Van Insurance and Running Costs – Do Your Homework

Choosing a van that’s right for you can be a tricky and time-consuming process. It can be a huge investment and getting it right first time is a must or you could end paying more on van insurance and running costs than you needed to.

When looking to purchase a van it’s important to think carefully about what you need it to do for you and your business. Do you use it mostly on your own or do you need to be able to carry several passengers? How much load space will you need to carry out your business effectively? What are the van insurance, servicing and fuel costs likely to be? All of these things need to be given careful consideration.

It’s a good idea to look at the manufacturer’s websites to give you the full picture of what’s available out there and most will give you information on the specification and service intervals on their various models. It’s wise to choose several makes and models that meet your needs and then check out the cost of van insurance. There are many vans out there that look very similar but can vary quite significantly in insurance grouping, which, in turn, could mean higher premiums. There are various different factors taken into consideration when vans are given their grouping and most of us mere mortals would not be able to assess how it’s all worked out.

Therefore, it’s worth doing a little homework from the comfort of your PC before you spend hours or even days trawling round dealerships listening to all the sales speak and maybe ending up with a purchase you might regret. You know your business and it’s your business to know what’s best for it.

Find cheaper van insurance quotes when you compare the market right here at http://www.van-insurance-britain.co.uk

Van Insurance – Defending Pecuniary Strains

With a large number of vehicles plying on roads, the chances of road mishaps and smash ups has risen considerably. There arises a need of good car insurance that provides diligent back up after these uneventful circumstances. The most widely used vehicles today are vans and their need to avail superior risk coverage of van insurance in order to avoid monetary loss, which may occur due to the vehicle. The insurance coverage comes in useful when you become liable to pay across hefty sums of money to meet repair bills.

Van insurance is not just helpful for financial back up for accidental repairs but also it is helpful during breakdowns. A few insurance companies provide impeccable back up in cases of vehicle breakdown. Such value added service is known as breakdown cover. The van owners must analyze the risks and plan to avail a van insurance, which suits their needs. The car insurance covering maximum amount of risks proves most helpful against unforeseen dangers and damages to your van.

No matter what kind of van you are running, it can be a commercial cargo van, delivery van, personal van, passenger van, airport carriage van etc. you need an efficient backing of van insurance. It is a multi utility vehicle, which can become prone to road destruction. The car insurance cover enables an insurant to avail prompt service after information of incident. This insurance will squeeze the person out of being incurred with pecuniary stress related to total loss, damage and theft of vehicle.

The Van insurance policy offering optimum risk coverage must be searched with use of internet. A sensible approach can be to look out for web sources, which provide analysis and facts about car insurance. This procedure will help you bag a good car insurance deal that will assure you pecuniary protection against unforeseen dangers.

About the author: The author is an expert in car insurance, van insurance, online breakdown cover UK, online insurance and has written a number of authoritative articles on this subject. His articles are widely read because of the clever tips and valuable advices he provides in them.

Uninsured Van Drivers to Face Law

Vans are a big part of British culture and contribute enormously to the economy and whether we are talking about plumbers or drivers, they face significant loss of earnings should the van be out of service.

This means that adequate van insurance cover is essential for commercial van drivers including builders, shopkeeper, delivery driver, electrician and handyman.

According to a recent report, uninsured British motorists will no longer be allowed to drive without their car or van insurance and industry experts now say that the proposed crackdown by the government could see many rounded up. At the moment the market is saturated with low-cost van insurance deals available online. Freight Transport Association (FTA) also released a guide this week showing 11 proposed road pricing schemes put forward by the Department for Transport which could mean more good news for van insurance customers.

The latest figures suggest that there are an estimated two million uninsured vehicles on UK roads with Barkerend area of Bradford in West Yorkshire being the worst culprit. As a result, the government has now been forced to take a tougher stance saying it will compare databases containing information on registered vehicle owners and car and van insurance policies in an attempt to track down those motorists breaking the law.

But the police crackdown is not the only thing van drivers should worry about, earlier in the week, motorists who use mobile phones while driving were warned that they could risk being penalised with higher insurance premiums in addition to the fixed-penalty charges.

Insurers maintain that there is a direct relationship between speed and accident claims in the same way that there is an irrefutable link between the use of mobile telephones and claims. Recent reports also suggest that motorists in Scotland were subjected to a police crackdown which could impact on those looking to preserve their van insurance.

According to the Glasgow Evening Times, some 205 Strathclyde drivers were stopped by officials in the region as part of the initiative. However, any three-point licence deduction or fixed penalty fine arising from a crackdown is still likely to compromise van insurance policies, as insurance providers could consider those with a poor road history a risk.

The fact that driving without insurance is considered a crime and has become an endorsable offence with the offence code CU80, insurers will probably take account of it when calculating premiums, AA Insurance warned. As a result, van drivers should be aware that an endorsement is likely to attract a premium increase of around 60 which will remain for three years. While some insurers may ignore a first offence, as they may for a speeding endorsement, they are likely to significantly increase premiums for a second offence.

Recently, AA Insurance surveyed 200 commercial van insurance customers in the UK and found that 59% believe their business would suffer from the loss of their van, while nearly one-quarter said they would lose money. The study also found that 35% of commercial van drivers are women.

by Mildred P.

Tips to Keep Your Van Secure

Van insurance should cover most driving related and legal eventualities and good cheap van insurance may also carry additional features such as recovery following an accident, full breakdown cover, home start, some European cover and a like for like vehicle in the event of an accident and the need for a repair. When it comes to protecting your van against theft then some basic security measures are required to validate most insurance policies and some additional measures that you can take will bring the cost of premiums down.

Some security features are easy and cheap to add to your van; some are more costly. Your considerations will depend in part on: the value of your van, whether you need to keep expensive tools or other equipment in it unattended at times, and whether the additional security features are a prerequisite of your van insurance policy or optional extras that will reduce your premium.

Some basic door security is obviously required but there are other more sophisticated mechanisms on the market that you could consider. Deadbolts can be fitted to the rear and side doors of your van and are tamper proof once installed. They can be operated either by a mechanical key or from a remote key fob. Slam locks automatically lock and secure a door when closed. These are especially useful for delivery drivers who have to leave their vehicle and its cargo unattended while making deliveries, leaving van and cargo vulnerable to theft. A slam lock would protect against this problem and allow you to quickly and safely go about your business. An armaplate lock cover is another extra that completely encases your van door lock and handle as well as adding a steel plate inside the door.

Interior van security is also important for safety as well as anti-theft reasons. Van boxes can be used for storage and secured to the van interior whilst being removable should you need to carry tools or other equipment with you. Van bulkheads are a steel or perspex screen that is fitted behind the driver and passenger seat which prevents thieves climbing over the seats, and protects driver and passenger from shifting loads during sudden braking. It is also possible to fit steel grilles on the back windows which prevent thieves entering that way but still retain visibility for the driver. Ignition locks should come as standard on most modern vehicles, whilst alarms and GPS immobilisers are other extras that you could consider.

Some other measures you can consider to bring down the cost of your insurance could include keeping your van in a garage or on a drive if available to you, taking an additional driving course, driving well and keeping a good driving record, keeping your no claims bonus by paying for any small accident-related repairs and having a higher voluntary excess on your van insurance policy. It also helps if you can pay for your van insurance all in one go, rather than the more expensive option of monthly direct debits.

If you can implement all or most of these ideas, then the chances are you won’t encounter any problems anyway. In addition, the effort required to act on these ideas will be repaid by making it much easier for you to obtain comprehensive cheap van insurance which will give you peace of mind and ensure you are covered if anything did happen.

Julia Niven – One Van Insurance search a panel of the UK’s leading van insurers to find you a great deal on your van insurance.

Whether you need van insurance for private or business use, our click and buy service means you can arrange your van insurance online in minutes!
We offer fully comprehensive cover, third party, fire & theft and third party only cover. Visit our site and see what cheap van insurance deals we offer.

Taking Advantage of Online Courier Van Insurance

Looking for a competitive insurance quote is a relatively simple process if you take advantage of the Internet.

The search engines will provide you with pages of different insurance companies and insurance brokers. By completing the online application form competitive quotes can be estimated and offered within a very short time.

There are some key facts which will help you decide which insurance company is offering the best deals to suit your courier service needs:

1. Obtaining more than one quote will provide you with a comparison. It will then be possible to see what level of cover is being offered and what additional costs may be needed. Using an online courier insurance broker is a great way to save time. They will carry out the searches on your behalf and provide you with a number of different quotes from different insurance companies who specialise in courier van insurance. Checking to see whether the insurance company is regulated by the Financial Services Authority will help you find legitimate insurance companies who work to the FSA requirements and regulations, providing peace of mind when you chose which company to use. Comparison websites may also be a good way to begin your search for courier insurance. However, not all long established insurance companies are included on comparison sites.

2. It is important to make sure you get the right type of insurance. For example courier van insurance is different from courier car or motorbike insurance. Although van insurance may seem a cheaper option it will not be appropriate for courier services.

3. If your courier service includes carrying goods for reward or payment you will need to have Goods in Transit included in the policy. Goods in Transit provides cover for the goods you will be carrying, however there are restrictions and limits on the value of the goods. Dangerous goods such as flammable liquids are considered to be a higher risk and will therefore cost more to insure. Collecting or delivering to places such as oil refineries is also considered to be a greater risk; this will also incur higher premiums.

4. Business owners and employers have a legal responsibility and a duty of care to help protect employees, customers and members of the public. A Public Liability and/or an Employer’s Liability insurance may be needed. These are usually optional extras which can be included on the insurance.

5. See what levels of insurance the companies are offering. The legal minimum level is Third Party Only. This level of insurance is the least expensive; however it will not cover any damage to your vehicle if an accident was your fault. Third Party Fire and Theft provides the same cover as Third Party with additional cover should your vehicle be stolen or damaged by fire. Comprehensive insurance includes the same as Third Party Fire and Theft as well as cover for your vehicle even if the accident was caused by you.

Remembering these few key points will help you find the most completive courier van insurance to meet your business needs. Be sure to read all quotes thoroughly and phone the insurance companies to speak with a consultant who specializes in courier insurance to give you peace of mind that you have the most appropriate level of insurance cover.

Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for courier van insurance.

Safe Towing Tips

Towing any vehicle, whether it’s a refrigerated truck, a snack hut or even just a standard trailer, will dramatically affect the way your van handles. If you are not used to towing any kind of trailer, there are a few safety tips you should bear in mind before setting off.

The first rule is – always read the manual. Even if you are an experienced driver with plenty of practice in towing the manual will give you vital information that will determine how you hitch up the trailer, tyre pressures, the maximum load limit and weight distribution instructions. Refrigerated trailers will also need to be connected up correctly to ensure that all electrical connections are wired up properly and that the unit will not fail in transit.

Commercial van insurance can be invalidated if your policy does not cover you for towing, so it is essential that you check before hitching up your trailer that your van insurance allows you to tow a trailer. This is particularly important if you are towing vehicles such as snack huts, as they may require additional cover to deal with the contents of the hut and whether the hut has propane gas cylinders attached. Some cheap van insurance policies may not cover you for towing trailers over a certain weight, so check your policy carefully before venturing out onto the road.

Once you’ve checked that your insurance is in place and you have also had a good look at the manual, the next step is to ensure that your vehicle is suitable for towing the weight of the trailer and that the trailer itself is hitched up correctly. Any trailer that has its own braking system must by law be fitted with a safety chain. This will prevent the trailer from potentially careering into oncoming traffic should the hitch fail by applying the safety brakes. Ensure that if your trailer does has a safety chain fitted that it is attached correctly to the towing vehicle.

One of the most common causes of incidents involving towed vehicles is incorrect weight distribution of the load. By checking with the manual you will be able to determine the correct weight for the axle configuration and how that weight should be distributed for maximum safety.

Connecting a trailer to a vehicle changes almost every aspect of normal road craft. The extra weight will mean that you will have to apply more pressure to the accelerator to get the vehicle moving and braking distances are increased, again because of the additional momentum of the trailer. You will need to leave yourself an extended distance between yourself and the vehicle in front when driving to give yourself plenty of time to stop in an emergency. ‘Blind spots’ may be greatly increase, particularly on the nearside of the vehicle, so ensure that your mirrors are adjusted accordingly or use convex mirror additions to minimize areas of restricted visibility. Because you need more time to react when towing a trailer, you will need to look further ahead and be aware of potential hazards much earlier than if you were in a normal vehicle with no trailer attached.

The handling of the vehicle will also be affected when cornering, and depending on the length of your trailer you may need to reposition yourself on the road before making a sharp left or right turn. Trailer wheels track tighter, so your turns have to be wider to compensate. This may put you over the central line, so be aware of oncoming traffic and your road position when turning. Gear selection on steep inclines and declines is also important – a lower gear when going downhill will enable the engine to act as an additional brake rather than risking overheating the brakes by applying them all the way down a hill. If you have tow-mode on your vehicle, engage it when tackling hills.

Towing a trailer need not be a daunting experience, and if you have never towed before find a quiet area to practice before venturing out on the road to get used to the difference in handling and manoeuvrability of your vehicle. Remember to take your time, give yourself plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle in front and make sure that all your trailer lights are working before you set off. A few simple steps before you hitch up should mean that you will be able to tow any trailer safely.

Julia Niven – One Van Insurance search a panel of the UK’s leading van insurers to find you a great deal on your van insurance. Whether you need van insurance for private or business use, our click and buy service means you can arrange your van insurance online in minutes! We offer fully comprehensive cover, third party, fire & theft and third party only cover. Visit our site and see what cheap van insurance deals we offer.

Picking a Van Insurance Policy For Your Van

There are more cars on the roads in the UK than vans. Therefore, cars insurance should be more complicated than van insurance, right? Wrong! The world of van insurance is split into a number of factions depending on the type of van and how you use it. Let’s run you through the various routes and highlight where you might want to look out for specific cover in the policy you decide to buy.

The basic structure of van insurance is the same as car and motorbike insurance – fully comprehensive, third party fire & theft (TPFT) and third party only (TPO). But within this, the various faction branch out and can effect which policy is most suited to you.

The most common uses of vans in the UK is for business. Sometimes referred to as commercial vehicle insurance, this form of van insurance is probably the most important to get right as it’ll can affect the successful running of your company. Some business will use their vehicles (minibuses and taxis) to transport people. Others to transport their own equipment or goods for clients. These may sometime include hazardous materials. There may be secure company premises or your employees may take the vehicle home and park it on the street.

Each seemingly small detail here will determine the cover you should be including in your van insurance policy. Simply buying the cheapest policy serves the purpose of saving a few pounds. But when it comes to making a claim and you find you’re not covered for the theft, damage or personal injury costs, it’ll cost your company a whole lot more.

Businesses obviously vary in size, and each will have a slightly different requirement for vans. If you’re operating more than one or two vans, it may be that a fleet van insurance policy is a more cost effective solution for you. You’re essentially buying in bulk and can make some savings on your premiums as a result.

Camper van insurance and personal use

If you’re not a business and simply drive a van as your chosen form of transport (camper vans being one of the more popular options), you can do without a lot of the cover which is included in a commercial van insurance policy. You’re more likely to treat the van better and drive is better, resulting in lower premiums more in line with a car insurance policy.

If you’re simply borrowing a van for a short period – to move house for example – you don’t want to go to the fuss of arranging van insurance in the traditional way. You’ve basically got two options. Firstly, you could be added as a named driver to the owners existing insurance policy (for a small administration fee). Or secondly, you could take out a temporary van insurance policy (for a small premium reflecting the short term).

Whatever your insurance needs, it’s important to get to your best van insurer as quickly as possible. Using one of the online van insurance comparison websites is your best bet. They can save you tons of phone calls and hours of form filling and you can compare companies in one place.

Harvey McEwan writes to make insurance (especially car insurance!) a happier place. You’ll often find him here:

http://uk.insurancewide.com/insurance/car/

Non-Commercial Van Insurance

There once was a time when people used cars and motorcycles for everyday driving, yet over the last few years, commercial vehicles have become “First Vehicle” for some people even though they have no intention of using it for a commercial reason, like carrying tools, delivering parcels or anything else.

There is one golden rule that you should always follow if you are going to use an LGV or Light Goods Vehicle for non-commercial reasons – and it is this: “Should you every decide to use the vehicle for anything else other than social domestic and pleasure, or getting yourself back and forth to a place of work, make sure you let your insurance company know!”

Obviously, the simple reason for this is that should you ever have an accident in the UK and the police are involved for whatever reason, they now have to stipulate what you were carrying on board your vehicle at the time of the accident.

Be it you were carrying a piece of furniture for a friend, or taking rubbish to the local tip, they have to record what you were doing.

Even when the police do a stop check at the side of the road, they can now tell that your insurance is either for commercial or non-commercial use, so if you have a trick full of spirits and you had just come across on the ferry from France, they can still class that as commercial use.

Another reason that some people use commercial vehicles for non-commercial driving is that some companies will now pay the rental payments or hire cost of vehicles if you are doing over 30,000 miles per year. This way they get the van sign writing or body wrapped, to get some cheap advertising on the UK roads whilst you are traveling between destinations.

You will still have to declare to the insurance company that the vehicle has livery on it, because should you get involved in an accident, they can cancel your policy without any notice what so ever. Although you have confessed to having sign writing on the van, many commercial insurance companies will not pay for the livery to be replaced should you have an accident, and will let you claim this back from the third party involved as a separate thing.

I hope this has given you a little insight to the differences between a commercial van insurance policy and a non-commercial van insurance in the UK.

We hope that you found the content of this article helpful and would like to give you some more tips on getting the best quote for your Van Insurance. If I told you that there was now an Insurance Company who guaranteed to give you the cheapest quote, or your money back, would it be worth finding out who it is? Well, it would because that is what they offer to any new potential client. What is more, is they have the highest rate of client retention within the industry, so that alone should tell you something.

Either way, if you decide not to go now, keep this name in mind, or write it down if you have a bad memory…

http://www.RevsPerMinute.co.uk

The best way to secure the cheapest online quotation for either commercial or Non-Commercial Van Insurance in the UK. All it takes is 5 minutes to apply, and you are on your way!

Make Sure Your Commercial Van Insurance Policy Provides Adequate Cover

Make Sure Your Commercial Van Insurance Policy Provides Adequate Cover

Depending on the type of commercial van insurance that you choose to take out will all depend on what is and is not covered in your policy. If you want adequate protection and your business relies heavily on your transportation then you should consider taking out a fully comprehensive policy.

The cheapest way to buy commercial van insurance is with a specialist website. From here you will be able to search with the whole of the marketplace to make sure that you have the cheapest quotes possible. Along with this they will give you the key facts with the quotes so that you can compare what is and is not covered in with the quote.

The standard fully comprehensive commercial van insurance cover would provide payout if you were to be involved in an accident for the cost of repairs to your vehicle and the third parties. It would also include the cost of any medical expenses to you and the third party and cover against the vehicle being stolen or damaged in a fire. However as you are using the vehicle for your business there are other things which should be included as standard. You should also have the option of adding on extra cover based on your particular needs.

When checking a policy make sure that your cover includes transportation if your vehicle should be in an accident which renders it useless. Cover should be included that would ensure you and another people in your vehicle got to where they wanted to go.

You should also check to make sure that the insurance would payout for uninsured losses. This means that if your vehicle was off the road while being repaired then the insurance company would payout up to a certain amount each week for travel arraignments so you could carry on in your business. This might be for example renting another vehicle; the insurance company would normally payout for up to 1 year.

There should also be some form of breakdown and assistance included with the cost which would mean that the insurance company would payout for your vehicle to be repaired at the roadside or to tow it to a garage for repair or to your home. All of these should be found as standard in the commercial van insurance policy. Other benefits which could be added on for a cost could include insuring the cost of any tools that are kept in the van. This will usually cover for loss even if the van is not parked in a garage and if your business is dependent on them this form of protection should be given some very serious thought.

Once a specialist website has found you several commercial van insurance quotes then you should take the time to read over the small print that accompanies the quotes. This will inform you of what is and is not covered in the basic insurance. This can vary just as much as the cost of the insurance and must be compared along with cost if you are to get the best deal possible.

Jason Hulott is Business Development Director of Protection Insurance, an internet based insurance business dedicated to getting consumers the best rates and the best products. Visit our Van Insurance Directory.

Kwik Fit Van Insurance – Is Kwik Fit Van Insurance

Kwik Fit Van Insurance – Is Kwik Fit Van Insurance Right for You?

Kwik Fit van insurance has developed a name for itself as a high quality and popular insurance provider in the UK. Kwik Fit provides van cover in the UK not only for private individuals who own and operate vans, but also self employed van drivers and companies who drive vans as their primary work vehicles. Companies that own entire van fleets can also benefit from Kwik Fit, a van insurance provider that strives to offer an extensive line up of van cover products to meet a variety of needs.

Kwik Fit offers a variety of different types of van policies in addition to insurance cover for a variety of other vehicles. Many of the insurance policies offered by Kwik Fit are actually make and model specific, which means that you can obtain extremely specific van insurance and will have the peace of mind that you need to feel safe and protected.

Is your van currently insured? Are you pleased with the level of insurance cover that you are paying for, the price that you are paying monthly or yearly for that cover, and the peace of mind that it gives you? If you are not pleased with your current van insurance cover, it may be time for a switch to Kwik Fit van insurance. Kwik Fit is a van insurance provider that strives to provide custom tailored insurance plans for van drivers of all types. So if your van is privately owned and driven casually, used for work to carry tools, or you are looking to insure an entire van fleet, this insurance provider can probably deliver the peace of mind that you need and the protection that you deserve so that you can drive on the road without having to worry about the safety of your vehicle.

You can use a good van insurance broker and get 15 quotes to find a cheaper van insurance quote in 2 minutes. I invite you to visit http://www.van-insurance-britain.co.uk