Compare van insurance

Whether you use your van for work or recreation, you’ll want to find the right cover for you. Compare cheap van insurance and keep all four wheels rolling smoothing.

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Louise Bastock

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Over the last decade, the number of vans on British roads has increased by 37%. And while insurance premiums have risen over the last few years, there are a number of ways you can save whilst still getting the right policy for you.

What is van insurance?

Van insurance is a separate type of cover specifically designed to protect your van. Third party cover is the minimum legal requirement for van insurance in the UK, and you will need to take out a different type of cover if you use your van for commercial purposes as opposed to recreation.

How to compare van insurance

  1. Consider how you use your van. Start by thinking about what you use your van for. Do you use it for work purposes (including driving to business locations) or as courier? Perhaps your van is solely for shopping trips and visiting family.
  2. For social use, compare regular policies. If you only use your van socially, for example, shopping or visiting family and friends you’ll need private van insurance, which comes in three cover levels: third party, third party fire and theft and comprehensive.
  3. For business use, compare commercial policies. commercial van insurance comes in three levels: carriage of own goods, carriage of goods for hire or reward and haulage. Depending on how you use your van for work, research the level of cover that best suits you.
  4. Shop around. Whatever your policy needs, research as many policies and providers as possible to find the best deals. According to Finder research, comprehensive policies can at times be cheaper than third party cover, so check the full range of policies to see if you can get a cheaper deal with a more extensive policy.
  5. Weigh up cost versus cover needs. The trick to finding the right policy is to balance the overall cost against your specific cover needs.

Do I need van insurance?

Yes. If you use your van strictly for recreation or as a substitute for a car, you are legally required to have at least third party cover in the UK. If you use your van for business purposes, you may need a form of commercial cover for your van — though commuting to a single place of work can often be covered under social, domestic, pleasure and commuting (SDP&C).

How much does van insurance cost?

Van insurance premiums have been rising in the last few years. Your premium will be affected by a number of personal and situational factors, but the average van insurance policy in the UK will set you back around £1,116 in 2021, according to insurance data specialist Consumer Intelligence.

How can I save on my van insurance?

  1. Don’t auto-renew. Make sure you compare quotes from other providers before allowing yours to renew each year. If you find a cheaper quote you might find that your current provider will match it or even offer a cheaper deal.
  2. Pay a higher excess. An excess refers to the amount you’ll contribute if you make a claim. As well as compulsory excess set by the insurance company there is voluntary excess. Increasing your voluntary excess signals to your insurer that your less likely to make a claim, helping to bring down your overall premium.
  3. Try a black box. Fitting your car with a blackbox or using a telematics app can significantly reduce your premium as long as you drive well. Poor and dangerous driving however will cause it to go up.
  4. Limit usage. If you’re able to do so, restricting certain high-risk drivers such as under 25s, seniors and learners from driving your van can lower your premium. Some insurers will also reduce your premiums if you cap the amount of time you’ll be using your van – in theory, less time of the road, means less risk.
  5. Add a named driver. Listing a more experienced driver can help to reduce your premium, particularly if they’re listed as the main driver. It’s important that you don’t list them as the main driver if they are not.
  6. Choose the right vehicle. The type of van you drive can significantly impact the cost of insurance. It’s worth spending time shopping around and comparing which vans you can get the cheapest premiums with.
  7. Build up a no claims bonus. Your driving record and no claims history are used to determine how likely you are to be involved in an accident. If you haven’t made any claims in the last 4-5 years insurers may offer you a ‘no claims bonus’, granting you a discount on your premium.
  8. Increase your van’s security Reducing the risk of your van being damaged or stolen is a great way to reduce your premium. Installing anti-theft devices or parking in a garage instead of on a main road is a great way to secure cheaper insurance.
  9. Compare, compare, compare. It pays to do your research. Shop around and compare quotes from different providers. If you find a better offer don’t be afraid to switch. Make sure that when comparing that the policies are like for like. Cheaper premiums may just reflect less cover.
  10. Take advantage of discounts Do your research and see if there are any deals on offer. Some providers might provide loyalty discounts or cheaper rates for new customers.

Image of a blue van alongside the stat: The average van insurance premium in the UK will set you back around £1,116 a year.

What types of van insurance are there?

  • Private. If you only use your van for social purposes like seeing friends and family or doing the weekly shop, you will need to take out private van insurance.
  • Carriage of own goods. This type of cover is for business vehicles in circumstances where you transport your own goods related to your trade, such as tools and equipment if you were a plumber, for example. You’ll also be covered for recreational and social use.
  • Carriage of goods for hire and reward. This type of cover includes the transport of goods for payment and would be suitable for delivery drivers.
  • Haulage. Haulage is similar to carriage of goods for hire and rewards, except that it does not cover you for the carriage of passengers for hire, say if you need to transport a team of workers to a site.

Given the new, recent tighter restrictions placed on areas all over the country, times still remain uncertain and so may well impact driving habits and, in turn, premiums. As always, though, premiums will be impacted by claim frequencies and severity.”

– Harriet Devonald, product manager at Consumer Intelligence

What are the different levels of van insurance cover?

There are three main types of cover for van insurance, as well as any driver insurance if your van is shared by multiple people. Each type offer different levels of coverage. It’s important you pick an options that suits your individual needs and aren’t just lured in by the cheapest one.

Third party

It is a legal requirement for all divers to at least be covered with Third Party insurance. This is the most basic form of protection and covers any damage or injury you cause to another party in an accident.

What is covered?
  • Injuries to others, including those in your van, other vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Damage to property or other vehicles.
  • The cost of legal claims against you.
What isn’t covered?
  • Accidental damage to your van.
  • Personal injury.
  • If your van is stolen.
  • If your van is damaged by fire.

Third party, fire & theft

This policy offers all the same as third party, plus any claims made against you as a result of an accident, protection of your van against fire and theft.

What is covered?
  • Injuries to others, including those in your van, other vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Damage to property or other vehicles
  • The cost of legal claims against you
  • Replacing your van if stolen
  • Damage to your van as a result of attempted theft or fire
What isn’t covered?
  • Other damage to your van
  • Cover for your personal injuries
  • A pay-out if your van is written off

Comprehensive cover

This is the most complete form of van insurance you can get. Comprehensive van insurance covers you for pretty much everything, except for that outlined in your policy exclusions. Some insurance companies offer a cheaper ‘stripped down’ comprehensive cover, which may exclude things such as windscreen cover.

What is covered?
  • Injuries to others, both in your van and other vehicles.
  • Damage to property or other vehicles.
  • The cost of legal claims against you.
  • Replacing your van if stolen.
  • Damage to your van as a result of attempted theft or fire.
  • Damage to your van.
  • Cover for your personal injuries.
What isn’t covered?
  • There may be some exceptions outlined in your policy exclusions.

Any driver

An alternative option is to get an ‘any driver policy’, often called fleet insurance. With this policy you don’t need to add any specific driver details as long as the driver has a clean driving history.

Most insurers will also require the driver to be over 25, however some providers will allow younger drivers. This is an ideal option if your van is is shared within a business.

The bottom line

You are legally required to have at least third party cover for your van in the UK. And, depending on what you use your van for, different types of cover will also apply. The average van insurance premium has increased by 197.9% since April 2014, but if you implement a few of our savings tips you could potentially save big on your cover. The key thing is to research as many policies and providers as possible to find the best cover at the best price for you.

Frequently asked questions

The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products we can track; we don't cover every product on the market...yet. Unless we've indicated otherwise, products are shown in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations), aren't product ratings, although we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it; this is subject to our terms of use. When making a big financial decision, it's wise to consider getting independent financial advice, and always consider your own financial circumstances when comparing products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Defaqto. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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Louise is an editor and spokesperson at Finder, specialising in a broad range of financial topics from first-time buyers to financial wellness. Her personal finance expertise has been featured in Closer Magazine, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Independent and more, and she has appeared on ITV News. You can check out her work across 500+ videos on Finder's YouTube channel, which has over 3 million views. In her free time, Louise can be found performing in comedy clubs across the UK or figuring out how to justify having a hot tub in her garden. See full bio

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Louise has written 12 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Financial wellness
  • First-time buyers
  • Millennial money
  • UK top trends
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