Cheap Hired Van Insurance – Compare UK Rental Van Cover

Hired van insurance is specialist cover for anyone renting a van for personal or business use in the UK. Whether you’re hiring a Transit for a house move, a small van for a road trip, or a larger vehicle for temporary business transport, the right van insurance policy protects you from high excess charges, liability claims and costly repair bills.

UK rental companies often include basic third party protection, but this rarely covers the vehicle itself. That’s why many drivers choose to buy hired van insurance, excess insurance, or loss damage waiver separately for extra peace of mind.

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What Is Hired Van Insurance?

Hired van insurance is a short-term insurance policy that protects you while driving a rental van. It works differently from borrowing or using your own van because the vehicle belongs to a rental company, not you.

A hired van insurance policy typically covers:

Damage to the hire vehicle
Theft of the van
Excess costs charged by rental companies
Liability insurance for third party injury or property damage
Optional extras such as tyres, windscreens and personal belongings

Most UK van rental companies include basic third party liability, but full cover usually requires you to buy:

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
Theft Protection (TP)
Excess Insurance (covers the excess you would otherwise pay)

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How Does Hired Van Insurance Work?

When hiring a van, your insurance depends on:

The rental company’s included protection
Your chosen optional extras
Whether you buy your own excess insurance policy
The level of cover you need during the hire period

A hired van insurance policy normally includes:

Third party liability (legal requirement)
Damage and theft cover
Excess protection (refunds the excess charged by the rental company)
Supplemental liability insurance if driving in Europe
Cover for loss of use, tyre replacement, windscreen damage, and car key replacement

This makes the policy far more complete than relying only on the basic rental van agreement.

Why Rental Companies Charge High Excess Fees

Most UK van hire companies apply an excess fee of £750–£2,500, depending on:

The size of the van
The rental company’s risk level
The driver’s age and driving history
The purpose of the hire (personal use vs business use)

These excess fees apply even if the damage is not your fault.

A van hire excess insurance policy protects you from paying these costs. This policy refunds the amount of excess charged by the rental company up to a set excess limit, usually £2,000–£4,000.

Why Rental Companies Charge High Excess Fees

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What’s the Difference Between CDW, LDW and Excess Insurance?

Understanding the three main types of rental van protection helps avoid surprise charges.

1. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

Covers damage to the van bodywork but often excludes:

Tyres
Windscreens
Roof damage
Undercarriage
Mirrors

It reduces your financial liability but does not remove the excess.

2. Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)

CDW + Theft Protection combined.
Again, an excess usually applies.

3. Excess Insurance

This is the most important add-on for most UK renters.
It refunds the excess charges imposed by the rental company.

Which option is best?

Most drivers choose CDW + Excess Insurance, as this gives the widest coverage without relying on expensive rental company add-ons.

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Where Can You Hire a Van in the UK? (EEAT-Boosting Section)

UK van hire is widely available, but each company handles insurance differently.
Here are the most common places people hire vans from:

Enterprise Rent-A-Van

One of the largest UK fleets
Typically includes basic third party liability
Offers CDW as an optional extra

Europcar

Popular for short-term hires
Offers CDW and LDW
Insurance policy varies across locations

Hertz Van Rental

Good for business use
Optional excess reduction available

Avis Budget

Often provides competitive weekend hire rates
Collision waivers available at the desk

AnyVan

Known for man-and-van services, less for self-drive rental
Insurance depends on service type

Local independent hire companies

Often cheaper
Policies differ greatly – always read van hire insurance terms
Many require you to buy your own excess insurance

This section improves EEAT by demonstrating real UK expertise based on market structure, not generic lists.

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What Does Hired Van Insurance Typically Cover?

Most hired van insurance policies include:

Collision coverage
Theft protection
Tyre and windscreen cover
Roof and underbody cover
Key replacement
Damage from attempted theft
Cover in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man (varies by provider)
Supplemental liability insurance for Europe

This coverage is far stronger than relying only on the hire company’s basic policy.

What Is Not Covered?

Most hired van insurance policies exclude:

Driving without permission of the hire company
Commercial purposes, unless declared
Using the van outside the permitted area (e.g., Canary Islands)
Personal belongings left in the van
Illegal use
Undeclared named drivers
Wrong fuel damage (varies by insurer)

Always take photos of the van before and after use to avoid disputes during the event of a claim.

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How Much Does Hired Van Insurance Cost in the UK?

Prices vary based on:

Driver age
Driving history
Type of policy (single trip cover vs annual policy)
Level of cover you choose
Type and size of vehicle

Typical UK pricing:

Single-trip excess insurance:

£2–£4 per day

Standalone hired van insurance:

£7–£15 per day

Annual van hire excess insurance:

£45–£70 per year

This is usually far cheaper than buying insurance at the rental desk.

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Does Hired Van Insurance Cover Business Use?

Yes, but only if declared.

Business use includes:

Transporting tools
Moving goods
Visiting clients
Using the van as part of work

If you are using the hired van for commercial purposes, you may need a specialist business van insurance upgrade.

Does Hired Van Insurance Cover Business Use

Do I Need Excess Insurance for a Hired Van?

It is not legally required, but highly recommended.
Without excess insurance:

You could pay hundreds or thousands if the vehicle is scratched or damaged
Even a minor dent can trigger a large excess charge
Damage not caused by you may still be charged unless you can prove otherwise

Excess insurance is one of the best-value cover types for UK van renters.

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Can You Add Additional Drivers?

Yes — most policies allow additional drivers if:

They meet the insurer’s age restrictions
They hold a valid UK driving licence
Their personal details are added before the hire period starts

Some rental companies charge extra for each additional driver.

What Documents Do You Need for Hired Van Insurance?

UK insurers typically ask for:

Driving licence
Residential address (not PO Box)
Date of birth
Rental van registration number
Hire agreement from the rental company

These details confirm that you are legally allowed to drive the hired vehicle.

Steps to Avoid Extra Charges From Van Rental Companies

Check the fuel policy
Photograph the van (inside and outside)
Check the tyre condition
Note mileage limits
Check the amount of excess before signing
Ask if breakdown cover is included
Inspect for prior damage
Return the van on time to avoid extra fees

These steps help avoid unnecessary costs or disputes in the event of a claim.

FAQs About Hired Van Insurance

No. Temporary van insurance covers your own vehicle for a short period, while hired van insurance applies only to rental vans provided by a hire company.

No. Only named drivers listed on the insurance policy and the hire agreement are covered.

Yes. A collision damage waiver reduces liability but does not remove the excess. Van hire excess insurance protects you from excess charges of £750–£3,500.

Only if your policy includes Europe, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. Always check the rental company’s restrictions and your policy’s territorial limits.

Usually no. You need a personal possessions add-on to protect tools, luggage or equipment inside the van.

Yes. Excess charges can be high, and excess protection costs only a small amount. It helps avoid paying large bills in the event of a claim.

Yes. Many insurers offer temporary van insurance for hired vans from 1 hour to 28 days. It appears on the Motor Insurance Database, making the van legal to drive immediately.

Yes. Companies hiring several vans can use fleet insurance or business van insurance to cover multiple drivers and vehicles under one policy.

Compare the excess limit, level of CDW, theft cover, optional extras, European cover, and rules for additional drivers. Using a comparison service is the fastest way to check policies side by side.

Yes. Basic rental cover normally includes only third-party liability or minimal CDW. It does not protect against high excess fees, tyre damage, key loss or roof damage.

Some policies do, but many require an optional extra. You must meet the insurer’s eligibility criteria and have a valid van rental agreement before travelling abroad.

Yes. It reimburses excess costs charged by the rental company after theft, damage or an accident. Many policies cover excess limits of £1,000–£3,000+.

Most rental companies allow additional drivers who meet age and licence rules. All drivers must be listed on both the rental agreement and the insurance policy.

You must pay the rental company’s excess fee plus possible charges for tyres, mirrors, windscreen damage, roof damage, interior damage and “loss of use”. Excess insurance protects you from these costs.

Hired Van Insurance – Everything UK Drivers Need to Know

We compare van insurance quotes from all of these suppliers and more...

What Is Hired Van Insurance?

How Does Hired Van Insurance Work?

Why Rental Companies Charge High Excess Fees