Courier Van Insurance

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Vans are the perfect vehicle type for businesses that transport their products up and down the country. After all, they have been specifically designed and manufactured to move people and goods around efficiently, comfortably and quickly. Vans can also look great as a fleet, especially when decorated with a brand's logo or colour scheme!

What is courier van insurance?

Courier van insurance is simply a form of vehicle insurance that covers you to carry other peoples' goods and property for hire and reward.

It might be suitable for anyone who is paid to make deliveries as it provides insurance coverage for you and your van whilst you are undertaking your work. Some courier van insurance policies may also provide cover for the goods you've delivering, up to a certain value limit, although it's best to check with your insurer the exact details of this. You may require a separate Goods in Transit policy if your chosen courier van insurance policy either doesn't provide coverage for the goods, or you feel the coverage limit is too low.

Cost

Pricing for courier van insurance policies can vary widely, as it will depend on a whole range of factors which might produce different premiums from policyholder to policyholder and insurer to insurer.

These factors include your van make and model, your driving history, the nature of your business and the value of the goods you carry too.

To help find a competitive quote on your insurance premium, there are a number of things you can do when searching for insurance coverage.

One of the most common things to do is to increase the voluntary excess on your insurance cover.

The more you’re willing to pay upfront in the event of a claim, the less you might pay monthly or in a lump sum for your insurance premium.

Remember though, voluntary excess is in addition to any compulsory excess that your insurance policy may come with.

Always be sure to read the policy documents for your courier van insurance carefully before buying the policy.

Some other ways you might be able to decrease the price quoted for your insurance include investing in security measures such as vehicle alarms and improving your overall driving capability by taking an advanced drivers’ course.

Is all courier van insurance the same?

No, policies from different insurers might all broadly provide similar coverage, but there are likely to be variations in the exact coverage they provide, so you need to ensure that you have the right cover in place for you.

When insuring a van, you must declare the usage type for which the van will be used. For those providing courier services, there are two options: “Carry Goods for Hire or Reward” or “Haulage”.

Typically, most couriers will be carrying relatively small items, anything from an envelope up to a large box which may or may not require a sack trolly to help move it, but basically it can be handled by one person. The usage type of “Carry Goods for Hire or Reward” might be most appropriate in this case.

“Haulage”, as the name suggests, implies much larger consignments of, potentially, very heavy goods which may, for example, require a forklift truck to remove pallets of goods from a curtain-side or HGV vehicle.

It’s important you declare the usage type that most fits your likely business activity.

Courier van insurance policies can also come with a range of optional add-ons including such things as a replacement van if yours breaks down, and that could be very handy to help protect your livelihood if your van breaks down or is involved in an accident rendering it unusable.

These options will vary from insurer to insurer, so make sure to pick the policy that gives you the cover and peace of mind you are seeking and the optional add-ons you need.

Who needs courier van insurance?

It’s a legal requirement to have valid insurance in place to use a motor vehicle on the UK’s public highways.

If you're being paid to transport products or items that don’t belong to you, then comprehensive courier van insurance is important to help protect against damage to your van whilst you’re working.

If you also opt for goods in transit insurance, the goods you’re transporting will also be protected.

Cover When it comes to courier van insurance, there are three main types of cover and a host of additional add-ons that you might be able to add to your policy (depending on the insurance provider).

Third Party Only (“TPO”)

TPO is the UK’s minimum legal requirement of insurance you must hold for your courier van.

It covers you for damage and/or injury to another person or their property if you cause an accident. However, neither you nor your vehicle will be covered, and you can’t claim with your insurance. A third-party-only policy doesn’t cover damage caused by theft or fire.

Third Party, Fire & Theft (“TPFT”)

In addition to Third-party only cover, a TPFT policy will provide cover for you if your van is stolen or damaged by fire.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive courier van insurance provides everything included under Third-party fire and theft and will also cover you if your van is damaged or destroyed in an accident.

Optional extras available at the time of purchase may include:

Goods In Transit

Goods in transit van insurance protects the cargo within your vehicle. Be sure to check your goods in transit cover policy wording to see which items are covered, as there may be some exemptions such as jewellery and fine art.

Breakdown cover

This type of additional cover helps to ensure that you won’t be stranded in the case of a breakdown and can provide valuable peace of mind to van drivers and business owners.

Legal expenses cover

This can help pay for any legal fees should you be involved in an accident that might become subject to legal proceedings.

Trailer cover

This may come as standard with your policy, but it’s best to check your policy documents just in case. This cover can help when it comes to any damage to your trailer and its contents.

Employers’ liability insurance

This type of cover doesn’t tend to come as standard, but it’s potentially a great add-on to consider if you employ people within your business.

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How does cover for a courier van differ from a cover for a van for personal use?

Courier van insurance for the usage type "Carry for Hire or Reward" differs from van insurance for other usage types in a number of ways.

More often than not, courier van insurance has increased liability cover in order to protect any goods that are being transported.

Courier van insurance is also, somewhat obviously, for business use, whereas van insurance for social use only is for personal use not associated to a business or employment. With courier cover, you may also find that there are higher premiums and increased mileage allowances to accommodate how much the van is used.

Get courier van insurance with The Van Insurer

If you're a delivery driver you can compare courier van insurance quotes with The Van Insurer.

We compare quotes from our panel of courier van insurance providers so all you have to do is complete one simple form to see quotes from multiple insurers.

Once you've used our price comparison platform, you'll be presented with a list of the cheapest courier van insurance quotes our panel members can offer at that point in time.

Consider the list carefully and only select an option if it provides you the cover you need at a price you can afford. Remember, the best cover isn't always the cheapest!

FAQs

Why should I compare courier van insurance?

Not only can it help you get a great price that’s budget-friendly when you compare delivery van insurance, but you can check out the wide variety of coverage options, add-ons and more by comparing quotes from our panel of insurance companies in one easy place.

What is the difference between the “carry for hire or reward” and “haulage” usage types?

Typically, Carry for Hire or Reward is the usage type most appropriate for courier van insurance for those who move relatively small items over shorter distances and to, sometimes, dozens of different locations in a single day. Haulage insurance is typically for longer-haul drivers moving large loads to a single destination point. Although it’s easy to get both mixed up, haulage drivers tend to be truck drivers and travel a further distance when compared to couriers.

Does business insurance cover courier vans?

It’s best to check your policy documents but probably not. Delivery van insurance is for businesses or individuals who carry property from A to B, but a business insurance policy will very likely not provide such coverage.

How many vehicles can I insure with one courier van policy?

Courier van policies tend to insure only one van. However, there are specialist fleet policies available to businesses from some insurers that wish to insure more than one vehicle.

What is the minimum driver age for this type of insurance?

It can vary between insurers. Some will allow drivers of only 17 years of age, but others will restrict insurance to drivers who are 21 or even 25.

Does delivery van insurance cover me when delivering abroad?

This will depend on your policy and the insurer you use, but overseas cover is quite often available as an option from many insurers.