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Haulage and goods in transit
HGV fleet insurance covers several heavy goods vehicles under one motor policy, usually with third-party liability as the legal minimum and options for damage, theft and trailers. It matters because insurers judge HGV fleets largely on claims history and compliance, so hours, maintenance and telematics records feed straight into renewal.
Part of: Haulage insurance
In short
HGV fleet insurance puts a schedule of lorries and trailers on one motor policy. Third-party cover is compulsory under section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and most operators add damage, theft and trailer cover. The policy does not cover the load, which needs goods in transit insurance. Insurers commonly look closely at drivers' hours and tachograph compliance, maintenance records kept for at least 15 months, telematics and camera use, and claims history. Good records help defend claims and present a better risk at renewal. Cover is always subject to the insurer's acceptance and the policy terms.
An HGV fleet policy insures a schedule of heavy goods vehicles, and usually their trailers, under one motor contract with a single renewal date. The legal minimum is third-party cover: under section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 a person must not use, or cause or permit anyone else to use, a motor vehicle on a road without insurance against third-party risks. See compulsory motor insurance.
Most operators buy more than the minimum. Depending on the wording, a fleet policy commonly offers:
The motor policy covers the vehicles, not the load. Goods are insured separately under goods in transit insurance. For mixed fleets of vans and cars see our fleet insurance guide and commercial vehicle insurance.
| Cover | What it does | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet motor | Third-party liability and damage to your own vehicles | Compulsory minimum is third party |
| Goods in transit | Loss of or damage to goods carried | Carrier's liability for customers' goods |
| CMR liability | Liability for international road carriage | 8.33 SDR per kg cap under CMR |
| Employers' liability | Injury to employees, including drivers and yard staff | Required by law for most employers |
| Public liability | Injury or damage at customers' sites and depots | Often required by customers |
Keeping these with the same broker helps avoid gaps, for example where an injury during unloading could be argued as a motor, employers' or public liability claim.
For vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, GOV.UK sets out the assimilated drivers' hours rules (previously called the EU rules):
All driving under these rules must be recorded on a tachograph. Operators must schedule work so the rules are met, download vehicle unit data at least every 90 days and driver cards at least every 28 days, and be able to produce records to enforcement officers for 12 months. For drivers on international journeys, the RHA reports that 56 days of records must be carried from 31 December 2024.
Fatigue is a claims issue as well as a compliance one. After a serious collision, tachograph records are commonly requested by insurers, claimants and investigators, and evidence of excess hours can weaken the defence of a claim and attract regulatory attention.
Fleet underwriting and operator licensing look at the same evidence. GOV.UK guidance on maintaining your vehicles requires vehicles to be kept safe and in good condition at all times, safety inspection and maintenance records to be kept for at least 15 months, and drivers to complete a walkaround check before driving a vehicle for the first time each day. The operator stays responsible even when a contractor does the work.
Those records matter after an accident. A claim alleging a brake or tyre defect is far easier to defend with a complete inspection history and signed defect reports. Good practice is to record every defect a driver reports, show when and how it was repaired, and keep the vehicle off the road until it is safe. Gaps in that trail tend to be probed by claimants' experts, and they can also surface at a public inquiry.
Many HGV fleets now run telematics and forward or driver-facing cameras. Insurers commonly take them into account because they help establish what happened in a disputed collision, reduce fraudulent claims and support driver scoring and targeted training.
Illustrative: a fleet HGV is hit from behind at a junction and the other driver alleges the lorry reversed. Forward and rear camera footage, matched to telematics speed data, settles liability in days rather than months. Our fleet telematics dispute scenario shows the other side, where data is incomplete. Collecting driver data brings data protection duties, so tell drivers what is recorded and why.
A clear risk management story, backed by data, usually helps more than a list of vehicles. Underwriters tend to respond well to evidence that the business acts on what it learns: incidents reviewed, drivers retrained, routes changed and defects fixed quickly. Our fleet risk management guide has more on this. See how claims affect your renewal.
Apex arranges haulage insurance, including fleet motor and goods in transit cover for haulage operators. A broker reads each enquiry and comes back with options, with no fee for a quote, and cover is subject to the insurer's acceptance and the policy terms. To quote we need your business activities, turnover, location and claims history, plus your vehicle schedule, driver details, operator licence type, the goods you carry and any telematics or camera data you hold. Theft risks are covered in load theft and cargo crime insurance.
There is no legal threshold. Insurers set their own minimums for fleet policies, commonly from a small number of vehicles, and some will insure a mix of HGVs, vans and cars on one policy. Below that level, vehicles are usually insured individually or on a small fleet scheme.
No. A motor fleet policy covers the vehicles and liability arising from their use. Goods are insured separately under goods in transit insurance, usually on a carrier's liability basis for customers' goods. International hauliers also need CMR liability cover.
They can help. Insurers commonly look favourably on fleets that use telematics and cameras well, because the data supports claims defence and driver improvement. The benefit depends on how the data is used, such as acting on driver scores, rather than simply having the equipment fitted.
Fatigue contributes to serious collisions, and tachograph records are evidence in claims and enforcement. A fleet with good hours compliance and regular downloads, at least every 90 days for vehicle units and 28 days for driver cards, presents a better risk and defends claims more easily.
Usually yes. Many fleet policies allow vehicles to be added during the year, either on notification or by periodic declaration, with an adjustment at renewal. Check the policy's notice requirements, and make sure the operator licence authorises the extra vehicles before they go on the road.
Tell us what your business does, your turnover and any claims. A broker reads every enquiry and comes back with options. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.
Start a commercial enquiry Request a callbackApex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information, not advice on your individual circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.
