Why Compare Equi-Sport Horsebox Insurance?
Used Boxes Vary A Lot
Equi-Sport conversions span more than a decade of vans, payloads and fit-outs. Providers weigh age, mileage and build differently, so comparing helps you find one that suits your box.
Self-Builds And Providers
Not every insurer is comfortable with a home-built conversion. Seeing several quotes makes it easier to find cover that accepts how your Equi-Sport was built.
One Short Form
Clean Green Cars introduces you to UK insurance providers that offer horsebox cover, so you can compare quotes for your Equi-Sport in one place.
Equi-Sport Horsebox Insurance At A Glance
- Who Built Them - Equi-Sport was a Yorkshire builder, latterly in Barnsley, founded by husband and wife Jon and Kim Ruse. It specialised in 3.5t horsebox conversions of Renault Master and Vauxhall Movano vans.
- No Longer Trading - the company behind the brand, Equisport Horseboxes Ltd, went into liquidation in 2024 and was dissolved in 2025. Every Equi-Sport on the road today is a used box.
- Horsebox, Not Trailer - an Equi-Sport is a driven van conversion, with two horses travelling rear-facing. It needs motor insurance in its own right, not trailer cover.
- Factory Build Or Self-Build - as well as full conversions, Equi-Sport sold parts and part-builds so owners could finish their own. Your insurer needs to know which kind you have.
- Payload Is The Number To Check - Equi-Sport said its standard conversion left a 1,300kg payload, and it weighed each box. Used examples in dealer listings show certified payloads from about 1,000kg to 1,300kg.
- Compare Quotes - see UK insurance providers that quote for a used Equi-Sport, its van, its age and where it's kept. The horsebox insurance hub covers the general rules and makers still trading.
Do You Need Insurance For An Equi-Sport Horsebox?
Yes. An Equi-Sport is a converted van, so it needs at least third party insurance before it goes on a road or other public place, whether or not the maker is still trading. GOV.UK says driving uninsured can mean a £300 fixed penalty, 6 penalty points and the vehicle being seized.
- Say It's A Conversion - the V5C may still show the van's original registration date and body type, so tell your insurer it's a horsebox conversion and who converted it
- The V5C Should Match The Vehicle - after a conversion the V5C body type must be updated. DVLA decides the description and may inspect it, so give the insurer the same details
- Laid Up Over Winter - a box kept off the road and declared SORN doesn't need insurance by law, though fire and theft cover while it's laid up may still be worth keeping
- Hire Or Paid Work - at least one hire firm has run an Equi-Sport van. If you hire yours out or move other people's horses for payment, a private policy usually isn't enough
Licence Rules For Driving An Equi-Sport
Welfare In Transport For Equi-Sport Owners
A two-horse van is covered by the same welfare-in-transport rules as any lorry. Their legal basis is The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. Taking your own horse out purely for leisure falls outside them. Professional riders, liveries and anyone paid to move horses fall inside them, whatever size of box they drive.
Transporter Authorisation
If you move horses more than 65km (about 40 miles) in connection with an economic activity, you need APHA transporter authorisation. That's type 1 for journeys up to 8 hours and type 2 for anything longer.
Certificates For Driver And Vehicle
The driver and any attendant need a certificate of competence for in-scope horse journeys over 65km. A certificate of vehicle approval is only needed for journeys over 8 hours. A journey log applies only to journeys over 8 hours from Great Britain to another country with unregistered horses.
Registered Horses
A registered horse is one on an EU-recognised studbook or with a national branch of an international racing or competition organisation. Registered horses don't need journey logs and are exempt from the journey-time, rest and feeding rules. They still need an authorised transporter and an animal transport certificate when the rules apply.
Cover Levels For A Used Equi-Sport
On a used Equi-Sport, third party only leaves you paying for the van and the conversion yourself after a fire or theft. Here's what each level usually includes.
| Feature | Comprehensive | Third Party, Fire & Theft | Third Party Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injury or damage you cause to others (legal minimum) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fire and theft of the van and conversion | Yes | Yes | No |
| Accidental damage to the box | Yes | No | No |
| Conversion fittings (ramp, partition, floor, groom's door) | Usually part of the vehicle value | Fire and theft only | No |
| Agreed value on a used conversion | Often available on application | Provider-dependent | No |
| Tack and contents in the horse area | Often included up to a set limit | Provider-dependent | No |
| Windscreen and van glass | Often included | Provider-dependent | No |
| Laid-up cover while declared SORN | Provider-dependent | Provider-dependent | No |
| Minimum third-party cover in the EU | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Comprehensive cover on trips abroad | Often included for a set number of days | Provider-dependent | No |
| Breakdown and recovery for horses and van | Often add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
Terms, limits and benefits vary among insurance providers, so always read the policy wording before you buy.
Cover Tip: A used Equi-Sport's value depends on the van's age, mileage and payload as much as the conversion. Agreed value based on a recent dealer valuation or comparable adverts can make the payout clearer. Keep the weight certificate, photos and service history with your policy documents.
What May Not Be Covered
On a box whose maker has gone, gaps in the paperwork tend to show up at claim time. Here's what a standard Equi-Sport horsebox policy may not cover.
Standard Exclusions
- A Self-Build Quoted As A Factory Box - Equi-Sport sold kits and part-builds as well as finished conversions, so not every box with Equi-Sport parts was built by the maker. If a home-built van is quoted as a factory conversion, the insurer may query the claim. Say who built it and when.
- Faults The Old Warranty Would Have Covered - The maker's 12-month build warranty ended with the company, which was dissolved in 2025. Insurance covers sudden damage, not build faults or worn parts, so a failing ramp spring or a tired floor usually isn't a claim. Any warranty now is the seller's.
Important Limitations
- Travelling Over The Plated Weight - Payloads on used examples run from about 1,000kg to 1,300kg, depending on the van and fit-out. Overloading a 3.5t box with two large horses, tack and passengers may complicate a claim after an accident, so travel within the plate.
- Hire, Reward And Business Use - Hiring the van out, carrying other people's horses for payment or using it for a business is usually excluded under a private horsebox policy. Commercial use needs business or hire and reward cover, and over 3,500kg it usually brings in an operator licence too.
- Wear, Tear And Rust On An Older Van - Some Equi-Sport vans date back to 2008. Corrosion, worn tyres, clutch wear and tired brakes are maintenance issues, not accidents, and are usually outside a policy. Keep the van serviced and the records to hand.
- An Unchanged V5C After Conversion - If the V5C still describes the vehicle as a panel van, the details may not match what the insurer was told. You must update the body type after a conversion, and DVLA decides the description. Tell the insurer it's a horsebox either way.
Extras Worth Considering
With no maker to call for parts or advice, a breakdown on an Equi-Sport rests on your own cover. These optional extras may be worth adding.
Roadside help and recovery that can move both the van and the horses inside to safety. A standard van breakdown service may not be able to take horses, which matters on an older Master or Movano.
Raises the limit for saddles, bridles, rugs and grooming kit carried in the box. Useful if your tack is worth more than the standard contents limit, which can be low on a small van.
Helps you recover uninsured losses, such as hire costs or lost competition fees, after an accident that wasn't your fault. It can also help with disputes over repairs on an older box.
Pays a set sum if you or a passenger are injured in an accident in the box. Useful if you travel with a friend or groom who helps load and unload at shows.
What Affects The Cost?
Van age, mileage and how the box was built move Equi-Sport quotes the most. Here's what insurers tend to look at.
| Key Factor | Impact on your price |
|---|---|
| Van age and mileage | Equi-Sport boxes on the market run from 08 plate Movanos to 2022 builds. An older, high-mileage van usually prices differently from a newer one with the same conversion. |
| Factory build or self-build | A conversion finished by Equi-Sport and a box built at home with its kit parts may be rated differently. Some providers ask for photos or an inspection on a self-build. |
| Base van | A Renault Master and a Vauxhall Movano can carry different repair and parts costs, so the base van and its engine feed into the price. |
| Agreed value | With no new Equi-Sport boxes being made, values come from the used market. A realistic agreed value backed by a valuation tends to suit better than a guess. |
| Driver age and experience | A 3.5t Equi-Sport can be driven on a car licence, so newer drivers can be named on it. Drivers under 25 or with little experience of large vans may price higher. |
| Overnight storage | A locked yard, barn or gated drive usually prices better than parking on the road, especially in postcodes with more van theft. |
| Security fitted | The maker's spec didn't include a tracker or alarm, so anything you add yourself is worth declaring. A tracker or steering lock may help the price on an otherwise standard van. |
| Annual mileage | Many horse vans only do show and clinic trips. An honest, realistic mileage tends to price fairly and avoids questions after a claim. |
| Use of the box | Private leisure use is priced differently from hire, paid transport or competing for prize money, and some of these need business cover. |
| No-claims history | Some providers accept a no-claims discount (a reduction for years without a claim) earned on a car or van, and a clean record may help the price. |
Your own quote will depend on your details and the box you own.
Price Insight: Used Equi-Sport boxes range from 08 plate Movanos to 2022 builds, so two boxes with the same badge can be years apart. Quote the van's registration year and mileage, say whether it's a factory or self-built conversion, and give the certified payload if you have it.
Ways To Help Reduce Your Premium
Clear paperwork and honest details can help keep the price of insuring a used Equi-Sport down. Here are a few ways to help keep the cost down.
Keep The Weight Certificate
Equi-Sport weighed its boxes and issued a weight certificate. Keeping it, or getting the box weighed again, shows the payload and supports both your agreed value and how you load it.
Update The V5c Body Type
If the V5C still says panel van, update it after the conversion. Matching paperwork makes the box easier to quote and avoids questions if you ever claim.
Say Who Built It
Give the insurer the builder's name, the build year and whether it was a full or part build. Clear answers up front may lead to a firmer quote than a vague description.
Store It Behind A Locked Gate
A gated yard or locked barn, declared accurately, tends to help the price on a van that's easy to drive away. Add a steering lock or tracker if it lives somewhere quiet.
Set A Realistic Agreed Value
Base the value on recent dealer prices or adverts for a similar age and payload. Under-insuring to cut the premium can leave you short if the box is written off.
Pay For The Year Upfront
Paying annually avoids the interest that's often added to monthly payments, which can make a difference on a small horsebox policy.
Saving Tip: Before you renew, gather the weight certificate, the V5C showing the horsebox body type and any receipts for work on the ramp, floor or partition. A box with a clear history is easier for an insurer to price, and secure storage plus a fitted tracker may help on top.
How To Compare Quotes
Comparing Equi-Sport horsebox insurance from UK insurance providers only takes a few minutes. Get started above.
Share Your Details
Enter the van make, registration year, mileage, conversion details and where it's kept. The form takes a few minutes.
Confirm Drivers And Plated Weight
Add everyone who'll drive and confirm the plated weight, so the cover matches a 3.5t box on a car licence or an uprated one.
Compare Cover Levels
Look at third party only, third party fire and theft and comprehensive side by side, then read the wear and tear and agreed value terms.
Weigh Add-Ons
Decide on horse recovery, tack cover, legal expenses and personal accident, based on how often and how far you travel.
Pick A Start Date
Choose when you want the policy to start. Your certificate and documents arrive once payment is complete.
What Our Expert Says
Every Equi-Sport owner is buying or keeping a second-hand box now, so the questions an insurer asks are about the van and its build history rather than the badge on the back.
A common scenario is a rider who buys a used Equi-Sport from a dealer and assumes the original 12-month build warranty still applies. It doesn't. The company was dissolved in March 2025, so any warranty today is the seller's own, and repairs to the ramp, floor or partition fall on you or your insurer, depending on the cause. Get the seller's warranty terms in writing, and read what your policy says about wear and tear before you need it.
The other one is weight. A 3.5t van with two big horses, tack, water and two people on board can creep over its plated weight. Equi-Sport quoted a 1,300kg payload for its standard conversion, but used examples are listed with certified payloads as low as 1,000kg. Driving over the plated weight is unsafe and may complicate a claim, so check the certificate, weigh the box loaded and travel within the plate.
Insurance Expert & Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
Equi-Sport Owners' Questions
Can I Still Insure An Equi-Sport Now The Company Has Closed?
Usually, yes. Insurers rate the vehicle, the conversion and the driver, so a used Equi-Sport can usually be insured like any other van-based horsebox. The company behind it went into liquidation in 2024 and was dissolved in 2025, which affects warranty and parts, not whether the box can be insured. Expect questions about the van's age and who did the conversion.
Is My Equi-Sport Still Under The Maker's Warranty?
No. Equi-Sport offered a 12-month build warranty, but the company was dissolved in March 2025, so there's no maker left to honour it. Any warranty on a used box now comes from the dealer who sold it. Insurance is different from a warranty. It covers sudden damage such as an accident or theft, not wear or build faults.
Can I Drive An Equi-Sport On A Car Licence?
Usually, yes. Equi-Sport built 3.5t horseboxes, and a car licence covers a diesel horsebox up to 3,500kg MAM. The exception is a van that a later owner has uprated above 3,500kg, which needs C1 or pre-1997 rights. Check the plate on the van and the V5C before you drive.
Does It Matter If My Equi-Sport Was A Self-Build?
Yes. Equi-Sport sold kits, ramp panels and part-builds so owners could convert their own Master or Movano. A home-built box and a factory conversion may be rated differently, and the insurer needs to know which one it's covering. Tell them who built it, when, and with which parts.
Will The Van's Age Affect My Quote?
It can. Used Equi-Sport boxes range from 08 plate Movanos to 2022 builds, and the V5C usually shows the van's first registration date rather than the conversion date. Give the insurer both dates and the mileage. A well-kept older van with records may still price reasonably, but age and mileage usually feed into the rating.
Do I Need Transporter Authorisation For A Day At A Show?
Not for a purely leisure trip with your own horse. The rules apply to journeys over 65km (about 40 miles) in connection with an economic activity, which GOV.UK says includes professional horse riders. If you move other people's horses for money or ride professionally, type 1 authorisation is usually needed for journeys up to 8 hours.
What Should I Check Before Buying A Used Equi-Sport?
The plate, the payload and the paperwork. Confirm the box is plated at 3,500kg, or find out who uprated it. Ask for the weight certificate or have it weighed, check the V5C shows the conversion, and get any dealer warranty in writing. Then quote the insurance before you buy, so there are no surprises.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
Clean Green Cars introduces you to UK insurance providers or regulated brokers that quote for used van horseboxes like the Equi-Sport, based on your van, its age, your licence and where it's kept. You'll usually see quotes within minutes and can compare cover, price and extras before you choose.
Search & Compare Quotes From UK Equi-Sport Horsebox Insurance Providers
Useful Resources
- GOV.UK - Driving Licence Categories - what a category B licence lets you drive, and when a heavier box needs C1.
- GOV.UK - MOT Classes And Fees - the table showing class 4 and class 7 MOTs by design gross weight, which covers 3.5t van horseboxes.
- GOV.UK - Change Your V5C Details - how to update the body type after a van conversion, or the weight after an uprating.
- GOV.UK - Guidance For Horsebox Owners - DVSA guidance on licences, operator licences and what counts as commercial use.
- GOV.UK - Transporting Animals In Great Britain - transporter authorisation, competence and vehicle approval rules for moving horses.
- Companies House - Equisport Horseboxes Ltd - the official company record, showing the 2024 liquidation and the 2025 dissolution.
