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Van Insurance

Whatever you drive, and for whatever reason, we’re here to help you find our best insurance quote.

0330 024 0097

The Van Insurance Insurance Specialists

Van Insurance

Load up your van insurance quote for personal or business use

Covering everything from small vans through Sprinters and Transits to 3.5 tonne Lutons, we can arrange policies for those who use their vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure purposes. 

You’ll find too that we can offer third party only (TPO), third party fire and theft (TPFT) and comprehensive policies.*

We can also arrange business van insurance for a wide range of tradespeople, sole traders and companies, including courier van insurance.

What’s more we’ll work hard to find you the most appropriate cover at the best price by comparing van insurance quotes from those offered by our specialist panel of insurers.**

Big or small, personal or company

  • Small vans to 3.5 tonne trucks.  Models covered include: short and long-wheeled base Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Renault Trafic, Vauxhall Vivaro, VW Crafter, VW Transporter, Luton vans, Citroen Berlingo, Mercedes Citan, Peugeot Partner, Renault Master, Renault Kangoo…
  • Refrigerated vans.
  • Personal and company vans.
  • Any-driver insurance.
  • Carriage of own goods.
  • Carriage for hire or reward.
  • Goods in transit insurance.
  • Haulage.
  • Courier insurance.
  • Impounded van insurance.

Please visit our Business pages for details of the courier, delivery driver, goods in transit and self-employed courier insurance we arrange.


* Underwriting terms and conditions and availability of cover will vary between insurers, **Please ask for details of the insurers on our panel we use to compare van insurance quotes.  

Cover for commercial and private (SDP) use.
Carriage of own goods, goods for hire or reward and haulage.
All cover levels – from third party only to fully comprehensive
Wide range of trades – logistics, plumbers, builders etc.
Wide range of vehicles – small and medium sized, 3.5 tonne, MPV, refrigerated, pick-ups
We’ll find you the lowest van insurance quote from our extensive panel of insurers.
FOR OUR BEST QUOTE CALL
0330 024 0097

For the best quote chat to our friendly and informed UK based call centre team

VAN INSURANCE QUOTES: A GUIDE TO GETTING THE RIGHT DEAL

If you’re looking to compare van insurance quotes, there’s a few things you should look out for.

You need be sure you’re comparing like-for-like and getting the cover you need.

Whilst price is clearly going to be important, simply going for the cheapest van insurance quotes may not be the best choice.

You could find that the reason the quote is cheap is because it does not cover or fully cover your van because of how you use or keep it.

Insurers will take into account a range of factors to calculate a van insurance premium.

These may include the type of vehicle, its value, where it is kept, the annual mileage, who’s driving it and what it is used for.

Personal van insurance quotes

If you use your van for personal, rather than business use, then you will most likely only need social, domestic and pleasure (SDP) cover.

SDP van insurance quotes cover named drivers when they use their vehicle for non-work related purposes.

This might be suitable if you use your van simply to do things like bringing home the “big shop” or to support a hobby, like fishing or off-road motorcycling.

Bear in mind though that SDP won’t cover you if you use your van to get to work or to the train station where you catch a commuter service. Commuting is not covered by SDP insurance.

Unlike with car insurance, you cannot get SDP + C which includes cover for commuting. You will need get van insurance with carriage of own goods cover (see below).

You may also want to consider whether you want comprehensive, third party fire and theft or third party only  personal van insurance.

Third Party Only van insurance (TPO)

TPO insurance will not cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle following an accident. It will cover only other vehicles and people (third parties) involved. It will also not cover damage to or loss of your van of it is stolen or involved in a fire.

Third Party Fire & Theft van insurance

TPFT insurance will cover third parties as above, plus the cost of repairing or replacing your van if it is stolen or fire damaged.

Comprehensive van insurance

Comprehensive insurance will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and those of third parties involved in accident for which you are to blame (a fault accident). This includes accidental damage.

It will also cover your van if it is damaged in accident and it is not possible to attribute blame because you cannot identify the responsible third party. An example of this might be if it is damaged whilst parked and the other party drives off without leaving their details.

Business van insurance quotes

If you use your vehicle or vehicles for work then you will need business van insurance. It is a legal requirement.

The cover that is right for you and your business will depend upon who use your van (or vans) and for what purposes.

Named driver or any-driver van insurance?

If only you or a small number of colleagues or employees (typically a total of four or less) will be driving, then a named driver van policy will likely be suitable.

However, if more drivers need access to your van then any-driver van insurance may be more practical.

This is simply because it gives your business greater flexibility by allowing any of your employees to drive a works van (some policies will, though exclude younger drivers).

Whilst it may be more expensive than named driver van insurance, any-driver cover could save your business time and money through that extra flexibility.

Carriage of own goods van insurance

This protects your own property whilst it is carried in your own van. It is useful for protecting things like tools and equipment which might be essential to your work.

Restrictions may apply. For example, you might be required not to leave goods in your van overnight.

Courier van insurance

If you use your van to deliver goods on behalf of other people then you will need courier van insurance.

The main difference between courier insurance and standard van insurance is that the extra road miles a courier puts in will be factored in.

Basic courier insurance will not cover the goods you carry. For this you will need goods in transit cover.

Goods in transit van insurance

This will cover your cargo as you carry it. The cost of cover will be impacted by the type and value of goods you carry. For example, the carriage of hazardous or high value goods will increase a premium.

If you’re a courier, an insurer will also take into account that you are unlikely to know in advance of the goods you will carry on any particular journey.

What type of vehicles are covered by van insurance?

Whilst we might think we all know what a van is, legally the distinction can be blurred.

For example, some MPV (multi-person vehicle) cars may be classed as vans. This can occur if their chassis is based on a van design. Pick-up trucks are also classed as vans.

If you’re unsure, the easiest way to check is to look at your vehicle’s V5 log book.

Under the vehicle category a van will be coded N1, for vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. Commercial vehicles at and below that weight limit are classed as light goods vehicles (LGVs)

N2 licences are for vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes. These are classed as heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

N3 licences are for vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes and designed for the carriage of goods.

If you require an N2 or N3 licence then rather than van insurance you will require HGV insurance.

A vehicle up to five tonnes with eight or more seats is classed as a minibus (M2), even if it is designed on a van chassis.

Please note different rules may apply in Northern Ireland. Please click here for details.

Tips for reducing van insurance quotes

 There are certain things that you simply can’t change to lower your van insurance quote.

Your age, your driving experience and, unless you’re looking for drastic action, where your home or your workplace is!

But to get cheap van insurance – or at least cheaper! – there are some things you might be able do.

  • Secure it. Some insurers may discount your premium if you fit additional, insurance-approved security. These could be products like Thatcham-accredited GPS tracking devices, deadlocks, slamlocks, slamhandles, armourplates and shells and, if not fitted as standard, alarms and immobilisers.****
  • Stow it. Park your van off-road overnight and, better still, within a locked garage or yard. If you park on the road this will increase your premium in comparison.
  • Increase your excess. You may be able to do a trade-off with an insurer. If you agree to pay more towards the cost of any claim – known as your insurance excess – then your insurer may agree to reduce your van insurance quote in return.
  • Limit your miles. If you are able to limit your annual mileage, this can help reduce your premium.

**** The availability and size of security discounts may vary between insurers.

* Underwriting terms and conditions and availability of cover will vary between insurers, **Please ask for details of the insurers on our panel we use to compare van insurance quotes.  **** The availability and size of security discounts may vary between insurers.

WE PREFER TO TALK

WHY CHOOSE PRINCIPAL INSURANCE?

Because we put our policyholders first, we now serve around 40,000 motorcyclists, motorists, classic car enthusiasts, van drivers, couriers, motorhome owners, homeowners and motor trade professionals nationally.

Whilst we embrace the latest quote and administration technologies, you might say we’re a bit old school.

That’s because we’d prefer to talk to you in order to get the best possible understanding of your needs. That then means we are properly equipped to seek out the best deal for you from our extensive panel of leading UK insurers.*

What’s more we are able to give motorbike insurance, car, van, motorhome, multi-vehicle, home and commercial insurance quotes.

Our impressive growth has been achieved not through multi-million pound marketing campaigns but by delivering old fashioned service.

That can mean finding you the lowest possible insurance quote from our panel of insurers or, if you need make a claim, ensuring that you have access to specialist assistance so that the process is as prompt and painless as possible.

We’re a company with personality, one that instead of demanding staff always follow stringent call scripts and call length targets, encourages them to chat so they can provide you with the highest quality of service.


An independent broker, we source the best quotes from the UK’s leading specialist insurers.
With no call length targets, our experts take the time to find you the best deal.
We’re here to help – with dedicated claims and customer service support.
Our quotes hotline open weekdays 9.00am-6.00pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm.
FOR OUR BEST QUOTE CALL

For the best quote chat to our friendly and informed UK based call centre team