Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Van insurance is a lot more complex than you would think.

Vans and commercial vehicles come in so many different shapes and sizes – single cabs, double cabs, flat beds, tippers, cherry pickers, panel vans, luton vans, chassis cabs and on and on. Each model is built for a specific job or usage which will have a significant effect on the insurance price.

Commercial Cover

Social, domestic and pleasure cover for a van or other commercial vehicle may not be available directly from an insurer as a standalone cover. Normally only commercial cover is offered initially, to which SDP cover can then be added. There are a few other ways that van cover is different to private motor cover as well, because the vehicle was built with a different intended use.

For instance, fully comprehensive motor policies always used to include an extension so the policyholder could drive other cars. However, this was only ever an extra thrown in to create value, and is not always automatically included. In fact, this extension is being slowly phased out and will not be widely available soon. In the case of insurance policies for vans and other commercial vehicles, the driving other vehicles extension isn’t available at all.

Usually commercial vehicles are insured for multiple drivers, or sometimes on an “any driver” basis. There are even a few insurers who offer “any age, any driver” policies, although in cases such as those, all drivers must have a clean, Full UK driving licence. If that is not the case, any driver with points, convictions, disabilities etc. will need to be named on the policy and their driving history will have a direct effect on the rate paid.

Drivers ages

The age of a driver has a direct effect on an insurance premium. Young drivers are the most accident prone behind the wheel, so premiums will be much bigger to cover them, but discounts come in to affect if all drivers are over 21, more for over 25′s, and the most for over 30.

Van Modifications

Sometimes a van needs to be adapted slightly to meet the needs of a new owner. For example, ply lining or attaching a fixture such as a tail lift. These adaptations need to be advised to an insurer, and don’t always change the premium due, (ply lining). Though in the case of an additional fixture, such as a tail lift, the value of this should be included in the overall declared insurance value of the van, otherwise you might not be paid for it if it becomes damaged in an accident. Be aware that an item such as a tail lift, which is a permanent fixture of the vehicle can be included in it’s value and thus insured. When it comes to other tools and equipment that may be carried in the van, these will not be insured under the vehicle policy and will need their own specific cover arranged separately.

Changing how many seats you have is quite common and is something all insurers will want to know about. Taking them out isn’t usually a problem, but adding more seating isn’t something you should do yourself as insurance companies tend to frown on this. This is because there are several safety issues, such as torque settings, seat belts, and correct fittings etc. which should ideally be addressed by qualified persons, meaning a main dealer must do it. Sometimes an insurance company might want a copy of a main dealer’s receipt as proof the work was done to standard. This is understandable given the potential for serious injury in an accident if a seat isn’t fitted properly, or a seatbelt incorrectly adjusted, and you should be aware that your cover might not be valid if you do it yourself.

Occasionally, a van owner may want to personalise their van in the same way they might do with a car. Perhaps fitting extra lights or alloy wheels, although most people only go as far sign writing. This will always affect an insurance premium, although not necessarily in a more costly way. For example: Alloy wheels are considered a higher theft risk than standard steel wheels, so your premium would naturally increase. However, sign writing your van, makes it more identifiable if it happens to be stolen, so this can sometimes reduce an insurance premium.

The long and the short of it is:

* There are insurers out there who can cover you regardless of what type of van you have * It is always best to talk to your insurer or broker, if you have any doubts or questions

For further help or quotes, click on Coversure’s van insurance page. There is also a large FAQ resource and information available for other commercial vehicle insurance products.