How do I compare van insurance?
Getting a quote only takes 5 minutes and if you've used us before it's even quicker. You just have to check your details are up to date.
To get you started, we've pulled together some key points on the types of things you'll need to know and think about before getting a van insurance quote.
- Fill out our quote form
- We'll compare over 40 van insurance companies to save you visiting them all separately
- We'll show your van insurance quotes all in one place
What details do I need to get a cheap van quote?
Having the following information to hand will make it easier to get an accurate van insurance quote:
Personal details:
- Your occupation
- Any points on your licence
- Previous claims or accidents
Van details:
- Registration number - useful but not essential
- Any modifications to your van
- Estimated annual mileage
Your recent insurance documents should have most of the details you’ll need to get a quote. They’ll also show any no-claims bonus (NCB) that could give you a discount on your insurance.
You won’t need to prove your no-claims bonus to get a quote but some insurers may ask for proof once you’ve bought a policy. If you don’t have it already, your existing or previous insurer will be able to give you a copy.
What extra features can I add to my policy?
Once you've got your quote, you can include a selection of add-ons or extra features for added peace of mind:
- Tools in van insurance
- Legal cover
- Breakdown cover
- Windscreen cover
- Personal accident cover
- Driving abroad cover
- Personal effects cover
Tools in van insurance can be used to cover any tools or cargo you have in your van.
Legal cover could help you recover certain uninsured losses that aren't covered as standard by your own insurance policy. For example, if you're involved in an accident that wasn't your fault.
Breakdown cover is available at different levels, usually at different prices, to help get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
Windscreen cover for repair or replacement of your windscreen, rear screen or side windows following an accident.
Personal accident cover can provide extra cover on the policy against injury and/or death caused by an accident. Most comprehensive policies will have some level of personal accident cover included as standard, the extra cover just enhances it.
Driving abroad cover offers a higher level of protection for when you're driving your van outside of the United Kingdom. It also covers you for a longer period compared to what's normally included in a standard policy (about 30 days standard).
Personal effects cover for the loss or damage of valuables that are carried or worn by the policyholder following an accident or theft from the van.
What level of van insurance is right for me?
Going with the lowest level of cover doesn't always mean you'll get the cheapest price. There are 3 levels of cover to choose from.
Does how I use my van affect my insurance quote?
There are 4 main ways to describe how you use your van. Here are the average prices1 for them.
Social only
£723.62
Social & commuting to work
£672.94
Business use
£1,909.88
Haulage
£723.62
11 Based on Confused.com data 1/5/20 - 31/5/20
Social only is suitable if you don’t use your van or pickup truck for anything to do with work. Sometimes also known as private van insurance, it covers things like visiting family or friends or shopping. This type of cover might mean you’re driving less than if you used it for work and that can be reflected in the cost of your insurance.
Social and commuting to work is needed if you use your van to get to one place for work and for social use.
Business use is suitable if you use your van to carry goods, tools or work equipment belonging to yourself, your business partner or your employer. For example, builders, shopkeepers or cleaners would need this type of cover.
Haulage is needed if you use your van to carry goods for hire and reward. This type of cover is usually more expensive because there’s a higher risk associated with carrying valuable or hazardous items. Delivery drivers, couriers and haulage contractors would need this type of cover.
It’s important to get the right type of insurance for how you use your van. Taking out the wrong type of van insurance is against the law and won’t protect you if you need to make a claim.
How can I make my van insurance cheaper?
Not in a rush? Getting a quote 22 days before your van insurance policy is due to start could save you up to £5712 compared to getting it on the day.
- Don’t auto-renew
- Build up a no-claims bonus (NCB)
- Let us know if you’re a member of a trade federation
- Increase your voluntary excess
- Add extra security
- Choose an older van
- Consider a black box policy
- Use a dashcam while you drive
Don't auto-renew your current policy. Staying with an insurer isn’t always the cheapest option, even if you haven’t had an accident or your details remain the same. This year’s renewal price can be more expensive than what you paid last year. To make sure you’re getting the best deal, compare prices before your policy is up for renewal.
A no-claims bonus (NCB), or no-claims discount, is a count of the number of years you haven't made a claim on your van insurance policy.
The amount that its worth varies from insurer to insurer, but a NCB of five years or more, for example, is likely to give you a significant discount on your insurance.
Member of a recognised trade federation? Let the insurer know, they could offer a discount.
Increase your voluntary excess as prices may fall if you're willing to pay a little more towards any claim.
Add extra security like a steering lock or immobiliser. Extra anti-theft devices make your van harder to steal and could also help lower your prices.
Choose an older, cheaper or less powerful van if you're still looking to buy, as they tend to cost less to insure.
Consider black-box van insurance and use an app on your phone or have a small telematics device fitted to your van to monitor your driving. The insurer uses the information on how and when you're driving to base your prices on, and reward good driving.
Use a dashcam while you drive to get a discount from some insurers. Discounts can vary and depend on you being able to supply footage following a claim.
Find more ways to cut the cost of your van insurance
2 Based on Confused.com data, average top quoted price July-October 2019.
Types of van insurance
Commercial van insurance
protects your van and its cargo if you use your van for haulage or business use.
Temporary van insurance
gives you cheap, short-term cover from 1 to 28 days for social and business use.
"Quite quick to fill in details, saved £60 on my insurance"
Garry - Confused.com customer (Nov 2020)
"Excellent service"
Leigh - Confused.com customer (Nov 2020)
"Easy to use, great van insurance price 👍"
Colin - Confused.com customer (Oct 2020)
"Great service and very straightforward to use"
Marcus - Confused.com customer (Oct 2020)
"Very good, I could choose exactly the cover I wanted, at less than half the price of my previous insurer"
Robert - Confused.com customer (Oct 2020)
Need more help?
What could affect the cost of my van insurance?
What you pay for your insurance policy depends on a number of things like your age, where you live and your driving history. Things about your van like how much it's worth (its value), whether it has any modifications (things like exhausts, body kits or alloys), how powerful it is and whether it has any extra security systems can also affect the cost.
Why are pick-up trucks classed as vans?
Pick-ups have a long wheelbase and often weigh more than 3.5 tonnes so are classed as vans instead of cars. In fact, 4x4s are often classed as vans too.
What's the difference between commercial and private van insurance?
Commercial insurance is also known as ‘business use' and lets you use the van for work if you're making deliveries or transporting tools and equipment. Private insurance doesn't cover using a van for work but lets you use the van for social, domestic or pleasure use.
Can I transfer my car's no-claims bonus to my van?
Yes. Most insurers allow you to transfer a no-claims bonus between different types of vehicle but it can only be used on one vehicle or insurance policy at any one time. Some insurers might also give you discounts for taking out a second policy with them. Check with your insurer first to find out if they offer a discount like that.
Can my no-claims bonus apply to a second van?
No. Your no-claims bonus can only apply to one van at a time. Insurers may offer discounts on insuring a second van by mirroring your no-claims bonus. If you find an insurer that allows your no-claims bonus to be applied to a second van, there's no guarantee of meeting their criteria. If this is important to you, it's worth checking with the insurer directly before taking out a policy.
Why are van insurance quotes higher for young drivers?
Insurers know younger van drivers tend to be less experienced than older drivers. They use historic claims data to find the groups of drivers more likely to have an accident and make a claim. Young drivers are one of these groups, so insurers adjust their insurance prices (usually higher) to cover the increased risk. Over time as you build up driving experience and NCB, your prices should start to come down. The type of van you drive can also affect how much you pay.
Can I add someone else to my policy
Yes you can normally add another driver to a van insurance policy. Just let your insurer know and they'll ask for the second driver's details. Remember though that if you add a less experienced driver your prices may go up. Some insurers might charge an admin fee too.
Can I put more than one van on my insurance policy?
Yes. Many insurers offer multi-van insurance. Putting more than one van on the same policy can often be cheaper than insuring each one separately. Unfortunately, we don't currently compare multi-van insurance but it's something we're hoping to offer in the future.
How old do I have to be to get van insurance?
You normally need to be 21 or over but some insurers will allow drivers age from the age of 18 to be added to a policy. When you get a quote we'll ask your date of birth so the list of prices you get back will be from insurers able to offer you van insurance based on your details.
How do I find out how much my van is worth?
To make getting a quote easier, we estimate the valuation of the van based on a few assumptions. If you disagree with the valuation you can enter it yourself manually.
If you've recently bought your van, you could use the price you paid for it as a guide. Be careful not to say it's worth more than it is as this can affect the insurance price. If your van is stolen or written off it will generally be worth the market value at the time of the claim.
What our van insurance expert says
We know from the thousands of quotes run every day that you'll usually see the best prices around three weeks before you want your policy to start. Don't worry if you're too early or left it too late though as there are plenty of other ways to save.
Daniel McCulloch
Head of van insurance
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