Tipper van insurance
Tipper vans require specialist cover. Usually seen on building sites, tipper vans come with a 'tipping' mechanism and are used for transporting loose substances such as rubble. This makes them more expensive than your average van, and the parts are more valuable, meaning they are at more risk of being stolen. Therefore, tipper van insurance will also cost you more than insuring a normal van, and you'll need to take out a specific policy. This guide will run you through what kind of deals you can get, and what you can do to save money on your tipper van insurance policy.
In This Guide:
- What level of cover do I need?
- What extras can I get?
- How can I save money on my tipper van insurance?
What level of cover do I need?
If you have a tipper van, then it's likely that you're using it for work. You will need to get a business van insurance policy if you're using it to transport tools, equipment or anything else you need for your job. It's more unlikely, but still possible, that you're using it for personal use or to deliver goods for customers. If this is the case, then you will need a private van insurance or courier van insurance policy respectively.
Once you've chosen the type of insurance you need, you will then have to select which level of cover you want. The more cover you have, the more your insurance will cost, although you could save money if you compare van insurance prices and find the best deals available.
The most basic and usually the cheapest level of cover you are required to have is third party only. This will cover any damage caused to another vehicle or person in the event of a collision but won't cover any damage caused to your own tipper van, or if it was stolen. However, people who take out third party only insurance are sometimes seen as a higher risk driver by the insurance companies, so it's not always the cheapest option.
The next highest level of cover is third party, fire and theft insurance. This not only covers other vehicles or people after an accident but will also cover any damage to your own van in the event of a fire and will cover your van and any cargo in the event of theft. Vans are quite a popular target for criminals, so it's worth getting this level of cover to protect your goods that are essential for your work.
The highest level of cover is fully comprehensive insurance. This will include everything that's covered in third party, fire and theft insurance, as well as the cost of any damage caused to your own vehicle in an accident.
What extras can I get?
Whether you get third party or fully comprehensive insurance, you will be covered for the basics, such as damage or theft. But there are other costs involved when it comes to driving your tipper van that you can also get additional cover for.
You can add legal protection to your policy. This will cover the costs of any legal disputes involving your tipper van, for example the cost of claiming compensation, or any legal disputes that could occur if you're selling or buying your van. It could also cover you and your business for any earnings that are lost while your van is being repaired.
You should also consider getting breakdown cover, which will cover any costs involved in sending out assistance to you when you're stuck and can't get your van started. This could include the cost of sending a replacement van that will mean you won't miss an important delivery.
You can also add cover for driving your tipper van abroad. This will be useful if you regularly drive to France or anywhere else on the continent for your work and will give you the same level of cover you get in the UK while you're abroad.
How can I save money on my tipper van insurance?
The easiest way to save money on your tipper van insurance is to shop around, compare van insurance prices and find the best and cheapest deal available. No one policy is the same, and by searching around you will see different prices and different perks on offer. Make sure you know what level of cover you need, then run a van insurance price comparison search and go for not only the cheapest deal, but one that works for you and your business's needs.
Paying up front for your annual tipper van insurance can be costly. It's possible to spread the cost of your insurance by paying for it monthly, which could help you to keep control of your finances. However, this is not the cheapest option. By paying in monthly instalments you will be charged interest, which means the total cost of your van insurance over the year will be more than if you paid for it in one lump sum.
When making a claim on your tipper van insurance, you will usually have to pay an excess. Generally, the higher you set your excess, then the lower your premiums will be. However, you need to make sure that you don't set your excess too high as you may not be able to afford to make the claim in the first place. You need to find the right balance between your excess costs and your premium.
You can also get cheap van insurance if you can show your insurer that you're keeping your van safe. By parking it in a garage overnight instead of in the street, or by fitting it with an immobiliser, can prove to your insurance provider that you are at lower risk of robbery, resulting in cheaper van insurance.