If you are a van owner, you will already be aware that, when taking out insurance, you need to select a ‘class’ of use. But, what does each class mean, and what use does it cover?
The different classes of use
There are four main classes of van insurance: social only, social and commuting, business use – carriage of own goods, and haulage/carriage of goods for hire or reward.
Social only
This class of cover is, unsurprisingly, for those who use their vans for strictly “social” purposes. This includes visiting friends/family, the school run, shopping trips, road trips, and holidays. It doesn’t cover commuting to and from work.
Social and commuting
This class covers everything in society but also includes use of the van for commuting to and from a regular, single, and permanent, workplace. This type of cover is suitable for people who drive to the same place every day.
Used vans for sale Birmingham
If you are based in the West Midlands and are looking for a used van, specialists such as /cotswoldvancentre.co.uk/buy/used-vans-for-sale/birmingham/ offer various options.
Business use – carriage of own goods
This class covers you for business use; notably if you use your van to transport business-related goods, equipment, or tools.
This class is suitable for tradespeople, mobile dog groomers, cleaners, and even caterers and ice cream van owners. It covers trips to and from multiple places.
How much is van insurance?
The average cost of comprehensive insurance for a Ford Transit van in 2020 in the UK was £1315. However, this is only an average, and costs vary considerably.
Haulage: delivering goods for hire or reward
This class covers you if you are transporting other peoples’ goods in exchange for money. This is often split into two categories: courier, and haulage. Each is calculated differently, and is aimed at specific usage.
What happens if you choose the incorrect class?
If this is regarded as being deliberate, your cover will be invalidated and you will have to pay more.