Van Insurance

How Do I Get Van Insurance Quotes?

Many insurance companies provide quotes for van insurance, we have reviews on the following:

• Norwich Union
• AA Van cover
• AXA
• Cornhill Direct
• Swinton
• Commercial Vehicle Direct

Norwich Union

Norwich Union, now part of the giant Aviva Group - the 5th largest insurance group on the planet and the largest insurance services provider in the UK - doesn't do Third Party Only van insurance.

On offer are comprehensive or third party fire and theft, with additional cover options available with both types of policy.

To be eligible for cover, vans must weigh under 3.5 tonnes and have a mileage of less than 150,000 miles per year.

Taxi drivers, professional sports people, scrap metal dealers, waste dealers, market or street traders and anyone working in the entertainment industry stop reading now - drivers in these occupations will not be considered.

Key policy features of Norwich Union's flagship Comprehensive van insurance cover include:

• Legal liability - an unlimited amount in compensation costs and expenses as a result of you being legally liable for death or bodily injury to others plus
• up to £1million for damage to anyone else's property
• up to £50,000 for legal costs to take a case to court
• up to £10,000 to defend a motoring prosecution(s) excluding drink/drug-related offences
• Cover for loss, theft or damage to your van - they'll pay for its repair, replace it or give you a lump sum in cash up to its current market value
• Accident recovery
• Injury to you or your partner - up to £2500
• Medical Expenses - up to £100
• Emergency Medical treatment - for ambulance costs under the Road Traffic Acts
• Personal Belongings - up to £100
• Replacement locks cover
• Foreign Use - if you're driving in a country that's a member of the European Union the cover is Third Party only, but you can extend this to fully comp for up to 7 or 21 days

Optional extras

• Legal services - including representing an insured driver where a guilty plea would result in a driving ban
• Emergency replacement van cover
• No claims discount protection
• Physio Fast - physiotherapy treatment for the driver and up to 4 passengers following a road accident to help speed recovery

For a van quotation call 0800 404 9951 Mon - Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 8am - 6pm & Sun 10am - 4pm.

AA Van cover

The AA has a policy specifically aimed at sole traders who rely on their vans (up to a maximum payload of 3.5 tonnes).

It is available to traders who are either owner-drivers or have small fleets of up to four vans.

Fully comprehensive; third party, fire and theft and third party only options are on offer.

Policy features:

• Up to 65% no-claims discount
• A minimum of 90 days' van insurance cover for EU countries
• Up to £250 for replacing locks if keys are lost or stolen
• windscreen repair/ replacement
• 24-hour claims helpline

Optional extras include:

• Legal expenses
• Emergency replacement van cover.

You can also add on AA Van Rescue so you have access to roadside assistance if it breaks down.

There's a 5% discount for AA personal members/AA car insurance policyholders - terms and conditions available online.

Tel: 0800 083 8539 Mon to Fri 8am to 8pm, Sat 9am to 4pm.

Fax: 08702 404525

AXA Van Insurance

You have to be over 25, self-employed, working in a partnership or registered as a limited company to buy into the AXA Insurance Goods Carrying Vehicle package.

Vehicles must be no heavier than a gross weight of 4.4 tonnes. Up to four goods-carrying vehicles can be covered on any one policy.

You can choose from three levels of cover - Fully comprehensive; third party, fire and theft or third party only.

Policy features:

• No Claims Discount - you benefit from discounts for each claim-free year (max 5 years)
• 24-hour helpline
• If you ask for it, you'll get the AXA European Assistance travel pack to get your vehicle back to the UK, towing and SOS repairs, and the repatriation of sick or injured driver or passengers, and there's a Legal Defense and claims recovery service.
• UK Emergency Breakdown Service - you're responsible for payment directly to the recovery service and any other suppliers.
• UK Accident Recovery - AXA will pay to transport the vehicle (and passengers) to your home address/immediate destination/nearest suitable repairer.
• Discounts - No Claims Discount will be reduced if AXA make a claim payment that they can't recover from a third party.

You can spread the cost by paying the annual premium via monthly direct debit, thus helping you to manage your business cashflow. However there's a charge for this. Optional extras:

• Dedicated telephone numbers for authorised vehicle window and windscreen repairs
• Driver Death Benefit - £5,000 if the driver dies within 12 weeks' of an injury involving the vehicle
• Courtesy Van - use an AXA approved repairer and you may be entitled to a courtesy van while your vehicle is being repaired

Tel: 0845 3000 678 Mon - Fri, 8am - 6pm

Cornhill Direct

Cornhill Direct offer an insurance package for small businesses with cover for vehicles ranging from vans to tipper trucks.

Buy online and you'll get a 10% discount.

They promise to keep your business on the road, courtesy of the 'Comprehensive' Cornhill Direct Commercial Vehicle Insurance policy.

Policy Features:

• Legal and liability costs - up to £5m
• Replacement/repair of vehicle
• Accident recovery in the UK and Europe
• Courtesy Van
• New for old replacement of your vehicle if less than 1 year old
• Key cover - up to £500 for lost or stolen keys
• Personal belongings or tools cover - up to £200
• Stereo cover - unlimited if the equipment is fitted as standard or up to £750 if non standard

In addition there's up to 65% no claims discount for 5 years' claim free motoring.

Optional extras

• Breakdown Cover
• Legal Protection

Tel: 0800 32 888 31 Mon - Fri 8am - 8 pm; Sat 9am - 3pm

Swinton

Swinton have teamed up with AXA Insurance to offer commercial vehicle insurance online.

To qualify you must be

• in full-time employment
• own a commercial car or van with a Gross Vehicle Weight 4.5 tonnes or under (AXA's own policy is restricted to vehicles up to 4.4 tonnes).
• Click on Swinton's quote button and you will be transferred to the AXA Insurance UK plc site.

To be eligible, all drivers must:

• live and work in the UK
• be aged 25 and over
• not have had any insurance refused or cancelled
• not have been convicted or charged (but not yet tried) with a criminal conviction other than a motoring conviction.

The van can only be used to carry your own goods and/or for social, domestic and pleasure purposes, and it can't be driven by more than 3 other drivers.

You can't carry hazardous goods (eg chemicals) and/or display Hazchem plates.

Your quote and your policy are arranged by AXA and their terms and conditions apply. See the section on AXA above for benefits.

Tel: 0800 068 7564

Commercial Vehicle Direct

Online broker Commercial Vehicle Direct specialises in van insurance - they don't insure anything other than vans.

Policy Features:

• Get to your destination benefit - If your van's off the road after an accident/theft/attempted theft or vandalism, CVD will transport you, your vehicle and passengers to where you want to get to - or pay up to £50 per head per night for hotel accommodation.
• Legal costs - up to £250 to defend you against a motor related offence (not drink driving/parking/obstruction offences).
• Loss of licence benefit - travel expenses up to £100 a week for up to 52 weeks to keep you mobile.
• Legal expenses - up to £100,000
• Comprehensive Breakdown & Accident Assistance - if your van can't be fixed at the roadside, CVD will organise recovery to a repairer or your home, whichever's nearer.
• Hire vehicle in the event of a non-fault accident .
• 30 days' EU cover - For the insured and insured vehicle to drive in any country that's a member of the EU.

Optional extras

• Goods in Transit and Tools Cover - up to £2,000 worth of goods in transit and/or tools theft in the vehicle 24 hours a day. No requirement to garage the vehicle, and cover can be extended to cover tools on site. £100 standard excess on each policy.
• Keys - cover for lost or stolen keys, replacement locks and call-out charges. Cover includes immobiliser keys and central locking keys (£15.00 for 12 months)
• GAP insurance - Total loss GAP protection covers the difference between a motor insurer's pay out, and the van's value (at the time of purchase of the GAP cover) in the event that the vehicle is a write-off up to a max of £10,000.

Call Commercial Vehicle Direct on 0870 300 2105 for a GAP Insurance quote.

GJT Hodgson Insurance Services

GJT Hodgson's specialise in insuring commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, including Ford Transits, LDV and Vauxhalls to name just a few. Trucks over 3.5 tonnes can also be covered.

Among the benefits are:

• Discounts for low mileage
• Discounts for first-time van insurers
• Protected No Claims Bonus
• Courtesy vehicle with comp cover
• Windscreen cover (comp cover)
• Occupation discounts
• Limited driver discounts
• Free 'claims assistance' legal cover for the first 12 months

GJT Hodgson insure most trades - self employed and sole trader builders, shop keepers, joiners, farmers, landscape gardeners, etc.

To be eligible to buy, drivers must have a clean driving licence, and vehicles must not be modified in any way.

For an insurance quote complete the quotation request form and email them, or ring for an instant quote on 01288 353999.