Non-standard vehicle insurance

Cover outside the standard market

A catering van that is someone’s livelihood, a converted camper, or a driver with a conviction on their licence: these are the risks standard insurers often decline or price out of reach. Driving uninsured is not an option, so your client needs a market that will look at the risk properly.

This product is for non-standard vehicles and situations, including:

• Catering vehicles. Ice cream, burger, chip, coffee, smoothie and hot dog vans, Jiffy trucks, mobile shops, mobile bars, mobile pizza ovens, canteens and conversions such as Citroën H vans and Volkswagen (VW) campers.
• Modified vans. Vans with custom modifications, from Transit camper conversions to customised pickups and specialised VW vans.
• Drivers with convictions. Drivers with multiple speeding convictions, drink driving bans or criminal convictions.
• Other non-standard risks. Social, domestic and pleasure (SDP) use with or without commuting, left-hand drive vehicles, and policyholders refused insurance or with voided policies. Unusual body types such as flatbeds, dropsides, beavertails, pick-ups, double cabs and sandwich delivery vehicles, and vehicles with more than three seats (maximum six).

If a client’s vehicle or driving history has left them short of options, check the decline rules below and talk the risk through with us.

What we can’t cover

Clear decline rules let you check fit before you send anything, saving time for you and your client. Risks we cannot accept include:

• Vehicles valued at more than £30,000 (except catering vehicles, which are covered up to £60,000)
• Drivers under 25 or over 70
• Risks proposed in a company name
• Unemployed individuals
• ‘L’ postcodes
• Scrap dealers, waste dealers and couriers

Key policy details

The main terms are set out below, so you can explain them to your client at the start and avoid surprises later. Minimum premiums and excesses apply, and claims and licence history affect the rating.

1. Driver options and usage:

   • Any driver cover generally available.

   • Tell us if you need to include drivers under 25 or under 30.

   • Use permitted for Carriage of Own Goods or Hire and Reward.

2. Premiums and excess:

   • Minimum premium: £880 (£750 + Admin Fee + insurance premium tax).

   • Catering vehicles and ice cream vans: reduced minimum premium of £600.

   • Minimum excess: £250.

3. No claims discount (NCD):

   • Only NCD earned in the insured’s name and on a similar vehicle type is acceptable.

   • Introductory discounts or foreign-earned NCDs are not permitted.

   • If the NCD presented is Maximum because it is protected, the insurer may calculate rates on a reversionary basis.

4. Claims and licence history:

   • Fault accidents within the last 12 months carry a heavy rating penalty.

   • Policies with protected NCD may revert to unprotected rates if risks are high.

   • Penalisation for a low number of years with a full licence.

5. Vehicle requirements:

   • Maximum vehicle value: £60,000. Vehicles valued £40,000+ require trackers.

   • Single vehicle risks only.

Broker support

Non-standard risks need a conversation, not only a form. Here is how we help you get a quote and the right cover for your client:

• Experienced underwriters: we work with underwriters who specialise in non-standard risks, to find competitive terms for risks other markets may not take on.
• Support on every case: our team is available to help with any query, including complex cases.