Any driver van insurance
There are lots of reasons why you might want to add a driver to a van insurance policy. Here’s what you need to know to help you get the right cover at a competitive price.
There are lots of reasons why you might want to add a driver to a van insurance policy. Here’s what you need to know to help you get the right cover at a competitive price.
What is any driver van insurance?
The term ‘any driver’ doesn’t literally mean that any person with a driving licence can drive your van.
When you take out ‘any driver’ van insurance, you’ll usually need to list anyone who drives your van as a named driver. You’ll need to give added details about each driver like their age, occupation, driving history, past claims and any driving convictions.
Some insurance providers won’t need you to name every driver, but will usually have restrictions, such as no drivers under the age of 21 or 25, or rules saying everyone must have a clean driving licence for at least a year.
Currently, you can’t compare ‘any driver’ van insurance with us.
Do I need any driver van insurance?
Van insurance for ‘any driver’ can be useful if you want others to drive your van or fleet of vans. This applies whether you’re a business owner with several employees, or you have a private van you’d like a few friends or family members to drive.
Typically, the ‘any driver’ option will give you more flexibility, but it tends to be more expensive than a standard van insurance policy. With more people driving the van, there’s more chance of something going wrong.
However, if you need van insurance for several drivers, ‘any driver’ cover could work out cheaper than individual policies for every person who drives the van.
If your company has a high turnover of staff, ‘any driver’ insurance could also be useful as it might reduce the costs and admin of frequently adding or removing people from a policy.
Just remember to keep an eye out for any cover limits or restrictions, like a minimum age requirement.
What does any driver van insurance cover?
As well as covering any driver to drive your van, an any driver van insurance policy can cover:
- Personal belongings – this may be covered as standard (particularly with a comprehensive policy) but is also available as an extra.
- Tools and equipment – if you use your van for work, you can cover everything you need for your job.
- Packages, parcels and other delivery goods – if you work as a courier or carry goods in transit (haulage).
What extras can I add to any driver van insurance?
There are a variety of extras you can add to your policy for greater cover:
Breakdown cover
The right breakdown cover will get you back on the road as soon as possible.
Courtesy van cover
If yours is in the garage and you need a replacement van, courtesy cover will keep you going.
Public liability insurance
If you’re self-employed and use your van for work, public liability insurance can protect you against claims made by members of the public, if you injure somebody or damage their property with your van.
Employers’ liability insurance
If you employ any members of staff, employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement. It protects you against any claims made by your employees.
Legal cover
If your van is involved in an accident, this can cover the cost of legal fees if somebody makes a claim against you.
Is an any-driver policy suitable for personal use?
Any-driver policies are often taken out by businesses for commercial vehicles, but private van drivers may appreciate their versatility too. If you travel across the country to attend sports events, for example, an any-driver policy would allow you to share the driving with others.
How many drivers can I add to an any-driver policy?
It depends on the insurance provider. Some insurance companies let you add as many drivers as you want, while others may restrict you to, say, five drivers per van.
What are the restrictions on an any-driver policy?
You should always check your policy for specific restrictions. You’re not allowed to name anyone as the primary driver on a van insurance policy if they’re not going to be the person at the wheel the most – this is known as ‘fronting’. It’s most common with young car drivers, as our guide to car insurance fronting explains but the rules are no different for people driving vans.
As mentioned, there are often minimum age limits for any driver van insurance. Some providers don’t cover drivers aged under 25, and for others it’s 21. Some policies might also have an upper age limit and won’t cover older drivers over the age of 70.
Always read the terms and conditions carefully so you can decide whether an any-driver policy is right for you before you buy.
How much does any-driver van insurance cost?
Any-driver van insurance is usually more expensive than adding named drivers to a regular van policy. The price of any driver van insurance will also depend on the type of cover you take out.
But while you might assume that comprehensive van insurance is more expensive than third-party or third-party, fire and theft, this isn’t always true. Sometimes comprehensive van insurance is the cheapest option.
This is why it’s a good idea to shop around and compare a range of quotes, if you’re looking for cheap van insurance.
Other things that can affect the cost of any driver van insurance include:
- Drivers’ ages – you’ll likely pay more for young drivers under 25, while more experienced drivers with clean driving records could help balance out the cost of your premium.
- Business or personal use – business van insurance is often more expensive than cover for private use because a van is likely to be driven a lot more for work purposes, and by more people.
- Van size – heavier, more powerful vans will typically be more expensive to insure than smaller, lighter models.
- The van’s insurance group – each make and model falls into an insurance group. The lower the group number, the cheaper it can be to insure.
- What you’re transporting – you’ll typically pay a higher premium if you use the van to transport goods and/or machinery, as there’s a risk of them being stolen or damaged.
Top tipTake time to compare the cost of adding named drivers to a standard van policy with the cost of an any-driver policy. That way you can weigh up the options and make an informed decision when choosing the right type of van insurance for you. |
What are the alternatives to any-driver van insurance?
Here are some alternatives to an any-driver van insurance policy:
- Temporary van insurance – if you only need cover for an additional driver for a brief period, short-term van insurance might be a good option. Cover can range from one hour up to 84 days.
- Named driver van insurance – you can usually have up to four drivers on a single-van policy. If you only need a few extra drivers, this might be a cheaper option than taking out an any driver policy.
- Multi-van insurance – if you have a number of vans to insure, a multi-van or even fleet van insurance policy could work out cheaper than insuring each vehicle individually. Most multi-van policies allow any named employee to drive any vehicle included in the policy.
How can I get cheaper any driver van insurance?
Here are some ways to get cheaper any driver van insurance:
- Increasing your voluntary excess: Paying a higher voluntary excess could reduce your premium. However, if you make a claim, you’ll have to pay that excess plus the compulsory excess, so think carefully about whether this makes financial sense for you.
- Paying annually: By paying your full insurance premium upfront each year (if possible), you could avoid paying the interest that’s likely to be charged on monthly instalments.
- Shopping around: The most competitive premiums tend to be offered about three weeks ahead of your policy’s end date. This is typically when the highest number of insurance providers will offer you quotes, and the increased competition tends to drive down the cost of cover.
Why should I buy through Comparethemarket?
Our comparison services makes it easy to find van insurance from a wide range of providers. But please note, currently you can’t compare ‘any driver’ van insurance with us.