What is really driving UK courier van insurance claims?

Analysis of over 4000 insurance claims shows incidents involving parked vehicles and rear end collisions are more common than theft.

New analysis of claims data by Business Choice Direct (BCD) reveals the leading causes of courier van insurance claims and some of the findings may not be what you would expect.

While van theft remains a serious and costly risk, the data shows that the majority of claims stem from every day, low speed incidents involving parked cars, reversing mishaps and rear end collisions that occur during the stop-start nature of courier work.

These findings come as UK motor insurers paid out £11.9 billion across 2.5 million claims last year. This highlights the growing risks facing couriers, who typically spend more time behind the wheel than the average driver, as they navigate increasingly busy UK roads.

Courier van insurance claims fall predominantly into three main categories: road traffic incidents, vehicle damage and theft. BCD’s analysis of its own claims data reveals:

• 19% of claims involve parked vehicles.
• 19% of claims involve rear end collisions.
• 13% of claims are theft related.
• 10% of claims caused by reversing incidents.
• Just 1% of claims involve head on collisions.

Commenting on the findings, Tristan Scaife, Business Choice Direct’s director of commercial insurance, said: ‘Although van theft remains a major risk, our claims data shows that many collisions occur during every day, low speed manoeuvres, which by nature couriers do a lot of in busy residential areas. This makes them more likely to bump walls, scrape parked cars, or run over the occasional garden gnome. These findings highlight the continued importance of having the right courier insurance cover in place.’

One in five claims involve parked vehicles

A high proportion of claims arise from low speed, day to day driving incidents and everyday manoeuvres rather than from major accidents. The data reveals that almost one in five claims (19%) involved parked cars. Of these, 11% were caused by couriers causing damage to parked cars and 8% where third parties collided with a parked courier van. These figures reflect the reality of courier work’s frequent stops in tight residential streets and repeated low speed manoeuvring around parked cars.

Rear end collisions are just as common

Rear end collisions are equally common, making up 19% of claims involving courier vans. In 12% of cases the courier was found to be responsible. In 7% a third party drove into the rear of the courier’s vehicle.

Two-thirds of stolen courier vans never recovered

Theft related incidents – including theft of the vehicle, theft from the vehicle, attempted theft and vandalism accounted for 13% of all courier van claims. Van theft continues to be a serious risk with an average of around 30 vans stolen per day in the UK. According to BCD’s claims data less than a third (32%) of stolen courier vans were recovered.

Reversing incidents are one of the most common causes of claims

Reversing incidents accounted for 10% of courier van insurance claims – making it the fourth most common cause of claims. Couriers reversing into another vehicle make up 7% and 3% were caused by third parties reversing into the courier’s vehicle.

Head on collisions remain rare

Just 1% of claims involved head on collisions – reinforcing the fact that the greatest risk to couriers isn’t high speed accidents but the routine, low speed manoeuvres that make up the bulk of a typical delivery day.