Valuable Van Insurance Tips You Should Consider
Van insurance is slightly different from standard car policies and you need to make sure that you’re adequately covered.
If you have just bought your first van the insurance guidelines can be confusing.
Whether you’re driving for pleasure or business, which type of insurance is right?
Why do you need insurance?
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All vans are classed as commercial vehicles, even if you don’t actually use them for business purposes. This means that the way they are insured is different from cars.
However, like all vehicles, you must make sure they are properly covered, even if they are not in use.
Under the Continuous Insurance Enforcement policy, it is against the law to have a vehicle without insurance. This rule only applies if you have not informed the DVLA that your vehicle is off the road.
So what cover do you need for your van to ensure you don’t flout the law?
Private van insurance
If you only use your van for social, domestic, or pleasure reasons then you can take out a personal policy.
This will cover you if your driving is related to your hobbies or day-to-day activities. However, it will not be valid if you use your van for anything to do with work.
This type of policy is different from car insurance. It will not cover you if you use your van to commute to work, even if you park it all day.
However, if you drive to the office, insurance should be obtained through a commercial van policy.
SEE ALSO: Tips On How To Easily Change Your Home Insurance
The unclear points…
There are some unclear points with this type of policy. If you have any doubts, you should talk to your insurance company.
For example, if you used your van to sell things at one car boot sale then it could be classed as personal use.
However, if you were to sell at a few then an insurer might see that as a business. You may pick up a friend from work for a night out.
However, if you drive to an office often, insurance companies might see that as a business reason.
Different types of commercial van insurance
If you have decided that you definitely need a commercial policy then there are also different classifications within this.
Depending on how you use your van, there are three main types: carrying your own goods, carrying goods for payment, and haulage.
If you use your van for work, you need insurance. This includes jobs like plumbing, building, or gardening. The insurance is necessary for carrying your own goods.
Couriers and delivery drivers insurance
However, if your business involves delivering goods for the money you need additional cover. Carrying goods for hire or reward usually refers to couriers and delivery drivers.
This includes those in a fleet or working alone. They deliver items to various locations. A haulage company is seen as one which has clients and runs to a delivery schedule.
However, if you are running a haulage company, being able to keep your truck drivers happy is the good. It could help build trust and dedication, which ultimately is good for your for reducing your car insurance costs.
If you have questions or need more information about your insurance policy, please contact your insurer.
When you’re not used to van insurance policies it can appear very confusing. If you know what you will use the van for and are honest with your insurance provider, you should not have any problems.




Some insurance companies are known to provide discounts for special categories of people such as students or senior citizens. If you belong to any of these groups, you should ask to be given a lower car insurance rate. There are cases where such discounts are quite high and you will end up saving a lot of money.