If you’re 18, 19 or 20 and need to borrow a van for a move, furniture collection or another short-term reason, being under 21 doesn’t automatically rule you out.
With Dayinsure, you can apply for temporary van insurance from age 18, provided you meet our criteria. If you’re under 25, you’ll need to have held a full GB driving licence for at least 6 months.
The van needs to meet our criteria too. Before you borrow one, check your age, licence history and the vehicle itself so you know what to expect.
Can you get temporary van insurance if you’re under 21?
Yes, potentially. With Dayinsure, you can apply from age 18, provided you meet our driver and vehicle eligibility criteria.
Being 18, 19 or 20 doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be accepted. You’ll also need to:
- Hold a current, valid, full GB driving licence
- Have held your full licence for at least six months if you’re under 25
- Permanently live at a UK address
- Have permission from the van owner
- Meet our wider underwriting criteria
So, your age is only one part of the check. Before making plans around a particular vehicle, check the current temporary insurance acceptance criteria.
Temporary van insurance age requirements at a glance
The minimum age for our standard temporary van insurance is currently 18. If you’re looking for van insurance as a young driver, check the licence requirements as well as the minimum age.
| Your age | What to expect with Dayinsure |
|---|---|
| 17 | Not eligible for our standard temporary van insurance |
| 18 | May qualify if you’ve held a full GB licence for at least six months and meet all other criteria |
| 19 | May qualify if you’ve held a full GB licence for at least six months and meet all other criteria |
| 20 | May qualify if you’ve held a full GB licence for at least six months and meet all other criteria |
| 21–24 | The same minimum six-month full-licence requirement currently applies |
Age is only the first check. Your licence history, driving record and the van itself must also meet our criteria.
What licence do you need for temporary van insurance if you’re under 21?
Being legally allowed to drive a van and being eligible for insurance are two separate things.
Your driving licence determines what you can legally drive. Our insurance criteria determine who and what vehicle we can insure.
Dayinsure licence requirements
For our temporary van insurance, you need a current, valid, full GB driving licence. If you’re under 25, you must have held that full licence for at least six months.
A provisional licence doesn’t meet our current criteria.
For example, an 18-year-old who passed their test seven months ago may meet the age and licence-history requirements. Someone who passed two months ago wouldn’t currently meet the six-month requirement.
This is particularly important if you’re looking for van insurance as a new driver. Passing your test at 18 doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll qualify for temporary van cover straight away.
Can you drive a van on a normal car licence?
Generally, a standard Category B car licence allows you to drive a petrol, diesel or hybrid van up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass.
Check the categories shown on your own driving licence before you drive.
Being legally entitled to drive a particular van doesn’t necessarily mean you can insure it through Dayinsure. Both the driver and vehicle still need to meet our insurance criteria.
If you’re unsure about any part of the process, you can get help with your temporary insurance questions before arranging cover.
What vans can you insure if you’re under 21?
Your age and licence aren’t the only eligibility checks. The van needs to meet our current criteria too.
It must:
- Be registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man
- Have a current market value below £75,000
- Have eight seats or fewer
- Have a gross vehicle weight of no more than 3.5 tonnes
- Not be a rental van
Gross vehicle weight, or GVW, means the maximum permitted total weight of the van when it’s loaded.
Physical size alone won’t tell you if a van qualifies. Check its recorded weight before arranging the cover. You should also check what the policy covers and excludes so you know whether it suits what you need the van for.
Can you get one-day van insurance if you’re under 21?
Yes, potentially. You may be able to get one-day van insurance when you’re under 21 if you meet the same driver and vehicle eligibility criteria that apply to our other temporary van cover.
One-day cover isn’t a separate type of insurance. It’s temporary van insurance arranged for one day.
Our temporary van cover can run from 1 hour to 30 days. The age and licence-history requirements stay the same whether you need the van for an hour, a day or longer.
A few hours may be enough for a collection or shorter job. If you’re moving home or travelling further, you may need a full day or more.
If one day suits your plans, you can arrange van cover for a single day for the period you need it.
Why might you need temporary van insurance as a young driver?
You might only need a van for a move, a large collection or a few days of permitted work.
Short-term insurance for a van can be useful when you’re:
- Moving into or between university accommodation
- Moving into your first flat
- Collecting furniture or another bulky purchase
- Borrowing a parent’s, relative’s or friend’s van
- Helping somebody else move
- Using an eligible van temporarily for permitted work
If you’re borrowing a van from someone you know, temporary cover can insure you for the time you need it, provided you have the owner’s permission and meet our eligibility criteria.
If you need temporary cover for a car rather than a van, the eligibility requirements are different. Check what applies to temporary car insurance for drivers under 21 before arranging cover.
What affects the price of temporary van insurance for young drivers?
There isn’t one fixed price for everybody under 21.
If you’re looking for temporary van insurance as a young driver, the price will depend on the information you provide and your individual circumstances.
This includes:
- Your age and personal circumstances
- Your occupation
- Your permanent address
- The van you want to insure
- How long you need cover for
- Other information considered during the quote and underwriting process
We ask for details including your name, date of birth, permanent UK address, occupation, van registration and GB driving-licence number when producing a temporary van quote.
Being under 21 can be relevant to your quote, but your age alone doesn’t determine the price. Your quote will reflect the details you provide, so the price can differ from one driver and van to another.
If you want to see what cover may be available for your circumstances, you can start a temporary van insurance quote using your own driver and vehicle details.
What do you need to get a temporary van insurance quote?
Having the right details ready can make the quote process easier.
You’ll need to provide information including:
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- Your permanent UK address
- Your occupation
- Your email address
- Your GB driving-licence number
- The van registration
Before you start, also check that:
- You’ve held your full licence for at least six months if you’re under 25
- You have permission from the van owner
- The van meets our current criteria
- You know how long you need cover for
Dayinsure temporary van insurance can help when you only need cover for a limited period rather than an annual policy.
When might our temporary van insurance not be suitable?
Our temporary van insurance won’t be suitable in every situation.
You won’t meet our criteria if:
- You’re under 18
- You’re under 25 and have held your full licence for less than six months
- You only have a provisional licence
- The van doesn’t meet our acceptance criteria
- The vehicle is a rental van
- You want to use the van for courier services/goods for payment
- You want to use the van to carry passengers for payment
Our temporary van insurance can include business use and carriage of your own goods, subject to policy terms and exclusions.
Carriage of your own goods means carrying items that belong to you for your own work. It does not mean tools, stock, materials or equipment are automatically insured if they’re lost, stolen or damaged.
If you’re hiring a van from a rental company, Dayinsure temporary van insurance won’t cover it. Check the insurance provided or required by the hire company instead.
Before you borrow the van
If you’re 18, 19 or 20, your age doesn’t stop you getting temporary van cover. The key licence check is whether you’ve held your full GB licence for at least six months.
You’ll also need to make sure the van meets our criteria and that you have the owner’s permission.
Need to borrow a van for a few hours, a day or longer? Check your eligibility and get a temporary van insurance quote with us.
FAQs
Can an 18-year-old get temporary van insurance?
Yes, potentially. Temporary van insurance for an 18-year-old may be available with Dayinsure, as you can currently apply from age 18.
If you’re under 25, you must have held a full GB driving licence for at least six months and meet our other driver and vehicle criteria.
Can a 19-year-old get temporary van insurance?
Potentially. Temporary van insurance for a 19-year-old may be available if you’ve held your full GB driving licence for at least six months and meet our other driver and vehicle criteria.
Your age alone doesn’t guarantee eligibility.
Can a 20-year-old get temporary van insurance?
Potentially. Temporary van insurance for a 20-year-old may be available if you meet our licence-history, driver and vehicle criteria.
You’ll need to have held your full GB driving licence for at least six months.
I passed my test less than six months ago. Can I get temporary van insurance?
Not through our current standard temporary van product if you’re under 25.
We require drivers under 25 to have held a full GB driving licence for at least six months.
Can you drive a 3.5-tonne van at 18?
A standard Category B licence generally allows eligible drivers to drive petrol, diesel or hybrid vans up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass.
You must still meet the relevant insurance requirements and check the categories on your own licence.
Can I borrow my parents’ van if I’m under 21?
Potentially. You’ll need the owner’s permission, appropriate insurance and to meet our driver criteria.
The van itself must also meet our current temporary van acceptance requirements.
Can I temporarily insure a rental van?
No. Rental vans aren’t covered by Dayinsure’s current temporary van product.
If you’re hiring a van, check the insurance provided or required by the hire company.
Can I use temporary van insurance for work if I’m under 21?
Potentially, if you meet our eligibility criteria and the activity is permitted under the policy.
Our temporary van cover includes business use subject to exclusions. Courier services and carrying passengers for payment aren’t covered.
