Van & Tool Insurance: Check the Gaps
Insuring the van does not automatically insure the tools inside it. The vehicle, your equipment and the work you do create separate risks.
Separate the three questions
| Risk | What needs to be covered |
|---|---|
| Driving between jobs | The vehicle and its actual business use, drivers and journeys |
| Tools or hired equipment stolen or damaged | The equipment, its value and where it is kept |
| Injury or property damage while working | The appropriate business liability cover |
Overnight storage is the easy gap to miss
“My tools stay in [van/building] overnight at [usual parking arrangement]. Are they covered there, and what security conditions apply?” Check that answer against the wording before relying on it.
Also check the excess, single-item limit and total tool limit. A policy with a low total cannot replace a van full of equipment just because theft is listed.
Keep proof away from the van
Photograph tool serial numbers and save receipts in the records you already use. Add a new purchase when you buy it, rather than rebuilding an inventory after a theft.
The ABI's motor guide explains vehicle cover; its liability guide covers a different risk. The policy's actual conditions decide an individual claim.
Updated 29 October 2026 · Report a factual error