1 day van insurance: a complete guide

Whether it's for moving house, transporting large items like furniture, or a trip to the tip, you may have wondered if it's possible to get 1 day van insurance, to save you the hassle of a long term commitment. Well, fortunately you can, and it's relatively straightforward to do so. If you own a van, need to get cover on someone else's, or simply want to take a van for a test drive, temporary van insurance can be a convenient solution.

In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know about getting van insurance for a day, from what it covers, how much it costs, whether you're eligible and when you might need it. Continue reading to find out more!

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What is 1 day van insurance?

1 day van insurance, also known as short term van insurance, is a type of insurance for vans that offers all the benefits of regular cover (excluding courier use) without requiring an annual policy. It’s ideal for situations where you only need cover for a 24-hour period.

How does 1 day van insurance work?

One day van insurance is a cost-effective way to get cover to drive a van without owning it for 24 hours, typically beginning and ending at midnight. This flexibility makes it ideal for situations like borrowing, lending, or sharing a van.

It’s also useful for trying out a van you’re considering buying, (some dealerships even offer temporary test drive insurance to ensure you're covered during the trial) or for driving a newly purchased van home, ensuring coverage until a long-term policy is in place - without risking your no-claims bonus.

Getting van insurance for a day is easy, and is provided by many insurance companies. If you need cover for more than a day, or a specific period of time, most insurers offer short term cover ranging from a few hours to a few weeks, depending on your needs.

What does 1 day van insurance cover?

One day van insurance policies provide the same protection as standard van policies, but for a 24 hour period, depending on the level of cover you request. Options range from third-party to fully comprehensive cover, with all levels allowing you to legally drive the van within the UK. Here's an overview of the available coverage levels:

• Third party - This is the minimum legal requirement of cover for any motor insurance, and it covers you for any damage caused to another person, their vehicle or their property.

• Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) - This type of cover includes everything covered by a third-party policy, as well as protecting you against theft and fire damage to your van.

• Fully comprehensive cover - This policy provides the most extensive cover, including all of the above as well as loss or damage to you, your van and your property, even if you're at fault.

Comprehensive cover also typically includes cover for accident recovery, meaning your insurance company may cover the costs of recovering your van after an accident. 

Optional extras that you can include in your cover

Below is a list of optional extras that you can add on to your van insurance policy. It’s important to note that some insurers might already include these in your policy, so you should always check with your insurer to see what’s included first. Always review the policy wording to understand the specifics of what is included in your cover:

• Excess protection cover - Designed to reimburse your excess following and insured claim or event

• European van insurance cover - This allows you to drive your van in the EU. The level of cover may vary and you would need to request for the cover to be added.

• Breakdown cover - Offers assistance in case your van breaks down while on the road. This can range from simply Assistance, Recovery, or can extend to Home start and EU breakdown.

• Personal belongings - Cover for loss or damage to your belongings.

• New van replacement - Replaces a total loss van following a claim with a brand new van (terms and conditions apply).

• Excess protection cover - This will reimburse your policy excess in the event of a claim.

• Legal protection cover - If you’re involved in a non-fault accident and need to pursue legal action to reclaim uninsured losses, this enhancement can help cover the associated expenses.

• Public liability cover - An additional policy designed to protect you against damage you may cause to the public in connection with your work or business.

• No-claims discount protection - This will help maintain the maximum discount allowable and prevent your earned no claims bonus being stepped back following a fault claim (terms can usually differ from insurer to insurer).

When would you need day van insurance?

There are many scenarios where temporary van insurance can come in handy. Here are some examples where the flexibility and availability of this policy might be beneficial:

• Borrowing a van to move house or helping someone move house.

• Driving a family member to university to help transport their belongings.

• Covering another driver to use your van for a short amount of time (use restrictions likely apply).

• Covering a new employee of your company to use your van.

• Transporting large or awkward items like furniture, equipment or tools.

• Taking unwanted items to the tip.

• Insuring a replacement vehicle if your van is being repaired.

• Taking a new van for a test-drive before you buy.

• Sharing a drive with others if you have a long trip.

• Borrowing a van from a friend or family member for the day.

• Covering a van for business use, such as visiting clients or transporting work-related own goods.

It’s important to note that the van should not fall under the category of a rental or hire vehicle to be eligible for this type of insurance.

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How much is one day insurance on a van?

Getting van insurance for a day is a good way to save money if you only need cover for a short period of time, avoiding paying for costly annual policies when cover is only needed temporarily. However, there is no flat-rate for how much you pay, and quotes can vary depending on a few factors, such as:

• Proposer's age - Much like standard car insurance policies, the younger you are the more you’re likely to pay, since insurers see younger drivers as less experienced and a higher risk.

• Overnight vehicle location - Your premium costs may be influenced by location, and the insurer's rate is based on previous claim statistics.

• Vehicle type - Typically, the larger the van and carrying capacity, the higher the cost of insurance.

• Your driving history - If you have a history of making claims on insurance, your premium cost will be higher.

• Vehicle value and number of seats – Higher value and multi seat vans attract a greater risk for insurers.

It should be noted that this is not an exhaustive list and the exact price of your one day van insurance will depend on multiple factors, so it’s important to get a quote first to understand your costs.

Am I eligible for one day van insurance?

If you’re looking to get one day van insurance, there are specific conditions you must meet before you get on the road. Each temporary van insurance provider has their own eligibility criteria. When you get a quote, you will be presented with a set of requirements that both you and your vehicle must meet, and you will need to provide a few details such as your personal and vehicle information. These may include:

• Age limits - usually aged between 17-75 years old. The minimum age may be higher depending on the insurer.

• You hold a full UK driving licence for at least 6 months, or 6 months if you are over 25.

• You have permanent UK residency (typically for at least 12 months) or be a British expatriate. However, some insurers also offer temporary van insurance to non-UK residents, with policies ranging from one day to up to 3 months.

• You have a current permanent UK address.

• A good claims history - typically no more than one fault claim in the last 12 months.

• You will need a clean driving licence, usually no more than 6 penalty points over the past three years and no pending prosecutions.

• You have no criminal convictions or a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBP).

• You have no history of being refused insurance or have had a policy cancelled or been refused renewal.

Make sure to review the full eligibility criteria to ensure you meet all the requirements before applying for cover. Your van will also need to meet certain conditions to qualify for temporary insurance. This criteria will vary depending on the insurer.

1 day van insurance: Quickfire summary

• One-day van insurance is a temporary insurance policy for vans, offering full benefits without requiring a long-term agreement, with coverage typically lasting for 24 hours, making it a cost-effective form of short term vehicle insurance.

• Insurers also provide temporary van insurance ranging from a few hours to a few weeks for extra flexibility.

• Policies range from third-party (covering damage to others’ property), third-party fire and theft (adding protection against fire and theft), to fully comprehensive cover (which includes of the above as well as loss or damage to you, your van and your property, even if you’re at fault).

• Optional extras include breakdown cover, personal belongings protection, legal protection, excess protection, European van cover, public liability cover, and no-claims discount protection.

• One-day van insurance is useful for borrowing a van to move house or transport items, taking a test drive before buying, covering another driver temporarily, or using a replacement van while yours is being repaired.

• Costs depend on factors such as age, location, van type, and driving history, and quotes vary depending on the provider.

• Eligibility requires you to be aged 17–75 years (minimum age may vary), hold a full UK driving licence for at least 6 months, or 3 months if over 25 (most insurers for temporary cover insist on a licence held for longer periods) have no criminal convictions or pending prosecutions, no insurance cancellations, and meet van criteria such as value (£1,500–£65,000), valid MOT, and roadworthy condition.

• With flexible policies and easy access, one-day van insurance is an efficient solution for short-term van use.