or plumber, for example, and you must tell your insurer exactly what you carry in your van for those items to be covered. You may be required to use security measures or remove items from the van at night
• Haulage or courier cover is suitable for vans that carry and deliver other people’s goods and property in return for payment. This is usually best for delivery drivers, couriers and haulage contractors. It tends to be more expensive due to the higher risk associated with carrying valuable items and spending more time on the road (increasing the risk of accident).

Whatever type of van insurance you choose, policies will vary in terms of what they offer as standard and what you’ll need to pay extra for. Depending on the policy you select, you might be able to bolt on the following levels of cover for an additional cost:

• Breakdown cover
• Legal cover
• Courtesy van cover
• Public liability cover
• Personal possessions cover
• Wrong fuel cover.

Electric vans are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their low running costs and tax discounts. The good news is that many insurers now offer electric van insurance policies.

Electric van insurance offers the same three levels of cover – third-party, third-party fire and theft, and comprehensive. But many policies will also cover additional protection specific to electric vehicles such as power cable and battery cover.