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What is the best van insurance for young drivers?

The type of insurance you need depends on what you plan to use your van for.

When you apply for young driver van insurance you'll be given the following choices:

Social: This is the type of van insurance you'll need if you're only driving for social excursions and your own personal use. We're talking camping or fishing trips - not driving to work.
Social and commuting: If you'll also be driving to your place of work in your van you'll need to include cover for commuting as well as your own personal use.
Own goods: This is the option for people who are driving to multiple locations for work, like tradespeople. You'll also need to consider goods in transit insurance if you're also driving a lot of tools or equipment around in your van.
Carriage of goods for hire and reward: You'll only need this type of van insurance if you are using your van to make deliveries - couriers for example.

What level of cover should I choose as a young van driver?

Just like car insurance, there are three levels of van insurance cover to choose from: third-party, third-party fire and theft, and comprehensive. Each type gives you a different amount of protection.

Third-party is the legal minimum insurance required for your van. It covers the cost of repairing damage to other vehicles and property after an accident that was your fault. You are also protected if you injure somebody, including any passengers, but your van itself won’t be covered.
Third-party, fire and theft includes all of the cover provided above, along with protection if your van is stolen or damaged by fire.
Comprehensive policies provide the highest level of cover. They include all of the above, along with protection for your van if it’s damaged as a result of an accident that was considered your fault, or suffers malicious damage.

As a young van driver, chances are your priority is to save money. But, while third-party van insurance might sound like the cheapest option, always look at comprehensive van insurance for young drivers too. Sometimes there’s little difference in cost between third-party and comprehensive cover.

If you only have third party insurance and your van gets written off after accident or needs extensive repairs, you could be left with a hefty bill.

How do I compare young van driver insurance quotes?

Van insurance can seem confusing, especially when you’re buying it for the first time. However, it doesn’t have to be and with our help you can get a quote in as little as five minutes.

Fill out our quote form. We’ll ask you a few questions about you, your van and your driving history
We’ll compare up to 49 van insurance companies to help find the right policy at the right price.
We’ll show you a list of quotes to choose from. Here you can view prices monthly or annually and add features such as breakdown or windscreen cover
Once you’ve bought van insurance don’t forget to come back and choose a freebie with Confused.com Rewards.

Why is van insurance more expensive for young drivers?

Van insurance for younger drivers can be expensive. This is because younger van drivers have less experience and are more likely to be involved in an accident and make a claim on their policy.

But it's not just you and your driving experience that are taken into account in your van insurance quote.

As well as your age and driving experience, you van insurance company will also consider:

The van you are driving. Like cars, vans are placed into insurance groups, and the lower the group the cheaper the insurance is likely to be. Generally larger, vans with bigger engines are pricier to insure than compact models with less power.
Your address: Where you live and keep your van overnight can also impact your quote. Insurers will take into account crime rates in your area and are likely to offer you a cheaper quote if you are able to park it in a garage or on a drive, rather than on the street.
Past claims: If you've been involved in an accident and claimed on your car or van insurance your premiums could be higher.
Your job: If you work in a high risk industry and use your van for work this can also affect premiums

Get an understanding how insurance companies calculate your van insurance quote and it's possible to keep your costs down.

How do I get cheaper van insurance as a young driver?

There are a number of ways for young van drivers to keep the cost of their insurance down:

Choose the right van: if you've not already bought your van, choose one in a lower van insurance group. Small and compact will always be cheaper than large and powerful.
Shop around for van insurance each year: compare van insurance quotes with us when you first buy your van and every time you renew to ensure you always get best value for money. We compare car insurance quotes from up to 140 insurers to save you time and money.
Add extra security: think alarms, immobilisers and trackers. The harder you make it for thieves to steal your van, the cheaper your van insurance will be.

Increase your voluntary excess: the more you can pay towards the cost of a claim, the lower your van insurance quote will be. Just make sure it's not so high that you can't afford to claim on your van insurance.
Use a dash cam: if you can send video footage of accidents to support a claim, some insurers will give you a discount on your van insurance.
Adding a named driver: who is older and more experienced can bring the cost of your insurance down.
Consider telematics: black box insurance policies involve using a device that monitors how, when and where you drive. The safer your driving, the lower your insurance will be.

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Need more help?

What is considered a 'young driver' for van insurance?

Most van insurance companies will consider you a young van driver if you are under 25.

Is van insurance more expensive than car insurance for young drivers?

As a general rule vans are more expensive to insure than cars. This is largely because they are bigger and have more powerful engines, meaning they can cause more damage in a collision.

The fact they can carry a lot of expensive cargo can also make them more attractive to thieves.

What else do I need to know about getting van insurance?

It's really important that the details you give your insurer are accurate and that you you're open, honest and truthful.

If not, you risk your policy being invalidated and any claim could be rejected. For example you shouldn’t say you only use your van for private use if you use it for work as well, or attempt to hide any previous accidents or driving convictions.

Can a 17-year-old get insured on a van?

Yes they can, but 17-year-old drivers are likely to see some of the highest van insurance costs. A lot of insurers impose tight age limits on cover. Some insurers might only cover van drivers if they’re aged 21 or over.

Other insurers might not want the added risk. Research from Brake reveals that drivers aged 17-24 make up about 7% of UK licence holders and drive fewer miles than average – but they’re involved in 24% of fatal collisions.

Can a 20-year-old get insured on a van?

Any driver under 21 might have more of a struggle to get van insurance at a competitive price than older drivers. But, yes, 20-year-old drivers can get cover. If you were successful in getting a policy at 17 or 18 perhaps then you’ve had a chance to build up your no-claims bonus, which could help keep costs down.

But bear in mind it isn’t all about age. Any insurer might also be looking closely at your profession, driving history and whether you have any criminal convictions.

What insurance do I need to borrow a van?

If you want to borrow a van from a friend or family, temporary van insurance can cover you while you run your errands. You can get cover from anywhere between 1 hour to 28 days.

What our van insurance expert says

When working out their insurance prices, insurers use van insurance groups to categorise different vans. As a young driver, choosing to drive a smaller, less powerful, or expensive van in a lower insurance group could be a good way to find cheaper van insurance.

Dan McCulloch

Head of van insurance