Temporary van insurance

What is temporary van insurance, and how does it work?

Van insurance that is temporary, or short-term, covers you to drive a vehicle for a few days, weeks, or months. This option works out as a cheap temporary van insurance.

Standard van insurance is annual and covers you for a full year, which is much more cover than you'll need if you're just renting a van for the day.

Temporary van insurance may be purchased for a specific period of time, ranging from a single day to several months. If you just drive a van on occasion, it's a perfect way to get extensive cover at a price that's proportional to the amount you drive.

When will I need temporary van insurance?

There's not much room in a standard vehicle. If you know someone who has a van you can lease, it might be cheaper to insure it for a short period of time rather than hire one if you are looking for the cheapest temporary van insurance:

  • If you're moving house, you can save money by not hiring a relocation company; just make sure your belongings are insured when in transit.
  • Large-item transport - useful if you've purchased or sold furniture on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or eBay.
  • You'll need a van for work if you're self-employed, as you may need to transport inventory to an event or transfer consumer products.
  • If you're renting a van for a day trip, most rental companies will provide insurance, but if they don't, temporary van insurance will.
  • Buying a new van - If you don't have an annual policy yet, one-day van insurance would allow you to test drive a potential purchase and drive it home if you decide to buy it.

Is it possible to get one-day van insurance?

Yes, you certainly can. We compare temporary van insurance cover for an hour, a day, or up to a month, which can be very convenient and cost-effective if you only need a van for a limited time, such as moving furniture. Check to see if you're protected elsewhere; for example, a van rental company might have insurance as part of the rental price.

The advantages and disadvantages of temporary van insurance

For some people, temporary van insurance isn't the best choice. It may be less expensive to be covered as a designated driver on someone else's insurance.

Pros

  • It could be more costly than adding a second driver to the main driver's policy.
  • Short-term insurance is proportionately more costly every day than an annual policy.
  • So, if you only need a van a few times a year, a short-term policy isn't as easy as an annual policy.

What is the period of short-term van insurance?

You can have policies for as long as you need them, but most policies are for a minimum of one day and a maximum of one month.

Extras on short-term van insurance policies

Before you buy, look over the policy information to see exactly what's covered. Some plans which provide cover for your personal property or legal protection as a standard feature, whereas others may include an additional fee.

These cover elements are usually paid as optional bonuses, so don't include them if you don't need them:

Breakdown cover - Some plans have temporary breakdown cover as part of the package. If you're paying extra for it, make sure it's worth it and that you're not already protected by the car owner's breakdown cover.

Courtesy van - If your borrowed van is forced to spend time in the garage for repairs, courtesy van insurance will ensure that you have a vehicle to drive while your temporary van insurance is working. Your new vehicle should be adequate for your needs, but it may not be a complete replacement for the van you were insured to drive.

Driving abroad - Also temporary van insurance normally only provides third-party cover, which is the mandatory minimum for driving in Europe. If you're taking a trip overseas in your borrowed van to import or export goods, you may be able to pay a little extra to upgrade your insurance to comprehensive.

What is commercial van insurance?

Company van insurance is another name for commercial van insurance. It insures your work vans as well as your personal and professional belongings, such as tools. It can include travel to various work locations as well as the transportation of goods and materials.

Extra cover for items like courtesy van hire and breakdown assistance may be purchased for an additional fee. They will help you reduce the financial effect of an accident or a robbery on your business.

What kinds of commercial van insurance are there?

Commercial van insurance comes in three levels, depending on what you need it for:

Transport of one's own goods - If you're a self-employed plumber or florist, for example, and you use your van to transport business-related products or tools, this is the case. If you just use your van for commuting, you'll need this cover as well.

Transport of goods for hire or reward - This is the choice for you if you transport goods for a fee. It's typically used by those who move goods to various locations, such as fast food or catalogue delivery services.

Haulage - If you're making a single delivery over a long distance, you'll need haulage coverage for your van. Different insurers define this cover and carriage of products for hire and reward differently, so double-check that you're having the correct cover for your work.

Haulage

Even if you just commute on occasion or your van is used for work, you'll need commercial van insurance.

Commercial van insurance is required for light commercial vehicles (LCVs) weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. Any vehicle that is heavier is classified as a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), which means you'll almost certainly need truck insurance.

If you only use your van for social purposes and not for driving, you'll need a private "social only" policy. Are you undecided on whether you should get private or commercial van insurance? We will assist you in making your decision.

What is covered by commercial van insurance?

What is protected depends on the amount and form of policy you have however, commercial van insurance will cover:

  • Theft, crash, or vandalism result in the loss or harm of your van.
  • In the event of a motor vehicle accident, your van and/or the vehicles and belongings of third parties that are damaged are covered.
  • If you file a claim or have a claim filed against you, you might be responsible for any or all of the legal fees. Some of the legal fees may be covered.
  • If you're hurt and can't recover the costs from a third party, you'll get a pay out from the insurance company.
  • In the event of a motor vehicle accident, medical bills for yourself, your passengers, and/or third parties can be incurred.
  • Legal security, breakdown cover, and courtesy vans are examples of optional extras.

What is the cost of commercial van insurance?

The average cost of business van insurance varies depending on your use, but it may be less expensive than a social-only policy. Carriage of own goods policies is found to be 2% cheaper on average than social use policies.

Insurance for transporting other people's goods is considerably more costly. The estimated cost of hauling goods for hire and reward was on average £1,050 and haulage insurance was on average £1,250.

Your own quotes would be higher or lower, depending on the specific conditions, such as the van you drive, where you live, and your driving background.

Improve the protection of your commercial van, add internal racking to securely store equipment, and display "how's my driving?" signs to demonstrate that you're a responsible driver to lower the cost of your commercial van insurance.

Temporary insurance for under 21’s

We often discover that insuring a young employee under the age of 21 is not financially feasible for many companies. Temporary van insurance for under 21 is our approach.

There may be times when young workers are required to drive the van, but rather than paying for annual benefits, we may provide low-cost one-day insurance plans.

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