If we as a business own a van and give it to another for use in their business...?

"Would the church be considered a contractor for lending out our van?"

No. The daycare is the contractor.

"Would we have to do all the scheduled safety checks?"

No, the daycare has to do them.

"And would we be held liable should something happen and injury occur to the children?"

As the vehicle owner, yes, there are several scenarios under which you could be liable.

Does the daycare carry their own insurance, or do they assume they are covered by yours? If yours, have you advised your carrier that the van is being used by the daycare to transport children? Such a use would almost certainly significantly increase the insurance premiums.

Richard

Most likely, yes.

If all inspections and such are included, then any accidents that could occur would likely result in negligence of some formossibly to do with general maintenence of aforesaid inspections and such.

Are you being paid for this? Then yes for sure. Although laws are usually different for churches. But either you need insurance to cover this or the people using it need to get their own insurance

to be a contractor , you would have to have a contract. If you just lend it as a favour, you are only responsible for the road worthyness etc of the vehicle the same as any other vehicle owner

sure sounds like it

yes.