Ice cream van insurance

There’s lots to think about to get your ice cream van ready for the road. Here are the main points on insurance if you already have a van, or are planning to get one.

Written by

Julie Daniels

Motor insurance expert

Posted

4 OCTOBER 2019

4 min read

Ice cream van insurance – the key points

There are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to finding insurance for your ice cream van, including:

The basic cover offered by van insurance
Ways to reduce the cost of your ice cream van insurance
Van insurance is for your vehicle, not your business

The basic cover offered by van insurance

When looking for any type of van insurance policy, you’ll need to decide on the level of cover that you need.

Third party This is the minimum cover you’ll need to drive legally on the road. It could meet the cost of damage you cause to another person, or their property, as a result of your driving. But it won’t pay out for repairs to your own vehicle.
Third party, fire and theft In addition to third party cover, this type of insurance could pay out if your vehicle is damaged or destroyed by fire, or if your van’s stolen.
Fully comprehensive This covers everything in third party, fire and theft, plus any other damage that’s done to your vehicle (regardless of whether or not it was your fault). It’s not always the case that fully comprehensive is the most expensive option, so it’s worth getting a van insurance quote to compare your options.

Ways to reduce the cost of your ice cream van insurance

Some specialist ice cream van insurance providers may be able to offer you a policy with less than 12 months of cover. This might be helpful if you’re only planning to use your van for the summer months. But keep in mind that you’ll need to get a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) for the periods your van isn’t insured. This is the case even if your vehicle is parked on private land.

There are other actions you could take to lower the cost of van insurance, such as increasing your voluntary excess (if you can afford to do so), building up your no-claims discount and adding extra security features, such as an immobiliser or a tracker.

When it comes to renewing your van insurance, you’re likely to find the most competitive prices about three weeks before your policy’s end date. Either side of this optimum time, you could find that an insurance provider offers you a higher price.

Van insurance is for your vehicle, not your business

As a business owner it’s likely you’ll need a separate insurance policy for your company, such as small business insurance. This can protect you against a range of events through the provision of employer’s liability cover and public liability insurance.

Employer’s liability insurance This is a legal requirement for businesses with one or more employees. It covers you if they get injured or ill as a result of something that’s happened at work and make a claim against you for compensation.

Public liability insurance This isn’t a legal requirement, but if you deal with the public then it may be worth getting this cover added to your business insurance policy, as our guide explains. Again, it protects your financial interests if someone claims compensation from you.

Fixtures and fittings You may also need to get extra cover to protect the items in your van, for example your fridge, as well as equipment and stock kept in the van or elsewhere.

What else should I think about before driving my van?

As a general precaution, check any local road rules before you set off in your van. For example, the introduction of an ultra-low emission zone in London in April 2019 means that ice cream vans that don’t meet the new exhaust emissions standards have to pay a daily charge of £12.50 (in addition to the congestion charge) to operate within the zone.

Can I compare ice cream van insurance through Compare the Market?

You may be able to find some providers who offer specialist ice cream van insurance on our website. So, why not start a quote and see if you could save?