What is van insurance?

Van insurance allows you to use your van or pick-up for your business, e.g. to carry your goods, tools or equipment to different locations as part of your working day. When you compare van quotes, choosing cheap van insurance isn't always the answer. Learn more about our commercial van insurance below or get some more information on our private van insurance. Get a quote

What does van insurance cover?

Our van insurance offers two levels of cover, comprehensive and third-party fire and theft, details of both covers can be seen below. Comprehensive A broad commercial van insurance policy that covers you for a range of eventualities. Direct Line van insurance includes: Third party liability cover Fire and theft cover Accidental damage cover Permanently-fitted vehicle audio cover (cover is unlimited if the audio is fitted as part of your van's standard equipment, otherwise cover is up to £1,000). Windscreen repair and replacement cover Tools and equipment cover (up to £500) Personal belongings cover (up to £250) Personal accident cover (up to £5,000) Medical expenses (up to £100 per person) Hotel expenses If your van can't be driven after an accident or loss covered by this insurance, we'll pay your hotel expenses for an overnight stay (up to £150 for the driver or £250 in total for all the people in your van). New van cover If your van has been stolen or written off, we'll replace it with a new one of the same make and model if it's less than a year old and you're the first and only registered owner. Uninsured driver promise If you're hit by an uninsured driver and it's not your fault, we'll cover your excess, and your No Claim Discount won't be affected. You'll need to give us the other driver's registration number, make and model. Vandalism promise If you make a claim for damage to your van that's a result of vandalism, ie damage caused by a malicious and deliberate act not by another vehicle, you won't lose your No Claim Discount. An excess applies. You'll need to give us a crime reference number. Small courtesy van If your van's being fixed by one of our approved repairers, we'll give you a small courtesy van to drive until yours is ready for the road. If you prefer to use your own repairer, or your van has been written off or stolen, you'll still get a small courtesy van for up to 21 days in a row. Excludes windscreen claims. Get a quote Third party, fire and theft This covers you if someone makes a claim against you, and if your van is stolen or damaged by fire. Third party liability cover Fire and theft cover Permanently-fitted vehicle audio cover (cover is unlimited if the audio is fitted as part of your van's standard equipment, otherwise cover is up to £1,000). Get a quote

How can I get cheaper van insurance?

Here are several ways that could help save you money on your premium and get the best van insurance. Size matters We're not suggesting you downsize more than is practical, but smaller vans tend to have lower insurance premiums. If you're driving a long-wheelbase van but aren't using all the space inside, it might be worth thinking about something smaller. It could bring your premium down, so you get the best van insurance deal available. Go green Bigger engines mean vans have more speed, and that increases the risk of them being involved in an accident - which pushes premiums up. Opting for smaller, more eco-friendly engines can bring van insurance costs down. Prove you're safe There are two things you can do to show you're a safe driver. Firstly, declare your No Claim Discount if you have one. Even if you've only been accident free for one or two years, it can bring your costs down. Secondly, consider taking up an insurer's offer to use telematics. These devices track how you drive and share that data with your insurer so they can see you're safe and responsible. Stay secure Thieves often target vans - especially unmarked ones. They might want what's inside, or the van itself, so adding extra security features can help you get the best van insurance. Alarms and immobilisers are just the start. Fitting a tracking device or security-etching it with unique codes could also help. And parking it securely in a garage or off the road overnight will also help. If you can't do that, empty your van every evening, and consider adding a sticker to make it clear to potential thieves that there are no tools inside. Manage your mileage The more your van is on the road the more likely it is to be involved in an accident. That's why having a higher yearly mileage can increase your insurance costs. Try to keep your mileage in check as much as possible, only driving absolutely necessary journeys. Log your miles accurately and give the correct number when it's time to renew. Rounding your mileage up might be less hassle but it could also bump up your premium. Designate drivers Having more drivers on an insurance policy may push up premiums. And if you have a young driver (under 25) or someone with a claims history, points or convictions named on the policy, then be ready for costs to increase. Before adding more named drivers, think carefully about whether they really need to be able to drive. Mind the mods Modified vans might look great, and may even perform better - but they're usually more expensive to insure. Not only are the modified parts hard and expensive to replace if they get damaged, but criminals are more likely to steal modified vans. These tips should help you save money on your insurance premiums, but there are other ways to keep costs down - whether your van is for private use or commercial.

What type of van insurance do I need?

Commercial van insurance is needed if you use your van or pick-up for your business. For example, moving tools, equipment and your own goods to varying locations as part of your usual working day. Private van insurance is for when you use a van as a personal vehicle only - but it will also cover you if you use your van for commuting. For example, if you have a van to take your dogs down to the local park, but also use it to drive to and from a single permanent place of work, private van insurance is what you need.

Do I need van insurance?

Van insurance is a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act if you own or drive a van or pick-up, unless you declare the vehicle off-road (SORN) and keep it on private property. If you're pulled over by the police, they can issue you a fine and points on your licence for driving without insurance. But the penalty for driving without insurance doesn't necessarily stop there. If the case goes to court, you could face an unlimited fine and even disqualification from driving, which means putting a halt to your business activities. The police also have the power to seize and destroy your vehicle if you've driven it without insurance.

Can I add other drivers to my van insurance policy?

Yes, you can have up to 5 drivers on the policy inclusive of the policyholder.

Am I insured to drive my van abroad?

If you are driving in any of the countries listed in the policy booklet, your policy is automatically extended to provide the same level of cover as you have in the territorial limits for up to 90 days in every period of insurance. Your vehicle will also be covered during journeys between those countries by a recognised carrier.

Do I need a Green Card for my van post Brexit?

Please check general advice about driving your van in the EU after Brexit , or for more information about how Brexit will affect your van insurance click here .

Can I get more than one van on my insurance policy?

No, you can only have 1 vehicle on your van insurance policy. Simply get a quote for a new policy by clicking here .

How old do I need to be to have a van policy?

If you're aged 21 or older, and you've held a full UK driving licence for at least one year, you're able to take out van insurance with us. Just click here to get your online quote.

How can your job affect van insurance?

When changing your occupation, we suggest that you review your annual mileage and class of use at the same time. This is to make sure that you have the correct mileage and use, which may have changed due to your new job role.

How can I reduce the cost of van insurance?

There are a few ways to reduce your premiums from ensuring your van is secure to proving you're a safe driver. Read our 7 tips for lowering your premium .

What do I need to get a van insurance quote?

Before you start your van insurance quote, you'll need to have a few details to hand. You'll need to tell us your name, date of birth, address, driving history, what type of licence you hold and how long you've had your licence. Van registration number and details - We'll need to know the value of the vehicle, the number of seats the vehicle has, body type, annual mileage, modifications, the month and year the vehicle was purchased and the address where the van will be kept overnight. Driver details - We'll need each driver's name, occupation and driving history, including any claims and motoring offences they've had. Type of cover - You can choose between comprehensive cover, i.e. cover for repairs to your vehicle because of accidental damage, vandalism or an accident, or third-party fire & theft cover.

Complaints - Direct Line for Business

How to get in touch

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0345 303 1760

Write to us

You can also write to us at:

Customer Relations Manager
Churchill Court
Westmoreland Road
Bromley
BR1 1DP

What we do with your complaint

We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means we'll follow the steps below if the FCA agree your problem meets their definition of a complaint.

We resolve your complaint within three working days

You'll get a Summary Resolution letting you know your complaint has been resolved and we'll tell you about the Financial Ombudsman Service.

We're unable to resolve your complaint within three working days

You'll get an Acknowledgement that your complaint isn't yet resolved, but that we're still investigating. We'll also let you know about the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Once the complaint is resolved we'll send you a Final Response which will outline:

Our investigation
The decision
Next steps, if applicable
Information about the Financial Ombudsman Service

We've been unable to resolve your complaint within eight weeks

As before, you'll get an Acknowledgement of your complaint if it isn't resolved within three working days, but should it remain unresolved after eight weeks, we'll send an eight week update explaining:

Why we're not yet able to give a Final Response
When we expect to give a Final Response
Your right to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service

Independent review

If we don't complete our investigations within eight weeks of receiving your complaint or you're unhappy with our response, you may ask the Financial Ombudsman Service to look at your complaint. This is a free and independent service.

If you decide to contact them, you should do so within six months of our response letter. Referring your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service will not affect your legal rights.

You can visit the Financial Ombudsman website for more information and to make an online complaint.

If you don't want to make a complaint online, there are other ways to get in touch.

At Direct Line, we aim to provide exceptional service for our customers. We're dedicated to building an inclusive environment and believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity. Nobody should be subjected to abuse, threats, discrimination or any other form of unacceptable behaviour.

While we recognise that customers may be stressed, upset or frustrated when they contact us, we will not tolerate unacceptable behaviour towards our staff.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour include, but are not limited to:

Making threats towards our staff or business
Behaving in a harassing or discriminatory way towards our staff
Making abusive or offensive comments
Using inappropriate or offensive language
Making racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory remarks
Demanding a response or action within an unreasonable timeframe
Insisting on speaking to a particular member of staff when that is not possible or appropriate
Making unreasonable or excessive demands on the time and resources of our staff

How we manage unacceptable behaviour:

Before we make any decisions under this policy, we will conduct a thorough review of the situation and always consider the individual circumstances.

If we decide the behaviour is unacceptable, we will take action which may include, but is not limited to:

Letting the customer know about our concerns
Restricting how the customer can contact us
Notifying the relevant public authorities and/or taking legal action

Making a complaint

If you're a customer and feel we haven't met your expectations, please contact us using the steps at the top of this page.

Complaints

We'll move as fast as possible to sort things out