Can I get business use and still drive socially?

Yes. Business use policies normally include social and commuting use as well, so personal trips usually remain covered. Check the class of use on your certificate to be sure.

Is social-only van insurance cheaper?

It can be, but only if you never use the van for work. Any saving is a false economy if a claim for a work journey is then refused.

Do I need business use to carry tools occasionally?

Yes. Carrying tools for work is a business journey, so you need carriage of own goods cover even if it only happens now and then.

Van

Business vs social van insurance: what is the difference?

Business vs social van insurance explained: which class of use covers work or personal driving, and why getting it right keeps your van cover valid.

Social van insurance covers personal use only, while business use covers driving the van for work, such as carrying tools or visiting customers. Using a van for work on a social-only policy can invalidate your cover, so it is worth understanding which level you actually need.

What each level covers

Van policies are sold by "class of use". The difference comes down to whether your journeys are personal or work-related.

Social, domestic and pleasure: shopping, family trips and leisure driving only.
Commuting: adds travel to one regular place of work.
Business use (carriage of own goods): covers work journeys, site visits and carrying your own tools or stock.

There is also a separate class for carrying other people's goods for payment, known as hire and reward. That is what couriers and delivery drivers need, and it is covered in more detail on our courier insurance page.

Many van owners actually need business use, because vans are so often bought with work in mind.

Choosing correctly

If you ever drive the van for work purposes, even occasionally, social-only cover is unlikely to be enough. Insurers can reject a claim if a work journey is made on a personal policy, and in some cases you could be treated as driving without valid insurance for that trip.

Declaring business use usually costs a little more, but it means the policy matches how you really use the van. If you are unsure which level fits, a broker can talk you through the options so you can weigh up cost against the cover you need.

A few things you may want to check when choosing:

Whether anyone else drives the van, and whether they need the same class of use.
Whether you visit more than one place of work, which usually means business use rather than commuting.
Whether you ever carry goods for other people for a fee, which needs hire and reward cover instead.

Getting van insurance quotes

With Kompare you fill in a short form about you, your van and how you use it. A specialist FCA-authorised broker from our panel then contacts you about quotes, and any policy you take out is with that broker. You can read more about the process on our how we work page, or start on our van insurance page.