The ranges, plainly
| Vehicle | Basis | Typical annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| Van (Hiace, NV350, NV200 class) | Comprehensive, 20% NCD | $1,000 – $1,399 |
| Lorry, under 2 tons payload | Comprehensive, 20% NCD | $1,200 – $1,599 |
| Older van/lorry | Third Party Only | Below the ranges above |
| Heavier lorries (2+ tons payload) · hire-or-reward use | — | Above the ranges above |
These are indicative figures from quotes we've placed recently — not a promise, because the exact number depends on your vehicle's age, attachments, drivers, claims record and which insurer likes your trade this year. But if a quote you're holding sits far outside these bands, that's worth a conversation.
What moves you inside the range
- Vehicle age — the biggest slider, and past ~10 years insurers mostly offer TPO/TPFT anyway (usually the right economics for an old workhorse).
- Attachments — box body, hood, tailgate, crane: each adds premium, and each must be declared or claims are at risk.
- Your NCD — commercial NCD caps at 20%; the ranges above assume you have it. Starting from 0% costs more.
- Drivers — under-26, over-70 or newly licensed drivers bring an additional excess (YEID) with most insurers.
- Trade and use — carrying your own tools is one price; carrying other people's goods for payment (hire-or-reward) is another, with a higher excess too.
The full mechanics are in our companion guide: what actually decides your premium.
How to land at the cheap end — honestly
- Bring your NCD with you. It transfers between insurers in full, and we verify it for you — never stay expensive out of fear of losing it.
- Take the approved-workshop plan. Cheaper premium, one-stop accident reporting, no real downside for a working vehicle.
- Match cover to vehicle age. Comprehensive on a 12-year-old van is usually money down the drain; TPO keeps you legal for much less.
- Shop more than one insurer. The same lorry can be quoted hundreds of dollars apart — different insurers favour different trades each year. (This is literally our job.)
- Renegotiate every renewal. Premiums drift upward when nobody pushes back. We push back annually, by default.
When "cheapest" is a trap
Two ways a cheap premium becomes expensive: underdeclaring (an undeclared box body or paid-delivery use can void a claim entirely — the cheapest policy is worthless if it doesn't pay out), and TPO on a financed vehicle (your bank almost certainly requires comprehensive). Cheap should mean well-shopped, never under-covered.
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Indicative figures correct as of August 2026; general information, not financial advice. Your premium depends on insurer, vehicle and profile — speak to us for advice on your situation.
