Insurance 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/

Camper vans, of course, come in all shapes and sizes – from the large to the small, from the modestly priced to the more lavish home from home costing many thousands of pounds. Whatever type of vehicle you might own – or might think of owning – however, there comes a time when you need to consider camper van cover to insure the vehicle.

Because your camper performs a whole range of functions (from getting you and your family from A to B, to providing you with somewhere to cook, eat and sleep), the insurance needs to reflect such multi-purpose use. In fact, cover is probably so unlike any other type of insurance you’ve bought, that it often makes sense to deal with a provider who specialises in insurance for motor homes and camper vans.

What elements, then, is your camper van insurance likely to cover?

* the vehicle – if it’s anything but the most basic and really quite ancient of camper vans, you’re likely to choose a fully comprehensive policy (a minimum level of third party cover is, of course, a legal requirement for driving on public roads). Comprehensive cover typically has the advantage of protecting the vehicle against accidental damage even where you are at fault and typically includes a number of additional insurance options;
* the windscreen – amongst those additional options may be cover for damaged or broken windscreens. A broken windscreen is clearly something that needs to be repaired promptly, at the roadside, so that you are able to continue with your holiday with the minimum of fuss and delay;
* breakdown cover – for the same reasons, it is also worth considering the inclusion of breakdown and roadside assistance cover in the event of a mechanical or electrical failure. If repairs are unable to be made within a reasonable space of time, you might want to check that the policy makes provision for alternative transport and/or accommodation;
* personal injury – given the extended periods of time you and any passengers are likely to be driving in a camper van and the distances you intend to cover, it might be more important than usual to ensure that your policy includes cover for personal injury;
* equipment and contents – if there is one thing that marks out a campervan from other motor vehicles, it is the sheer range of additional equipment and contents likely to be carried on practically any outing. This might range from the gear needed to set up camp, the bedding and personal effects you take with you and perhaps even a bicycle or two strapped to the back of the vehicle. This all adds up to a tidy investment, of course, and you might want to make sure that your camper van cover does indeed insure everything you regularly take with you.

Andrew Pickles is Director of Frank Pickles Insurance Ltd. We offer a wide range of UK specialist vehicle insurance products at our site http://www.frankpickles.co.uk including Camper Insurance

Thinking about campervan insurance isn’t the most exciting of things to do. However, the importance of insurance for campervans should not be underestimated. Apart from the legal aspect – your camper van is a motorised vehicle and you typically need at the very least third party cover to protect anyone who is injured as a result of your campervan – protecting your investment may be a good idea.

After all, your campervan is important to you – it may provide you with a quick, easy and fairly cost-effective way of holidaying. It’s your own home-from-home that you can use to explore destinations, with no worry about accommodation.

So, if something went wrong and your motorhome was damaged, you would probably have to find the money out of your own pocket in order to get it repaired, or lost or damaged items within it replaced.

So, how do you get suitable campervan insurance? The following tips may help:

* Shop around for cover – compare not only the motorhome insurance premiums but the policy features and benefits too;
* You may be able to influence the cost of your cover by taking a limited mileage policy (if you rarely use your campervan) and offering to pay a higher excess. This may attract premium discounts;
* Keep your camper van safe and secure – informing your insurer of any additional security precautions you have taken may attract a discount. Even if it doesn’t, as least it may reduce the risk of you having to make a claim;
* Remember that most camper van insurance policies will not cover your vehicle for commuting;
* Check the contents cover – will you have to pay extra for high value items? What items will be excluded from the insurance?
* Look closely at the policy benefits to make sure that you are only paying for what you need. For example, if continental cover is included within your policy but you always travel in the UK only, then this element of the cover is typically not required. By removing this, you may get a slightly cheaper premium.

Hopefully these tips have given you food for thought as to how to influence the cost of your motorhome insurance cover and ultimately get suitable campervan insurance.

Andrew Pickles is Director of Frank Pickles Insurance Ltd. We offer a wide range of UK specialist vehicle insurance products at our site http://www.frankpickles.co.uk including Campervan Insurance.