Temporary van insurance

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What is temporary van insurance?

Temporary van insurance is a short term, comprehensive insurance policy to protect you and your van for between 1 hour and 28 days.

Unlike conventional van insurance, short term and temporary van insurance policies allow you to get comprehensive cover to drive a van, just for the period you need.

If driving a van is something you do rarely, it’s a great way to get comprehensive insurance protection at a price that reflects the amount you drive.

When would I need temporary van insurance?

There are times when you may want to consider taking out a temporary van insurance policy:

If you drive for work, but only occasionally, like if you’re self-employed and need to move some goods for instance, a temporary policy can be cheaper than a full 12-month policy. But be aware, you’ll need to SORN your van while it’s uninsured.

If you're moving home and have a lot of items to transport. Borrowing or hiring a van can help speed things up, but you’ll need a valid insurance policy to drive on UK roads.

If you're moving larger items like white goods or furniture.

If you're test driving a new van you might be able to get temporary cover that starts straight away.

If you're driving a new van home, temporary insurance offers you cover straight away and could buy you some time while you shop around for longer term insurance.

What does temporary van insurance cover?

Temporary van insurance gives you all the cover you’d get with annual van insurance.

Exactly what you’re covered for can differ from policy to policy, but most temporary insurance will cover you for:

Theft if your van is stolen
Repair or replacement costs if your van is damaged in an accident, by fire or vandalism
Claims from third parties
The cost of replacing your personal belongings depending on your insurer, as well as your policy
Driving in the EU, although again this depends on your insurer
Damage you inflict on a third party whether that's their property or their vehicle, even if you're at fault

What isn't covered by temporary van insurance?

Like a 12-month van insurance policy, there are certain things that won't be covered by a temporary insurance policy. These include:

Driving other vehicles
Additional drivers
Releasing the van from an impound
Any damage to trailers
Any personal belongings or tools

Driving other vehicles. You’ll only be covered for the van that’s listed under the policy.

Additional drivers. Only the policyholder will be covered.

Releasing the van from an impound will be down to the policyholder. Any fees won’t be covered by your policy.

Any damage to trailers being towed by the van.

Any personal belongings or tools being carried in the van.

Find cover for your van in minutes

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Types of van insurance

Private van insurance

protects your van for social use and commuting to work.

Young driver van insurance

helps younger drivers get cover to drive a van.

Fleet van insurance

provides cover for multiple vans under the same policy.

Modified van insurance

covers vans that have had modifications like extra seats or storage added.

Commercial van insurance

protects your van and its cargo if you use your van for haulage or business use.

Goods in transit insurance

protects your van and its cargo for haulage use.

Pickup truck insurance

protects pickups for social, business and haulage use.

Pros and cons of temporary van insurance

If you’re only driving a van as a one off or on an occasional basis, short term van insurance could be cheaper and more flexible than standard year-long cover.

But there are pros cons to any policy. For temporary van insurance these include:

Pros

Only pay for the cover you need
Protected no-claims bonus on any other vehicles you own
Arrange cover in minutes

Cons:

Less convenient than annual cover if you drive regularly
Not all benefits you’d get on a 12-month policy are included
Can work out more expensive than an annual policy

Which types of van can be insured?

When getting a quote, you can select from the following body types:

Van
Tipper
Pickup – single cab
Refrigerated/insulated
Pickup – double cab
Motorcaravan
Box van
Horsebox
Luton van
Vans up to 5 seats in total

It’s vital you select the correct van body type for the van you are insuring. Getting it wrong could mean you pay more, or worse, invalidate your cover.

What do I need to get a temporary van insurance quote?

Here's what you'll need to get a quote:

Personal details

Your name and address
Your licence details
What you’re going to be using the van for - for example, social and domestic use or business use
Full payment details

Van details

Details of the van you’d like insurance for
How long you’d like cover for
The date and time you’d like cover to begin

What type of cover is available?

Depending on how you use it, you can insure your van for:

Social, domestic and pleasure use
Commuting, plus social, domestic and pleasure use
Carriage of own goods in connection with your business
Courier or haulage use

Find out more about the different classes of use for van insurance.

Can you get temporary van insurance for longer than a month?

Temporary van insurance policies typically only last for up to a month. However, you can buy as many as you like back to back, so if you need cover for multiple months in a row, this is a potential solution.

However bear in mind that this may not be the most cost effective way to get cover. If you think you'll be driving frequently, a standard van insurance policy might work better.

Who is temporary van insurance good for?

Temporary van insurance can be useful for a range of different drivers, including:

Small business owners or sole traders who only need a van occasionally
People hiring or borrowing a van to move home
Students or their a family members moving their things to university
Anyone delivering or collecting large items with a borrowed van.

Van insurance guides

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Having insurance for your van is a legal requirement. But it doesn't mean you have to pay over the odds for decent cover.

How to improve your van's security

Improving the security of your van can not only make it more secure but also help bring the cost of insurance down.

The best pickup trucks 2020

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Van licence categories explained

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See all van insurance guides

Confused.com’s temporary cover solution is provided by Tempcover LTD. Tempcover LTD are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 746985. Tempcover LTD is registered in England No. 9923259 at office: 2nd floor, Admiral House, Harington Way, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 4BB. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives a percentage of commission received by Tempcover LTD.

Temporary van insurance

Find short term cover for your van in minutes

The average cost for a one day temp van policy is just £48*

Get covered instantly if you need a policy to start immediately

Buy cover up to 28 days in advance

Flexible cover and no lengthy contracts

What is temporary van insurance?

When would I need temporary van insurance?

What does temporary van insurance cover?