Electric van insurance
Electric vans are becoming increasingly popular due to their low running costs and emissions, making them super environmentally friendly. Insuring your electric van should be straightforward, so what are the other considerations if you’re considering switching?
Electric vans are becoming increasingly popular due to their low running costs and emissions, making them super environmentally friendly. Insuring your electric van should be straightforward, so what are the other considerations if you’re considering switching?
What does electric van insurance typically cover?
Whether you drive your van for work purposes or personal use, it’s a legal requirement to have your van insured. As with conventional vehicles, there are three types of insurance for electric vans:
- Third party only – this is the minimum cover required by law. It covers you for any damage you may cause to other people and their vehicles.
- Third party, fire and theft – this offers the same cover as third party with added protection in the case of fire or theft.
- Comprehensive – includes all the cover of a third party, fire and theft policy, along with cover for the repair of your own van in the event of an accident.
What are the advantages of an electric van?
- Plug-in grant: you can get a discount on selected electric vans with the governments plug-in grant, which is given to vehicle dealerships and manufacturers. The grant will pay for 20% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of £8,000. You can visit GOV.UK to find out which vans are eligible. Please note: the grant will end on 31 March 2025.
- You’ll be exempt from paying vehicle tax: as an electric van doesn’t have any emissions, you don’t need to pay vehicle tax. However, you’ll still need to register your van. Please note: electric vehicles will start paying road tax from 1 April 2025.
- Save money on fuel: Nissan claims that the Nissan E-NV200 can cost as little as two pence per mile to run.
- Quiet to drive: electric vans are almost ‘silent’ compared to diesel or petrol vans, which can make them a better driving experience
- Responsive: electric vehicles can handle well with responsive steering and breaking
- They’re all automatic: you won’t have to use a clutch
What are the disadvantages of an electric van?
- Charging time: one of the main concerns around electric vans is how long it can take to fully charge the battery (up to 10 hours) and the mileage you can get out of a single charge.
- Cold weather: the mileage for your electric van can be reduced by almost half in cold weather.
- Repairs: as electric vans aren’t as popular as traditional diesel-fuelled vans, they can be expensive to repair because of the availability of parts and trained mechanics.
What else do I need to consider when buying an electric van?
Battery: when electric vans first appeared, it was common to lease the battery because it usually had to be replaced frequently. However, as the technology has improved, it’s become more common to buy. In some cases, it can still work out cheaper to lease the battery, so it’s best to weigh up both options.
Charging: it can cost around £1,000 to install a charging point. The government offers a grant, called the Electric Vehicle Home Charge Scheme, which will cover up to 75% of the costs of installing a charge point. This is capped at £500 per vehicle. If you use your van for business purposes, then you would also need a charging point at your work.
How can I get cheap electric van insurance?
To help you get an idea of what’s on offer, we compare some of the market’s leading providers to help you find a great van insurance deal. As long as your van doesn’t weigh more than 3.5 tonnes, simply give us some details about yourself and your van, and we’ll provide you with a list of quotes.
It only takes a few minutes to compare a wide range of insurance providers and find a policy that’s right for you.
