Fleet van insurance

Fleet van insurance lets you cover all your business vehicles on one policy. Discover how a fleet insurance policy could save you time and money.

Written by

Julie Daniels

Motor insurance expert

Last Updated

8 DECEMBER 2023

9 min read

What is fleet van insurance?

Fleet van insurance is cover for two or more vehicles owned by the same business. You can usually insure different makes and models under a fleet policy, but your insurance provider will need to know the details of each vehicle.

Having fleet insurance could be handy for business owners who prefer one insurance policy with a single renewal date and a consistent level of cover for multiple vehicles, rather than separate policies for each van.

You can’t currently compare fleet insurance with Comparethemarket.

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What does fleet insurance cover?

The cover you’ll get from a fleet van insurance policy will depend on the level you choose, along with any add-ons you buy. But you can expect it to follow the same principles as commercial van insurance.

The key difference is flexibility. With fleet insurance, you can easily add new or temporary vehicles to your policy at any time, which is especially handy if you have a large fleet of vans that continually changes. With individual cover, you have to take out another policy every time you get a new van.

If you have a number of employees who are drivers, you can name them individually on the policy or opt for the ‘any driver’ option. Choosing ‘any driver’ is a more flexible option but is usually more expensive. Generally speaking, the fewer drivers you have on your policy, the lower your premiums will be.

What types of van can be covered by a fleet insurance policy?

As well as your standard small, medium and large vans, you’ll normally be able to include the following types of van in your fleet business insurance:

Pick-up vans
Tippers
Box/Luton vans
Light vans
Vans with cabs (single or double).

And you’re not just limited to vans with fleet motor insurance. You’ll usually be able to cover other vehicle types on your company fleet insurance policy too, as long as they’re registered under the same company name. This could include motorbikes, minibuses, HGVs and tractors, although this can vary between providers, so do check. Some policies may exclude tractors and specialist vehicles like dumper trucks.

How many vans can be included in a fleet?

Most insurance providers will have a minimum and maximum limit for the number of vans that can make up a fleet. Some will insure 500 vehicles or more on a single policy.

If your business only has a very small fleet, you can get mini fleet van insurance for up to 15 vehicles.

It’s worth noting that the definition of ‘fleet’ varies between providers, so it’s always best to compare van cover to see which type of policy is the most cost-effective for your business. The larger your fleet, the more you’re likely to save.

What are the levels of cover with fleet van insurance?

All motor insurance, there are three tiers of cover offered by fleet van insurance policies. These are:

Third party – this is the legal minimum and covers you for the cost of any damage done to another person, their vehicle or property. It won’t cover the cost of damage to your own vans.
Third-party, fire and theft – this includes everything covered by third-party insurance, as well as cover if your vans are stolen, damaged or destroyed by fire.
Fully comprehensive – this is the highest level of cover. It includes all of the above, plus cover for damage to your own vans and drivers.

What can I use my fleet van insurance for?

Commercial fleet van insurance will typically provide cover for: 

Carriage of own goods – this covers drivers who use their van to carry business goods – such as tools if they’re a builder, plumber, gardener or carpenter.
Haulage (carriage of goods for hire and reward) – this type of insurance protects vans you use to carry someone else’s goods for payment. It could be suitable for a courier firm that delivers parcels or a haulage company that transports furniture, for example.

What additional cover might I need with fleet insurance?

Just like regular van insurance, there are a bunch of extras you can add to your fleet insurance policy for a further charge. If you’re insuring a fleet, you’ll want to consider these even more:

Breakdown cover – sooner or later, one of your vans is going to break down. The more vans you have, the more likely you’ll need this extra cover.
Courtesy van cover – if one or more of your vans are out of action for a while, it could affect your business significantly. With courtesy van cover, you can get replacements while yours are being fixed.
Personal accident cover – if one of your drivers is seriously injured or killed in a road accident, this will offer compensation.
European cover – if your fleet is driving internationally, you’ll need the extra cover.

As a business owner, it’s compulsory to have:

Employers’ liability insurance – if you have even one member of staff working for you, you’re legally required to get this cover. It protects you against compensation claims made by your employees who suffer an illness or injury as a result of their work for you.

Though it’s not required by law, many clients may insist that you’re covered for public liability before allowing you to begin work, so it’s also advisable to have:

Public liability insurance – this protects your business against legal fees or compensation claims from members of the public who suffer an injury or property damage because of your work.

How much does fleet insurance cost?

It’s hard to say how much your fleet van insurance will cost, as there are so many factors that’ll impact it:

The size of the fleet – it’s not uncommon for fleets to include hundreds of vans. The more vans you’re insuring, the more it’s going to cost, although the savings will be greater for ‘buying in bulk’.
The types of van – the more valuable the van, the more expensive it’ll be to cover. The power, safety and security of the vans will also affect the cost of insuring them.
The type of cover – if you’re covering against more things that can go wrong with your van, your insurance might cost more.
The drivers – with a larger fleet of vans, you’ll need more drivers. Depending on their levels of experience, along with any previous accidents or convictions, this could affect the cost of your cover.
The excess – if you’re willing to offer more as a voluntary excess towards any claim you make, this could make your premiums cheaper.
The vans’ security – improving the security of your fleet, for example, by installing immobilisers or providing secure parking with CCTV, could lower the risk of your vans being damaged or stolen, which could then lead to cheaper fleet van insurance quotes.
Your claims history – if, as a business, you’ve made any claims in the past, this will flag to insurance providers that you’re a higher risk. This means you’ll likely be charged more for cover in the future.

How to get cheaper fleet van insurance quotes

If you’re looking for a cheaper fleet insurance policy, here are some details to keep in mind:

The makes and model of your vans – this is important with any van insurance policy, but if you’re insuring a fleet of a hundred vans, that cost is going to be amplified. So, you’re going to want to pick your vans carefully and look for those that are cheaper to insure. Looking at better safety and security features are good places to start. The size of the engine will also make a difference.
Try to make sure you have good drivers – if the drivers on your policy have claims histories or previous convictions, their poor record will mean you face paying more to insure them.
Keep your vans serviced and well maintained – regular maintenance of your fleet can make a huge difference as they’ll be less likely to break down, forcing you to make a claim.
Pay up front – this could be a big ask if you’re insuring a huge fleet, but paying annually rather than monthly could make a difference, as paying monthly usually involves a form of interest payment.
Consider telematics – often referred to as black box insurance. Telematics involves installing a device in your vans, which then monitors your drivers’ safety and skill. If they drive well, you could be rewarded with cheaper insurance. However, if your staff drive poorly (e.g. speeding, harsh braking and sharp steering) then your premiums could rise.

What else should I consider when taking out a fleet insurance policy?

If you’re choosing between individual van insurance policies and a fleet van insurance policy, here are some factors to think about:

The time and effort – if you have hundreds of vans in your fleet, insuring them all individually will take ages. It’ll also leave you having to keep track of a lot more paperwork and life admin. With a fleet policy, all your vans are covered in one policy, making it much easier to manage multiple vehicles. For example, you’ll only have one renewal date.
The cost – while it’s great to get all that time back, is it worth the money? You might get a discount for insuring so many vans with the same provider, but could you get a better deal by insuring your vans individually? Depending on how many you have to insure, you might find it worth it.
Your drivers – multiple vans equal multiple drivers. A fleet insurance policy usually lets any driver use any van, which is very handy. However, if you have drivers with poor histories of either accidents or convictions, it may drive the cost of your policy up.
Keep your policy up to date – if you decide to later expand your fleet or you swap out some old vans for newer models, you’ll need to update your policy to ditch the old ones and cover the new. Don’t forget to do this.

Compare van insurance

Although you can’t currently compare fleet insurance with Comparethemarket, we can help you find individual van insurance quotes for commercial use so you can see how they compare with fleet policies.

Get a quote

Frequently asked questions

What isn’t covered by fleet van insurance?

Policies can vary, but the vans in your fleet typically won’t be covered for:

Electrical or mechanical failure
Theft – if doors were left unlocked, keys were left in the vehicle or items were left on display
Uninsured goods your drivers are carrying
Damage from general wear and tear.

Can I get a no-claims discount with fleet insurance?

Probably not. Unlike traditional motor insurance, fleet insurance doesn’t tend to offer no-claims discounts. Instead, the number of total claims across the entire fleet are taken into consideration when your policy is up for renewal. If you only have a very small fleet and your drivers are eligible for no-claims discounts, you may find it cheaper to take out individual policies.

Is there an age restriction for fleet insurance?

It’s common for insurance providers to exclude drivers under the age of 25, or to charge an extra premium for them. That’s because younger motorists are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident through lack of experience.