Frequently asked questions – van insurance

What can Van Insurance available through HastingsDirect.com offer online?

Can I get immediate cover from my van insurance?

Yes, providing you have a debit or credit card you can start your cover immediately. If you wish to pay by instalments you will also need to have your bank details to hand.

Am I insured to drive someone else's van?

No, under a commercial vehicle policy the "driving other vehicles" extension is usually not included.

Am I insured to travel abroad?

Van policies usually enable you to travel abroad but the length of time and cover available differs from insurer to insurer. Some insurance companies will only give "third party only cover" whilst your van is abroad so if you do require foreign use please call Renew Insurance Services on 0800 0159 601 and one of our operators will gladly assist you with this.

Can I insure my van if it has modifications?

Modifications to your van's, performance, handling or attractiveness may be unacceptable. If your vehicle has any modifications or you have any questions regarding adding modifications to your vehicle please call Renew Insurance Services on 0800 0159 601 and one of our operators will gladly assist you with this.

Do the years I've spent driving a company van count towards my no claims discount (NCD)?

If you have driven company vehicles and you are claim and conviction free you may be able to get the equivalent discount as if you had held a policy in your own name. This is subject to many differing factors and such policies are not available over the internet so please call 0800 0159 601 to speak to one of our operators who will be more than happy to assist.

Will I get a courtesy van following an accident?

Providing you have Comprehensive cover, if you are involved in an accident and you use one of the insurer’s recommended repairers, most companies will provide a courtesy vehicle. However this does vary considerably from company to company as some insurers do not provide a vehicle of any type, some are like for like vehicles and some only provide a small car! All vehicles provided by approved repairers are subject to availability.

If the accident was not your fault and a third party has admitted liability, you may well be able to get assistance from specialist claims solicitors to obtain a like for like vehicle for the duration of repairs.

Will I be charged any fees?

In addition to premiums charged by the insurer you may be charged a broker fee in order to cover administration costs for various transactions - please read our terms and conditions available online, before you purchase.

Cancelling a Policy

All products have a 14-day right of withdrawal - please refer to your policy documentation (provided online before you purchase) for full details, including any charges or fees that may apply.

You can also cancel after the 14-day withdrawal period – you will be charged by the insurer for any cover provided – again please refer to your policy documentation (provided online before you purchase) for full details, including any charges or fees that may apply.

You will not get a refund of any of your premium if you have made a claim during the period of insurance, or if you have a pending claim. If you are paying by instalments you must pay the balance of the full annual premium.

Can I protect my no claims discount?

Providing you have at least 4 years no claims discount you can usually protect this, subject to an additional premium. Once protected, if you are unfortunate enough to have a claim that is classed as your fault the level of your discount would not be reduced at the next renewal. Your insurance premium may still increase due to the claim but you would still be granted the level of "no claims discount" you enjoyed last year.

As each insurer has may have different acceptance criteria please refer to the endorsements when you obtain a quote or call us on 0800 0159 601 to speak to one of our operators who will be more than happy to assist.

Can I include windscreen cover?

If you select Comprehensive cover, windscreen cover is usually provided automatically. An excess for replacement will usually apply and details of this will be given prior to you purchasing the policy and then confirmed on your policy documentation. Please be aware that not all insurance companies provide “unlimited” glass cover so please check the terms and conditions when obtaining quotes.

We may also be able to offer windscreen cover as an optional extra on Third Party Fire and Theft and Third Party Only policies

Can I get legal protection cover?

Legal protection cover is not automatically included in a van policy; however it is available as an optional extra, which you can include with your van insurance policy.

Can I get breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover is not automatically included in a van policy, however it is available as an optional extra, which you can include with your van insurance policy. There are several different levels of cover available which you can select from at the end of the quotation. Please note that with the RAC breakdown cover the following restrictions apply: a maximum legal laden weight of 3.5 tonnes and maximum overall dimensions, including the load carried, of length 5.5 metres, height 3 metres and width 2.25 metres, so if in doubt call 0800 0159 601 to speak to one of our operators who will be more than happy to assist.

Security for your insurance

Are my details secure over the internet?

Yes - industry standard Secure Socket Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption technology is used to keep your personal information and credit/debit details as secure as possible.

Levels of cover

What is the difference between comprehensive van insurance cover and third party fire & theft van insurance cover?

Comprehensive policies will cover damage to your vehicle as a result of an accident, fire, theft and acts of vandalism, as well as third party damage caused by you. Comprehensive cover may also include (depending on the insurer and policy) other items such as windscreen cover, stereo cover, personal accident, death of policyholder, medical expenses and personal effects.

Third party fire and theft covers damage to your vehicle as a result of fire or theft and also includes cover for third party damage for which you are liable if you have had an accident. In some cases insurers may also include stereo cover, although if so it is usually at much lower levels than that of comprehensive. In the event of a non-fault accident, it is down to the policy holder to recover their losses from the third party under this level of cover. However, if you have taken out Legal Protection cover (see above), this would provide legal assistance in the event of a non fault accident.

What is an insurance excess?

An excess is the amount you must pay in the event of any claim, regardless of who is to blame for an incident. The excess varies depending on the van that is covered, the type of cover you have, the area you live in and the age and experience of the drivers on your policy and the type of incident that leads to a claim e.g. your policy may have a £200 accidental damage excess which is payable following an accident, a £250 fire and theft excess, which would be payable if your van is damaged by fire or theft, and a £75 excess if you need to claim for a new windscreen. Details of your policy excess will be advised prior to you purchasing the policy and then confirmed on your policy documentation. If an accident is not your fault it may be possible to recover this excess from the third party and a legal protection policy is designed to help you with this.

What is a voluntary insurance excess?

In return for a premium discount you can volunteer to bear an additional excess, which is payable in addition to any compulsory excess if you make a claim. The voluntary excess may apply to just damage caused in an accident, but in certain cases can apply to damage caused by fire, theft and malicious acts. Voluntary excesses will not usually be applied to any glass damage claims.

Contact Details

How can I get in contact about my policy?

New Quotes
Call: 0800 0159 601

Lines are open:
Monday to Friday 09:00 – 20:00
Saturday 10:00 – 16:00
Sunday 11:00 – 14:00

General Enquiries for policies purchased up until the 5th March 2009
Call: 0844 800 3844

Need to make a claim
Call: 0844 800 3844