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Expert Guide to Courier Van Insurance

When operating as a courier service for the transportation of goods, specialist Van insurance is essential. Having the right level of cover will ensure that your business won’t suffer financially in the event of damage, loss or theft of your cargo as well as covering you for accidents and breakdowns. Here’s our feature guide.

expert-guide-courier

What is courier Van insurance?

Courier Van insurance is specially designed for drivers who use their Van for hire and reward. In short, that refers to those that get paid to make multiple deliveries on a regular basis, whilst carrying cargo of a varied value and nature that they don’t own.

Courier insurance is either sold separately or as an addition to your existing Van Insurance policy. Seen as most couriers spend a significantly longer amount of time on the road than the average driver, they are exposed to more risk and therefore require specialist cover.

Usually made up of multiple policies, courier insurance is designed specifically for the unique risks that these drivers are often exposed to. Courier insurance policies will therefore be more comprehensive and include cover for damage to your van or other vehicles as well as your cargo, public liability, and in some instances, employer’s liability.

Do I need courier insurance?

If your Van and its cargo are essential to your making a living, then it’s a good idea to be covered in the event of loss, damage, or theft. Having adequate cover could make a big difference if the worst were to happen.

Due to the fact that courier drivers are spending longer on the roads, making multiple stops during the day, and carrying valuable cargo, their risk factor is increased. Standard Van insurance won’t cover you for this type of driving so a specialist policy is needed.

Depending on the type of policy you need, you should compare cover for loss, damage or theft of your cargo and your Van as well as public and employer’s liability cover. Having a comprehensive, all-round policy that covers every eventuality is a worthwhile investment to protect your livelihood.

What’s included with a courier Van insurance policy?

With any insurance policy, the cover that you will receive will vary depending on your requirements and the provider of the cover. There will also likely be a number of exclusions and limitations. Understanding what is and what isn’t covered is important.

Most courier insurance policies are comprehensive, but you should always check in detail to what extent you are covered. In addition to the cover for the Van itself, here are some other key components to pay attention to:

  • Goods in Transit Insurance

    Even the most basic policies will cover the goods you are carrying to some degree. When comparing different policies, you should look for a goods in transit cover that’s high enough to meet or exceed the value of the cargo you are carrying.

    It is also highly recommended to look for a policy that will cover the goods when left in your Van overnight which is especially necessary when it's not possible to unload at the end of each day. Read More

  • Public Liability Insurance

    If you come into contact with customers on a regular basis, you will need to make sure you're covered for public liability in case of accident, injury or damage to a person’s property whilst carrying out your business.

    Public liability insurance will cover you in the event that the goods you are carrying fall out or get dropped which in turn causes injury to a member of the public or their property. Public liability insurance is a highly recommended extra to consider as part of your policy and could avoid large costs due to any lawsuit brought against you.

  • Employers Liability Insurance

    Anyone running a business in the UK which employs one or more members of staff must have employer’s liability insurance by law. The minimum amount an employer needs to be covered for is £ 5 million.

    If you are self-employed, you won’t need to worry about this add-on as you are not responsible for anyone except yourself.

    If you are a sub-contractor, you should seek advice. Technically speaking, those working for you as sub-contractors are self-employed. As it’s a grey area, it’s always best to check if you need the appropriate cover.

How to get cheap courier Van insurance?

Although protecting your business, your cargo and your Van isn’t something we recommend cutting corners on, there’s nothing stopping you from hunting around for the best deals. As with normal Van insurance, there are always a few things you can do to help lower the cost.

  • Excess

    Always look to see if the voluntary excess can be changed. Having a higher excess will bring down the cost of your premium in 98% of cases.

  • Cover Limitations

    Check to see if you are overcompensating for the level of cover you actually need. If you are delivering a product with a low value, be sure you are not covered for more than you need.

  • Security

    Making sure your Van is secure, parked in a locked garage and emptied at night are certainly looked upon favourably by insurance companies and should help to reduce your premiums.

Why use Vancompare.com?

As a courier, you’re transporting important cargo on a daily basis, often with high value. Its only natural you want to protect your business from loss.

Vancompare.com is here to help you find the right level of cover for the best possible price. We compare over 40 insurers in minutes to bring you the absolute best available deals. We do all the hard work so you can concentrate on running your business.

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