How to Make a Van Insurance Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide for Contractors

Van Insurance is an important insurance policy for any tradesperson. Almost all contractors rely on their vehicle for work, so ensuring the claims process is straightforward and you’re back on the road again as soon as possible is crucial.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make a van insurance claim. First things first, what is Van Insurance, and why should your business have it? 

Do I need insurance for my work van?

Van Insurance is a special kind of cover that a company or self-employed individual takes out to protect their work vehicle. Van Insurance protects the vehicle you use specifically for work - it’s a different policy to the one you need for a car you use for non-commercial purposes. 

Van Insurance is an essential piece of insurance for any trade firm since it works to safeguard your business by minimising any losses you sustain and covering the cost of your vehicle being stolen, damaged, or broken into. 

Here, you can discover all the details about our Van Insurance.

You are mandated under UK law to carry the proper form of insurance unless you have declared your vehicle to be "off-road." Standard insurance (like the one you have for your personal vehicle) would not be sufficient if your van is utilised for commercial reasons. 

It's advisable to ensure you have the right protection in place before you drive off the forecourt because if you use your van for business reasons without obtaining the correct Van Insurance, you may not be insured in the event of an accident or vehicle theft. 

Find a price in a flash here. 

What should I do when making a claim?

Collect all the necessary information: 

Before contacting your insurance company, gather all the relevant information about the incident. This includes the date and time of the incident, the location, contact information of any witnesses, and details about any other vehicles or people involved.

Contact your insurance company: 

Once you have all the required details, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. You can usually find the contact information on your insurance policy or their website. Provide them with all the details of the incident, and they will guide you through the next steps.

With Rhino, claiming couldn't be easier. To contact our claims department, all you have to do is visit our website, select "Claims" on the list of options in the upper-right corner, and follow the simple instructions for your policy type.

Provide proof of insurance policy: 

Rhino, like any insurance company, will require proof of insurance before processing your claim. This will be seen on your insurance policy, certificate of insurance or your online account. However, if you are stuck, our friendly insurance agents will see you right. 

Schedule a vehicle inspection: 

Depending on the size and scope of the damage, your insurance company may require a vehicle inspection. They will typically arrange for an inspector to come to your location or ask you to take your vehicle to an approved inspection site.

Obtain repair estimates: 

Once the inspection is complete, your insurance company will require estimates for the cost of repairs. You may be required to obtain multiple estimates from approved repair shops.

Alternatively, if your vehicle has been stolen, you must seek a crime number from your local police force and share this with your insurer so that they can do the proper due diligence into what happened and how they can handle your claim. 

Now, review your policy: 

Before the insurance company approves your claim, they will review your policy to determine the coverage and any of the deductibles. You may be required to pay the deductible before the insurance company pays for the repairs.

Approve any repairs: 

Once the insurance company approves the claim and the repair estimates, you can take your van to an approved repair shop to have the work done. Your insurance provider usually  pays the repair shop directly for the covered expenses.

Get an update from your insurance company: 

After any repairs are finished, reach out to your insurance company for an update to ensure that all the bills have been paid and any necessary paperwork has been processed.

For a picture of what security components you can add to your van, you can read our blog on protecting your tools and securing your van here. 

Why choose Rhino Trade Insurance for your Van Insurance?

We provide reasonably priced trade insurance products that may be financed with either an annual payment or a monthly payment with 0% interest. Our five-star staff will develop a policy that satisfies every requirement of your company in order to meet your needs and see that running your trade business is as smooth as possible. 

Reach out to the Rhino Trade Insurance team on 0116 243 7904 for all the information you need, or visit our website to use our awesome quote creator. You can get a price in less than 60 seconds!