Compare business van insurance quotes

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If you use your van for work, you’ll probably need business van insurance (also called commercial van insurance). Policies can help you cover costs if you have an accident or if your van is stolen.

Why compare business van insurance?

By comparing quotes at mustard.co.uk, you can be confident in the knowledge you are searching a range of different policies to suit you and your business. With a panel of over 50 leading UK insurance providers, you can compare what’s available and choose a policy that fits your budget.

Call us on 0330 022 8791 for a quote over the phone

What is business van insurance?

Business van insurance covers you and your van when it’s being used for work-related purposes.

Crucially, if you commute to work in your van (even if it’s to the same place every day), you’ll probably need business van insurance. This is because unlike car cover, business van insurance doesn’t have an option for social, domestic, pleasure + commuting.

What does business van insurance cover?

What’s covered depends on the policy you choose:

Carriage of own goods – this is suitable if you commute to work in your van or carry your own tools and equipment in relation to your job, for example, if you’re a builder, plumber, or dog groomer.
Carriage of goods for hire or reward – this enables you to drive your van if you use it to carry or deliver goods in exchange for money, for instance, if you’re a courier.
Haulage – this is typically for truck drivers who transport goods over long distances to make a single delivery to a pre-determined location.

What levels of cover are there?

Like other types of vehicle insurance, there are three levels of cover you can choose from:

Third party only cover– this is the minimum you can have by law. It covers any damage you cause to other people and their property. However, it won’t compensate you if you’re injured and it won’t repair or replace your van if it’s damaged or stolen.
Third party fire and theft cover– this provides the same level of protection as third party only and will also compensate you if your van is stolen or damaged by fire.
Comprehensive cover – this is the highest level of cover you can buy. It includes third party fire and theft and can also include personal accident cover, as well as damage to your van, even if an accident is considered your fault.

Most insurers will also offer a range of extra features. Depending on the insurer and the policy you choose these may be included as standard. If not, you can usually add them on for an additional premium. Typical optional extras include:

Trailer cover – to cover the cost of vandalism or theft of a trailer.
Breakdown cover – provides assistance if your van breaks down on the roadside.
Courtesy van – to help ensure business as usual if your van is out of action.
Glass cover – covers the cost of repairing or replacing the windscreen or other windows.

Does commercial van insurance cover the contents?

Not all commercial van insurance policies cover the contents of your van and what’s covered really depends on the terms of your individual policy.

If you’ve opted for a third-party policy, there’s a good chance it probably won’t include cover for your belongings, but some comprehensive policies might. With that in mind (and regardless of the policy you choose), it’s vital to check with your insurer whether or not the goods you carry are insured (usually known as goods in transit insurance).

Compare cheap business van insurance

Whether you’re a part-time courier or drive your van to work every day, we can help you find the right cover at the right price.

That’s because at mustard.co.uk, we pride ourselves on being experts in business van insurance comparison and can help you compare a wide range of policies, including:

If you’d prefer to speak to someone about your business van insurance needs, you can call an expert member of the team on 0330 022 8791.

Business van insurance advice and FAQs

What is business van insurance?

Business van insurance covers you and your van when using it for work-related purposes, including commuting.

Van insurance isn’t like car insurance where you can choose the option of social + commuting, so if you use your van to travel to work, then you need to be covered by a business insurance policy.

When taking out your policy, you’ll need to choose the classification that best covers your needs:

Carriage of own goods: this covers your van for carrying tools and materials between jobs you need carriage of own goods business insurance. If you want to insure your tools or any equipment that you carry in your van, you’ll need to look at goods-in-transit cover.
Carriage of goods for hire or reward: this cover insures you to use your van to make deliveries ie courier insurance.

Goods-in-transit cover can sometimes be included in courier insurance policies, but is essential that you check what’s covered with your insurer.

Additional extras such as courtesy vehicle hire, breakdown recovery and tool hire can help keep your business going if your vehicle is stolen or damaged.

How does business van insurance work?

Similarly to standard car and van insurance, there are three levels of business van insurance cover; third party only, third party fire and theft and fully comprehensive.

Third party only is the lowest level of cover and will cover any damage your van causes to any vehicle, person or property. It will not cover you for any injuries you sustain yourself or for any damage or theft to your van.
Third party fire and theft provides the same level of protection as third party only, and also covers you for any damage or loss as a result of fire or theft.
Comprehensive is the highest level of cover and offers the same protection as third party fire and theft, as well as cover for damage to you or your vehicle, even if you are at fault.

The way you use your van is very important when it comes to getting the right level of insurance cover, so be sure to read mustard’s handy guide to van insurance terms >

How much is business van insurance?

As with all insurance policies, the cost of business van insurance depends on your individual circumstances, for example:

Your age
Driving history
What you use your van for
The type of policy you need.

The type of van you have and the insurance group it falls into, also play an important part in the cost of commercial van insurance. So, if you’re trying to find the balance between finding a van that’s right for your needs and insurance cost, take time to look at manufacturer specifications, optional extras, trim levels and security ratings which all affect its insurance group.

You can find out more about the ins and outs of van insurance groups, in our handy guide >

Of course, one of the best ways to find out how much business van insurance will cost you is to compare quotes, which you can do right here with our quick and easy to use comparison tool.

Is commercial van insurance more expensive?

Business van insurance can be more expensive than private van cover. This is because business users tend to cover more miles. From an insurer’s point of view, this puts commercial van drivers at greater risk of having an accident and making a claim – which is reflected in a higher premium.

How can I get cheap business van insurance?

Although business van policies can be more expensive, the good news is that you can reduce your premium by:

Building up your no claims discount (NCD)
Improving your van’s security
Joining an approved trade association.

Read more about comparing cheap van insurance >

Can I check if a van has business insurance?

The easiest way to check if a vehicle has valid insurance is to check their details on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). You will need the registration number of the van to complete a search.

Compare business van insurance now >