PERSONAL VAN INSURANCE

Commercial van usage covers vans used for business driving, like transporting goods or tools for work. Personal van usage covers vans used only for private, everyday driving, such as trips to the shops or weekends away (not including commuting to and from work).

Even if you only use your van occasionally for work, you’ll still need a commercial van usage policy.

The type of driving licence you need for a van depends on the vehicle's weight. A standard Category B car driving licence allows you to drive a van weighing up to 3,500kg. To drive a van that weighs more than that, you’ll need a Category C1 licence.

Yes, regardless of how often you drive your van, you’ll need the right type of insurance cover in place. It’s a legal requirement for any vehicle used on public roads. Under the Road Traffic Acts, all vehicles must be insured against third-party liabilities.

The only exception is if you’ve declared your van 'off the road' with a Statutory Off-Road Notice (SORN) to the DVLA.

The easiest way to check your vehicle’s classification is by looking up the Vehicle Type Approval Number (TAN) on the Government’s website. If the TAN is M1, your vehicle is a car; if it’s N1 or N2, it’s classified as a van or goods vehicle.

You can also find this information in your V5C logbook.

While the cost of van insurance quotes will vary depending on lots of different factors, here are a few things you can do to help reduce the cost of your cover:

1. Check your named drivers

Including only essential drivers on your policy can help to reduce the cost. If a driver isn’t likely to use the van, it might be better to leave them off the policy. Also, adding inexperienced or high-risk drivers can increase the amount you pay.

2. Build your No Claims Bonus

By driving safely and maintaining a good claims history, you can help to earn a discount each time you renew.

3. Compare van insurance quotes

Be sure to get quotes from more than one van insurance provider. It’ll help you to compare policies and make sure you’re getting the best value for your cover.

4. Pay annually

Paying for your policy annually instead of monthly can result in significantly lower costs over the long run. Keep in mind that while cost is important, buying a cheap van insurance policy might not give you the cover you need. So try to balance price with the level of protection you need.

Learn more about van statistics here.

Black box insurance uses a physical device installed in your car, while telematics insurance includes app-based tracking. Both monitor driving behaviour, but app-based telematics offers more flexibility without requiring a device installation.

Telematics insurance costs vary based on factors like age, driving habits, and mileage. Safe drivers can benefit from more fairer premiums, with prices typically cheaper than standard insurance for young or inexperienced drivers.

Absolutely! Telematics insurance is a great choice for young drivers. It rewards safe driving with fairer premiums, helps you improve your skills, and makes insurance more affordable – perfect if you're just starting out on the road!

App-based telematics insurance detects driving by tracking movement, speed, and engine activity through your smartphone’s sensors. It knows when you're on the road and records data like braking and acceleration to assess your driving habits for safer, fairer insurance pricing.