Van insurance is different from car insurance as the two insurances cover different kinds of vehicles. Because a van and a car are different types of vehicles used for different purposes, their insurance cannot be used for each other. Each vehicle must be legally covered with the correct insurance.
Though you can usually swap your insurance to other vehicles that you own, this can only be done with the same kind of vehicle. You cannot use van insurance for a car, or car insurance for a van.
Legally, both vehicles must be covered by the type of insurance that applies to them. This is important as auto insurance is designed for certain types of vehicles and only applies to those vehicles.
Van Insurance Is Different From Car Insurance
Van insurance is a different kind of insurance from car insurance, this means that they cannot be used interchangeably. Doing so would not actually cover your vehicle at all, as it is not designed for that type of vehicle.
Car insurance is a type of insurance meant to cover vehicles that are considered to be cars. This covers the typical car that you would think of and other vehicles that can be considered as cars.
Van insurance also has certain rules that make it for vans specifically. Van insurance usually covers much larger vehicles that are often used for commercial or business purposes.
Van insurance typically does not cover personal use vehicles as it covers vans used for other purposes. This is the biggest thing that sets van insurance apart from car insurance.
Because these insurance policies cover different vehicles with different purposes, they cannot be used in place of each other. The insurance is designed specifically to cover that vehicle and cannot cover a different vehicle.
This is how auto insurance works, as it is created specifically for different vehicles to provide the best amount of coverage.
Cars typically do not require as much coverage as a van does as they are personal vehicles that aren’t as valuable. A van is considered to be more at risk, which results in a heavier insurance policy.
Some Insurers Classify Minivans to Be Like Cars
Auto insurance is not as straightforward as you might think, as some vehicles are not considered to be what we think they are. One example of this is minivans, though they are called vans, they can often be considered to be a car.
Because this distinction is not often what we think it is, it is important to find out if your vehicle is a car or van. It may surprise you and be classified as something other than you originally thought.
The Vehicle Registration Number Will Tell You If You Have a Van or Car
One foolproof way to find out how your vehicle is classified is to look up the registration number. This number should clearly show what kind of vehicle you are actually driving.
This number is important, as it will show your insurer just what kind of vehicle you need insurance cover for. This way, you will get the correct kind of insurance to cover your vehicle for the future.
If you can’t find it through the registration number, a few other options include looking up the design of the vehicle or checking the V5C logbook. This is an important step that you do not want to skip in finding out what kind of vehicle you need to insure.
Vans Have to Have Certain Features
Though we often have a very clear idea of what we consider to be a van, this does not always apply to the actual vehicle. That is why there are certain details that your vehicle must have to be classified as a van.
If your vehicle is classified as a van because of these features, so it will need to be insured with van insurance. If it does not have these features, your vehicle is most likely considered a car and can be insured with car insurance.
It is important to make sure that you know what kind of vehicle you are driving to insure it appropriately.
A van does not technically have to have all of these features, in fact, most don’t. But it must have at least one or more of these features to be considered a van.
Number of Seats
A vehicle is considered to be a van if it has more than eight seats, anything less, and it is considered to be a car. This also applies to minivans as they are larger than a typical car but still don’t measure up to being a real van.
A van must have eight seats or more to be classified as a van and insured as a van.
A Double Cab
A van must have a double cab to be considered to be a van. This is the separate area for the driver and passengers and the car’s tail end.
The double cab is typically used for hauling cargo, and most vans will have this feature.
Gross Laden Weight
To be considered a van, a vehicle must have a gross laden weight of over 1,000kg. This defines the entire weight of the vehicle, as a whole.
It is used to show the maximum operating weight of the vehicle. This is different from how much the vehicle can actually weigh, as it only defines the weight of the vehicle itself.
This is defined as the GVW, while the maximum weight capacity is considered to be the GVWR.
A Pickup Bed for Cargo
A van will also usually have a pickup bed that is specifically designed for cargo. This is something that a car will never have as it is not designed for transporting goods like a van is.
This area will be different from the passenger area and can be covered or uncovered. Any van should have a pickup bed in one way or another, even if it is on the smaller side.
Certain Vans Can Be Insured as a Car
Despite the clear differences between car and van insurance, some vans can be insured as a car. Though technically vans, some can still be classified as a car for insurance purposes.
Some vehicles that you might consider to be a van can even be classified as a car since it isn’t always black and white. Though a vehicle may look like a van, that doesn’t always mean that it is.
Because of this, it is important to familiarize yourself with vans and cars to understand what sets them apart. Especially if you get a new vehicle and are looking to insure it for the future.
It is absolutely necessary that you pick the correct insurance for your vehicle, otherwise it may not apply. If you get into an accident in a van insured as a car, your insurance will not cover it because you are using the wrong insurance.
Insurance will only apply to the correct vehicle that it was designed for.
Family Vehicles Can Often Be Insured as Cars
A family vehicle is a type of vehicle that can include vans very often, this is because they are on the larger side and can seat more people. Though they are technically a type of van, family vehicles can be insured as a car.
Car insurance applies here because the vehicle is used exactly like you would a car. It is a pleasure to use vehicle that isn’t used for business or commercial purposes.
If you own a van and want to switch to car insurance, talk to your insurer about it, there is a good chance that a family van can be classified as a car.
People Carriers Can Sometimes Be Insured as Cars
A people carrier is very similar to a family van as it is used to carry passengers around and not for transporting goods. This is still considered a vehicle used for personal or pleasure use and not commercial use.
Because of this, you just might be able to get this type of vehicle covered by car insurance instead of van insurance. Even if your people carrier has more than eight seats, you may be able to get it classified as a car for insurance purposes.
Minivans Are Classified as Cars
A minivan is not considered an actual van despite the misleading name. This vehicle is like a family vehicle and is just a step up from your typical car.
This is considered a family vehicle and is used exactly like you would use a car despite being slightly larger. This makes it possible to classify a minivan under car insurance instead of van insurance.
A minivan will never be a commercial vehicle, so it is naturally classified as a car.
Dual Purpose Vehicle
A dual-purpose vehicle presents the best of both worlds as it is designed like a car with the added benefit of being able to be used as a commercial vehicle. This makes it a dual-purpose vehicle, as it is both a car and a commercial vehicle.
As long as you only use this vehicle for personal or pleasure use, you can get it insured as a car and classified in that way. Only when it is actually used for commercial uses can you no longer classify it as a car.
Several kinds of vehicles can fall under the classification of a dual-purpose vehicle. This is why it is a good idea to do your research on the vehicle that you have.
A good insurance agent will also help you identify what kind of insurance your vehicle can use.
4×4 and SUV
Though 4×4’s and SUVs are very large vehicles that look like they would be classified as a van, there are times when they can be covered by car insurance. As long as your 4×4 or SUV was created for domestic, social, or pleasure use, it can be covered by car insurance.
This is very common as people are gravitating more towards larger vehicles for personal use. Companies have caught onto this and are now making these vehicles for domestic use despite their large size.
If the manufacturer has classed a 4×4 or an SUV as a commercial vehicle, it can be considered a dual-purpose vehicle. This only applies if you do not use it for commercial purposes but for personal ones.
Depending on how you use it, this type of vehicle could even be considered a family vehicle. If you use your 4×4 or SUV for commercial or business purposes, you will have to get van insurance instead of car insurance.
Vehicles Used for Business Have Different Types of Insurance
Vehicles that are used for business purposes often have to be insured differently than they would otherwise have to be. This is because a business vehicle is very different from a vehicle used for pleasure or personal use.
A business vehicle comes with different risk factors, which require the insurance agency to apply a different kind of insurance to the vehicle.
A car that is used for business purposes will need to be insured with a special kind of business car insurance. This will help cover any damages later on that could directly affect the business.
The same goes for vans that are covered by car insurance. If they are used for business purposes, they will often fall under the commercial van classification.
This would mean that that van will need to be insured as a van with van insurance, rather than car insurance. If the vehicle is something like a minivan, it can be insured with business car insurance instead.
It is important to understand the differences between personal and pleasure use vehicles versus business vehicles. Though they seem to be used in much the same way, they are very different.
There are higher risks with business vehicles, so the insurer will need to apply a different kind of insurance. This will help cover any expense later on if you get into an accident or experience vandalism or theft.
Van Insurance is More Expensive
One reason why many people like to try to use car insurance instead of van insurance is because car insurance is cheaper. As a rule, van insurance is oftentimes significantly more expensive than car insurance is.
This often comes down to the fact that van insurance covers so much more on a van than car insurance does. Vans are considered riskier vehicles and require more insurance which raises the price.
This is part of why there is such a strict line dividing van and car insurance as both cover such different things. While cars are relatively low-risk vehicles, van insurance covers commercial and business vans.
These types of vans are considered more high risk and need more insurance coverage. This is often due to commercial vans experiencing more wear and tear or being targeted more for crime and theft.
These risks create the need for insurance agencies to create more expensive insurance policies to cover the dangers. This is why van insurance will be significantly higher than car insurance is.
Though cars can always be at the same risk as vans, they are generally considered to be a safer bet to take for insurers.
You Must Insure Your Vehicle in Most States
In most states within the U.S., auto insurance is a responsibility that is mandatory for all drivers on the road. This means that you cannot legally drive in a vehicle that has not been insured correctly.
This is often put into place to protect the drivers and make sure that they can financially manage any damages that could occur. This is very important if you get into an accident and your vehicle is damaged, or you have damaged another car.
As a vehicle owner, you are liable for these damages and need a way to pay for them if you are responsible. This is where auto insurance comes in to cover these kinds of expenses.
It also acts as a protective measure if your vehicle is vandalized, broken into, or experiences theft in any way. It is much like home insurance as you will be reimbursed for your losses if you have insurance.
This is very important for all vehicle owners to have for the future. You cannot predict what may happen, and it is always best to be as prepared as possible.
Van insurance is more expensive, because vans experience greater losses. If your van is damaged or vandalized, it will cost more to repair the damages.
This is the logic behind the van and car insurance pricing, as car insurance is cheaper due to the lowered risk involved.
Either way, you get what you pay for, and one day you may be very thankful that your vehicle is insured. It can often feel like a waste of money until the time comes when you need it the most.
