Most of the UK’s leading insurers will provide insurance for your van. It is illegal to drive in the UK without at least third party insurance. There are more comprehensive levels of insurance available with more benefits, but these come at a higher cost to the customer.

There are variations of the three main types of cover (third party, third party, fire and theft and comprehensive cover) which are geared towards your specific needs, depending on the use of the van. For example, there are policies specifically designed to meet the requirements of vans used by couriers, as well as campervans used by holiday makers. The needs are clearly going to be different, and this is what the various policies recognise and take into account. The cost of the premiums is calculated accordingly.

Optional add-ons will increase the cost of your van insurance premiums, but may well end up saving you money in the long term. Such extras include cover for windscreens, told, locks and audio equipment. These are usually included in comprehensive cover, but for lower levels of cover, you can pick and choose which add-ons you require within your budget.

It’s also possible to get the same level of cover as your UK policy for your van on the continent, whether your van is used privately or for commercial reasons. This will come at an extra cost to your premiums but will give you peace of mind should you need to travel in Europe.

Once again, depending on the use of your van, you may also need to purchase “goods in transit” insurance.

When shopping around for a policy, be sure to check if there are any restrictions in place: Insurance companies my impose limitations on the maximum weight or the engine size of the van(/s) you want to get insured.