Surprisingly, there's a lot more to van insurance 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
Vans are rarely bought for just personal use, and many insurers will not offer anything other than commercial cover for them. That doesn't mean you can't use the van for personal use, as this is often available as an extra cover on a commercial policy. Frequently this isn't charged for, and this is just one of many significant differences between a van policy and a private motor policy.
As an example, a "driving other cars" extension is still quite common on fully comprehensive car policies, but it is not offered at all on commercial vehicle policies. People sometimes get caught out as they mistakenly think that the DOC extension is automatically included on any fully comprehensive policy. This is not the case with private car insurance policies either, it's just that the vast majority of them used to have this as standard, although it will be phased out completely over the next few years.
Vans are often used by several people, so it's not unusual to find insurers that offer "any driver" policies. By putting age limits on these, some savings can be made, but a few insurers also offer "any driver, any age" cover. This isn't quite as straight forward as it sounds, because what an insurer means by this is, any driver of any age, with a clean licence, several years claim free and no disabilities etc.
Drivers ages
As you would expect, the younger a driver, the more you will pay whether on a named or any driver basis. On an any driver policy, ages can be limited to any driver over 21, over 25 or over 30, with the latter being the cheapest.
Modified Vans
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.
The seating arrangement is also something that is often customised when a van is purchased. The intention being to add or remove seats as necessary. An insurer will always want to know if you have changed the seating configuration, as the number of passengers you may carry at any time, has a direct effect on the risk an insurer perceives. Adding extra seating must be done to a known standard for the insurer to accept the risk, therefore, this job has be done professionally by someone with the relevant recognised qualifications, such as a main dealer. It cannot be done by the policyholder, and to prevent this, Insurers will frequently want to see evidence such as a main dealer's receipt for the work done. If you can't afford this, really you need to buy a vehicle with the right number of seats to start with. If you are removing seats, there usually isn't a problem.
There are times when the van owner may wish to personalise his van, say with some smart alloy wheels, bull bars, or sign writing, this will also affect the policy too. In fact, whenever non standard alloy wheels are fitted to any vehicle, you need to inform your insurer, as they are considered a higher theft risk than ordinary steel wheels. While this may increase your premium, sign writing your vehicle can bring your premium down, because it's easier to spot than an anonymous white van if it's stolen.
What is all amounts to is:
* If you have any doubts, a good broker/insurer will always be able to help * Insurance is available from a number of providers for all kinds of commercial vehicles
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
Vans are rarely bought for just personal use, and many insurers will not offer anything other than commercial cover for them. That doesn't mean you can't use the van for personal use, as this is often available as an extra cover on a commercial policy. Frequently this isn't charged for, and this is just one of many significant differences between a van policy and a private motor policy.
As an example, a "driving other cars" extension is still quite common on fully comprehensive car policies, but it is not offered at all on commercial vehicle policies. People sometimes get caught out as they mistakenly think that the DOC extension is automatically included on any fully comprehensive policy. This is not the case with private car insurance policies either, it's just that the vast majority of them used to have this as standard, although it will be phased out completely over the next few years.
Vans are often used by several people, so it's not unusual to find insurers that offer "any driver" policies. By putting age limits on these, some savings can be made, but a few insurers also offer "any driver, any age" cover. This isn't quite as straight forward as it sounds, because what an insurer means by this is, any driver of any age, with a clean licence, several years claim free and no disabilities etc.
Drivers ages
As you would expect, the younger a driver, the more you will pay whether on a named or any driver basis. On an any driver policy, ages can be limited to any driver over 21, over 25 or over 30, with the latter being the cheapest.
Modified Vans
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.
The seating arrangement is also something that is often customised when a van is purchased. The intention being to add or remove seats as necessary. An insurer will always want to know if you have changed the seating configuration, as the number of passengers you may carry at any time, has a direct effect on the risk an insurer perceives. Adding extra seating must be done to a known standard for the insurer to accept the risk, therefore, this job has be done professionally by someone with the relevant recognised qualifications, such as a main dealer. It cannot be done by the policyholder, and to prevent this, Insurers will frequently want to see evidence such as a main dealer's receipt for the work done. If you can't afford this, really you need to buy a vehicle with the right number of seats to start with. If you are removing seats, there usually isn't a problem.
There are times when the van owner may wish to personalise his van, say with some smart alloy wheels, bull bars, or sign writing, this will also affect the policy too. In fact, whenever non standard alloy wheels are fitted to any vehicle, you need to inform your insurer, as they are considered a higher theft risk than ordinary steel wheels. While this may increase your premium, sign writing your vehicle can bring your premium down, because it's easier to spot than an anonymous white van if it's stolen.
What is all amounts to is:
* If you have any doubts, a good broker/insurer will always be able to help * Insurance is available from a number of providers for all kinds of commercial vehicles
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