Best van insurance

There are four main types of van insurance. Two fall under personal use: Social & Pleasure Only and Social & Commuting. The other two cover business and commercial use: Business Use (for the carriage of one's own goods) and Haulage (of goods for hire and reward). If you use your van for business purposes, it’s important to make sure your policy covers the correct use type - using a van for business without declaring it could invalidate your cover.

As long as you hold a full driving licence with the appropriate category for the van you're insuring, you can technically get insurance from age 17. But some providers won't offer van insurance to drivers under 21 and those that do might be expensive. Read reviews from customers and compare quotes to find out which providers offer the best options for young van drivers.

No, you don't pay VAT on van insurance. Instead, insurance policies are liable for insurance premium tax (IPT), which is included in your policy, so you won't need to pay this separately.

Van insurance is typically more expensive than car insurance because vans are generally larger, more expensive to repair and more likely to be used for business purposes. The type of van, its value, how it’s used and where it’s kept overnight all affect the premium. Comparing quotes from multiple van insurance companies is the most effective way to find the best price.

Standard van insurance policies don’t usually cover tools and equipment stored inside the van. This needs to be covered separately under a tools in transit or goods in transit policy. If you rely on your tools for work, it’s worth looking at combined van and tools insurance policies, which some specialist insurers offer.

Yes, short-term or temporary van insurance is available for periods as short as one day. This is useful if you’re renting a van to move house, for example, or borrowing someone else’s van. Temporary van insurance can be arranged quickly online and doesn’t affect your main car insurance no-claims bonus.