Courier insurance, also known as haulage, exists to protect you as a courier, as well as your van and its cargo.

Couriers often transport valuable goods for their clients, so spend a lot more time on the road compared to the average driver. This means they’re exposed to more risks, which standard insurance policies may not cover.

Courier insurance is designed to cover the unique risks that couriers face, including:

• High daily mileage
• Multiple delivery stops
• Varied contents and value of cargo

This kind of policy could cover you if your cargo is lost, stolen or damaged in transit.

Need car courier insurance instead? Look for 'commercial travelling' when getting a car insurance quote.

There are 3 levels of cover to choose from for your courier van insurance. Comprehensive cover gives you to most protection but it isn’t necessarily the most expensive.

• Third-party only is the lowest level of cover. With it you’re insured against any damage you might cause to someone else or their property, including your passengers. It doesn’t include damage to your own van.
• Third-party, fire and theft is the same as third-party but also covers your van for repairs or a replacement if it’s stolen or damaged by fire.
• Comprehensive gives you the most protection, covering you and your van as well as other people and their property. Although comprehensive offers the most protection, it doesn’t mean it’s the most expensive.

There are several things you can do that could save yourself some money on courier van insurance:

• Consider a black box policy
• Improve your van’s security
• Use a dashcam while you drive
• Increase your voluntary excess
• Don’t auto-renew

Consider a black box policy for your van, it uses a telematics device to monitor your driving. If you prove to be a good driver your insurer might offer discounts on your premium. Some black box policies also include vehicle tracking, which could be useful if your van gets stolen.

Improving your van’s security could help you get a cheaper premium by making your van and the goods you carry less prone to theft.

Use a dashcam while you drive. If there’s an incident it’s easier to find which driver was at fault. Some insurers offer savings for this extra transparency.

Increasing your voluntary excess could bring down your insurance premium but you’re likely to pay more upfront if you need to make a claim.

Don’t auto-renew. Unfortunately, insurers don’t always reward loyalty with cheaper prices. To make sure you’re getting the best deal on courier van insurance, compare quotes before your renewal is due.

Find other ways to reduce the cost of your van insurance.

Yes, hire and reward insurance falls under courier van insurance. Hire and reward insurance protects the goods you’re delivering for other people.

If you’re a courier, part of a removal company, deliver furniture, or anyone who carries something on behalf of someone else for a fee, this insurance is essential. It covers the goods if they’re damaged or stolen. By having this type of insurance, you can be assured that if the worst did happen, you wouldn’t lose thousands of pounds.

When you get a quote we’ll ask you what you use the van for. If you need hire and reward cover included, select ‘Haulage use – delivering goods for hire and reward’.

We’ll also ask you on average how many deliveries you make each day.