Picking A Van Insurance Policy For Your Van

There are more cars on the roads in the UK than vans. Therefore, cars insurance should be more complicated than van insurance, right? Wrong! The world of van insurance is split into a number of factions depending on the type of van and how you use it. Let's run you through the various routes and highlight where you might want to look out for specific cover in the policy you decide to buy.

The basic structure of van insurance is the same as car and motorbike insurance - fully comprehensive, third party fire & theft (TPFT) and third party only (TPO). But within this, the various faction branch out and can effect which policy is most suited to you.

What do you use your van for?

The most common uses of vans in the UK is for business. Sometimes referred to as commercial vehicle insurance, this form of van insurance is probably the most important to get right as it'll can affect the successful running of your company. Some business will use their vehicles (minibuses and taxis) to transport people. Others to transport their own equipment or goods for clients. These may sometime include hazardous materials. There may be secure company premises or your employees may take the vehicle home and park it on the street.

Each seemingly small detail here will determine the cover you should be including in your van insurance policy. Simply buying the cheapest policy serves the purpose of saving a few pounds. But when it comes to making a claim and you find you're not covered for the theft, damage or personal injury costs, it'll cost your company a whole lot more.

Fleet van insurance

Businesses obviously vary in size, and each will have a slightly different requirement for vans. If you're operating more than one or two vans, it may be that a fleet van insurance policy is a more cost effective solution for you. You're essentially buying in bulk and can make some savings on your premiums as a result.

Camper van insurance and personal use

If you're not a business and simply drive a van as your chosen form of transport (camper vans being one of the more popular options), you can do without a lot of the cover which is included in a commercial van insurance policy. You're more likely to treat the van better and drive is better, resulting in lower premiums more in line with a car insurance policy.

Short term van insurance

If you're simply borrowing a van for a short period - to move house for example - you don't want to go to the fuss of arranging van insurance in the traditional way. You've basically got two options. Firstly, you could be added as a named driver to the owners existing insurance policy (for a small administration fee). Or secondly, you could take out a temporary van insurance policy (for a small premium reflecting the short term).

Whatever your insurance needs, it's important to get to your best van insurer as quickly as possible. Using one of the online van insurance comparison websites is your best bet. They can save you tons of phone calls and hours of form filling and you can compare companies in one place.