Whilst many are aware having van insurance is a legal requirement actually taking out cover can be a very complicated matter it is not as easy as simply saying “I want to insure my van” there are many factors that contribute to the cost of an annual insurance premium.

With so many providers out there all claiming to offer you the best deal it can be confusing, we look at some points that will benefit you whoever you opt to take insurance cover out with.

The main issue is the van’s weight category, the lighter and smaller the van the cheaper your insurance will be. The reason small vans have lower premiums is because they are considered safer than large vehicles, these vans are easier to control and are involved in less accidents than larger vans. 

If your van has alarms and immobilisers this will also go towards lowering the cost of cover, insurers like motorists who are taking precautions. A recent study went some way in backing this up by revealing vehicles with visible alarms or stickers saying the vehicle was alarmed were less likely to experience theft. 

Like car insurance your age will play a huge factor in what sort of quote you get, young drivers are looked upon as an insurance risk and more likely to be involved in accidents than older drivers.  As well as your age the age of your vehicle can affect your premiums. Driving a new van can be deemed as safer than driving older ones.  This is usually due to the fact older vehicles have done more miles and face usual wear and tear with age.

An interesting point to highlight is some insurance providers take in to consideration your cars no claims bonus, not many are aware of this but finding a company that awards you for your years of car driving can result in huge savings for your van insurance.

If you have two or more vans than you can take out fleet van insurance, providers will offer you discounts for insuring more than one vehicle with them and it also means you will have less paperwork to worry about and all your vans will have the same renewal date.

Whilst all these points are important in helping you save money, it is vital before even searching for insurance you know what you need covered. If you use your van to deliver goods you will need to mention this and also consider taking out insurance to cover your products as not all van insurance policies provide cover for possessions being transported.

Public liability insurance is also worth consideration, this provides protection to you and/or your business against claims of negligence. Whilst van insurance covers the van if you were to damage someone’s property or injury a pedestrian you could face a claim from them or their family. This claim can be into the millions having public liability insurance covers the cost of this.

In summary your van insurance premium will vary greatly upon your age and no claims. Plus your vehicle weight, age and what the van is used for will contribute to the annual insurance cost.