Aviva has improved its regionally traded mid-market motor trade and property owners' products to address some of the most pressing issues for UK commercial clients.
The company has expanded core protection, increased limits and simplified policy structures by embedding a range of previously optional covers into the standard proposition.
Underinsurance has been a growing concern for commercial property and mid-market accounts in recent years, with rising construction costs, labour shortages and inflation widening the gap between sums insured and actual rebuild values.
To help brokers and customers manage the risk and impact of underinsurance across both motor trade and property owners' policies, Aviva has introduced additional mechanisms around valuations and premium impacts. These include updating the existing Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) waiver, as well as waiving any additional premium arising from a building valuation until the next renewal.
Aviva has also introduced new covers as standard across both product lines to help businesses manage their environmental impact and speed up recovery following a loss. Key enhancements include a contribution of 10% of the claim cost to help rebuild or repair the building in a way that reduces potential environmental harm; a contribution of up to £10,000 to clean up and remove pollution or contamination following damage; and a contribution of up to £10,000 to sort, separate and remove recyclable materials after a claim.
On the property owners' side, Aviva has rolled out a new package for landlords, asset managers and property investors. Enhancements include a new £10,000 business interruption benefit for loss of income from renewable energy installations; extra protections such as cover for fire and rescue service charges and higher limits for clearing and removing property left by former tenants; and clearer language throughout the wording to help brokers and clients better understand protection levels.
Beyond the cross-product changes, Aviva has made more than 15 improvements to its motor trade product. The company has increased the standard limit for directors' and employees' tools to £5,000 per person, with a £2,500 limit per tool, and raised to £10,000 per claim the additional vehicle charging costs for electric vehicles.
It has also introduced clearer protection for hybrid and electric vehicles, including charging points, cables, connectors and high-voltage batteries, giving brokers and customers more certainty around how emerging EV-related risks are treated under the policy.
Aviva said the changes reflect evolving claims experience across UK commercial portfolios, where underinsurance, higher repair costs and emerging risks are increasingly shaping loss outcomes.
Commercial property claims severity has risen in recent years as inflation, labour shortages and materials costs have pushed rebuild and repair expenses higher, increasing the risk of policyholders being underinsured at the point of loss. Insurers have also seen longer repair times and greater business interruption impacts, particularly for property owners and motor trade operators.
In motor trade, the growing mix of hybrid and electric vehicles has added further complexity, with higher parts costs, specialist repair requirements and longer vehicle off-road times contributing to larger and more volatile claims. Insurers have responded by tightening wordings and clarifying coverage around EV-related assets to reduce uncertainty and friction when claims occur.
By embedding more cover as standard and simplifying policy structures, Aviva said it aims to improve certainty for brokers and customers, reduce disputes at claim stage and support faster recovery following losses - particularly in an environment where claims costs and operational disruption remain elevated.
