Drain clearance fleet insurance for jetting vans and tankers
Jetting vans, CCTV survey vans and vacuum tankers on one policy, with the fitted units declared and emergency callouts allowed for. Fill in one short form to be put in touch with specialist brokers who arrange fleet cover for drainage contractors.
- Jetting units and CCTV kit declared
- Vacuum tankers alongside vans
- Emergency callouts day and night
Drain clearance fleet insurance in brief
Drain clearance fleet insurance is one motor policy covering the jetting vans, CCTV survey vans and tankers a drainage business runs, with the fitted equipment declared on each vehicle. It suits drainage contractors clearing blockages for homes, businesses, councils and housing providers, and it belongs to our wider section on trade fleet insurance.
A drainage fleet often mixes vans with lorries, so insurers look at vehicle weights, the units fitted to each one and how much night-time callout work the engineers do.
Your vehicles
Which vehicles does a drainage contractor run?
Most drainage firms start with a jetting van or two, which can be insured much like any fleet of working vans once the jetting unit is declared. Tankers and combination units are heavier and usually change the shape of the policy.
Water, waste and weight
Fitted units, waste and weight: what sets drainage vehicles apart?
Drainage vehicles carry heavy equipment and, in the case of tankers, waste collected from jobs. Vacuum tankers are goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, so they are usually rated in the same way as vehicles on HGV fleet insurance.
Jetters and survey kit
High-pressure jetting units, hose reels and CCTV systems can be worth more than the van itself.
- Declare the make and value of each unit
- Some insurers cover fitted kit as part of the vehicle
- Loose cameras and rods may need separate cover
Water tanks and plated weights
A full water tank adds a heavy load, and tankers carry liquid that moves when braking.
- Each vehicle needs to stay within its plated weight
- Lorries above 7.5 tonnes need a larger licence category
- Drivers' licence categories are worth checking
Waste carried from jobs
Tankers and some vans take waste away from the site to be disposed of.
- Insurers may ask whether the business is registered to carry waste
- Spills on the road can lead to clean-up costs
- Own waste carriage is different from hauling for others
Day and night
How do round-the-clock callouts change the cover?
Drainage firms answer emergencies at any hour, so vans spend nights at engineers' homes and on the road while most fleets are parked. Insurers ask how this works in practice.
- Emergency callouts: Flooded kitchens, blocked toilets and backed-up drains, often reported at night or at weekends.
- On-call rotas: Engineers keep a van at home while on call, so commuting and personal use may be needed.
- Roadside working: Vans parked over manholes on busy roads, with cones and signs set out around them.
- Lone working: One engineer attending a night callout alone, with the van as the base for the job.
Where whoever is on call takes the next available van, any driver fleet insurance can cover whoever is on the rota, subject to age and licence conditions.
Pricing
What do insurers weigh up for a drainage fleet?
Weight, fitted kit and working hours all count towards the price of a drain clearance fleet, alongside the number of vehicles. Expect questions on each of these.
- Vehicle weightsVans under 3.5 tonnes and tankers or combination units above it.
- Value of fitted equipmentJetting units, hose reels, CCTV systems and tanks.
- Out-of-hours drivingHow often engineers drive at night or at weekends.
- Where vehicles are keptA secure yard or engineers' homes while on call.
- Drivers and licencesLicence categories for heavier vehicles, plus ages and records.
- Waste handlingWhat is carried, how it is contained and where it is taken.
- Past claimsAccidents, theft of equipment and spills in recent years.
How it works
One quote form, specialist fleet brokers
Insure Fleet is an information site, not an insurer or a broker. We link you to MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that gives businesses a gateway to brokers who arrange fleet insurance every day.
Start your quote
Get my fleet quote takes you to our partner, MyMoneyComparison.com.
Describe the drainage fleet
The form asks about the vehicles, the work they do and who drives, so you can be matched with a specialist fleet broker.
Compare and decide
A broker contacts you with options, subject to insurers' acceptance criteria. There is no obligation to buy.
Before you buy
Questions to put to the broker about a drainage fleet
Drainage vehicles are specialised, so cover that suits an ordinary van fleet may leave gaps. These are the points worth raising.
- Is the jetting unit insured as part of the van?Or does it carry a separate equipment limit?
- Can tankers and vans share one schedule?Some insurers prefer heavier vehicles on separate terms.
- Are night callouts covered for every driver?On-call engineers need to be approved drivers.
- What happens if waste spills on the road?Clean-up costs are worth asking about.
- Is a replacement vehicle available?A hire van will not have a jetter fitted.
- Are vans kept at engineers' homes declared?Overnight locations change the price.
FAQs
Drain clearance fleet insurance questions
What is drain clearance fleet insurance?
It is a single policy for all the vehicles a drainage business runs, from jetting and survey vans to tankers. The fitted equipment, vehicle weights and uses are set out on one schedule, with one renewal date.
Is the high-pressure jetter covered by the fleet policy?
It can be, if declared. Some insurers treat a built-in jetting unit as part of the vehicle, while others give it a separate limit. Portable jetters and loose CCTV cameras are usually insured as equipment instead.
Can vacuum tankers go on the same policy as vans?
Often, yes, depending on the insurer. Tankers are heavy goods vehicles, so they are rated differently from vans, and drivers need the right licence category.
Is damage to a customer's property during jetting covered?
No, that falls outside the vehicle cover. Damage to pipes or property while working is normally covered by public liability insurance, which drainage contractors usually hold alongside the fleet.
How is a jetting van different from a carpet cleaning van?
Both carry heavy fitted equipment that adds value and weight. A jetting van works on roads and outdoor drains, while carpet cleaning vans with truck-mounted units run hoses into homes and businesses.
We do drainage work for FM companies. Does that change anything?
FM companies often ask subcontractors for evidence of motor and liability cover before work starts. Their own vehicles are covered under facilities management fleet insurance, but your vehicles stay on your policy.
Does Insure Fleet sell insurance?
No. Insure Fleet is an information site and an affiliate of MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that gives businesses a gateway to specialist brokers. When you start a quote you continue to MyMoneyComparison.com, and we may be paid a small commission if you are matched with and speak to a broker.
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