Electric Van Insurance

Electric van insurance can be arranged to provide cover for Hire & Reward use which by law you will require if you are driving a vehicle that is carrying goods that are not your own as part of your job. It is worth considering goods in transit insurance based on the value and nature of goods held in your vehicle.

Having the right business insurance in place with correct up to date document templates and guides can help you minimise the risk and liabilities that can take a huge hit on your companies’ profits.

We can now offer our clients personalised health and safety documents, risk assessments, method statements and much more for your business. These additional documents are supplied to you at no extra cost when you take out a policy with Plan.

Our new package now includes business continuity templates that are updated annually which you can use as guidance and to track your business operations. With this, you will also receive regular notifications regarding legislation changes that are relevant to your business.

As per any road traffic incident you should obtain full details of all parties involved in the accident including registration numbers, driver’s names and addresses along with any insurance company details with policy numbers (they are obliged to provide these details under the Road Traffic Act). You may also gather full names and addresses of any witnesses from the accident.

Contact Plan’s claims line as soon as possible to inform us of your accident. Visit this page to find the appropriate number claims number.

Even in the event of a minor collision you may find that safety functions installed by your electric van manufacturer have kicked in rendering the vehicle immoveable. The battery may be isolated when the electric van’s various systems detect that an impact has occurred.

We advise researching the below products with your account executive:

• Contractors All Risk
• Goods in Transit
• Professional Indemnity
• Tools
• Plant
• Excess Layer Liability
• Property Insurances
• Directors & Officers
• Cyber Liability
• Specialist Schemes and Tailored Packages
• Gap
• Breakdown

Yes, breakdown cover for electric vans is available. Specialist breakdown recovery agents will know how to recover your electric van without risking further damages or delays.

Your account handler will be able to supply further details and a quotation.

Plan Insurance Brokers have been at the forefront of electric van and electric commercial vehicle insurance. It is very satisfying to be playing our part in facilitating the switch to more sustainable forms of commercial transport. Proudly, we have brokered insurance for the first vehicles to be used on UK roads of two different electric manufacturers. We have also been selected as the preferred insurance partner of the London Electric Vehicle Company.

Regulation introduced in 2018 meant that the cab trade was an early adopter of electric commercial vehicle technology. Plan are fortunate to be a leading insurance supplier to the London black cab market.

As a result, Plan gained a head start when it came to gathering the data required to assess electric taxis performance in relation to claims loss ratios. Insurers are always concerned regarding the impact of new technology on claims frequency and average claims costs.

Plan’s knowledge regarding the nuances of electric vehicles from a commercial insurance perspective helped allay insurer’s fears. This expertise has facilitated the provision of electric van insurance with a number of leading suppliers.

The electric van insurance market is limited in terms of the quantity of suppliers. There are some specialist niche providers and some household names. However many insurers may be holding back due to concerns regarding the cost of repairs and other potential complications linked to new battery technology. Although, insurer numbers are increasing and as they go up the level of competition for your business will increase. In turn premiums should reduce as fiercer battles for electric van policies take place.

The ban on the sale of fossil fuelled vehicles is on the horizon. The number of policies for vans with internal combustion engines will be reducing  fairly rapidly. So existing van insurers will need to enter the market in the relatively near future if they wish to maintain their volume of sales.

That said, our research indicates that the rates already being quoted for electric van insurance appear competitive. Insurers who are unafraid of the electric vehicle market are potentially seeking to take full advantage of their first mover status and are pricing accordingly.

It goes without saying that first and foremost your insurance will provide 3^rd party cover that satisfies the legal requirements of the Road Traffic Act. Electric vans are of course valuable assets and comprehensive cover that protects you against the cost of potential damages to your own vehicle in the event of an incident is highly recommended. Risks relating to fire are often a major concern for new electric van owners but this will be covered along with theft as a matter of course on any comprehensive policy.

Over and above these standard concerns an electric van policy could require some specific consideration in regards to liability. There is potential for a member of the public to trip over a charging cable and injure themselves whilst it is connected to your electric van. You should enquire whether your insurer provides cover for this risk as standard within their policy wording. You may also want to enquire as to whether any trip hazard liability exclusions exist for different charging scenarios. For example will your liability be covered when using public charge points, driveways, garages etc.

This is potentially a moot point now as most manufacturers have moved away from battery leasing business models.  In any case it shouldn’t be a problem for most insurers (although some providers do not offer cover for electric vans with leased batteries.) You will simply need to inform your insurer if you are leasing your electric van’s battery.  If they are happy to proceed, your insurer will note the battery’s owner as an interested party on the policy documentation. Should a serious accident, fire or theft involving your electric van occur and an insurance pay-out for the full value of the asset be required, the value of the battery will be deducted from the amount you receive. This sum will be forwarded to the battery’s owner, who is likely to be the manufacturer or leasing company.