What is courier van insurance?

Van drivers of all kinds will need adequate insurance if they’re going to drive on public roads, and couriers are no exception. Courier van insurance has been specifically designed for this type of profession by giving couriers the cover they need for complete protection , ensuring they’re driving legally whilst providing an added financial safeguard should anything go wrong in the course of their job.

What features should be included in my policy?

There’s more to this type of cover than a regular van insurance policy. It’s there to protect your business interests as well as your legal obligations and has been designed to accommodate the unique requirements of couriers, taking into account things like the value of the goods you’re carrying as well as anything else, because you only need to consider the costs involved should an important package be damaged or go astray to see how important adequate protection can be.

As well as basic levels of protection most courier policies will include goods in transit cover as standard, and when you’re operating in a commercial capacity you’ll need to consider things like public liability insurance and even employers liability cover should you employ members of staff. Other things worth thinking about include breakdown assistance (always advisable, particularly when you’re on the road so much), windscreen cover, replacement vehicle cover (thereby ensuring you don’t have to lose out on business should your vehicle be off the road), medical expenses cover and legal protection, with everything combining to offer all-round protection.

It’s worth bearing in mind that a lot of clients won’t consider working with your company unless you’ve got an adequate level of protection in place—they need peace of mind that their items are in good hands, and that means you should always go for the most comprehensive level of cover you can afford. You’ll also need to remember that different insurance companies will be able to offer different levels of protection, with certain things coming as standard with some firms whilst being viewed as added extras by others, so always make sure to thoroughly check your level of cover before signing on the dotted line.

Find the courier van insurance that you need

It’s important to take time to decide which type of courier van insurance policy would be right for you. With so many different options out there it can be difficult to know where to start, but remember that it’s always better to have too much protection than too little. Once you’ve got an idea of the level of cover you’re looking for it all comes down to research—spend the time to scour the market to see what’s out there, heading to plenty of different insurance firms or specialist brokers to get a good overview, and of course make sure to compare every quote you come across. Performing comparisons is the only way to be confident that you’re getting the best deal at the best possible price, and as long as you make sure you’re getting a policy that meets your every business requirement you can’t go wrong.

What is monthly van insurance?

As the name suggests, monthly van insurance provides cover for one month at a time. It can be ideal for those occasions where an annual policy will be wasted, perhaps if you’re moving home and only need a van for a weekend or two, or even if you’re self-employed and don’t know whether you’ll be driving the van from one month to the next. It provides a kind of flexibility that you just don’t get with annual policies to ensure you’re getting the cover that meets your precise circumstances, and with monthly policies often being easily adaptable you’ll have a tailored level of protection that provides the cover you’re looking for. And, because you’re not spending money on annual cover unnecessarily you’ll be able to save huge amounts of cash too, offering convenience and value in one handy package.

What to look for in monthly van insurance

As with any type of insurance policy, it’s important to know what to look for if you want to be confident in choosing wisely. Luckily this shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve—at the simplest level a monthly van insurance policy will be much the same as its annual counterpart, so you simply need to decide whether you want a basic level of protection or something more comprehensive. This will come down to a combination of your individual needs and budget, and if you strike the right balance between the two you can be confident in getting a policy that meets your requirements.

Then it’s time to consider the added extras. You’ll often be able to choose from a number of added extras depending on your needs and circumstances, and in this case the choices you make will often depend on your reasons for needing van insurance in the first place. If you’re operating in a business sense you’ll need to spend more time thinking about your commercial and financial obligations with things like public liability and goods in transit cover being worthwhile considerations, whereas if you’re simply driving a van for personal use (such as to move home) you won’t always need such an extensive level of protection.

One final area of consideration will be in relation to the insurance firm itself. It’s always best to go for those that specialise in this niche industry to ensure they’ll be able to meet your precise circumstances, and make sure to check their policies regarding claims processes and call centres as well. Always make sure they’ve got great reviews from past customers and, above all, make sure they’ll be able to offer the right level of cover at the right price.

How can I find monthly van insurance to suit?

It’s important to remember that not all mainstream insurers will offer cover of this nature, so you could well find that you need to do a bit of digging. You’ll want to head to specialist firms or brokers to thoroughly research the area and always ensure you’re getting a policy that’s tailored to your precise circumstances—in this industry a one-size-fits-all option simply won’t be sufficient, so always make sure you’re getting a bespoke policy to suit your requirements. Compare every available quote you come across to make sure you’re getting a top-quality yet affordable result, and from there all you have to do is make the necessary arrangements and you’ll be able to get on the road in total confidence.

As with any type of vehicle insurance, younger van drivers are always going to be thought of as being a higher risk than their older counterparts. This means that not only will it be difficult to source a suitable policy if you’re under 25 years of age but also that the costs will be incredibly high should you be successful, with insurance companies having to account for the fact that you’re statistically more likely to make a claim. But, that doesn’t mean that sourcing suitable insurance will be completely impossible and there could even be ways to keep costs down, because if you know what you’re looking for (and where to look) you could soon find the young drivers van insurance that you need.

Can I get young drivers van insurance?

The short answer is yes, you can get young drivers van insurance, but as with so many things it isn’t always as simple as it first appears. Not all mainstream insurers will offer such cover so it could take a fair amount of digging if you want to find the policy to suit, and if you’re much younger than 25 you should be prepared to spend time doing some hefty research. You might need to head to lesser known companies that specialise in offering this kind of “high risk” cover before you’ll be successful, but be warned—even if you’re able to source young drivers van insurance, you’ll often have to spend huge amounts for the privilege.

How can I keep costs down?

There is some light at the end of the tunnel though—if you search wisely and bear in mind a few additional tips you might be able to keep costs down after all. Of course, a lot of it comes down to where you choose to look which is why thorough research and comparisons is so important, so always make sure to compare every single quote you come across before you make your final decision. Different companies will always have slightly different rates so it makes sense to check, and whether you choose to do it manually or by using a price comparison site the cost savings could be well worth it.

Then you need to consider other ways you could save some cash, and it’s important to remember that the final price will often be dependent on a combination of the vehicle you’re driving, the type of work you’re carrying out, where you’ll be storing it overnight and any added extras you want included. That means you should ideally choose an older vehicle that meets your needs without being overly expensive and/or particularly powerful, and if you can keep it in a locked garage with added security devices installed you could save even more.

Always consider the possibility of increasing your voluntary excess and reducing your added extras—both of these options could instantly give you extra cash in your pocket so can be a great way to keep costs down, but above all be prepared to do your research. It’s always possible to find young drivers van insurance and if you go about it the right way you needn’t spend a fortune either, so always be prepared and you can get on the road with the peace of mind you need.