Van Insurance Guide



Commercial Van Insurance

Commercial van insurance comes in a number of shapes and sizes, depending on your requirements. Here are a few examples of the uses you might need your van insurance to cover:

  • Transport of own goods
  • Courier and light haulage - transport of other people’s goods
  • Transport of tools and equipment for your business
  • Mobile workshop, etc.

As a rule, if the van is owned by the business or primarily used for business activities, you will need a commercial van insurance policy. It’s important you specify accurately and honestly the use to which the van will be put - using the van in a way that isn’t covered by your insurance could result in your insurance cover being invalid.

Commercial van insurance also makes it easier for you to cover multiple drivers and multiple vehicles.



Private Van Insurance

If you happen to own a van as a private vehicle - you might need it for a hobby or to transport your dogs, for example - then you will need private van insurance. This is equivalent to the insurance you have on a private car.

Not all car insurance companies will provide private van insurance, but some do. Don’t be talked into having a commercial van insurance policy if your van is for private use - they aren’t the same thing.

Private van insurance does not necessarily exclude business use, but there will be more restrictions than with commercial vehicle insurance. The idea is that your van is primarily a private vehicle - business use is secondary, just like with private car insurance.

If your vehicle is primarily used for the purposes of a business, you may need commercial van insurance instead.



Minibus Insurance

If you own a minibus and are using it for commercial purposes, then specialist minibus insurance is a must.

Minibus insurance covers uses such as:

  • ‘Any driver’ policies
  • Private and public hire use
  • Charity, nursing home, school and other non-hire use

Minibus insurance can also be arranged with suitable breakdown cover for a minibus and with cover for European use.