Modified Van Insurance

Modified van insurance is a legal requirement for all modified van owners to have. If you are caught without it, you could face legal consequences

We might think of vans as work and utility vehicles only but lots of drivers choose vans rather than cars for their everyday runaround.

But vans often go beyond everyday vehicles and like with cars and motorbikes, there are dedicated van enthusiasts who take great pride in their Light Commercial Vehicles. Van drivers are more likely to modify their vans than car drivers are to their cars. Vans provide more opportunities for customisation as they are much larger vehicles. Especially if you use your van for work, modifications might be essential for comfort or practicality.

Insurance is a legal requirement for every driver on the road -- regardless of whether you are driving a van, car or motorcycle. It is also a legal requirement to have the correct insurance for your vehicle. You should always declare any modifications to your vehicle, otherwise, your insurance policy may not be valid, which could result in having to pay extortionate amounts in repairs as well as a large fine. Luckily, there are many modified van insurance specialists that are willing to offer you a policy.

Similarly to all other types of vehicle insurance, you can choose from Third Party Only, Third Party Fire and Theft, and Fully Comprehensive. Third Party Only is the legal minimum and the least extensive level of cover that you can purchase and Fully Comprehensive is the most extensive. It may seem surprising, but often Fully Comprehensive insurance is cheaper than Third Party, as insurance companies will see you as less of a risk

What is modified van insurance?

Modified van insurance is for vehicles that have been altered in any way. This can be in the form of new spoilers, new paint jobs, modifications to seating in the rear and new alloys -- whatever the change, modifications can improve your van's performance and can increase your insurance premium. Here are more examples of modifications:

• Adding shelves or storage spots
• Adding or removing seats in the van
• Increasing the number of power points
• Improving the sound system, as well as any other technology in the van
• Installing a sat nav or dashboard camera

So insurance for modified vans is essentially cover that takes modifications and alterations you or others have made to your van into account, tweaking the cost of your premium accordingly.

Do modifications increase your insurance costs?

Modifications to any vehicle, whether it's a car, van or motorbike, will usually result in a more expensive insurance premium.

However, it's not guaranteed that modifications will increase the cost of your insurance. Smaller changes probably won't bump up your premium but you must still declare them to your insurer either way. That's right -- if you or someone else has made modifications to your van, you must inform your insurer of any changes before you purchase a policy, no matter how small or large.

There are modified van insurance specialists that are experts and will insure your modified vehicle, while some companies will not do this.

Why do modifications increase insurance costs?

Modifications increase insurance costs because non-security changes generally either improve a van's performance, which means that the parts might be more expensive to replace if you are involved in an accident. Also, modifications can make it more desirable to thieves, especially if the modification is to the appearance as they see the van as of high value or it simply stands out more than other vehicles. Therefore, insurers factor this in when calculating the cost of insurance for modified vans.

It's also usually more expensive to repair or replace a non-standard vehicle, so insurers must factor that in when calculating the premium price.

That being said, modifications to your van's exterior can actually sometimes reduce your insurance premium. This is because if your van is immediately recognizable from the outside, it's extremely unlikely to be stolen, as the thief would be easily caught.

Get modified van insurance with The Van Insurer

The Van Insurer compares quotes from some of the UK's modified van insurance specialists.

Simply enter information about your van and yourself, and we will provide you with a comparison table of top quotes from a range of insurers. This will help you to find a great deal in terms of cost and coverage.

It is important to keep in mind that cheap doesn't always mean better. Sometimes it is worth investing in more extensive insurance for modified vans, as it can save you a lot of money in the event of an accident. It can give you peace of mind whilst you are on the road. If you are driving for long hours due to your job, then it is definitely worth carefully considering your options, as you are more at risk of being involved in an accident than other drivers.