Vans
Classes of use for temporary van insurance
What are the different classes of use for temporary van insurance?
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 27/06/2025
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 27/06/2025
Need a van? Make a plan with temporary van insurance. From moving larger items to tip trips, borrowing a van can be just the trick. Without hire fees, all you need to do is request a quote, purchase your policy and get on your way.
All Tempcover’s van insurance policies are fully comprehensive, covering accidental and malicious damage to your van, loss or damage caused by fire, theft or attempted theft and legal liabilities for injury or damage to another person or their belongings while driving in the UK.
There are different classes of use for personal van insurance. Insurers will assess the level of risk based on usage, with those travelling further likely to face increased premiums.
This level of coverage covers leisure and domestic activities including heading to the shops, school runs and visiting friends and family. SDP insurance should not be used for any business-related travel.
This level of coverage offers the same as Social, Domestic and Pleasure, while also letting you drive to and from a single, regular place of work. This increased risk can lead to higher premiums than Social, Domestic and Pleasure.
This covers the use of a van for work with tools, goods and equipment that belong to the owner. It’s ideal for tradespeople like plumbers with their tools, builders who carry their own equipment and painters who carry ladders to different job sites. It covers transportation of this between multiple sites, but does NOT cover items that are delivered for payment.
Van insurance for couriers covers drivers who are carrying other people’s goods in exchange for payment. Our temporary courier insurance is ideal for couriers and delivery drivers who are looking for occasional cover. As these kinds of journeys have the highest risk, this can often be the most expensive premium.
Vanarama.com states that the main criteria for a vehicle to be considered a van - for tax reasons - is the payload (the maximum weight it's legally allowed to carry, including everything inside the van, such as cargo, passengers, and fuel) must be 1000kg or over.
The majority of vans available in the UK are over this threshold.
A non-commercial vehicle is used for private and personal travel. This can range from family days out to running errands. Private vehicles should not be used to conduct any business.
While Tempcover’s temporary van insurance policies are fully comprehensive, you should still take the time to read the documents carefully.
If you are looking for an annual van insurance policy, you need to be honest with what you will be using your car for and the number of miles you plan on travelling.
If you need to amend your policy so that it more accurately represents what you are using the van for, you should contact your insurer immediately.
If you have to make a claim and have told an insurer you have the wrong level of coverage, it could invalidate your policy. Driving without insurance is illegal and could result in the following:
If the case goes to court, you could get:
It’s best to always be honest and keep on top of any changes. Read all the small print to make sure you know exactly what you are covered for. Bear in mind that even if the vehicle is insured, if you’re not correctly insured to drive it you could get penalised.
Yes, temporary business van insurance provides short-term coverage for carriage of own goods. This is different to hire and reward insurance, which is a more specialised and extensive type of policy used for commercial purposes. Hire and reward insurance is not available from Tempcover.
If a van has been modified in any way or fitted with any specialist equipment, it may need a different policy. Contact your annual insurer to discuss this further.
Although Tempcover’s short-term van policies are comprehensive and cover vehicles that have not been modified, it may be worth remembering the differences between the levels of van insurance for future reference.
Remember to be honest with what you will be using the van for and to read all the small print - whether buying annual or temporary van insurance.
It is against the law to drive someone else's car without the right insurance. This could result in your getting between six and eight points on your licence. You'll also get a fixed penalty fine of £300, which could increase should your case end up in court.
Furthermore, you could also see the price of your future insurance policies increase as a result if you have an IN10 conviction, or in some cases, you may find it hard to find an insurer to cover you as you may be deemed too high of a risk.
Before you step inside any vehicle and take it on the roads, there are a few things you need to consider.
First and foremost, you need to ensure the car is in a safe condition. This includes both inside and outside of the vehicle, so make sure you check that things such as the tyres and mirrors are in good and proper working order so you can drive safely.
If you are preparing to take your driving test and wish to practice with friends or family, there are several legal requirements to bear in mind. The person you are driving with must be over the age of 21 and have had their full driving licence for at least 3 years. They also must have the correct licence type for the vehicle being driven and not currently be banned from driving. You are also unable to drive on motorways when practising with friends or family.
Finally, as previously mentioned in this article, you must have the correct insurance policy in place for you to legally drive with someone else.
There are many benefits if you choose to become a named driver on someone else's car. It's a convenient option and can often prove to be more cost-effective. However, there are some potential disadvantages to bear in mind, too.
If you were to have an accident while driving their car, it could impact their No Claims discount on their insurance policy, even if they were not with you in the car at the time of the incident.
There are also longer-term potential disadvantages. If you were to be a named driver on someone else's car for several years and then decide to take out your own insurance policy, all your years of driving safely may not be reflected in your new policy with a no claims bonus.
Before you step inside any vehicle and take it on the roads, there are a few things you need to consider.
First and foremost, you need to ensure the car is in a safe condition. This includes both inside and outside of the vehicle, so make sure you check that things such as the tyres and mirrors are in good and proper working order so you can drive safely.
If you are preparing to take your driving test and wish to practice with friends or family, there are several legal requirements to bear in mind. The person you are driving with must be over the age of 21 and have had their full driving licence for at least 3 years. They also must have the correct licence type for the vehicle being driven and not currently be banned from driving. You are also unable to drive on motorways when practising with friends or family.
Finally, as previously mentioned in this article, you must have the correct insurance policy in place for you to legally drive with someone else.
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Van