Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Insurance

If you own an HGV you are legally required totake out a van insurance policy, even if you do not plan to drive it. Generally, the basic structure of the insurance policy will not be that different from a car or a standard van. However, there are specific issues that are only relevant to HGVs and therefore it’s important to understand what sort of policy you need before shopping around.

What is the difference between HGV and lgv?

If you are driving an HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) or LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) you can use the same licence. These licences will cover all commercial trucks which have a gross mass of over 3.5 tonnes (3500 kg). Often, you will hear that you need a different licence but this is actually when the term LGV is thought to stand for ‘Light Goods Vehicles’ such as vans or pickup trucks.

How do you get a licence for HGV and lgvs?

To get a licence for HGV and LGV vehicles, you will need to complete 4 tests and 35 hours of training every five years. This is called a ‘Certificate of Professional Competence’ (CPC). If your HGV is put to use on a goods-carrying business then you will have to hold an operator’s licence.

HGV insurance categories

As with any other vehicle, there are three main types of HGV insurance, third party, fire and theft, and comprehensive. How useful these policies will be depends on your individual circumstances therefore it’s important to compare insurance before you purchase it.

This is often the minimum that you will need to be able to drive legally in the United Kingdom. If you have an accident that was your fault and you have this insurance your insurer will pay out for any costs to third parties, either through damage or injury. This will also cover any injuries to passengers. However, this type of insurance will not cover you and your van in the event of an accident.

Generally this is the same insurance as TPO, and will additionally cover you for fire or theft, and the damage caused by a theft.

Comprehensive will give you the most protection. It will cover everything that the two other categories do. Depending on which type of comprehensive you purchase, it can also cover windscreen damage, medical expenses, personal effects, and accidental damage.

Other things to consider

Aside from the main three categories of policy, there are a few additional things to consider when applying for HGV insurance:

How to save on HGV insurance

There are a number of ways that you can save on your HGV insurance