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Published: 20 Mar 2026 | Last reviewed: 20 Mar 2026 | Reviewed by: VanCompare Editorial Team
Older headlines claimed van drivers were “more likely” to pick up motoring convictions. One widely-cited example came from AA Insurance customer analysis published in 2012, which reported higher endorsement rates among van drivers than car drivers in its dataset.
Whatever the exact ratio today, the practical reality is simple: many van drivers spend more time on the road, do more stops, and face tighter schedules. That combination increases exposure to enforcement — especially for speeding and phone-related offences — and convictions can quickly affect your ability to work and your insurance costs.
The two offences that catch working van drivers out most often
1) Speeding
GOV.UK states the minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points.
More serious cases can go to court with larger fines, more points, or disqualification.
2) Using a hand-held phone (or similar device) while driving
GOV.UK states you can get 6 penalty points and a £200 fine if you hold and use a phone (or another device that can send/receive data) while driving. New drivers can lose their licence if they reach 6 points in the first two years.
This is a major change from older articles that quoted £60 and 3 points.
“It’s just work calls”: why employers need a clear rule
HSE guidance for employers explicitly recommends having a clear mobile phone policy and warns that hands-free use still increases the likelihood of a collision.
For small businesses and sole traders, the most workable rule is often:
- No calls or messaging while the vehicle is moving
- Pull over safely if something genuinely can’t wait
- Use written “arrival windows” and status updates between stops, not mid-drive
How points can affect insurance (updated examples)
Insurers don’t treat all points the same. Recent insurer and consumer reporting suggests:
- Minor speeding (up to 3 points) is often associated with a smaller average increase (around 10% in some quoted datasets).
- Mobile phone convictions (CU80) can be treated far more seriously, with significantly higher average increases (around 38% in some quoted datasets, and higher with more points).
- Consumer reporting also highlights materially higher pricing effects for mobile phone-related convictions compared with basic speeding.
These are not guarantees (pricing depends on driver profile, vehicle, location, business use and insurer appetite), but the direction is consistent: phone convictions tend to hit harder than a single minor speeding endorsement.
Quick conviction-risk checklist for van drivers
If you drive for work (your own business or someone else’s), these changes usually reduce both convictions and claims:
- Build time into routes (parking time, loading time, traffic buffers)
- Set comms expectations: “I’ll update between stops” beats “call me any time”
- Keep the phone out of reach (in a bag or the glovebox)
- Use navigation before you set off (don’t “fix it on the move”)
- Review any points trend early (don’t wait until you’re close to 12 points in 3 years)
Don’t create insurance problems on top of the conviction
When buying or renewing insurance, you’re expected to take reasonable care not to misrepresent information. The Financial Ombudsman Service sets out how it looks at complaints involving misrepresentation and non-disclosure.
Practical takeaway: declare motoring convictions and points accurately when asked, and keep your details consistent across drivers/vehicles and business use.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Speeding penalties (minimum £100 fine + 3 points)
- GOV.UK — Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving (handheld: £200 fine + 6 points)
- HSE — Driving and riding safely for work (overview)
- HSE — Make sure drivers and riders are safe (phone policy; hands-free increases collision likelihood)
- AA-insured customer research reported in media (dated context: endorsement rate comparisons)
- Admiral — How penalty points affect insurance (example percentage impacts)
- Which? — Penalty points impact article referencing insurer quote data
- Financial Ombudsman Service — Misrepresentation and non-disclosure (how disputes are assessed)
VanCompare Editorial Team
The VanCompare Editorial Team produces clear, practical guidance on UK van insurance and related topics. We work with FCA authorised insurance providers and use insurer information where relevant to explain cover in plain English and help drivers make informed decisions.
- Where relevant, our content is checked against publicly available UK guidance and information from sources such as the FCA and GOV.UK to help keep it accurate and up to date.
- This content is for general information only and is not financial advice.
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