“Any driver” van insurance allows a group of drivers to be covered under one policy for the same van.
As a business with multiple employees driving company vehicles, this type of policy can be a useful way to stay covered. It can also be a good option for private van owners who want to allow others to use their vehicles from time to time.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about any driver van insurance.
What is any driver van insurance?
Any driver van insurance covers multiple drivers for using a specific van. It allows different drivers to operate the vehicle, without having to be named individually.
With a standard van insurance policy, you typically have to name each additional driver. Any driver policies provide more flexibility by covering any drivers who meet the insurer's criteria.
While called "any driver," these policies do have a few limitations on who can drive. Some common requirements include minimum age limits, holding a valid licence for a minimum period, and having a clean driving record.
Who needs any driver van insurance?
Any driver policies can be useful for small businesses with lots of employees using the same vehicles. Especially if those businesses employ temporary staff, or have a generally high turnover. That’s because any driver policies allow multiple employees to drive a business van without being named on the insurance policy.
It means you don’t have to keep adding and removing drivers from the policy when staff change. This can be a much more convenient way to manage your business van insurance, and even help you avoid any admin fees.
For personal van owners, it allows multiple drivers to occasionally use the vehicle without taking out separate policies. For example, family members or friends driving for a long trip.
What does any driver van insurance cover?
Any driver van policies provide standard motor insurance coverage for a specific vehicle, and any drivers who meet the policy terms.
The main types of cover are:
- Third party only (TPO)
- Third party, fire and theft (TPFT)
- Fully Comprehensive
Policies can also include additional cover like:
- Tools and equipment used for work
- Personal belongings inside the van
- Goods in transit for delivery drivers
- Vehicle breakdown cover for roadside assistance
What levels of cover are available?
Any driver van policies offer the standard motor insurance coverage levels:
Third Party Only (TPO)
This covers injury to others and damage to their property, but it doesn’t cover you.
- The minimum legal cover.
- Covers injury to others and damage to their property.
- Usually the cheapest form of cover.
- No protection for you or your van.
Third Party, Fire and Theft (TPFT)
All the cover of Third Party Only, plus fire, theft and attempted theft damage to the van.
- Adds cover for fire, theft, attempted theft damage.
- Still no cover for you or for other types of damage to your van.
Fully Comprehensive
This is the highest level of cover. It fully protects your van from damage, plus it covers you, other drivers and their property.
- Fully protects your van from accidental damage.
- Covers repairs to your van if the accident was your fault.
- Adds medical coverage for injuries to you or named drivers.
- Most expensive cover, but provides the best protection.
How many drivers can be covered?
The number of drivers covered by any driver policies can vary between insurers. Some may allow unlimited drivers, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. Others may cap the number covered, for example up to 5 drivers only.
Before you decide on a policy, check with each insurer to find out what their specific driver limits are. If you need to cover a larger fleet of vans and drivers, fleet insurance could be a better option.
Things that can affect the cost of your policy
Any driver van insurance usually costs more than adding named drivers to a standard policy. That’s because insurers consider it a higher risk to insure any eligible driver who uses your van, particularly if they don’t know about the driving history or experience of each driver.
Factors that can affect your premium costs include:
- Driver age - Covering younger drivers under 25 will increase costs.
- Type of van - Larger or more high-powered vans cost more to insure.
- Nature of use - Business vans driven more frequently cost more than personal ones.
- Goods transported - Carrying expensive tools or business goods raises premiums.
- Voluntary excess - Choosing a higher excess can lower your premium.
- Parking location - Overnight parking in a safe, secure place can reduce the costs.
Restrictions and requirements
Despite being called "any driver" policies, they do sometimes have restrictions on who can actually drive the van. These typically include things like:
- Minimum driver age (e.g. drivers aged below 25 aren’t covered).
- Requiring a full UK licence held for a certain period.
- Drivers must have a clean driving record and no recent claims.
- Business policies may need all drivers to be employees.
- Maximum driver age (e.g, drivers aged 75 years or older).
Always check with your insurer so you know who can drive before getting a quote.
Alternatives to any driver policies
If you’re looking for other options to cover multiple drivers on your van, you could try:
- Named driver policies - For when you only need to add a few drivers to your policy.
- Temporary insurance - Quick short-term cover from 1 day up to 3 months.
- Multi-van policies - Single policy covering small fleets of vans and drivers.
- Fleet insurance - Large scale policies for bigger fleets with any driver use.
Tips for getting cheaper van insurance
There are a few ways you might be able to lower the costs and find a cheaper van insurance policy.
Comparing quotes from multiple insurers is one of the best ways to find a competitive deal. Opting for a higher voluntary excess is another thing that can lower your premiums, although you will have to pay more if you need to make a claim.
When choosing your van, go for a smaller model with a less-powerful engine – this can help to lower your van insurance group, and also your insurance costs.
If you can, pay for your insurance upfront for the year, rather than in monthly instalments. It’ll help you to avoid extra interest fees, saving you money over the long run. You may also get discounts from insurers by increasing the security of your van – things like immobilisers and tracking devices.
Finally, parking your van somewhere secure overnight (and when not in use) reduces the risk of theft, which insurers often reward with lower prices.
Can anyone drive a van with any driver insurance?
With most any driver policies, you'll need to provide your insurer with a list of approved drivers. There are usually other restrictions, too, like age limits or requiring a clean licence.
So always check the specifics, but in most cases, any approved driver you list can drive the van within the policy terms.
What insurance do van drivers need?
This depends on whether you use your van for personal or business driving.
For business use, you'll need a specific commercial van policy. As a self-employed driver, this type of cover will give you the protection you need while working.
For private use, standard personal van insurance is fine (this is known as social, domestic and pleasure insurance).
In any case, always check that your policy matches how you'll use the vehicle.
How much does van insurance cost on average?
In 2023, the average cost of comprehensive van insurance in the UK was just over £1,300 a year (based on research by NimbleFins).
Average costs can vary, but in most cases, personal van insurance will be cheaper than commercial van insurance, often hundreds of pounds cheaper. That’s because the risks associated with business use are higher, so the costs go up.
As always, be sure to get a few quotes to make sure you get the best price.
Which van insurance is best?
Comprehensive cover is usually seen as the best level of protection. It goes beyond legal minimum third party cover, meaning your van is covered for repairs or replacement if it gets damaged or stolen.
Some comprehensive policies also include personal accident protection, and cover for any tools or equipment you’re carrying.
What's the cheapest van insurance group?
For older vans built before 2016, insurance group 1 is the cheapest, with group 20 being the priciest. For vans built after 2016, group 21 carries the lowest cost, while group 50 is usually the most expensive.
Choosing a vehicle in a lower van insurance group can save you money on your insurance, but always get a few tailored quotes to make sure you’re getting the best price.
What are the cheapest vans to get insurance for?
Choosing a van in a lower insurance group, with a smaller engine, cheaper parts and basic specifications can mean cheaper insurance costs.
Vans like the Volkswagen Caddy, Citroen Berlingo and Fiat Doblo are among the most affordable models to insure (check out this guide on cheap vans to insure for others). In any case, getting a few quotes from different insurers will help you to find a cost-effective insurance policy that’s tailored to you.
Does Zego offer any driver van insurance?
At the moment, we don’t offer any driver policies. However, soon you’ll be able to add multiple named drivers to your Zego business van insurance policy.
Keep an eye out as we’ll be announcing more on that soon…