Do van modifications affect insurance costs?
Yes, van modifications do affect insurance costs. For example, you may have added some specialist racking for mountain bikes. This suggests there are bikes stored in the van regularly which poses a greater risk for the insurer, so the policy is likely to be higher.
This is often the case across the whole range of modifications from simply adding more seats to creating a fully functioning campervan with all the mod cons.
There’s no set figure for how a modification will affect the cost, but you should always be honest about the modifications made to your van.
How do I get cheaper modified van insurance?
Depending on the modifications you could see your insurance costing more, but you need to ensure you’re fully covered in the case of an accident or theft, or your insurer might not pay out.
Being organised is a simple way to save yourself some money. You could save up to £571 if you get a quote for your modified van 22 days before your policy start date, compared to getting a quote on the day1.
More ways to reduce the cost of your modified van insurance:
- Compare prices and don’t auto renew
- Build up a no-claims bonus
- Tell us if you’re a trade federation member
- Increase your voluntary excess
- Make your van more secure
- Consider black box van insurance
- Get a dashcam for your van
Compare prices and don’t auto renew. Staying with an insurer isn’t always the cheapest option, even if you haven’t had an accident or your details are the same. Compare prices before your policy is up for renewal to get the best deal.
Build up a no-claims bonus to shave pounds off your policy.
Tell us if you’re a trade federation member as some insurers could offer a discount.
Increase your voluntary excess if you’re willing to pay a little more towards any claim as you could see cheaper prices.
Make your van more secure by adding things like extra anti-theft devices.
Consider black box van insurance which involves having an app on your phone or having a small telematics device fitted to your van to track your driving habits.
Get a dashcam for your van as some insurers offer discounts if you’re able to supply footage following a claim.
For more ways to save, read about how to cut the cost of your van insurance
1Based on Confused.com data, average top quoted price July-October 2019.
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What insurance do I need for a modified work van?
If you’ve modified your van for your business you’ll need commercial van insurance.
When you get a quote you’ll see options for the type of van and what it’s used for. Most of these are classed as ‘interior changes’:
- Refrigeration
- Permanent catering equipment
- Tippers
- Lifting equipment
- Permanent dog grooming equipment
- Permanent jet washing equipment
You should declare all modifications, otherwise the policy could fail to pay out in the event of an incident.
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.
What our van insurance expert says
If you’ve got a modified van, there’s a good chance your price will be higher. Because the modifications are specific to your van, it’s worth speaking to the insurer to make sure they fully understand any changes you’ve made.
Daniel McCulloch
Head of van insurance
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