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Courier insurance is essential for those drivers who use their van, car or motorbike to deliver goods and with the service, you can find –
- Monthly Courier Insurance Payment Options
- Quick Searches Of Multiple Insurers
Its also essential if:
- If you are working as a traditional courier (delivering to multiple sites) using a van or car, courier insurance is something you simply must take out.
- If you are working as a haulier (travelling long distances with one load), using a lorry then you will need Haulage Goods in Transit Cover.
With a few clicks, the insurance comparison service can help put you on the right path to specialist courier insurance providers.
Quotes for courier insurance can include:
- Courier van insurance
- Courier motor cycle insurance
- Courier car insurance
- Goods In Transit Cover
- Public Liability
- Employers Liability
- UK & European Cover
- Breakdown Cover
A guide to courier insurance
If you are a delivery driver, then you need courier insurance because standard vehicle insurance doesn’t cover the additional risks associated with delivering goods.
In this brief guide we look at what courier insurance is, what courier insurance covers, the difference between haulage insurance and courier cover, plus we answer some FAQs …
What is courier insurance?
The basics of courier insurance is this: If you are using a vehicle to transport and deliver goods, then courier insurance is something you need.
In this day and age of shopping and buying products online, a courier is a vital cog in the world’s distribution network. Without them, everyone would be paying through the nose for postage!
And despite what you might hear on the news, drones aren’t replacing couriers just yet. Put simply, there is no robot that could replicate the monumental service and work that couriers around the UK currently undertake.
Every single one of these men and women drivers who work as a courier, need to take out specialist courier insurance. This cover enables their vehicle, and the goods in them, to be insured in the event they’re damaged or stolen. Whether you work as a freelance courier, or for one of the UK’s big delivery companies like DHL, Parcelforce, Evri, Yodel or DPD – you need to have the correct courier insurance cover in place.
But courier insurance can fall under two different categories – courier and haulage – and it’s vitally important for you to know the difference between the two.
Did you know?
Black Friday and the following weekend is probably the busiest period the year for couriers now, with shoppers in the UK spending around £8.7 billion in 2023. The majority of that money is spent online buying goods, which means plenty of work for courier drivers!
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What is the difference between courier and haulage insurance?
Typically, if you’re using a van for work where you deliver lots of different goods to different points throughout the day, you’ll need some kind of courier van insurance. But if you’re using a larger van (such as an HGV) and going on longer journeys to distribute goods to maybe one or two destination points, then you’ll need haulage insurance. Here’s a brief description of these two cover types:
- Courier insurance – This is more tailored to allow you to make a number of different drop-offs over the course of your journey. A courier will also have more goods to carry in their vehicle, and courier insurance providers will more likely be aware of this fact.
- Haulage insurance – This is slightly different insurance, as it looks at covering singular, larger loads for longer journeys. But some insurance providers may consider someone who may seemingly need haulage insurance, to actually need courier insurance. And sometimes vice-versa, too.
And when you to add to the mix the potential for some insurers to also require hire and reward cover (usually associated with taxi insurance), then the world of courier insurance is not always clear-cut.
But if your insurance provider is aware of all your details from the outset, you should be able to find the most appropriate courier cover that you need.
What does courier insurance cover?
If you’re after courier insurance, then there are a variety of different options for you to look at.
Here are a few to consider:
- Goods in Transit – This is absolutely vital cover for any courier. It will ensure that the contents you are transporting are insured in the event of theft or damage. Without this cover, a courier will be at considerable risk when on the road. The types of goods that you can get cover for include business and industrial goods, car parts, clothing, furniture, household goods, mixed/varies, online purchases, pallets, parcels and waste.
- Courier Fleet Insurance – If you run a courier business, then a fleet insurance option might be right for you. With this cover, you can insure all your vehicles on the road under one single policy and under the same renewal date.
- Motorcycle Courier Insurance – It’s not just vans that are used as courier vehicles, there are plenty of motorbikes out there too! Motorcycle courier insurance is the specialist cover that all bike couriers will need when they’re transporting goods.
- Breakdown Cover – It’s always a good idea to have breakdown assistance when working as a courier driver. No-one wants to be caught out and unable to deliver goods because you’re stuck on the side of the road! Thankfully, most insurance providers will give you the option to have breakdown cover included in your courier insurance policy for an additional cost.
- Fully Comprehensive – Comprehensive cover will protect any named vehicles on the policy for all types of collisions, even those that you or one of your employees might be liable for. Plus, comprehensive insurance can also provide fire and theft damage cover, windscreen cover, personal effects cover and medical costs.
- Third Party – Third party cover is the absolute minimum level of cover that courier drivers need in order to be able to drive legally. Although third party only insurance doesn’t provide protection for your own vehicle(s), it is often the cheapest option available.
Did you know?
There are three types of insurance for couriers: carriage of own goods, carriage for reward, and hire and haulage. If you have any doubt which is the correct courier insurance for you, then speak to your insurance provider.Money saving tips for your courier insurance
Working as a courier and taking out insurance can be expensive, so we’ve got some handy tips to help you cut costs:
- Increased excess – The excess is the amount you must pay in the event of any successful claim you make. If you offer to pay a higher voluntary excess, an insurer may offer you a lower premium. Try it online with courier insurance quotes and see the influence it has on the overall price.
- Hire good drivers – It might seem obvious as no-one wants to hire bad drivers! But if you’re running a courier business, then your drivers need to be of a high standard. Insurers will likely offer lower prices for drivers with a clean driving licence.
- Hire experienced drivers – In the black-and-white world of insurance, younger drivers are considered much more of a risk. Drivers over the age of 25 may typically attract lower insurance premiums.
- Shop around – Shopping around for insurance is a great way to get an attractive deal. This is even more important at your policy renewal; you can easily compare your renewal price with potentially more affordable new insurance quotes from other providers. Or you may find a courier insurance policy that costs around the same as your current cover but offers more benefits and features
- Pay annually – If you’re able to pay for your insurance annually, then you may wish to consider doing this. Paying monthly by direct debit can typically add extra costs to your insurance premium.
- Consider investing in green vehicles – There are many types of green vehicles available now and investing in them for your business could help you save on courier insurance. Eco-friendly vehicles are not only great for the environment, but they can be great for your pocket too!
Did you know?
You can get courier insurance to suit your needs, whether you work as a freelancer or for one of the major courier firms in the UK, such as Parcelforce, DPD or Evri.
In summary: buying courier insurance
Courier insurance is typically necessary for anyone who delivers goods, providing protection for:
- Your vehicle
- The goods you’re transporting, and
- Liability for any damage or injury caused while making deliveries.
This ensures you are fully covered against potential financial losses and legal issues arising from your courier activities.
Get your quote now
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