What is Fleet Insurance?
Fleet insurance is a type of commercial insurance that covers multiple vehicles under a single policy. It is designed for businesses or organisations that operate a fleet of vehicles, such as cars, vans, HGVs, or other specialist vehicles. Instead of purchasing individual insurance policies for each vehicle, fleet insurance allows the owner or operator to insure the entire fleet of vehicles under a single policy.
Fleet insurance can help businesses and organisations to manage the costs of insuring their vehicles and simplify the insurance process by having a single policy to manage. It can also provide protection for the business or organisation against potential financial losses resulting from accidents, theft, or other unexpected events involving the vehicles in the fleet.
How our process works
We’ve worked hard to refine our process and keep it as quick, easy and simple as possible for our customers.
How much does fleet insurance cost in the UK?
The cost of fleet insurance in the UK can vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as the number and type of vehicles in the fleet, the level of coverage required, the driving history and experience of the drivers, and the location of the business.
As a general rule, the larger the fleet, the lower the cost per vehicle for fleet insurance. However, other factors such as the age and condition of the vehicles, the driving record of the drivers, and the type of business can also affect the cost of the policy.
What types of vehicles can be covered under fleet insurance?
Fleet insurance can cover a wide range of vehicles. The specific types of vehicles that can be covered will depend on the insurance provider and the policy terms.
The types of vehicles that can be covered under a fleet insurance policy in the UK can include, but are not limited to:
- Cars – including sedans, hatchbacks, and estates
- Vans – including panel vans, trucks, and refrigerated vans
- Lorries – including flatbeds, box trucks, and artic lorries
- Buses – including minibuses and coaches
- Taxis – including black cabs, private hire cars, and minicabs
- Construction vehicles – including bulldozers, cranes, and excavators
- Delivery vehicles – including courier vans and trucks
- Emergency service vehicles – including police cars, ambulances, and fire engines
- Trailers – including cargo and flatbed trailers
- Farm vehicles – including tractors, combine harvesters, and balers.
Typically, fleet insurance policies will cover vehicles that are used for business purposes, such as transportation of goods, employees, or customers. The vehicles can be owned by the business or can be leased or rented.
The policy can also cover a mix of vehicle types, such as cars and vans, or different makes and models.
It’s important to note that some insurance providers may have restrictions on the types of vehicles that can be covered under a fleet insurance policy. For example, some providers may not cover vehicles that are over a certain age or that have certain modifications or customizations.
How many vehicles do I need to have to qualify for fleet insurance?
Generally speaking you need 3 vehicles or more to apply for a fleet policy. It is only when you get to 4 vehicle or more do you start to really feel the benefit of a fleet policy.
If you only have the one or two vehicles, it is likely that you will be better off financially insuring them separately until you have more vehicles. For more on common single vehicle policies, please visit our van courier, HGV or single van insurance pages.
Can I add or remove vehicles from my fleet insurance policy?
Yes, fleet policies are versatile policies and will allow the adding and removing of vehicles.
When adding a vehicle, you will need all the vehicle details such as make, model and registration number. The same applies when adding a driver to your policy. To add a driver, you will need the drivers licence and driving history.
Changes to your policy are likely to incur an admin fee and may result in a change of premium price. For instance, if you add 2 high value vans, the risk is greater and therefore an adjustment in premium will be required.
What level of coverage is required for motor fleet insurance in the UK?
A number of factors will affect the cost of your insurance. These include things such as the size of your fleet, what type of vehicles you have, the drivers history and then how much insurance you want for each vehicle.
Like car insurance, policies start off with the below insurance grades.
- Third-Party Only (TPO) : This is the minimum level of insurance required in the UK and provides cover for any damage or injury caused to third parties through fault of your driver.
- Third-Party Fire and Theft (TPFT) : This provides the same coverage as TPO but also includes cover for fire and theft of the insured vehicles.
- Comprehensive: This provides cover for damage to the insured vehicles, as well as third-party damage, fire, and theft.
Are there any discounts available for fleet insurance?
There may be discounts available for fleet insurance, depending on the insurance provider and the specific policy terms. Some common types of discounts that may be available include:
- Multi-vehicle discount – This is a discount that is typically offered when insuring a larger number of vehicles, and the discount amount may increase as the number of vehicles insured under the policy increases.
- No-claims discount – This is a discount that is typically offered to policyholders who have not made any claims during the policy period. The discount amount can vary depending on the insurance provider and the length of time without a claim.
- Driver training discount – This is a discount that is typically offered to policyholders who provide evidence that their drivers have completed an approved driver training program.
- Telematics discount – This is a discount that is typically offered to policyholders who install telematics devices in their vehicles to monitor driver behaviour and promote safe driving practices.
What factors affect the cost of fleet insurance?
The cost of fleet insurance in the UK can be affected by a variety of factors, including:
- The number of vehicles in the fleet: Generally, the more vehicles in the fleet, the higher the cost of insurance, although the cost per vehicle is typically lower.
- The type of vehicles in the fleet: Some types of vehicles, such as high-performance cars or high risk commercial vehicles, may be more expensive to insure than others.
- The level of coverage required: Comprehensive coverage will generally be more expensive than third-party only or third-party fire and theft coverage.
- The age and experience of the drivers: Young or inexperienced drivers may be considered higher risk and may result in higher insurance premiums.
- The excess amount: A higher excess amount can reduce insurance premiums but may result in higher out-of-pocket expenses in the event of a claim.
- Additional options: Additional coverage options, such as windscreen repair or replacement, breakdown assistance, and legal expenses, can increase the cost of insurance.
- The insurance provider and policy terms: Different insurance providers may have different pricing structures and policy terms, so it’s recommended to compare multiple options before selecting a policy.
What is the difference between fleet insurance and individual vehicle insurance?
Fleet insurance is designed to cover multiple vehicles under a single policy, whereas individual vehicle insurance covers a single vehicle under its own separate policy.
