Van insurance Private Use

Private Van insurance social domestic pleasure & commuting

If you do not need company van insurance, then an alternative is cheap van insurance for private use only. This is classified as a social, domestic, pleasure and commuting policy by the insurance industry. It is cheaper as you pose a lower risk company van insurance. This type of cover will be provided cover when the van or camper van is used to take a holiday, going shopping or just a trip to the beach. If you only use the van occasionally, you might consider simply renting a van when required. If you decide on this route, it is advisable to take out annual van rental excess insurance to cover the excesses impose by UK rental companies.

Some examples of private use include:

What is cheap van insurance for private use?

What is considered cheap van insurance for private use is the lowest costing cover an owner can have and still be legal on the road in their non-commercial vehicle. In most cases it is the third party cover that is the cheapest, but that is not always the case, as such compare all 3 cover options if you are looking for the cheapest option.

Third party only cover provides basic protection against third-party claims if they are at fault in a motor vehicle accident on the road. This cover provides funds for the third-party vehicle’s damage. There are no funds provided for the owner of the policy for repairs to their van. Third-party insurance is the legal minimum cover required to drive on the UK roads.

Is the cheapest van insurance always third party only?

The cheapest van insurance for private use is third party only, but that does not mean it is the best value for the money spent. With third party fire and theft cover, your vehicle is protected if it is damaged by fire or is stolen or damaged by thieves. This cover is normally slightly more expensive than the basic legally required cover.

What most owners do not realise is that since your van is part of the cover, where it is parked affects the cost of the premium. By it being parked in a safe and secure location, a discount could be given by the insurance firm to lower the cost of the premium where it is close to the cost of third party cover. This discount is not provided for policyholders with Third party only, since your van is not included in the insurance policy in terms of being repaired.

How many people can be named on a van insurance policy for private use?

Each insurance firm is different, but some permit up to 5 named drivers being on the same policy.

Can I use my private use van to make deliveries for Uber?

For van owners that have road risk insurance like Third Party only or comprehensive, the cover does not apply when making delivers as a hire for reward business venture like Uber. This changes the van cover from private use to courier use, as you are now providing a hire for reward service. The costs of hire and reward van insurance will be more expensive than private use cover, as you will pose much higher risks to the insurance provider.

The on-demand economy has changed the way the world operates, including how part-time couriers of food are covered with insurance for their vehicles. To be an Uber food delivery driver, the vehicles must at a minimum have third party only cover plus a commercial add-on that covers the vehicle when a delivery is being made. If your insurance provider does not allow an add-on to cover the delivery of food, you will need to take out a new insurance food delivery insurance policy that is specific to road risk requirements for those that deliver food. 

How to lower the cost on van insurance social domestic pleasure commuting

If obtaining cheap van insurance for private use is your goal, remember to look at the value the policy has as compared to the other low-cost covers. There are some instances where full comprehensive cover is cheaper when the vehicle is involved in an accident, and you do not have to pay for the repairs of your vehicle.