1. Home
  2. Van insurance

Van insurance

Van insurance without the confusion: Compare, choose, and save!

Retrieve quote

Our expert panel reviews all content. Learn more about our editorial standards and how we operate.

  • You could save up to £630* on your van insurance

  • We’re rated ‘Excellent on Trustpilot and our customers rate us 4.7/5 on REVIEWS.io

  • We work with 56 van insurance companies1

*51% of van insurance customers could save £630.48 Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (December '23).

1Correct as of February, 2024

Compare cheap van insurance quotes in minutes

We understand the importance of protecting your van and your livelihood. If you're a small business owner, a tradesperson, or you just own a van, we're here to help you find the right policy.

Number 1 icon

Tell us about yourself, your van and what type of insurance you need

Number 2 icon

We'll show you offers from up to 56 insurers1

Number 3 icon

Choose your policy, including any extras, then go ahead and buy

Why van insurance matters

Van insurance is a legal requirement if you’re driving a van on public roads. It ensures you have the right cover in place to protect you, your passengers, business and any other drivers on the road. If you’re involved in an accident, van insurance helps cover the costs of any damage you cause to a third party, their vehicle, or their property.

With a variety of policies and providers available, you can choose the one that best suits how you use your van and your individual circumstances. Whether you're transporting goods, running a business, or simply driving for fun, we can help you find cover.

What type of van insurance do I need?

How you use your van dictates the type of insurance you need. Because many vans are used for business use, it’s important you choose the right type of cover to make sure you and your business are protected. There are 4 options:

Social only, also called private van insurance, is suitable if you don’t use your van or pickup truck for anything to do with work, including commuting. It covers things like visiting family and friends, shopping or transporting kit for a hobby.

Social and commuting is suited 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 protects your van  when you use it 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.

Haulage use 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.

Image showing classes of use selection panel in Confused.com's van insurance journey

Compare van insurance quotes from up to 56 companies1

Autonet logo
Admiral car insurance logo
Acorn logo
Brightside logo

What our van insurance expert says

"Don’t be surprised if your renewal price has gone up from last year. It’s a trend we’ve seen across car and home insurance as the number and cost of claims has gone up.

Insurers are looking to recoup some of these costs by passing them on to existing customers. That’s why it’s more important than ever to make sure you don’t accept your renewal offer without first shopping around. The good news is that’s where we can help."

Louise Thomas, Motor Insurance Expert at Confused.com
Motor Insurance Expert Confused.com logo

What are the different levels of van insurance?

There are 3 levels you can choose from:

  • Third-party only is the lowest level of cover. You’re insured against damage caused to someone else or their property, including your passengers. It doesn’t include cover against damage to your own van.
  • Third-party, fire and theft includes third-party protection and also covers your van for repair or a replacement costs 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 policies offers the most protection, it doesn’t always mean they're the most expensive. In fact, our data shows they can be as much as 31% cheaper than third-party fire and theft policies2.

2Based on Confused.com data April - June 2023

Why compare van insurance with Confused.com?

  • We're FCA regulated, just like the 56 insurers1 we work with. This means we follow their strict operational guidelines to do things right for you. So when you use our site, you know you’re in safe hands.
  • Millions of satisfied customers – Each year we help over 1 million people compare van insurance quotes. We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot and 4.7 / 5 on REVIEWS.io.

Year round hot drinks plus your choice of reward every time you buy van insurance**

How to claim

A cup of Greggs hot drink with a plus sign and a selection of Confused.com rewards

**Single annual policy. Shell Go+ account required. Only one £10 fuel reward can be used per transaction and each can only be used on fuel purchases of £10 or over. HelloFresh 18+ subscription service. Geographical exclusions apply. One regular hot drink per month for a year, only available via the Confused.com app. T&Cs apply

How much does van insurance cost?

Based on Confused.com data2, the average cost of van insurance is:

Social only

£596

Social & commuting

£624

Business use - carriage of own goods

£639

Business use - haulage

£1,779

2Confused.com data April - June 2023

How much you pay for your insurance depends on your circumstances. Insurers take consider several factors including your age, where you live, the van you drive and your driving history:

  • Your age - Younger drivers tend to be less experienced and are seen by insurers as being higher risk than older more experienced drivers
  • Where you live - Van drivers living in areas with more claims are more likely to pay more for their insurance than those living in areas with fewer claims
  • The van you drive - A van in a higher insurance group usually costs more to insure than one in a low group. The same goes for the value of the van. More expensive vans can be attractive to thieves and cost more to repair, so insurers charge more to cover them
  • Your driving history - Having driving convictions and points on your licence can make you a higher risk to insurers
  • Previous claims - Any claims you’ve made in the last 5 years will increase your level of risk. On the other hand,any no-claims bonus you have can help prove you’re a safe driver

How to save money on your van insurance

What you can do to save money

  • Pay annually if you can afford to. Choosing to pay monthly can cost 15%2 more as many insurers charge a fee to arrange a credit agreement. On an annual policy costing £596, that could cost you an extra £89 by choosing to pay monthly.
  • Don’t auto renew with your existing insurer without shopping around first. Insurance prices, including renewals, are going up for many drivers as insurers look to cover increasing costs. 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 your voluntary excess. You may see cheaper prices if you’re willing to contribute more to a claim. As a guide, the most common voluntary excess selected by Confused.com customers is £250. But remember there’s also a compulsory excess to pay that increases your total excess amount if you make a claim.
  • Add a named driver to your policy. 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 if you have one fitted to your van. Some insurers offer discounts 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.

What we do to help you save

  • We work with more providers than any other comparison site to offer you a wide choice when it comes to your next van insurance policy.
  • We negotiate the best deals and exclusive discounts with our van insurance partners. Look out for our special offers that are highlighted on the prices page when you get a quote.
  • We’ll let you know next year when your renewal is coming up, giving you plenty of time to find your next deal.
  • Our van insurance guides include lots of useful information and tips, including how to get cheaper van insurance.
  • We guarantee to beat your renewal3, and if we don’t we’ll match your quote and give you £20 on-top.

3Based on Confused.com data 1 May - 14 August 2023
4Single annual policy only. T&Cs apply. Must be a like-for-like policy.

Optional extras to enhance your cover

Adding extras or add-ons to your van insurance policy can give you more protection. 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.
  • 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.
  • Windscreen cover covers the repair or replacement of your van’s windscreen, side windows or rear window.
  • 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 of valuables such as mobile phones that are carried by the policyholder or stored securely in the van. Exclusions may apply.

Compare van insurance quotes

Explore other types of insurance

Vans come in all shapes and sizes, and how they’re used isn’t the same for everyone. If you’re looking for something other than standard van insurance, we’ve got you covered:

Our customers say:

Reviews.io 4.5 stars

Confused.com van insurance scores a 4.7 out of 5 rating
based on 11915 reviews as of 09/02/2024

Reviews logo white

Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer my car's no-claims bonus to my van?

Yes you can. Most insurers allow you to transfer a no-claims bonus between different types of vehicle.

You can usually only use your NCB on one vehicle or insurance policy at any one time, though. If you have more than one vehicle, insurers may offer discounts on insuring a second one by mirroring your no-claims bonus. This isn’t a guarantee though, so always check with the insurer directly before getting a policy.

What's the difference between commercial and private van insurance?

Commercial insurance is also known as business insurance and covers you to use your van for business related reasons.

Private insurance covers you to use your van for social use, like shopping and day trips. You can also extend it to cover commuting to a single place of work if you need to use your van to get back and forth to work.

Can I add other drivers to to my van insurance policy?

Yes. When you get a quote you’ll need to tell us some details about them including their name, date of birth, marital and employment status and their relationship to you.

Can I get black box insurance for my van?

Yes - similar to car insurance, some insurers offer black box van insurance policies. These policies can be a good way for younger or less experienced drivers to get cover and be rewarded for safe driving.

Will my van be insured to drive abroad?

Yes, most van insurance policies include third-party cover as a minimum to drive in EU countries. Cover usually includes a maximum of 30 days in any one period.

If you’d like a higher level of cover or cover for a longer period, you can usually add it to your policy for a fee by speaking to your insurer.

Will my goods or tools be covered by van insurance?

Not as standard on private van insurance policies. If you want to cover your tools, you need to include tool cover as an add-on to your policy or buy a specific tool insurance policy.

If you take out a business policy that includes carriage of own goods, this can cover any personal items, tools or goods related to your business. It doesn’t cover goods that are being carried in return for a fee. For these you need cover for haulage use, which is also known as hire and reward insurance.

Show more

Van insurance guides

Page last reviewed: 9 February 2024

Reviewed by: Louise Thomas