Is my van insured?

How to check if your van is insured

Whether hitting the road by bike, car or van, you will need cover. Heading to the coast to catch some waves? A van will give you more space for your surfboard. Moving home? Pack all your stuff in the van and make a plan. You can also use a van for transporting larger items like bikes and furniture.

It’s a legal requirement in the UK to drive with at least third party insurance, so it’s worth double-checking your insurance before you next drive your van. Whether driving a van for the first time or an experienced driver, you need to have insurance.

Potential penalties for uninsured drivers include:

• £300
• 6 penalty points
• An unlimited fine (if the case goes to court)
• Disqualification (if the case goes to court)

There are different types of van insurance available to suit your needs - whether they’re private or business related. Understanding the different types of van insurance available can help you ensure you have the right cover for your needs:

• Telematics insurance - A device will monitor how safely you drive, basing your insurance rate on driving behaviour.
• Third party insurance - The legal minimum level of cover, covering you if you damage somebody else’s car or property, or injure them, while you’re driving.
• Third party fire and theft - The next step up in terms of cover as you can also claim for your vehicle if it’s damaged by fire or stolen.
• Comprehensive - Covers the cost of damage to third parties and your vehicle plus personal injury, even if the accident was your fault.

If you don’t have cover, you should aim to resolve this asap by contacting insurance companies for quotes. If you’re not planning on driving the van for a while, you can register the vehicle as off the road using the government’s SORN service.

You can use temporary van insurance to cover you in the short term (from one hour to 28 days), making it ideal if you need to do any of the following:

• Borrow a van - Only pay for the time you need.
• Long journeys - Share a drive with someone not on your long-term policy.
• Move home - Borrow a van and start packing.
• Buy or sell a van - You might only need a short period of time if changing your van.

How do I find out who my van insurance is with?

If you’re wondering who your van insurance is with, you should check your policy documents. If you can’t find or have temporarily misplaced them, you can check back through your email inbox for renewal notices.

You can check that your vehicle is insured through the MIB’s Navigate function, but this will not tell you the name of the insurer.

Getting insurance for a van is very similar to getting insurance for a car. The price will be based on various factors including the type of vehicle, where you live, where you work and your driving history.

What insurance do I need for man and van?

The type of van insurance you need will depend on what you’re using the vehicle for.

• Private van insurance is suitable for any non-business related activities like general driving, school runs and family outings.
• Commercial van insurance is needed if you use your van for work e.g. if you’re a plumber or electrician so this is what you’ll need if you’re a ‘man (or woman) with a van’. Whether you’re the owner of the company or use the van for commuting, you will need commercial insurance.

There are also different classifications of commercial van insurance to be aware of:

• Carriage of own goods, sometimes referred to as business use, is used for transporting equipment and tools.
• Carriage of goods for hire and reward for delivery drivers.
• Haulage for journeys that carry single loads or drive long distances e.g. house moves.

Do I need business insurance for my van?

If you’re using your van for work purposes, the simple answer is yes. Business van insurance is legally required to drive your van for commercial purposes.

Van insurance can be more expensive than car insurance. Carriage of own goods is often used by tradespeople as it covers the transporting of raw materials, while van contents insurance covers belongings and equipment including tools, stock and personal items against loss, theft or damage.

While van insurance might be the second biggest expense after buying the vehicle itself, there are ways you can potentially reduce this cost:

• Shop around. In the market for a new van? You could take a look at second-hand vans as many are cheaper to both buy and insure. Check out our best vans for new drivers post for some inspiration.
• Smaller vans with lower annual mileage may also have lower insurance prices.
• Attach alarms, immobilisers and trackers to your vehicle. This extra security can help put your mind at ease and potentially help with lowering insurance quotes.
• Do your research and get quotes from multiple insurers in the month leading up to your renewal.
• Use temporary van insurance. If you only need to borrow a van for a short period or need more time to find the right longer-term policy, temporary van insurance could be the answer.

Do I need van insurance as a convicted driver?

Yes, all drivers need at least third party insurance to drive a van on a public UK road. A conviction can lead to higher premiums as insurers will view drivers with them as a higher risk.

Do I need insurance to rent a van?

Yes, although many rental companies will arrange this and build the cover into the price you pay. If you arrange your own temporary van insurance in addition to the rental company's cover, it may add more time when you want to finalise the details and get on the road fast.

If you’re borrowing a van from a friend or family member, temporary insurance can be a convenient, flexible and fast option. It takes under 2 minutes to get a quote and you’ll only pay for the time you need - whether that’s an hour or 28 days.

You can drive a van up to 3,500kg on a regular driving licence, but if you’re planning on driving one between 3,500kg and 7500kg, you’ll need a Category C1 driving licence. This will require you to pass a theory test, practical test and medical examination.

It’s important you have the right driving licence. There are potentially fines of up to £1,000 and 3 to 6 penalty points if you are driving with the wrong type.