Van

Van insurance explained

A short guide to van insurance: what it is, the main types of cover such as road risks and goods in transit, and why it matters in the UK.

Van insurance is a policy that covers a van, often one used mainly for work. It is designed to protect the owner against financial loss if the van is damaged or stolen, and against liability for injury or damage caused to other people while the van is being driven.

What van insurance can include

Van policies can be built from several types of cover.

Road risks

This covers the van while it is being driven on public roads. Depending on the level of cover, it may include accidental damage, theft and fire.

Goods in transit

This covers the goods you carry in the van. It may include accidental damage to, or theft of, the goods while they are being transported. It is usually added to a policy rather than included as standard.

Public liability

This covers you if someone is injured, or their property is damaged, because of your work. It is separate from the cover for driving the van, which is part of the motor policy itself.

Personal accident

This pays out if the driver, or in some policies a passenger, is seriously injured or killed in an accident.

Choosing the right cover

The level and type of cover you need depends on the van and on how you use it. A van used only for personal trips needs different cover from one used to carry your own tools, and different again from one used to deliver other people's goods. Getting the use right on the policy matters, because the wrong class of use could leave you without cover when you need to claim.

It is worth looking at the excess, any limits and the exclusions as well as the price, so you can compare policies like for like.

Is van insurance a legal requirement?

Yes. In the UK, any vehicle used on a public road, including a van, must have at least third party insurance under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The government explains the rules on gov.uk.

If you'd like quotes, you can find out more on our van insurance page. You fill in a short form and a specialist broker from our panel contacts you about cover.