What is the minimum cover I need to drive an HGV?

At least third-party motor cover, the same legal floor as any vehicle on UK roads. Most operators carry fully comprehensive plus goods in transit because the value at risk in vehicle and load far exceeds what TPO would pay. Operator licence holders should expect to carry comprehensive as a working minimum.

Can I get HGV insurance with convictions or a recent claim?

Often yes. Specialist HGV insurers consider drivers with motoring convictions, accident claims and other history items on a case-by-case basis. Disclose every item in full at quote, non-disclosure can invalidate cover and an undisclosed item can compromise a large claim.

Do HGV drivers need a separate car insurance policy?

Yes. HGV insurance covers the lorry. The driver’s private car still needs its own policy. Some specialist personal motor markets offer favourable rates to professional drivers given their commercial driving record.

What is the difference between HGV insurance and haulage insurance?

HGV insurance is the motor policy on the vehicle. Haulage insurance is a broader package that bundles motor with goods in transit, public liability and sometimes employers’ liability for the wider haulage operation. Owner-drivers running one HGV often take haulage cover; multi-vehicle hauliers go to haulage fleet policies.

How do I find cheap HGV insurance and keep my HGV insurance cost down?

Telematics, driver training records, secure overnight parking, a higher voluntary excess, paying annually rather than monthly, and a clean claims history all reduce premium. Cheap HGV insurance is the result of getting these basics right rather than chasing the lowest headline rate. A broker who approaches the specialist HGV market often finds tighter terms than a generic online quote.

Can I move to a fleet policy if I am running multiple HGVs?

Yes. Once you are operating two or more vehicles a fleet policy usually replaces individual HGV policies, with one renewal date and one named broker handling mid-term changes. See our HGV fleet insurance page for the detail.

Heavy goods vehicle cover

HGV Insurance

Lorry, articulated and 7.5 tonne cover for hauliers, owner-drivers and own-goods operators. Goods in transit and continental extensions placed alongside.

Around 2 minutes to startBroker callbackFCA regulated, secure submission

Or call 0800 123 4567

How it works

Quote in two minutes, broker on the file from day one.

Three steps. Convictions, claims, young drivers, continental work, all considered. We approach the specialist HGV market on your behalf.

Tell us about the work

Vehicle weight class, age, driver pool, type of haul, claims and conviction history. Two minutes online or a call, your choice.

We approach the panel

Your named broker takes your details to specialist HGV insurers. O-licence compliance, conviction histories and continental work all routed to markets that handle them.

Cover in place

Documents emailed, payment arranged. Continuous-cover handovers managed without lapses that flag at audit.

What it covers

Three layers for HGV operators.

HGV insurance is the motor element. Most operators add goods in transit and liability cover on the same renewal, the package is what keeps you on the road and out of trouble at audit.

Motor cover for the lorry

Third-party only, third-party fire and theft, or fully comprehensive, covering 7.5 tonne, rigid and articulated vehicles.

e.g. A general haulier running a single artic on UK trunk routes.

Goods in transit (add-on)

Cargo cover for the load. Statutory liability under RHA or CMR plus optional all-risks for high-value goods.

e.g. A pharma haulier carrying temperature-controlled loads requiring all-risks endorsement.

Liability cover (add-on)

Public liability for incidents off the road and at depots; employers’ liability for any drivers or yard staff you employ.

e.g. A driver injures a forklift operator while reversing into a customer’s loading bay.

Who buys it

Lorry insurance for the trade.

The trades and operators we most commonly place HGV cover for. Each gets a tailored conversation rather than a one-size policy.

General hauliers

Carrying third-party goods on contracted or spot work.

Tailored cover

Own-goods operators

Manufacturers and merchants moving their own stock between sites.

Owner-drivers

Self-employed drivers under contract to logistics networks.

Tipper, skip and waste

Specialist tipper, skip and waste operators with bespoke risk profiles.

Plant transporters

Heavy plant and machinery movers with specialist trailers.

Refrigerated hauliers

Frozen, fresh and pharma temperature-controlled operators.

Tankers (specialist)

Liquid and bulk tankers, subject to specialist underwriting for hazardous classes.

7.5 tonne and lower-weight

Smaller hauliers, last-mile delivery and pre-1997 licence holders.

Whether you run one 7.5-tonne rigid or a stable of articulated tractor units, the policy structure adapts. We approach the specialist HGV market, convictions, young drivers and continental work all considered.

Operator licence

O-licence repute, continuous insurance, no audit surprises.

Insurance is one piece of running an HGV operation, but it is the piece most operators trip over at audit. The Traffic Commissioner expects continuous motor cover, evidence of financial standing and professional repute. A late renewal can be flagged at audit and put pressure on the O-licence.

Continuous cover, no lapses
We manage handovers between insurers so there is no day-zero gap on the operator licence file.
Cover that meets O-licence requirements
Policies placed with insurers and limits that line up with what the Traffic Commissioner expects to see.
Financial standing and repute support
Documentation and certificates ready when the Office of the Traffic Commissioner asks for them.
Named broker on the file at audit
Direct line to the same person if a hearing or audit raises a question about the cover.

Keep premium down

Four levers that move the price.

HGV premium reflects exposure, but a handful of choices on your side meaningfully change what you pay.

Fit telematics
Connected vehicles price below comparable disconnected ones. Most HGV insurers offer credit for verified telematics and dashcam usage.
Park in a secure compound
Locked compounds, gated yards and ANPR-monitored locations reduce theft and overnight risk. Roadside overnight pushes rates up.
Take a voluntary excess
Carrying the first slice of any claim yourself reduces the insurer’s exposure and the premium. Effective on stable, low-claim records.
Bundle with GIT
HGV motor plus goods in transit on the same renewal usually prices below buying each cover separately.

What's available, what isn't

Optional extras and common exclusions.

A standard HGV motor policy covers the vehicle and driver. The list below shows what most insurers will add on, and what falls outside the cover by default.

Optional extras

Goods in transit
Cargo cover for the load, RHA, CMR or all-risks options.
HGV breakdown and recovery
Roadside, recovery and onward-travel for HGV-specific cover requirements.
European cover
Green Card and CMR liability for cross-border haulage.
Public and employers’ liability
For depot operations and any staff you employ.
Trailer cover
Third-party trailer attached/detached, plus own-trailer theft and damage.

Common exclusions

Drivers not declared
Anyone driving the HGV must be eligible under the schedule. Undisclosed drivers void cover.
Cargo (without GIT)
Cargo loss is on a separate GIT policy, not the HGV motor.
Hazardous goods (without ADR)
Chemicals, gas and certain medical loads need ADR-rated drivers and specialist endorsement.
Personal use
HGVs rated for trade only. Personal use of the vehicle voids cover.
Deliberate or criminal acts
Loss caused intentionally or through criminal conduct is excluded across the market.

When you are ready

Two minutes to start. A broker takes it from there.

Tell us about the work, vehicle, driver, type of haul. Specialist HGV insurance brokers, with markets for 7.5 tonne up to articulated, conviction histories and continental work.

Or call 0800 123 4567

Frequently asked

Questions before you click submit.

The questions we hear most often, with straight answers. Anything else, call the office.

Cannot see your question? Speak to a broker on 0800 123 4567.

At least third-party motor cover, the same legal floor as any vehicle on UK roads. Most operators carry fully comprehensive plus goods in transit because the value at risk in vehicle and load far exceeds what TPO would pay. Operator licence holders should expect to carry comprehensive as a working minimum.

Cannot see your question? Speak to a broker on 0800 123 4567.

Why brokers, why us

FCA regulated

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

45 years broking

Long-standing relationships across the UK insurer market.

Named broker

A direct line to the same person at quote, renewal and claim.

Independent

No tie-ins. We use the market that fits the work, not a panel of one.

● Cover that often sits alongside this

Ready when you are

Cover that holds up to the work and the audit.

Two minutes to tell us about the operation. Terms back from a specialist HGV panel. Your named broker on the file from day one.

Two minutes to startSpecialist HGV panelNamed broker, day one

Or call 0800 123 4567