Van Insurance

Your van insurance can cover damage to your own vehicle, damage to other vehicles or property, and injuries caused to other people in an accident. Depending on the level of cover selected, it may also include protection for fire, theft, and accidental damage to your own van.

Yes. UK law requires at least Third Party Only insurance to drive legally. If you use your van for personal trips such as shopping, visiting family, or leisure activities, you’ll need Social, Domestic & Pleasure (SDP) cover. However, travelling to or from a place of work is not included under SDP, so you would need to select Commuting cover if you use your van for that purpose.

1. Social, Domestic & Pleasure (SDP)

Use only for personal, social, or leisure purposes. This does not include travelling to or from work.

2. Commuting

SDP use and travelling to and from one permanent place of work or business (your permanent workplace address).

3. Carriage of Own Goods

SDP + commuting and using your van for your own trade or business; for example, carrying your own tools, equipment, or goods.

4. Carriage of Goods for Hire & Reward (Courier)

SDP + commuting and using your van as a courier to deliver goods for hire and reward by prior appointment only.

Choosing the right usage type ensures your policy remains valid and accurately reflects how you use your van. Have a look at our article on classes of vehicle insurance use for more information.

• Commuting is simply travelling between your home and one permanent place of work.
• Carriage of Own Goods covers tradespeople or professionals who use their van for carrying their own materials, tools, or products for work (e.g. builders, gardeners, electricians, plumbers, etc.).
• Carriage of Goods for Hire & Reward applies to couriers who deliver goods for customers or companies by prior appointment; whether making multiple stops or delivering one package, hire and reward insurance is required. Have a look at our article on what hire and reward insurance is for more information.

This depends entirely on your cover. Always check your certificate before driving another vehicle. Please note that you will not be covered for this if you have a standard van insurance policy arranged by Acorn Insurance. Please contact us if you have any questions about your policy.

Third Party Only covers damage or injury to others but not your own van.

TPFT offers Third Party cover plus protection if your van is damaged by fire or stolen.

Comprehensive insurance provides cover for your own vehicle against accidental damage, fire or theft and cover to a third party.

It’s a legal requirement to have at least Third Party Only insurance to drive a van on UK roads, as this is the legal minimum. This ensures that you’re covered for any damage or injury you might cause to others while driving. It does not cover any repairs to your own vehicle.

Your No Claims Bonus (NCB) is usually shown on your renewal notice or proof of insurance documents. You can also contact your previous insurer if you’re unsure how many years you’ve built up.

Yes — with Acorn Insurance, you can use a No Claims Bonus earned on a car insurance policy when you apply for your van insurance policy.

Yes, in most cases your cover can begin immediately once payment has been made and your policy has been confirmed. You’ll receive your insurance documents by email shortly after.

You must disclose any unspent motoring convictions from the last 5 years, penalty points, or pending prosecutions when you apply for or renew your policy. This includes speeding offences, driving without insurance, or any disqualifications.

If you’ve added breakdown cover to your van insurance, it will usually start from the same date as your main policy. The details will be confirmed in your policy documents. Please note: you cannot make a claim within the first 48 hours of taking out your breakdown policy.

No — a van insurance policy normally only covers the specific van listed on your certificate of insurance. If your policy includes a “driving other vehicles” extension, this would be shown clearly on your documents, but many van policies do not include this feature.

Always check your certificate and schedule before driving any vehicle that is not named on your policy.

Vans are not placed into the same insurance groups used for cars. Instead, insurers assess vans using factors such as:

• The make, model and engine size
• The van’s weight and payload
• Security features
• Repair costs
• Your selected usage type (e.g. SDP, Commuting, Carriage of Own Goods, Hire & Reward)

To see your available cover options, simply request a van insurance quote using your vehicle details.

It can be, depending on how the van is used. Vans often carry tools, equipment or goods, and may be driven for trade or courier work, which typically involves higher mileage or increased risk.
Other factors influencing price include:

• Vehicle size and engine power
• Chosen usage type (e.g. Hire & Reward is higher-risk than SDP)
• Where the van is kept overnight
• The driver’s age, experience, claims and conviction history

However, smaller vans used for personal journeys can sometimes cost less to insure than larger commercial vehicles, but this depends on the cover required for what the van will be used for.

• Vans follow different rating criteria to cars
• Van policies include specific usage types (SDP, Commuting, Carriage of Own Goods, Hire & Reward)
• Repair costs and security risks differ from standard cars
• Drivers may require optional cover for tools or goods in transit

These factors mean van insurance is assessed differently to standard car insurance, and correctly selecting your usage type is particularly important.