Van insurance

Van-tastic cover for personal or business use

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Taking out a policy with us could save you up to £741 a year1

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What is van insurance?

Van insurance is legally required if you drive a van on UK roads. It helps cover the cost of accidents, theft and damage.

The cover you’ll need depends on:

  • How often you use your van

  • The type of van

  • Whether it’s for personal or business use

  • Whether you need to insure one van or a fleet.

Did you know?

Van insurance groups are being replaced by the Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR).

It scores vans from 1 (low risk) to 99 (high risk) across performance, damageability, repairability, safety and security.

The lower the score, the cheaper your van could be to insure. It applies to new van models registered since 1 August 2024 – older vans keep their existing insurance group.

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How much is van insurance?

Our customers are typically quoted less than the following for their van insurance:

£6232
per year
£51.902
per month (excluding interest)

2 51% of our customers were quoted less than £622.84 a year for their van insurance, or £51.90 per month.

How much is van insurance for younger drivers?

Younger, less experienced drivers tend to pay more for insurance than other groups. If you're a driver aged under 25, van insurance could cost around:

£1,5953
per year
£132.893
per month (excluding interest)

3 51% of our young drivers were quoted less than £1,594.62 a year for their van insurance, or £132.89 per month.

What affects the cost of van insurance?

Your premium will depend on a range of factors, including the van you have and how you use it.

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The type of van you own

Lower insurance group vans usually cost less to insure than those in a higher group, or more expensive models.

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What you use your van for

You may pay a higher premium if you use your van for business, for example transporting high-value goods.

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How far you drive it

The more you drive, the higher your risk of an accident. With a lower annual mileage, you might pay less, but it’s important to be honest about your mileage or it could affect a future claim.

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Your driving history

Past claims and driving convictions can push up the cost of your premium. Younger inexperienced drivers should also expect to pay more than an experienced driver with a clean driving history.

Bear in mind...

Under-declaring how you use your van might shave a bit off your premium, but it could invalidate your cover.

Drive outside your declared class of use and your insurer can turn down a claim, or even cancel your policy.

What are the van insurance classes of use?

There are four van insurance classes of use: social, domestic and pleasure; social and commuting; carriage of own goods; and haulage or hire and reward.

Your class of use tells your insurer how you use your van, and is one of the biggest things affecting what you pay.

Class of use

What it covers

Who it’s typically for

Social, domestic and pleasure

Personal trips only – the shops, the school run, days out and hobbies. It doesn’t include driving to work

Anyone whose van is purely a personal vehicle

Social and commuting

The above, plus driving to and from one regular place of work

Someone who drives to one fixed workplace and uses the van for personal use the rest of the time

Carriage of own goods (business use)

Carrying your own tools, stock, materials or waste for your trade, plus travel between different sites

Tradespeople such as plumbers, electricians, builders, and gardeners

Haulage or hire and reward

Being paid to transport other people’s goods, whether that’s one big drop or lots of smaller ones

Couriers, delivery drivers, removals and man-with-a-van services

How does class of use affect the cost of van insurance?

Generally, the more you rely on your van to earn a living, the more you’ll pay.

Social use only tends to be cheapest, with commuting and carriage of own goods costing a little more.

Haulage and courier cover is usually the priciest, as you’re on the road more often and carrying other people’s goods.

Bear in mind...

Carriage of own goods covers your own tools and stock – not deliveries to customers. If you’re paid to move someone else’s goods, even occasionally, you’ll need haulage or courier cover.

And commuting means one fixed workplace. If you travel between different sites, that’s classed as business use.

What level of van insurance do I need?

As with car insurance, there are three main types of cover – third-party only, third-party, fire and theft, and comprehensive.

Third-party only

  • Third-party only is the minimum level of cover you’ll need to legally drive on UK roads

  • It can protect you if you injure someone or damage their vehicle while driving

  • It won’t cover repairs to your own van, theft or personal medical expenses following an accident.

Third-party, fire and theft

  • This includes everything covered under third-party

  • It could also pay out if your van is stolen or damaged by fire.

Comprehensive

  • Comprehensive van insurance offers the highest level of cover

  • It should include all the cover of a third party, fire and theft policy

  • It can also cover the repair of your own van if it’s in an accident or vandalised.

What does comprehensive van insurance cover?

Typically covered

  • Damage or injuries to other people

  • Fire and flood damage

  • Theft of your van

  • Repair costs to your own van

  • Replacement costs if your van is written off

Not typically covered

  • Theft from an unlocked van

  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

  • Someone uninsured driving your van

  • Driving with an invalid licence

  • General wear and tear

Quick tip

Many people assume that comprehensive insurance is always the most expensive because it offers the most protection.

But comprehensive cover can be cheaper than third-party, so it’s worth getting a quote for all levels of cover to compare your options.

What information do I need to compare van insurance?

To start a van insurance comparison, you’ll need to give us some information about yourself and your van:

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Your vehicle details

Including the registration number, make and model, any modifications (all in your V5C document) and how you use your van (for example, for business or leisure).

Your details

Your personal details

Including your name, age, address and job.

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Your driving history

Including any no-claims discount you’ve built up, any driving convictions and previous claims history.

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Amy Rootham

What our expert says...

"High inflation and rising vehicle repair costs have been the main drivers of van insurance price hikes in recent years. Average quoted premiums increased by over 4% in the second quarter of June 2026, according to data from Consumer Intelligence.

"The way you use your van can also have a big impact on price. Anything business-related tends to come with a higher cost. Your age and driving history also play a role in your premiums.

"Don't simply auto-renew your van policy. Shop around and see if you can find a cheaper deal and compare quotes with what your current provider has offered."

Amy Rootham, Insurance expert

How to get a cheaper van insurance quote

If you’re looking for the cheapest van insurance, there are a number of things you can do, from amending your excess to making your van more secure. Here are some suggestions to help reduce costs:

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At a glance: other types of van insurance

There are a range of specialist cover options, depending on what type of van you have and what you use it for.

Type of van insurance

Who it’s for

What it typically covers

Private van insurance

Drivers who use their van for social, domestic or pleasure purposes

Non-business activities, such as hobbies or personal transport

Commercial van insurance

People using their van for work, commuting or travelling to more than one business location

Carriage of own goods (tools of your trade) and haulage (goods you’re delivering).

Haulage van insurance

Drivers delivering goods

Transporting goods over long distance, typically to one fixed destination

Courier van insurance

Couriers making multiple deliveries

Goods in transit, plus options like public liability and employers’ liability cover

Pickup insurance

Drivers using a pickup truck

Transporting goods for either business or leisure

Temporary van insurance

Short-term drivers – borrowing, test-driving, sharing driving or insuring a temporary worker

Flexible cover from an hour to 28 days

Black box (telematics) van insurance

Often suitable for younger drivers

Uses a 'black box' to monitor driving behaviour and reward safe driving

Electric van insurance

Drivers of electric or plug-in hybrid vans

Tailored to electric vehicles

Specialist van insurance

Drivers with convictions or modified vans

Non-standard risks (specialist insurance)

Fleet van insurance

Businesses insuring multiple vans

One policy covering several vehicles with one renewal date. You can’t currently compare multi-van policies with Compare the Market.

Minibus insurance

Drivers transporting passengers

Based on number of seats and vehicle use

Van insurance upgrades and additional cover

You might want to increase your cover by adding optional extras or taking additional insurance. You’ll have to pay to add them to your policy, so think carefully about what you really need.

Car with legal contract

Motor legal cover 

Motor legal cover could:

  • Take care of the legal costs for you and your passengers If you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault

  • Cover disputes when buying or selling a vehicle or defending yourself if you’re accused of a motoring offence.

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Courtesy van

Gives you a van to use if yours is being repaired following an accident.

Check your policy details though, as the courtesy car or van could be significantly different in type and size to the van you own.

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Breakdown cover

Breakdown cover can help you to get back on the road or get you towed to a garage if your van breaks down.

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Public liability insurance

If you’re self-employed, public liability insurance could cover claims made by members of the public who’ve been injured due to your actions at work.

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Employers’ liability insurance 

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal must-have if you employ any staff. It could cover claims of negligence made against you by your employees.

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Tool insurance

Tool insurance could cover the cost of replacing your tools and equipment if they are damaged, lost or stolen. But always check that your tools aren't already covered under a comprehensive policy.

You can’t currently compare tool insurance with Compare the Market.

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Misfuelling cover

Misfuelling insurance could cover the cost of draining and cleaning your tank if you put in the wrong type of fuel.

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Personal belongings cover

This could cover your possessions if they’re stolen or damaged while in your van. Watch out for limits and exclusions though.

What happens if I need to claim?

If you need to claim on your van insurance, let your provider know as soon as you can. Here's how the process typically works:

Report the incident

Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible and explain what’s happened.

Report the accident to the police if anyone was injured or you believe a serious offence has been committed.

Gather evidence and start your claim

Take photos of any damage to vehicles and swap details with anyone involved – including witnesses.

Next, submit your claim. This only applies if claiming for damage on a comprehensive policy.

Your claim is assessed and settled

Your insurer will assess the damage and review your claim.

If the van can’t be repaired, or repairs cost more than it’s worth, you’ll usually be given a write-off cash settlement.

More on van insurance

Find out more about van insurance, including cover options and how to compare policies

Female delivery driver driving van
Business van insurance
Business cover can insure tools, stock and everyday work journeys
Temporary van insurance
You can arrange short-term cover for borrowing, moving or temporary jobs
Young driver van insurance
See our tips to cut the cost of insuring a van if you're a young driver
Private van insurance
This covers drivers who use their van for personal rather than business use
See our van insurance guides

FAQs

Do I need van insurance?

Yes, by law, you must have at least third-party insurance in place all year round for any vehicle you drive, even if:

  • You only use your van occasionally

  • It’s left in a yard most of the time.

The only situation where you won’t need cover is if you declare your van as off road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).

Most vans won’t be covered by standard car insurance, so you’ll more than likely need to take out van insurance to get the cover you need.

Can I add additional drivers to my van insurance policy?

Yes, you can add additional drivers to your van insurance.

Bear in mind that:

  • Adding a more experienced driver to your policy could give you cheaper van insurance

  • On the other hand, adding a less experienced driver might bump up your premiums.

One important thing to watch out for is fronting. This is where a more experienced driver is listed as the main driver of a vehicle when they’re not. It’s classed as fraud and could invalidate your insurance.

If you only need to add another driver for a short period, you may find it’s cheaper to get temporary van insurance.

Can my company van be insured under the company name?

Yes. If your business van is registered to or owned by your company, it can be insured under your business name.

What types of vans can I get a quote for?

As well as panel vans, we also offer insurance for pickup vans and tippers. You can also compare insurance for:

  • Crew cabs

  • Transit vans

  • Livestock vans

  • Curtainside vans

  • Dropside vans.

If you’ve modified your van, we can help you compare quotes for that too.

Am I insured to drive my van abroad?

Yes, you’re likely to be insured to drive your van in EU countries. But most policies only give you minimum third-party cover for driving abroad.

Before you travel:

  • Check your policy to see what level of cover you have

  • See if you need to extend your policy to include foreign use cover (for an extra charge), if it’s not included as standard in your policy.

Many commercial van insurance policies also include cover for business travel abroad, or you can add it for an extra cost.

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Amy Rootham
Reviewed 27 Aug 2026 by Amy Rootham Insurance expert

Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.

Methodology

1 Based on online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during May 2026, 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their Van insurance through Compare the Market.

2 51% of our customers were quoted less than £622.84 a year for their van insurance, or £51.90 per month.

3 51% of our young drivers were quoted less than £1,594.62 a year for their van insurance, or £132.89 per month.