Van insurance
Van insurance for less, no stress
- Meerkat your van insurance to save up to £474 per year[1]
- Plus, enjoy a year of fantastic rewards, on us*
[1] Based on online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during February 2023. 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their Van insurance through Compare the Market.
We compare prices from 31 trusted van insurance providers[2], including:
[2] Correct as of March 2023.
What is van insurance?
Van insurance is a separate type of cover to car insurance, and is tailored to protect your van against the risks of being on the road. But, just like car insurance, by law you must have at least third-party insurance for your van.
You’ll need a different type of insurance depending on how you use your van, what type of van it is and whether it’s for private or business/commercial use.
How to get cheaper van insurance
If you’re looking for ways to get cheaper van insurance, there are several things you can do:
Compare van insurance quotes
One of the quickest ways to get cheap van insurance is to compare quotes with Compare the Market. Don’t just automatically renew your policy with your existing provider. We can compare a wide range of insurance providers, allowing you to choose which one has the right level of cover for a great price.
Build a no-claims discount
Providers offer a discount based on the number of years you’ve been driving without making a claim. If you’re not sure how many you have, it’s likely to be on a renewal reminder or a cancellation letter from your current insurance provider.
Increase your voluntary excess
Voluntary excess is how much you choose to pay upfront if you make a claim. The higher this figure is, the lower the cost of your insurance policy (your premium) may be. Providers usually add a compulsory excess too, so do check you can afford the total amount as you’ll have to pay both excesses.
Improve security
Vans with extra security features, like an approved alarm, immobiliser and/or tracker, could be cheaper to insure. But before spending money on improving your van's security, check with your provider to make sure it will be worthwhile.
Don’t over-insure
If you over-estimate the value of your van, or include unnecessary add-ons, you’ll likely pay more. Always consider optional extras carefully to avoid over-paying, while ensuring you have the right level of cover you need.
Drive fewer miles
Spending less time on the road means you’re a lower risk for providers, who may offer cheaper cover.
Pay upfront
Paying for your van insurance in monthly instalments usually costs more overall, as it effectively acts as a loan repayment and includes interest. By paying your insurance annually, you’ll normally make a decent saving.
How much does van insurance cost?
According to Compare the Market data:
The average annual van insurance premium is £665[3]
The average annual van insurance premium for drivers aged 17-24 is £1,741[4]
Your premium will depend on a wide range of things, including:
- the type of van you own
- what you want to use your van for
- how far you drive it
- where the van is kept
- your driving history
[3] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £664.86 for their van insurance in March 2023.
[4] 51% of our young drivers were quoted less than £1,740.66 for their van insurance in March 2023.
Why compare van insurance with Compare the Market?
We search van insurance from 31 leading providers[2]
51% of customers could save up to £474[1]
Insurance for all van types
[2] Correct as of March, 2023.
[1] Based on online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during February 2023. 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their Van insurance through Compare the Market.
Don’t just take our word for it, join thousands of other happy savers who Compare the Market
As of April 2023, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 27,220 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.8 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’. Find out more
Types of van insurance cover you can choose
Temporary van insurance
If you’re borrowing a van, test-driving a vehicle, need cover for a temp worker or are sharing the driving on a trip, short-term van insurance is a way of only paying for the cover you need. It can give you cover for anything from an hour to 28 days. Just get a quote from our partner Tempcover.
Pickup insurance
Whether you’re using your pickup van for business, to carry hobby equipment like fishing gear, or to drive your family around, we can help you find the right insurance deal for you.
Black box (telematics) van insurance
Having your driving monitored by a ‘black box’ fitted in your van could make your van insurance cheaper – especially if you’re a young or inexperienced driver. What’s more, telematics acts as a tracker, so it could help if your van is stolen.
Specialist van insurance
Not all vans – and not all van drivers – are the same, and some need specialist insurance. If you’re a young driver, a driver with convictions or you have a modified van, we could help you find the cover you need.
Electric van insurance
The number of battery electric and plug-in hybrid vans on the road is growing year on year. If your van is one of them, we can help you compare electric van insurance deals and find the right one for you.
Courier van insurance
Courier van insurance comes as a tailored package, where you can add cover for the goods you deliver, as well as public liability and employers’ liability cover. We’ll take you through how it works and how to get a quote.
What level of van insurance cover do I need?
If you’re looking for the best van insurance for you, there are three main types of policy for van owners: third-party-only insurance, third party, fire and theft insurance, and comprehensive van insurance.
Comprehensive van insurance
In terms of protection, comprehensive offers the highest level of van insurance cover. This includes all the cover of a third party, fire and theft policy, along with cover for the repair of your own van if it’s in an accident or vandalised.
Third-party, fire and theft
This offers the same protection as third party, but also covers the cost of repairs or a replacement vehicle if your van is stolen or damaged by fire.
Third-party only
This is the minimum level of cover you’ll need to legally drive on UK roads. It covers you for any damage you may cause to other people and their vehicles. But it won’t cover repairs to your own van, theft or personal medical expenses following an accident.
| It's a common misconception that fully comprehensive insurance is always the most expensive because it offers the most protection. It can actually be cheaper than third party in some cases, so it’s worth getting a quote for all types to compare your options. |
Upgrades and additional cover
For total peace of mind, you might want to kit your policy out with some optional extras. These offer you more complete cover for the kinds of issues you might face with your van, potentially, saving you time, worry and effort. But you’ll need to pay to add these types of cover to your policy, so think about whether you really need them.
Legal cover
If you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, legal cover could take care of some legal costs for you, named drivers or passengers.
Courtesy vans
Adding cover that includes a courtesy vehicle can keep you on the road if your van is involved in an accident.
Breakdown cover
Breakdown cover can help you to get back on the road or towed to a garage as quickly as possible if your van breaks down. You can get breakdown cover as an add-on within your van insurance quote.
Public liability insurance
If you’re self-employed, public liability insurance can cover you against claims from members of the public who’ve been injured due to your actions at work.
Employers’ liability insurance
A legal requirement if you employ any staff, employers’ liability insurance can cover you for claims of negligence made against you by your employees.
Tool insurance
Tool insurance covers the cost of replacing equipment you might keep in your van if it’s stolen. Please note, you can’t compare tool insurance with us.
What our expert says...
"It makes sense to not 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, otherwise you may lose out and pay more than you need to."
- Julie Daniels, Insurance expert
What information do I need to compare van insurance?
To compare van insurance quotes, you’ll need to tell us about:
Your vehicle details
These include the registration number, the van’s make, model and details of any modifications. Your V5C document may have this information. You’ll also need to explain how you use the van (e.g. business or leisure).
Your personal details
These include your name, age, address and job.
Your driving history
This includes any no-claim discount you’ve built up, any driving convictions or previous claims history. If you can’t remember, visit the Government’s licence information site.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need van insurance?
By law, you must have at least third-party insurance for any vehicle you drive, unless it’s registered as kept off public roads through a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
Even if you only use your van occasionally, or it’s left in a yard most of the time, it will still need to be insured. Cover must be in place all year round under the continuous insurance enforcement regulations. 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.
What's the difference between commercial and private van insurance?
If you’re comparing types of van insurance cover, here’s a breakdown of the main things to look for:
Commercial van insurance
Also known as business van insurance, this is for you if you use your van for work, commuting and travel to or from more than one business location. There are two main types of commercial van insurance: carriage of own goods (i.e. tools of your trade) and haulage (i.e. goods you’re delivering).
Private van insurance
Private van insurance is for drivers who use their van for social, domestic or pleasure purposes – in other words, anything but business. So, to carry stuff that won’t just fit in a car boot for your favourite sports or pastimes, for instance.
Courier van insurance
This is a specialist type of van insurance for those who make regular deliveries. Courier van insurance is specialist because it’s built as a package to suit your needs, so you’ll need to tailor your policy with your provider. This can include goods in transit cover.
Pickup van insurance
Pickup van insurance comes in both private and business form. Pickups can often be open-backed, which means they’re treated differently, so you’ll need a separate type of cover.
Can I have more than one van on my insurance policy?
Multi-van insurance (also known as fleet cover), lets you insure several vehicles under one policy with a single renewal date, so you don’t need to have individual policies for each van.
This can work out cheaper because you’re effectively making a bulk purchase. Having one point of contact and a single renewal date can also make admin easier. Unfortunately, you can’t currently compare multi-van policies with Compare the Market.
Can I add additional drivers to my van insurance policy?
Yes, you can add an additional driver to your van insurance.
You’ll need to let your insurance provider know if you want to add another driver, and give them the driver’s details, including any recent claims and any motoring convictions. They may charge you an admin fee.
Adding a more experienced driver to your policy could get you cheaper van insurance, but adding a less experienced driver might see your premiums go up.
If you only need to add another driver for a short time, you may find that it’s cheaper to get temporary van insurance.
Can my company van be insured under the company name?
If your business van is registered to or owned by your company, it can be insured under your business’s name.
What is a no claims discount for van insurance?
A no-claims discount, also called a no-claims bonus, is a reduction in the cost of your insurance that providers give you based on the amount of time you’ve been driving without making a claim. It’s usually measured in years, for example a five-year no claims discount.
Can I get a courtesy van or car?
Depending on your level of cover, you may be able to get a courtesy car or van while your van is being repaired.
Be careful to check your policy details carefully though, as this courtesy car or van could be significantly different in type and size, depending on the type of cover you’ve bought. Some providers will include this as part of your policy, while others may need you to add it as an extra.
What types of vans can I get a quote for?
As well as panel vans, we also offer insurance for pick-up vans and insurance for tippers, as well as insurance for crew cabs, transit vans, livestock vans, curtainside or dropside vans and more.
If you’ve modified your van (for example, the bodywork, engine or exhaust) be sure to mention it, and we’ll help you find a deal that’s right for you.
Am I insured to drive my van abroad?
UK van insurance gives you third-party cover to drive in EU countries, as a minimum.
To be fully covered, you may 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 on at an extra cost. Although you will need valid van insurance, you don’t need a Green Card to drive in the EU, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia and Switzerland, but you may need it for other countries – see the GOV.UK website.
Can I get black box insurance for my van?
Yes, a black box policy (also known as telematics) is available from some van-insurance providers.
A black box policy involves installing a device on your van or app on your phone, which monitors your driving behaviour.
Black box insurance policies are more popular among young van drivers looking for cheap van insurance, because they’re often charged more for their insurance due to lack of experience on the roads.
Why should I get legal cover?
If you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you’re taking legal action against the other driver to recover your uninsured losses, the legal costs could be very expensive. To protect yourself against these costs, legal protection insurance could cover these payments. Look for this cover when comparing van insurance.
Is there a minimum age for van insurance?
If you have a standard car driving licence, you can drive a van up to 3,500kg, but some insurance providers put restrictions on the eligibility of drivers according to their age – not covering drivers under 25, for example. This is because young van drivers are seen as high risk. Van insurance premiums for young drivers are usually considerably higher because of this too.
