5k Ratings
Commercial van insurance, commonly known as business van insurance or company van insurance, is a type of coverage that protects you and your company if your vehicle is involved or damaged in an accident. It will also cover any injuries you and your employees cause or sustain while driving.
Commercial van insurance is used for business-operated vans and covers accidents while on the clock. This type of commercial auto insurance will cover any van you use to generate income.
It is vital to have this type of security as it protects your business assets. But despite van insurance being necessary, figuring out what is best for your company can take time and effort.
The guide below gives you all the ins and outs of commercial van insurance to make the most educated purchase.
Who Needs Commercial Van Insurance?
Suppose you run a company that relies on one commercial van or a whole fleet of vans to conduct business. In that case, you need to have a commercial van policy.
Auto insurance, in some capacity, is required for every vehicle on the road. Nearly every state has some law on the books regarding driving while insured.
Commercial van insurance is essential as it offers more coverage for you, your employees, and your company. Personal auto insurance will not provide you with this same protection.
If you run one of the following businesses, you should look into commercial insurance policies:
- Couriers
- Florists
- Caterers
- Electricians
- Plumber
- Contractors
The careers listed above are just some industries that rely heavily on vans to either transport goods or provide services.
The list above is a partial list of all the industries that need commercial van insurance. If you fall outside one of those careers yet use a van often for business purposes, you should be shopping for a van insurance policy.
Commercial Vans We Insure
Van insurance will cover a variety of commercial vans, pretty much any type. Some standard commercial vans include:
Cargo vans
Mini vans
Step vans
Refrigerated vans
Box vans
Courier vans
Passenger vans
Shuttles
What Does Business Van Insurance Cover?
Commercial van insurance is designed to protect you, your employees, and your business in the event of an accident during work hours.
This type of commercial insurance usually covers general liability and property damage, but there are ways to add coverage. Listed below are the types of coverage you can add to your policy:
Bodily Injury Liability Insurance
Bodily injury liability insurance covers injuries you cause to another driver in a collision for which you are at fault.
Property Damage Liability Insurance
Property Damage liability insurance is the other half of liability coverage. It pays for damage to the other party’s vehicle following an accident you have found to be at fault for.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay for damage to your commercial van it sustains following a non-collision-related incident. Some examples of this may include damage from extreme weather, theft, and vandalism.
Collision Coverage
Collision insurance coverage pays for damage to your van following an accident with another vehicle, regardless of who was at fault.
Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
Medical payments coverage covers any medical expenses you and your employees accumulate following an accident. This coverage pays damages no matter who was at fault.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Get into a collision with a driver lacking liability insurance. This coverage can help pay for property damage and medical expenses.
How Much Does a Commercial Van Insurance Policy Cost?
For a rough average, van insurance costs around $1,400 yearly. That’s about $117 per month for coverage. But like any other type of insurance, commercial insurance premiums are personalized.
Several factors go into deciding your annual rates. Things like what industry you are in and where your business location is will be taken into consideration by your insurer.
Below is a complete look at what factors determine your commercial insurance premiums.
- Location - Where you operate your business will impact your rates. Being located in a place with dense populations and higher crime rates will increase your premiums.
- Type of van - The make, model, and year of the vans you try to insure will affect your rates. Some vans are more to insure than others.
- Industry - What industry you are in will affect your rates. Different industries come with various risks and regulations. For example, if you are a plumber who uses their vehicle often, especially for hauling equipment, you would pay more than a tech start-up who occasionally makes deliveries.
- Usage - This goes hand-in-hand with the type of industry you are in. How much you use your van will impact your insurance premiums. The mileage you travel, the more you will likely be paying. Some companies even have telematics installed on their vans to keep track of their mileage.
- Driving records - Both you and your employees driving records will be taken into consideration when establishing your insurance premiums. Your premiums will increase if your driving record has a few accidents or speeding tickets.
- Coverage limits - How much coverage you want will raise or lower your rates. More coverage means higher premiums and vice versa. But try not to get too hung up on this. You do not want to skimp on coverage to save a few dollars a year.
Above are just some factors your insurer considers when deciding your premiums. Some other things they will look at include your insurance claims history and miles on your van.
Commercial Van Insurance Savings Tips
While van insurance is essential, you do not need to break the bank for coverage. There are several steps you can take to go about reducing your insurance premiums. Some examples include:
Van Driver Safety training
Providing driving safety training for your new hires can help lower your rates. It shows you are taking steps to ensure your employees are safe on the road, which will most likely lead to fewer claims.
Insurers try to estimate how much of a risk you will be to them if they choose to insure you. By doing safety training, you lower your insurability risk because the drivers have experience.
Shop around for Commercial Van Insurance quotes
One of the most important things you can do regarding commercial insurance is to shop around. Get multiple policy quotes from a wide range of insurance groups.
This will also help you compare rates and van coverage to see who exactly has the plan that fits your vehicle fleet and business best.
Insurance Policy Bundling
Bundling several insurance policies can get you a break on rates. Bundling means you have multiple types of insurance under one company.
For example, you could purchase commercial insurance for your vehicles and a business owner’s policy from one company. Most of the time, the provider will give you some discount on your premiums.
Hire safe van drivers
Driving records will be looked into when you buy commercial vehicle insurance.
For this reason, it may be wise for employers to hire safe drivers, primarily if the business relies heavily on transportation.
The fewer claims an employee has, the less you will pay for coverage. Some companies even have a no-claims bonus or no-claims discount for companies who have never had to file a claim.
Commercial Van Insurance Discounts
Insurance companies may offer a wide variety of discounts. When you purchase your policy, ask your insurance agent if you qualify for any.
Some typical commercial insurance discounts include safe driving and paid-in-full discounts. Check with your agent to see if these discounts apply to your commercial insurance policy.
Van Insurance vs. Personal Auto Insurance
Personal auto insurance won’t cover your business vans. This is mainly because personal auto insurance can give you a different coverage limit than commercial van insurance. It will help keep you and your business off the hook financially in an accident.
If a collision is severe enough, the other party can sue your business, risking your finances. While the coverage of personal and van insurance offers may be nearly identical, the coverage limits must be looked at.
If you are using a van for business purposes, you must protect it with a commercial insurance policy.
Other Commercial Insurance For Your Business
Operating a business comes with many responsibilities. One includes ensuring your company has all the proper insurance coverage it needs to run successfully. Commercial van insurance is just one aspect.
Listed below are other commercial insurance policies you must consider when establishing your company.
Commercial Auto Insurance
If you use any other type of vehicle to conduct business, you need to protect it with commercial auto insurance. Commercial vehicle insurance will apply to vans of any kind.
Workers' Compensation
For your drivers, workers' compensation will help cover medical expenses and lost wages (at a reduced rate) if they suffer a personal injury while on the job.
Commercial Property Insurance
Commercial property insurance is necessary if you own or lease a brick and mortar for your business. It will protect your business assets and equipment stored at your storefront.
Inland Marine Insurance
Most of the time, your van’s contents will not only be covered by insurance if they are permanent features. So, if you’re lugging around equipment, it may be vulnerable if you get into an accident. Inland marine insurance can step up to fill that gap in insurance coverage.
Get a Van Insurance Quote Today
Ready to save money with a cheap commercial van insurance policy? Contact us today to get a free commercial van insurance quote.
Make sure you let us know your zip code, details of your business, and information on your van. By providing us with all this, we can better understand the van coverage you need.
Get Cheap Van Insurance with Insurance Navy™ today and save time and money!
Commercial Van Insurance is only a phone call away. Call us at 888-949-6289
Quotes are available either at one of our many locations or online in just a few clicks via our website and mobile app. We are also just one call away. Get your commercial vans insured today and drive worry-free tomorrow.
Our insurance agents are standing by to answer any of your frequently asked questions or FAQs you may have about a van insurance policy for your business.