Compare Van Insurance for Gardeners & Landscapers

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Gardeners and landscapers work in different locations every day, from private homes to parks and commercial grounds. A van is more than just transport — it lets you move heavy tools, collect materials, remove garden waste and keep valuable equipment secure between jobs. Without it, most gardening and landscaping work cannot take place.

If the van is stolen, damaged or breaks down, planned jobs may need to be cancelled and income can stop instantly. Van insurance helps protect your van, the equipment you carry and the work your business depends on. It can also help with legal costs if an accident involves a member of the public or damage is caused to property while you work.

Private van insurance does not cover gardening or landscaping work. If you use a van for any business purposes — carrying tools, visiting customers, moving soil or plants, or collecting waste — you must have business van insurance or commercial van insurance. Landscapers compare van insurance to match cover with the tools and plant machinery they carry every day

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What is gardeners van insurance?

Gardeners van insurance helps people who use a van for gardening or landscaping. It covers your van when you drive it to customers’ homes. It also protects you while you move your tools and carry soil and plants. If you take green waste from jobs, this insurance covers you for that too. The van insurance helps look after your van and the equipment that you use for your work.

In the UK, you have to get insurance to drive a van on any public road. If you use the van for gardening or work, your van insurance policy needs to state that there is business use. If the van insurance company does not know the van is for work, then they may not accept a claim.

Gardeners often carry items that are valuable, easy to steal or easy to damage. These include:

  • Lawn mowers and ride-on mowers
  • Hedge trimmers and pole saws
  • Strimmers, leaf blowers and pressure washers
  • Secateurs, spades, forks and pruning tools
  • Soil, turf, plants and slabs
  • Wheelbarrows and garden waste sacks

If your van gets stolen or damaged, you may have to pay a lot to replace it and your tools. Gardeners van insurance can help protect the vehicle and your business equipment. It covers you from sudden costs and helps you get back to work.

Why does van insurance matter for gardeners and landscapers?

Gardeners have some risks that regular van drivers do not have. They go to lots of places during the day. They have to finish jobs at certain times. They work with heavy tools and gear that can cost a lot. Gardeners often work in driveways, estates, factories, parks, and home gardens.

Common risks include:

  • Theft of tools from vans
  • Tools may get damaged if there is sudden braking or movement during transport
  • The van can get accidental damage when you unload items
  • Sometimes there is property damage at the customer’s home
  • Roads get busy during spring and summer peaks
  • Parking the van outside at night
  • Thieves look for petrol-powered machinery

If anything goes wrong, work can stop right away. A van insurance policy gives a safety net so the business can keep going. A good van insurance plan can help gardeners feel more at ease when they are out on the job.

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What types of van insurance cover are available for gardeners and landscapers?

Gardeners can choose a base level of cover and then add business use for work. The type of cover affects the help available when making a claim.

1) Base level of cover

Type of Cover What It Includes Best For
Third party Covers damage to another vehicle or property Drivers who need the legal minimum
Third party, fire and theft Third party cover plus protection if the van is stolen or damaged by fire Gardeners who keep tools stored in the van
Comprehensive cover Covers your own van and others, including accidental damage Most gardening and landscaping businesses
What types of van insurance cover are available for gardeners and landscapers

2) Business use for gardening work

Type of Use What It Includes Best For
Business van insurance Driving to jobs and transporting tools and supplies Gardeners and landscapers who visit customer properties
Commercial van insurance Cover for wider business purposes including waste transport Larger landscaping businesses that move heavy equipment
Carriage of own goods Protection for your own tools and materials while working Gardeners who regularly carry high-value tools
Transit insurance Cover for plants, materials and tools being transported Gardeners who move a lot of materials each week
Fleet van insurance One policy for multiple vans and several drivers Gardening companies with two or more work vans

If the wrong type of insurance policy is chosen, a claim may not be accepted. This can lead to high out-of-pocket costs after a road incident.

What optional extras help protect gardeners on the road?

Optional extras help reduce downtime and protect income if work is interrupted.

Optional Extra What It Protects
Breakdown cover Help if the van fails during a job route
Tools insurance Portable power tools and gardening equipment
Transit insurance Turf, plants, soil and materials while moving
Courtesy van Replacement van while repairs are carried out
Windscreen cover Repair or replacement of the windscreen
Legal expenses cover Legal support and solicitor costs
Personal accident cover Cash benefit if the driver is seriously injured
Public liability insurance Compensation if a customer’s property is damaged
Professional indemnity insurance Claims linked to work advice or installation

These extras help keep jobs running without long delays.

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Who needs gardeners van insurance?

Gardeners van insurance is suitable for anyone who uses a van to travel to paid gardening or landscaping jobs. It protects the van, the equipment inside it and the business activities linked to each contract.

People who benefit from this type of insurance include:

  • Self-employed gardeners
  • Domestic and residential gardeners
  • Commercial landscapers
  • Garden maintenance companies
  • Tree surgeons (light landscaping work only)
  • Lawn care contractors
  • Turfing and planting specialists
  • Garden waste removal services
  • Hard landscaping services such as paving and decking

If a van is used to transport tools or materials for paid work, business van insurance or commercial van insurance is required.

What information do insurers ask for when giving van insurance quotes?

Insurers check details about the van, the work and the driver to calculate the insurance premium. Giving accurate information helps avoid delays and supports a valid claim later.

What information do insurers ask for when giving van insurance quotes

Quote forms usually ask for:

  • Van make, model and van registration number
  • Market value of the van
  • Where the van is parked overnight
  • Type of gardening or landscaping work involved
  • Average value of equipment stored in the van
  • Named drivers and driving history
  • Claims history and years of insurance
  • Security features such as alarms, trackers or deadlocks
  • Postcode and number of miles driven per year

Insurers may request more detail if the van stores a large number of high-value tools or if workers travel to many different locations each week.

How much does gardeners van insurance cost in the UK?

The price depends on tool value, postcode, age of driver, driving record, type of work and mileage. Landscapers often pay slightly more than domestic gardeners because they carry heavier and more expensive equipment.

Typical annual costs for 2024–2025 are shown below.

Type of Gardening or Landscaping Work Typical Annual Cost
Domestic gardening £650 – £1,050
Lawn care and maintenance £700 – £1,150
Commercial landscaping £800 – £1,300
Hard landscaping projects £900 – £1,450
Garden waste removal £900 – £1,500
Gardening companies with several vans £1,600 – £3,200 per van

Insurance can cost more if the van is kept on the street overnight or if power tools remain in the van after working hours.

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How can gardeners reduce van insurance costs?

There are several reliable ways to lower insurance premiums and protect business income.

  • Keep the van in a secure place overnight
  • Use trackers, alarms and deadlocks
  • Remove high-value tools when possible
  • Add only named drivers who really need access
  • Choose a voluntary excess you are comfortable paying
  • Pay annually instead of monthly instalments
  • Protect your no-claims discount
  • Compare van insurance quotes at renewal

Many gardening businesses reduce costs by comparing prices across different insurers rather than accepting the first renewal offer.

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Does van insurance cover gardening tools and materials?

Not by default. A standard van insurance policy protects the vehicle, not the tools or materials inside it. Tools and equipment cover, or transit insurance, is needed for full equipment protection.

Tools that normally require extra cover include:

  • Lawn mowers and hedge trimmers
  • Petrol tools and pole saws
  • Blowers, strimmers and pruning tools
  • Decking tools and slab cutters
  • Hand tools and specialist tool sets

Transit insurance helps protect turf, soil, compost, plants and materials while being moved inside the van.

Does van insurance cover gardening tools and materials

Can gardening firms with several vans get fleet insurance?

Yes. Fleet insurance lets gardening companies insure two or more business vans under one policy. This gives one renewal date and shared vehicle access for teams.

Fleet cover is useful when:

  • Several gardeners share vans for different routes
  • Tools and materials move between vans
  • New vans are added during busy months
  • The business works across multiple locations

Fleet insurance can sometimes be cheaper than insuring each van separately, depending on the claims history and business operations.

Keep your gardening business covered with multi-van and fleet insurance

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Does van insurance help if the van is off the road?

The value of the van is protected, but income is not covered automatically. Optional extras help reduce downtime and keep work going.

Useful extras include:

  • Courtesy van — work continues while repairs are carried out
  • Breakdown cover — support if the van fails on a job route
  • Tools insurance — protects power tools and hand tools
  • Transit insurance — protects plants and materials while travelling
  • Personal accident cover — support if the driver is seriously injured
  • Legal expenses cover — support with legal fees after an accident

These options help businesses avoid cancellations and delays when problems occur.

Can gardeners add personal use to a business policy?

Yes. Many gardeners use the van for both work and normal daily life. Personal use can be added to the business van insurance policy. The insurer must list both uses in the policy documents or a claim may be refused.

FAQs About Gardeners Van Insurance

Yes. If you take tools or items for any paid gardening or landscaping jobs, the policy will need to have business use included.

No, tools are not covered. You must get tools insurance on its own. Tools insurance helps if your equipment gets stolen from the van.

Comprehensive van insurance gives you the best cover for your van. It protects your van if there is accidental damage. It also takes care of any damage you might cause to someone else's van. This way, you know your van and other vans are looked after with comprehensive van insurance.

No. A standard private van insurance plan will not cover you for business purposes. Gardeners have to get business van insurance or commercial van insurance for that.

You need to add transit insurance for this. The standard policy does not cover plants, soil, or materials.

Yes. You can add named drivers. The price changes based on age, driving experience, and if they have made any claims before.

Landscapers often do. They need to take many tools with them and use heavy equipment. This makes what they do a bit more risky. Also, they go to a lot of places for work. That adds to the risk, too.

Yes. A lot of companies and comparison sites give you quotes right away. You just need to put in your van and driver info on their website.

Yes. You may get discounts if you park your car overnight in a safe place. Using alarms or trackers can help, too. You can also save money by paying once a year, or by having a good no-claims record.

Many UK insurance companies have policies for gardening and landscaping jobs. The best way to find the right plan is to look at different quotes. Do not pick one van insurance company without checking others first.

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Page last updated on: 05/12/2025

Page reviewed by: Tim Bailey

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