Compare Van Insurance

Many of the things you need to consider when choosing the right van insurance are identical to those related to choosing car insurance. However, van insurance is generally costlier for several pivotal reasons.

Vans have larger engines and are used to carry tools and other work-related equipment, so the cargo is often more valuable than you would find in cars.

As well as this, driving a van can be markedly different to driving a car, and that is why young drivers are especially liable to receiving pricy van insurance quotes. For instance, the level of visibility in a van is lower and this increases the possibility of accidents.

Van insurance premiums can also be higher because vans are more attractive prospects to thieves, whether there is anything of value kept inside or not.

Just like with cars, there are variations in van insurance depending on how experienced a driver is, along with the make, model and age of the van itself.

Using a van for commercial purposes will increase the level of your insurance premiums, but if you are using the van for work, you must declare it or your insurance provider will be legally able to void your policy if you make a claim.

There are three different types of van insurance to consider: third party, third party, fire and theft, and comprehensive.

It's illegal to own a van without having some level of van insurance, and the lowest possible level of insurance policy you can have by law is third party only. This means that if your van damages someone else or their property, that damage is covered. However, any damage to your van won't be covered under the policy.

Third party, fire and theft not only covers third party damage as discussed above, but also the cost of any repairs if your own van is stolen or damaged by fire.

The highest level of van insurance cover available is comprehensive cover. This means your van as well as third party vehicles will be covered in the event of an accident, even if the damage was your fault.

As vans are bigger than cars and have more complex parts, you should think carefully about what level of insurance you need. The cost of repairs can be steep, and if you rely on your van for work, any time off the road could be expensive.

You can use the Choose comparison tool above to compare the different types of van insurance to see which quotes work for you.

You might think that all van insurance companies offer the same type of policy, but there are plenty of variations you should be aware of before you sign up to a policy. It's also true that van insurers will bundle extras into policies, but you might not need those extra services.

Variations in van insurance prices can depend on your location and the type of van you're trying to insure. Don't assume that all van insurance companies will give you the same quote for the same type of cover - that's why it's important to compare before you settle on one.

Extras will also add to the cost of van insurance policies. The most important of these for many van drivers is insurance for contents such as tools and personal equipment. Along with this, the possibility of a courtesy van while yours is being repaired could be an important point.

When you search for van insurance on the Choose website, you'll find quotations from small van insurance providers as well as the big names. This gives you more choice, but you should also check the small print for disclaimers and exclusions to the policy.

You're equally as likely to find quality van insurance that suits your circumstances from a smaller insurance provider as a larger one. Thanks to the way Choose list insurance quotations, you can see all the cheapest quotes and the ones that will meet your requirements in one place.

Some van insurance policies explicitly exclude business use from their remit, so be careful before you sign up to a policy while using your van for commercial purposes. If you lie about this during the application process, your insurance will be invalidated, and you won't be covered.

Contents insurance to cover tools and goods within the van may be important. Again, be sure to read the fine print and work out whether you're covered if goods are stored overnight, for example.

One key thing to remember about most van insurance policies is that they won't cover the transportation of hazardous materials. So, if this is part of what you do for a living, be sure to declare it or you risk being turned down when you try to make a claim.

The type of job you do for a living will impact your premiums - and this can be more complicated than you might think. Different job titles can incur different premiums, and you need to be honest about this too during your application.

For vans used for commercial purposes, there are specific things you can do to lower your premiums such as advertising your business on the side of the van.

Lowering your van insurance premiums can often be a case of making numerous small changes to the way you run your van to make a dent in your premium costs.

As mentioned above, you have to accurately declare how the van is used and whether it is used more for commercial purposes than social purposes. However, the definition of social use spans everything from helping friends and family for no fee through to taking rubbish to the tip. Check your usage before signing up.

Effective van security is also critical for lower insurance premiums. Vans are attractive vehicles to thieves who can't see inside them and therefore assume they hold valuable items.

So, improving your van's security through GPS tracking devices, a decent van alarm and a good lock which protects your van from theft and damage as much as possible could lower your premiums dramatically.

Similarly, figuring out where a car is going to be parked and stored, especially overnight, can help keep your premiums lower. A safe and secure overnight location can make a huge difference, especially if you live or work in a high crime area.

If you're looking for ways to lower your van insurance costs before you have even purchased a van, there are potentially more things you can do to keep costs down.

For instance, smaller vans mean smaller premiums. This is because larger vans are more of a risk for insurance companies since they're more powerful and more likely to do serious damage in an accident scenario.

Be mindful of putting additional drivers on to the van insurance policy too. If any of these are under 25, this could increase your costs, and some insurers look unfavourably on additional drivers more generally. That said, it could result in lower quotes from other providers, so remember to shop around.

The excess on your van insurance dictates the amount you have to contribute whenever you make a claim. This stops customers claiming for every bump or scratch, and it can be split into two categories: compulsory excess and voluntary excess.

Compulsory excess is set by the insurance company and is usually a token amount that would deter small claims and yet mean that more expensive bumps and scrapes were covered. Many van insurance policies will come with a compulsory excess.

On top of this, insurance companies will ask you to pay a voluntary excess in the event of a claim. This amount varies and is, as the name suggests voluntary.

When you agree to pay a higher voluntary excess on your car insurance, you'll find that your insurance premiums will go down. This is because you'll be paying more in the event of a claim, and so you wouldn't bother claiming for something of a low value - it makes you less of a claim risk for the insurer.

Deciding on the level of your voluntary excess should be done carefully. While the possibility of lower premiums sounds excellent, remember you'd be expected to pay that amount out if you had an accident in your van.

As a general rule, choose a voluntary excess amount that you could afford to pay during a typical month. This should keep your premiums manageable while ensuring you're not hit by a big voluntary excess bill when you can least afford it.

It's straightforward to apply for van insurance online using the free Choose van insurance comparison tool.

Simply decide what level of cover you want and search for quotations. You can then see all important details about the type of cover offered by dozens of UK van insurance providers in one list that's both clear and easy to navigate.

Be sure to play around with the price comparison tool, checking to see which type of insurance is right for you and how much the price would change if you opted for comprehensive over third party, fire and theft, for example.

Once you've found a quote you like, click through to the insurer's website using the link provided in the listing. This will ensure you're taken directly to their site and navigated straight into their quotation process.

It's important that you have all details to hand when you're filling out your van insurance application form because any wrong answers could result in your policy being invalid when you need it the most.

Remember, too, that complete honesty is crucial to both obtaining an insurance policy for your van and making a successful claim later. Never be tempted to lie or be economical about the truth as this will result in a cancelled policy and a potentially huge headache for you as you struggle to get van insurance in place quickly.

Choosing the right van insurance policy for you can be tricky, but Choose are here to make it easier.