Can I Drive A Van On My Car Insurance?

We all have times in our life when a van would be much more useful than a car. Moving house, for example, or perhaps having a big clearout and taking items to the tip or the charity shop. But whether you’re considering buying a van, renting one or just borrowing one from a friend, having the right insurance is crucial.

But can you drive a van on your car insurance, or do you need a specific policy? Is van insurance any different from normal car insurance, and what about dual-purpose vehicles? We’ll answer all these questions and more below.

Remember, you can now buy vans on Carwow! Get a new or a used van deal right here, and you can even sell your old van too.

Does my car insurance cover me to drive a van I own?

No, not typically. Just like if you were buying a second car, every vehicle you own will need to be covered by its own specific insurance policy, either separately or as part of a multicar policy.

So that means you can’t expect to just buy a van or other commercial vehicle and immediately drive it around legally as an extension of your car insurance policy.

Your car insurance may have a clause that covers you to drive other vehicles, but those vehicles must already have their own insurance policy. This means you can drive a van on your policy if it’s owned and insured by someone else, but this won’t be the case if the van’s owner is you.

Can I drive someone else’s van on my car insurance?

This is more likely. If you have a fully comprehensive car insurance policy, it’s possible your cover includes a clause that allows you to drive any other vehicle with the owner’s permission.

You need to check your policy for specific details, though. Sometimes this cover can be for emergencies only, and it’s almost always third-party cover only – so in the event of an impact, the payout only covers damage to other drivers and their vehicles. Check that the owner of the van is happy with the level of cover before you drive their vehicle.

A more definite option would be to ask the van’s owner to add you as a named driver on their policy, or to take out separate temporary insurance.

Can I add a van to my car insurance?

Yes, in the same way as you can add another car – you’d have to take out a separate policy or add the van to an existing multi vehicle policy. As ever, it pays to shop around – some insurers will have more favourable rates for vans, and if you’re using it for business then a specialised van insurer will provide more tailored cover.

If you’re looking specifically for a multi vehicle policy to cover both your car and your van, you may need to seek out a new insurance company that provides this.

When might I need temporary van insurance?

If you’re borrowing a van from a friend or relative and you don’t have the clause in your car insurance policy that covers you for this – or perhaps you’re not a vehicle owner with your own car insurance policy at all – then temporary van insurance is the best way to ensure you’re appropriately covered to drive a van.

Most temporary insurance companies will cover vans – in fact, it’s likely that they do so an awful lot – and you can often purchase cover from as little as one hour up to around a month. Any longer than this, you’d do better purchasing a proper van insurance policy.

Is van insurance different from car insurance?

Yes, while the two are very similar there are some key differences. It all comes down to what you use the vehicle for.

When you take out an insurance policy you have to say what kind of journeys you’ll be making in the car. The most basic policies cover social, domestic and pleasure use only, though most often people will add cover for commuting to this in order to stay insured on their drive to and from work.

People who use their cars for business purposes will have specific insurance to cover this, which may well restrict social usage.

Van insurance covers you either for private or commercial use, and it just depends if you’re using it in connection with a business. If you use a van to commute but not to do your job, that would be private use. If you use your van for work, you’ll need business van insurance.

What about pickup trucks?

The lines between pickup trucks, vans and passenger cars are becoming increasingly blurred, but pickup trucks are usually either classified as a van or as a dual-purpose vehicle for insurance purposes. You should still be honest when telling your insurer what you’ll use the vehicle for, regardless of its classification, as not doing so can invalidate your policy.

Van insurance FAQs

Does my car insurance cover a commercial van?

If your car insurance policy is only for social, domestic and pleasure plus commuting, then you won’t be covered to drive a van for business purposes. If your work is asking you to drive a van, then it should provide the correct business van insurance.

Can I swap my car insurance to a van?

In some circumstances you can transfer your car insurance to a van, but it’s likely you’ll need to pay an administration fee as well as a higher premium. Some car insurers don’t always give the best rates for commercial vehicles, either, so you may save money by simply cancelling your car insurance policy and taking out new cover with a specialised van insurer.

How do I get cheaper van insurance?

Vans are desirable to thieves and can be expensive to insure. You should try to choose the smallest van for your purposes, and check the insurance group before buying. Installing extra security such as an alarm or a tracker, signwriting your van to make it more distinctive and parking it securely overnight are all measures that can decrease the cost of van insurance.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.