60-second summary
Here’s what you need to bear in mind when it comes to van cover for the self-employed:
Self-employed van insurance offers specific cover for business-related risks.
You can choose from three levels of van cover: third-party; third-party, fire and theft; and comprehensive.
Key types of cover include carriage of own goods, haulage insurance and taxi insurance.
Consider breakdown cover if you use your van for work and need to get back on the road quickly.
You might also want to consider public liability, professional indemnity and/or business interruption insurance.
To find self-employed van insurance that meets your needs, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare quotes.
What are the main levels of van insurance?
There are three levels of insurance for a van.
Third-party: This is the minimum legal cover you’ll need to insure your van. It covers you for any damage you cause to other people, their vehicles and their property. However, it won’t cover any repairs to your own van.
Third-party, fire and theft: This offers the same cover as third-party but it could also pay out if your vehicle were stolen or destroyed or damaged by fire.
Comprehensive: This cover has all the features of a third-party, fire and theft policy, plus you’ll be covered for the costs of repairing your van after an accident.
As a self-employed worker, you may need additional cover for business-related risks. Let’s take a look at your options.
What type of van insurance might I need for my business?
First of all, if you’re comparing van insurance for a work vehicle, you’ll need to choose ‘Business use’ instead of ‘Social, Domestic and Pleasure’.
Whether you use your van for commuting to your business premises or driving to work appointments, business use offers you cover for any work-related trips.
On top of this, there are a few other types of self-employed van insurance to consider:
Carriage of own goods
This is often included on a standard van insurance policy. It covers the contents of your van in case they’re lost, stolen or damaged. This might include things like tools and other equipment.
Haulage insurance
If you’re a self-employed courier or delivery driver, you’ll need this type of business van insurance.
Also known as ‘hire and reward’, this cover protects your van and its contents while you’re transporting goods from one place to another.
Taxi insurance
If you carry passengers in return for payment, you’ll need to get taxi insurance. This is designed to protect you, your passengers and your van whilst you’re driving your vehicle for commercial hire.
Breakdown cover
If you rely on your van for your job, then it might be worth adding breakdown cover to a regular van insurance policy. Some policies may offer a courtesy van as a replacement if your vehicle gets damaged, lost or stolen.
This could be handy if you can’t afford to wait for your van to be recovered or repaired.
What other types of cover might I need for my company?
As a self-employed van driver, you might want to think about additional cover for your business, such as:
Public liability insurance – This could cover your legal costs and compensation claims made against you if someone is injured or killed as a result of your work.
Professional indemnity insurance – This covers you against compensation claims. For example, if you have to pay off a client because they've suffered a financial loss as a result of work you’ve done for them.
Business interruption insurance – You can claim on this policy if your business isn’t able to operate as normal because, say, your premises are flooded.
Why should I buy through Compare the Market?
We take the hassle out of choosing a self-employed van insurance policy. Just give us a few details about you and your business and we’ll show you a range of self-employed van insurance quotes in minutes.
Shopping around and comparing quotes is one of the easiest ways to find the right level of cover at a price that suits you.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
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