How to get cheaper van insurance

Van insurance isn’t typically the cheapest type of coverage out there but that doesn’t mean you can’t still save on your van insurance policy and stop paying more than you need to. Here are some of the most practical and effective ways that experts agree can save you money on your van insurance in 2024.

1. Compare van insurance – This may seem like cliche advice, however a large number of Brits don’t actually run an insurance comparison when their renewal date draws near. Many will simply allow for their insurance policy to auto-renew. This may not be a bad thing in itself since insurers can no longer favour new customers over existing ones for cheaper insurance prices, however you may still be holding yourself back from the cheapest prices available to you by just auto-renewing your existing policy. By doing a van insurance comparison you can compare your existing provider’s price against their competitors. This means that any cheaper van insurance policies now available to you can be spotted. Important – Whilst your current provider may have been your cheapest van insurance option previously – this may have changed. Insurance prices change over time and an insurer who was your most competitive option this year may not have the cheapest quote for your next year. That’s why it is important to do a thorough comparison of the UK insurance market to make sure that you are getting the cheapest van insurance quote possible. Quotezone.co.uk lets you compare over 60+ UK based van insurance specialists and save up to £590 on your van insurance premiums.
2. Compare different levels of van insurance – It may seem counterintuitive but more comprehensive levels of van insurance can in some cases work out to be cheaper on average than a third-party-only policy. This is due to the fact that many risky drivers will opt for third-party policies under the assumption that it is the cheapest option. This can result in the average price of these third-party policies being raised by insurers as the more risky drivers are involved in claims.
3. Compare quotes sooner rather than later – Generally speaking, cheap van insurance quotes are more easily found when you look for them sooner rather than later. The closer you are to your renewal date, the more expensive your premiums are likely to be. Some insurers will view leaving your policy to the last minute as a risk sign and correlate this with the risk of a claim being made when insuring you.
4. Pay annually if you’re able – Many motorists like the idea of being able to break up their van insurance payments over a 12 month period, however this can be a false economy as whilst you may not need to pay as much upfront as you would with an annual policy, you will in all likelihood end up paying more overall if you choose to pay monthly. APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the cost that policyholders incur for financing their coverage in monthly payments as opposed to an annual payment. The exact rate that a provider will charge can vary but as general rule, you can avoid additional costs by paying for your van insurance upfront.
5. Avoid modifying your van – Your van will come as a factory standard the day you buy it, unless of course it is second-hand and has already been modified. Since insurers base their calculations for a make and model based on it’s factoring settings, altering these details can lead to an increase in risk and so an increase in cost for your van insurance. That’s why it is generally a good idea to avoid modifying your van in order to keep premiums down. Some minor cosmetic modifications such as branding can even raise your premium prices due to theft risks – so be sure to check any proposed modifications with your provider.
6. Consider your extras – Not all van drivers will benefit from having additional coverage added to their policy. Whilst many van drivers may benefit from extras such as van tool insurance, it may not benefit everyone. For example taking out a van tool insurance policy on the off chance you may one day have some tools in your van probably isn’t the most cost-effective coverage. If you do plan on storing tools and equipment in your van then this extra coverage could be crucial. It ultimately depends on your needs and whilst there is no problem with airing on the side of caution, it is still important to consider the cost-benefit of taking on extra coverage with your van insurance policy.
7. Consider an advanced van driving course – Whilst an advanced van driving course can be an expensive initial investment they can also be an effective way of reducing the cost of your van insurance premiums in future. The reason being is that insurers view van drivers with advanced driving certificates from organisations such as the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) as having valuable driving skills which reduce their risk of being involved in an accident and claims. Whilst many insurers will take these courses into account, some will not however. You should check which insurers accept such courses for the purposes of discounts to decide if the initial cost of the course can justify long-term savings.
8. Opt to pay a higher excess – Opting to increase your voluntary excess can be an effective way of reducing your van insurance premiums. This is because it essentially means that you will pay out a higher amount in the event of a claim in excess than if you just paid the compulsory excess. By opting to pay a higher excess you reduce the risk to insurers and so can bring down your premium costs. This can be effective at saving on the costs of your premiums, however you should be aware that it can also result in a higher amount paid to the insurer in the event of a claim, so be sure you can afford any extra excess you choose to pay.
9. Consider telematics insurance – Getting a telematics or black-box insurance policy can be a useful way of saving on your insurance premiums as it allows insurers to view data on your driving habits and so get a more accurate measure of your risk to insurers. Data collected on your driving will include factors such as your average speed, breaking times, time of day driven and more. This is particularly useful for younger drivers without much history behind the wheel to evaluate. If you are safe and responsible van driver, a telematics policy can be a great way for you to get cheaper van insurance.
10. Invest in van security – Investing in extra security for your van such as immobilisers and alarms can reduce the risk of theft and vandalism. To see if you may benefit from extra security features, you should contact potential insurers to see if they acknowledge extra security measures as a factor in their premium prices.
11. Consider a Muti-van insurance policy – If you own multiple vehicles it can be a good idea to see how much a multi-van insurance policy will cost you as opposed to insuring each van individually. This is usually a cheaper option than insuring multiple vans under separate policies and most providers will offer discounts for insuring multiple vans with them.

Extra security measures to consider

• Immobiliser
• Alarm
• GPS Tracker
• Deadbolts

Getting cheaper van insurance

If you now have a better idea of how to get van insurance cheaper on your next insurance comparison, it’s time to start looking at quotes. Quotezone.co.uk can help you to compare over 60 UK-based van insurance specialists – making it easier than ever for you to quickly compare quotes for the right price and coverage. Save up to £590 on van insurance today.

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This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes