Do I need pick up insurance?
If you plan to drive your pick up truck on roads and in public places, you’ll need pick up insurance.
Because of their weight and range of uses, insurers class pick up trucks as vans rather than cars. This means you’ll need van insurance rather than car insurance to legally drive your pick up.
The policy that’s best for you will depend on a number of things, including the weight of the truck, what its usual cargo is and how it’s used day-to-day.
Generally, when classing its use, it’ll fall into one of two categories:
- Commercial use, if you use it for your business or for haulage
- Private use, if you use it socially or for commuting to work
If you’re unsure about the level of cover you need you can find out more about van insurance classes of use.
Using your pickup for work
If you use your pickup truck in connection with your work, you’ll need to take out a commercial insurance policy. When getting a quote, we’ll ask how you use your van. You should choose the option that’s most relevant to how you use your van.
Rather than have specific policies for pickups, insurers will usually treat your pickup truck in the same way as a van of similar size, offering similar policies, prices and level of cover options.
Depending on the insurer, commercial policies can be extended to cover carrying hazardous goods, specialist tools and materials, or equipment and modifications like winches and snorkels.
If you use your pick up for haulage, you might also want to look into goods in transit or courier policies, as they may offer better protection for your specific needs.
How do I get cheap pickup insurance?
There are a number of ways you can get cheaper insurance for your pickup:
- Choose a smaller, less powerful pickup truck
- Add extra security
- Don’t auto renew
- Build up a no-claims bonus
- Pay a higher voluntary excess
- Consider a black box policy
Choose a smaller, less powerful pickup truck. Typically, pickups under 3.5 tons are cheaper to insure. If your pickup does weigh more than this, it’s classed as a HGV and you’ll need truck insurance.
Add extra security to your pickup truck like anti-theft devices and immobilisers to deter potential thieves.
Don’t auto renew. Sticking with your current insurer isn’t always the cheapest option. Compare pickup truck insurance quotes to make sure you’re getting the best deal. You could save up to £2651.
Build up a no-claims bonus which could shave pounds off your insurance.
Pay a higher voluntary excess if you can, as it could bring your insurance cost down.
Consider a black box policy for your pickup. It uses a small telematics device installed to your truck or an app on your phone to monitor your driving. Your insurer may offer discounts if you prove to be a good driver.
1*51% of van insurance customers could save £251.88. Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (June '21).
What our van insurance expert says
It might seem obvious but adding extra security measures like alarms and trackers can make your pickup less prone to theft. As well as better security, the upshot of this is insurers then see it less of a risk and might offer you cheaper insurance.
Daniel McCulloch
Head of van insurance
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.
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Van insurance guides
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Van licence categories explained
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