What is van fleet insurance?
A van fleet policy puts the vans your business relies on under one insurance arrangement. It can make renewals and changes easier to manage, while allowing the broker to consider how your whole operation works.
- Cover from 2 vans upwards, mixed with cars if needed
- Own goods and hire and reward use both available
- Tools and goods in transit cover can be added
- Secure overnight parking lowers the premium
Start with how you use your vans. Carrying your own tools and materials is different from delivering customers’ goods for payment. Tell your broker about the journeys, loads and drivers so the quotation reflects your actual work.
Use types and why they change the price
Getting the use type wrong is the fastest way to have a claim declined, so it is worth being precise on the form.
- Carriage of own goods: you transport your own tools, stock and materials. The most common category for trades and usually the lowest rated.
- Hire and reward: you carry goods belonging to others for payment. Priced higher and required for couriers and haulage.
- Courier and multi-drop: high-frequency stopping and starting in busy areas, rated as its own class.
- Haulage: long-distance carriage of goods for reward, usually with an O-licence and goods in transit cover.
Cover that van fleets should not skip
Van claims are rarely just about the van. The contents, the downtime and the customer's goods usually cost more than the bodywork.
- Tools in transit: most standard fleet policies exclude tools left in a van overnight unless added
- Goods in transit: protects the customer's property while you are carrying it
- Replacement van cover so a written-off van does not stop the job
- Signwriting and vehicle conversion cover for racking, refrigeration and tail lifts
- Public liability, arranged alongside, for work carried out on site
Cutting the cost of a van fleet
Van fleet premiums respond well to practical, provable risk management.
- Fit deadlocks, slam locks and alarms and declare them
- Empty vans of tools overnight and say so on the proposal
- Park in a locked yard rather than on the road
- Use telematics to evidence driving standards
- Restrict driving to over-25s where the workforce allows
- Keep a clean confirmed claims experience letter to hand at renewal
Why choose Fleet Cover UK?
One policy, one renewal and a specialist who takes time to understand your business. The team at Broker Zone can discuss your vehicles, drivers and requirements, explain suitable options and help you decide on the next step.
Insurance services are provided by Broker Zone Ltd, an appointed representative of Gauntlet Risk Management Ltd. Cover is subject to insurer acceptance, terms, conditions and exclusions.