Van Insurance

By Neil Lancefield

Vans are seen as the prize steal for many thieves, which is no surprise considering that many contain valuable tools and equipment. This means it is vital, especially if you are self-employed, to have suitable van insurance to cover you from any expensive losses. When insuring a vehicle the first choice to make is do you want comprehensive, third party fire and theft, or just third party insurance. It is important that you select the right type of van insurance policy to match your needs. To learn more about the policy types please click here.

Commercial Van Insurance

If your van is used for transporting goods or passengers for a reward, then you need commercial van insurance. This can include delivering takeaways, collecting supplies for your shop or a private taxi. Quotes are often higher than for cars because the increase in size makes them more likely to cause an injury. The two key factors that are considered by van insurance companies are how heavy is the van, and what it is carrying.

Courier Van Insurance

Courier vans spend a lot of time on the road, and whilst this makes it crucial that you are insured, it can also make your premium rise. To help keep costs low take notice of the tips at the bottom of this page.

Goods in Transit Insurance

If your job uses expensive equipment e.g. electrician or builder, then your van will be a prime target for thieves. Normal van insurance policies might not cover you for theft however, so you need to consider goods in transit insurance. This policy will cover you for loss, theft or damage to your equipment whilst in transit. Be sure to find out the cash limit that you can claim for each vehicle or consignment.

New Van Cover

Having your bright sparkly new van written off after an accident is a nightmare scenario. To protect yourself against some of the financial implications, look out for new van cover. This normally means the van will be replaced if the original is less than a year old when it is damaged.

Legal Cover

If your van is involved in an accident where the other driver is at fault, any resulting injuries or loss of vehicle could unfairly cost your company money. By taking out legal cover with your van insurance, you will get financial support for any attempts to get compensation for your losses.

Van Windscreen Insurance

A tiny loose stone flipped into the air by the car ahead can put your van off the road if it cracks the windscreen. But if you take out van windscreen insurance then any damaged windows will be replaced, and the excess you have to pay is normally around just £50. You should check this with your insurance company however.

No Claim Discount Protection

Losing your no claim discount can prove costly when you have to renew the van insurance policy. If you’re worried about this, then you can take out a policy that will protect your discount even if you do have to make a claim.

Physiotherapy Protection

Many accidents involving vans cause injuries which result in personal and professional distress. Injuries such as whiplash can be treated more effectively with a quick diagnosis. This sounds a bit of an unusual insurance policy, but it could save a lot of pain if you have an accident. By taking out this protection, a physiotherapist will be sent to examine you, and you will be covered for a certain amount of treatment sessions if necessary.

How to Keep Van Insurance Premiums as Low as Possible

In order to keep your van insurance quotes as small as possible, there are some basic steps which should be taken. By increasing the minimum excess fee you will pay for any claims, and insurance companies will feel more comfortable about giving you a low quote. As with all policies, keep the number of registered drivers to a minimum, and if possible stay away from insuring young or inexperienced drivers as they are considered a high risk, and will prove costly.

By making your van easy to spot, with your business name and colour, it will stand out and therefore be less likely to be stolen. It also means it is more likely to be found if it is, so you might get cheaper insurance. If you keep your van locked up in a garage overnight then the chances of it being stolen are greatly reduced, as will your premium.

You might think that those “How’s my driving” stickers on the back of vans are pointless, but they could save you cash. Van insurance companies can trace records of complaints, and if you haven’t annoyed anyone then you’re probably a good, safe driver.

Insurance companies like it when we don’t make a claim, obviously. So it could be worthwhile not claiming for any minor damages, because you will benefit from a no claims bonus when you renew the policy.

Get a Van Insurance Quote