Best van insurance companies in 2023

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EU cover

More Than van insurance

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Cheapest quotes

The Van Insurer

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Premium cover

Admiral van insurance

Whether you use your van for work purposes or not, you must have at least third party insurance to legally drive it on UK roads. However, it is recommended you get a more comprehensive policy than that, to protect your vehicle against damage or theft.

Some of the best van insurance companies in the UK

• Axa. Axa is a major insurer, offering a range of products, including car, landlord and home insurance. For van insurance, you can choose from a personal, courier or business policy. Exact specs vary by type of cover, but all include a guaranteed courtesy van. Other features include uninsured driver promise, 93 days of EU cover and cover for personal belongings and audio equipment.
• More Than. More Than was launched in 2001 and provides a range of insurance products, including car, pet and home. The company offers two levels of van insurance – third party, fire & theft and comprehensive. Both cover levels include personal accident, but courtesy van and EU cover are optional extras. You can get up to 15% discount for insuring multiple vans.
• The Van Insurer. As the name suggests, The Van Insurer is a specialist company – it compares van insurance policies to find the lowest price. There are a variety of van insurance products on offer, including any driver, business, temporary and private. You can also take out a policy tailored to a specific trade, like plumber or builder. You can choose from the three standard van insurance cover options – third party only, third party fire & theft and comprehensive.
• RAC. RAC is best known as a recovery service offering breakdown cover to vehicles. However, the company also offers general car and van insurance policies. All policies include emergency cover and legal expenses as standard. Optional extras you can add to your policy include breakdown cover, tools in transit and replacement van (in case yours is damaged or stolen).
• Direct Line. Van cover for Direct Line is offered through the company’s business insurance section. Direct Line for Business was set up in 2007 and offers a range of insurance specifically designed for small businesses. The company’s van insurance comes in the choice of a comprehensive policy, which includes third party EU cover, or just third party, fire & theft. You can add up to five drivers on one policy and there are no admin fees if you want to make changes.
• Zenith. Zenith has been providing insurance to the UK since 1937. As well as van insurance, Zenith offers car insurance to both learner drivers and full driver’s licence holders. The company’s comprehensive policy comes with a courtesy van, personal belongings cover, key cover and windscreen cover included. Optional extras like tools in transit and breakdown cover are available. You can make amendment to your policy through the online portal for free and claim lines are open 24/7.

How to find the best van insurance

1. Whenever you’re looking for insurance cover, your first step should be to shop around and compare van insurance policies.
2. When comparing policies, it’s easy to just go with the cheapest option, but cheapest doesn’t mean best. When you shop around, consider your requirements and make sure the policy you go with has them included. For example, if you want a van policy that provides you with a replacement van if yours is damaged or stolen, take out a policy that includes a courtesy van as standard.
3. When you’ve chosen your provider, go through the application process. Always be completely honest when taking out insurance, as any inaccuracies can invalidate your policy entirely.
4. When you’ve taken out the cover, download your policy documents and keep them in a safe place (whether that’s on your desktop or printed copies in your home or office). Have them somewhere you can access in case you need to make a query or a claim.
5. Make a note of the claim line number for your provider in your phone or on a piece of paper in your van (preferably both), for use in case of an emergency.

Bottom line

To legally drive any vehicle on UK roads, you must have at least third party insurance cover. For van insurance, many providers don’t offer this level of cover as an option, so you might have to take out third party, fire & theft instead.

That said, you should consider taking out a comprehensive van insurance policy, especially if you rely on your van for your livelihood. Some comprehensive policies come with a courtesy van as standard and cover driving in the EU.

When looking for the best value deal for your needs, don’t just look at the price. Consider how you use your van and go with the insurer that best aligns with your requirements.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I get the best rates on my van insurance?

  The best way to get the best value deal for your personal circumstances is to shop around and compare policies.

  Remember, cheapest isn’t always best, so make sure the policy you take out has sufficient cover levels and the right features for your needs.

• How many vans can I include under my van insurance policy?

  Most insurers allow you to add more than one van to your policy, with many offering multi-van discounts.

  Some companies may limit the number of vans you can add to a single policy. Specialist van and business providers might be more flexible, so check with them if you want to cover a fleet of vehicles.

• Can I cover commercial vans?

  Yes. Most insurers offer a range of van insurance products, including cover for commercial vehicles. There are many providers around that specialise in business cover (including for cars and properties), so they might be a good place to start.

  If you use your van for commercial purposes, you must disclose this to your insurer from the outset. Otherwise you risk invalidating your policy altogether.

• Can I cover modified vans?

  Yes. Some providers do offer cover for modified vans, but you must tell your insurer that you have modified your van when you take out a quote. Failing to do this can invalidate your entire policy.