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Top Tips for Saving Money on your Van Insurance

Friday, December 30th, 2011

As the new year beckons many of us will be making new year’s resolutions, and on top of most people’s list you can probably expect to find “save more money!” Yes we would all like to save a little more money next year and save up for something special, and so we thought it would be the perfect time to give you some advice on how you can save money on your van insurance policy:

Payment

It may seem annoying at the time, but one of the main ways in which you can save on your van insurance is to pay it off all in one go. It is tempting to spread the cost over the year, but by doing this you will incur interest and end up paying a considerable amount more.

It will be a big upfront cost to pay it off in one go, but this way you will avoid the interest and the rest of the year you don’t have to worry about paying it, which will mean your month outgoings for 11 months of the year will be lower, giving you more money to save!

Excess

Another way in which you can save money on your van insurance premium is to increase the excess on the policy. The more you are willing to pay out in the event of a crash the less the insurer has to and so will give you a lower premium rate.

Of course this can be a risk as you will have to pay out in the event of a crash, but if you can stay claim free you will have saved yourself a few quid and also improved you no claims bonus in the process, which will also help reduce your insurance premium!

Security

One of the simplest ways to save money on your commercial van insurance is to make it so that it is less likely your van will be stolen, which will make it less likely that the insurer has to pay out, which means they can give you a lower premium.

It sounds obvious, but there are many easy ways of protecting your van that many people miss. Parking in a garage as opposed to on a street, adding a steering lock, having an alarm fitted or using a tracker can all prevent theft and in doing so can reduce your insurance premiums.

So there you have it, a few easy ways to protect your commercial vehicle and save some money on your van insurance in 2012.

Tags: commercial van insurance, Van Insurance Guide, Van Insurance Help, Van Insurance Tips
Posted in commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Vauxhall Swap Scheme Extended

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Vauxhall has announced that it will extend its scheme to allow owners of Vauxhall vans to swap their old vehicles for newer models in order to help avoid the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). They have offered between £3,000 and £7,500 off a new Vauxhall Commercial Vehicle for all Vauxhall customers who own a van that was registered as new before 1st January 2002.

New Regulations

This is indeed a rather generous offer from Vauxhall, and it will undoubtedly be welcomed by Vauxhall owners across the UK. The prospect of having to pay full price for a new van, and a new van insurance quote, would certainly be a bit of a stressful situation for anyone, especially at the start of a New Year. Such savings are therefore likely to assist owners with their commercial van insurance payments while also reducing the initial payment on a wonderful new van.

The LEZ comes in at the start of the New Year and from 3rd January, commercial vehicles that weigh 3.5 tonnes GVW or below, that are registered as new before 1st January 2002, will have to comply with the daily LEZ charges.

Vauxhall Vans Included

The savings on the range of Vauxhall’s includes a lovely £3,000 off a brand new Corsavan, which is a very popular little van! Those that need bigger space requirements will be able to get £7,500 off the price of a new Movano when swapping an old van.

Further models that will allow owners to make great savings include the Astravan, Combo and Vivaro as well as all panel vans and chassis cabs. The Vivaro 9 Seat Combi is also included.

The discounts are running until 30th March 2012, so, if you are eligible, it might be a great idea to head down to your local Vauxhall dealer to have a look at some cracking new vans.

With so much fantastic competition out there these days, certain commercial vehicle manufacturers really are finding new ways to try to set themselves apart from the others. This could now prove to be a great marketing scheme by Vauxhall.

Tags: commercial van insurance, Vauxhall, Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles, Vauxhall Vans
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Sprinter Vans Targeted by Thieves

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Van drivers are being told in Durham to guard their vehicles carefully over coming weeks following a number of catalytic converter thefts in the area. However, it seems that one particular model is being targeted by thieves: the Mercedes Sprinter van.

Police have stated that there have been, in the last fortnight alone, around 20 separate thefts of catalytic converters from Mercedes Sprinter vans. That is a rather staggering amount, and something that needs to be avoided.

Dual Catalytic Converters

It is thought that the reason thieves are attacking Sprinter vans as opposed to any other vans, is because they have dual catalytic converters, rather than the standard single issue converters. This makes the catalytic converter from the Mercedes Sprinter worth a whole lot more money which thieves will then try to sell on at dealers or recycling yards.

Thieves often know exactly where to go in order to find someone who won’t ask too many questions regarding the stolen goods. This is one highly immoral practice!

It has also been reported that almost all of the thefts have taken place over night whilst the vehicle has been parked on a road or in someone’s driveway.

Lock it up in a Garage

Paul Gray, Detective Sergeant of Durham Constabulary, has been commenting on the issue: “There is of course a cost implication, as catalytic converters cost several hundred pounds to replace. But Mercedes Sprinter vans are commercial vehicles, which means the victims of these thefts are also suffering major disruption to their livelihoods.” Whilst some commercial van insurance policies may cover the cost, the van driver is still left unable to work for a certain amount of time until the vehicle is put right. Hence the disruption Mr Gray speaks of that can be caused to van drivers livelihoods.

Mr Gray added: “We are making regular visits to yards and asking owners to report any instances of someone bringing in these items. In the meantime, we would urge anyone who owns one of these vans to keep it stored in a garage if possible, and to call us if they think their vehicle has been tampered with.”

Wise words and ones that should be followed! If a scrap yard were to accept the stolen item without reporting it, then they are proving to be just as irresponsible in this instance.

Tags: commercial van insurance, Durham, Mercedes Sprinter, Van Insurance
Posted in Van Insurance | 1 Comment »

The 2012 Van of the Year is…

Friday, December 9th, 2011

The ‘Van of the Year 2012’ has already been announced, and it is the Renault Kangoo Z.E. A panel of twenty two journalists that specialise in commercial vehicles decided the winner. It’s a great result for the French manufacturer and it is also the first time an electric vehicle has won the coveted prize. This simply emphasises the magnitude of the triumph by Renault.

Worthy Winner

The Kangoo was up against some very stiff competition, including the likes of the Volkswagen Caddy, the Fiat Ducato, and Iveco Daily. The Renault scored a total of 104 points out of a possible 168.

The Director of the Renault Light Commercial Vehicle division, Jean-Marie Hurtiger, has expressed his joy and pride at winning the prestigious award: “This prize rewards the work of the people at Renault who have worked for several years on the Kangoo Van Z.E., one of Renault’s four electric vehicles to be launched in the next ten months. All of the company’s functions were involved in the adventure, including the design office, the Maubeuge plant and sales.”

He went on to add further praise: “They met the challenge in a remarkable manner, showing determination, creativity and – above all – an excellent team spirit that has now produced results.”

Great Value

The Kangoo Z.E. is available in two body lengths, both of which come with the same internal dimensions as the diesel powered version. The electric van can also carry the same weight in the back and is also relatively cheap. It starts at just £16,990 plus VAT, which isn’t bad value for money! However, the batteries are not included as these have to be “hired” from the manufacturer.

Electric vehicles are also known for lowering insurance premiums, and so it is likely that you will save money in the long run on a commercial van insurance quote. All in all the electric Kangoo looks to be a brilliant little package, and Renault are confident that consumers will be making their way to their local dealerships in due course.

Tags: commercial van insurance, electric Vans, electric vehicles, Renault Kangoo, Renault Vans, Van Insurance
Posted in Van Insurance, commercial vehicle insurance | 3 Comments »

Tyre checks essential as winter approaches

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

As the winter weather approaches, drivers who rely on their vehicles to make a living should be preparing for all eventualities over the next 5 months now. Figures provided by motoring breakdown organisations such as the RAC and AA report every year that the biggest cause of call outs are related to tyres. Van insurance companies who provide breakdown insurance in their policies agree, and point out that although almost every driver is aware that tyres are required to meet legal limits, very few drivers know exactly what the requirement is.

What is required?

The law requires a driver to ensure the vehicle he is driving has tyres that have a minimum of 1.6millimetres of tread across the central ¾ width of tread throughout the whole circumference of the tyre. There should be no cuts, tears, lumps or bulges in other parts of the tyre and the tyre must be inflated to the set requirements noted in the vans handbook and in various places on the vehicle.

Many factors detrimental to tyre wear

The average life of a tyre is said to be around 30,000 miles but experienced drivers will know that this really is an average, and a driver with commercial van insurance really can’t afford to take anything for granted. Drivers should realise that there are two main types of tyres and never the twain should meet. Meaning that radial and cross ply tyres should never be fitted to the same axle, it is illegal. Hauliers and couriers will know that overloading their vans is not only illegal but can damage a tyre and will certainly reduce its life span, as will potholes, speed humps if they are taken too fast and small stones and nails if they are allowed to remain in the tyre for any length of time. Braking hard and accelerating excessively will also curtail the life of most tyres. It is sometimes difficult to find time to check your tyres if you are working to a busy schedule, but it is a task worth doing at the start of every working week.

The price you will pay

The penalties for driving with tyres that don’t fit legal requirements is a fine up to £2,500 per tyre and three points on your licence. Of course for some the penalty is much higher. Faulty tyres cause death on the roads every year and the majority of these can be stopped by doing a simple weekly check.

Tags: commercial van insurance, tyre care, tyres, Van Insurance, weather, winter
Posted in commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

New Nissan van ready for the UK market

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

The results of collaboration between two major van manufacturers will be present on the UK’s roads in the near future as the Nissan NV 400 prepares to make its bow in the UK.

Shared project covers all angles

The van, which will be the heaviest in the Nissan collection, is the result of a shared development between Nissan and Renault, with the Renault Master van being the French equivalent. The new van is expected to attract plenty of interest from those looking to purchase commercial van insurance on a new vehicle and it must be said that Nissan have tried to cover every angle with the van they hope will boost their commercial vehicle sales over the next three years.

Mass appeal aimed for

The NV400 is offered in four different lengths, three different heights and also three different wheelbases. There is a choice between a manual or automatic six speed gear box and a true proliferation of choices in bodywork options. The purchaser can buy an NV400 with a dropside feature, box body, a regular panel van, a tipper or even a crew van. There is also an option between a front wheel drive and a rear wheel drive, Nissan really are trying to make this heavy van appeal to the entire market.

Courier van

There is no doubt that the front wheel drive version will have plenty of interest from those in the delivery business, its fuel efficient engine will attract those van drivers who cover a lot of mileage in one day, while its lower kerb weight and frame height will help ease of access to a vehicle whose owner will be in and out of all day.

Builders mate

In contrast the rear wheel option will appeal to traders and tradesman who carry heavy loads, especially as there is a twin rear wheel option. The 2.3 turbo diesel engine will provide sufficient power for anything it encounters and there are three different engine options offering 100bhp, 125bhp or 150bhp. The NV400 will have lots of standard options including, parking sensors, air conditioning, daytime running lights, cruise control and Bluetooth technology.

Not a cheap option

Interested motorists will be looking for a good deal on van insurance as the NV400 isn’t cheap. It will start from just a fiver below £19,000 but some models will be quite a lot more expensive.

Tags: commercial van insurance, Motorists, Nissan NV 400, NV400, Van Insurance
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Mobile app will charge a vehicle on demand

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

With the take up of electric vehicles still only a trickle, a world famous technology firm are already preparing for the future and have developed a mobile phone app that will enable drivers to charge their vans from anywhere in the world.

Companies looking ahead

It is no surprise that the majority of electric vehicles being purchased in the UK today are covered by commercial van insurance. The limited mileage and lengthy charge periods of the first wave of electric vehicles is definitely more suited to commercial usage rather than that of the private motorist. However, scientists from IBM and a utility firm in Switzerland EKZ are already looking at a world with millions of electric vehicles on the roads and how charging them all sustainably can be achieved.

App will give comprehensive record of vehicles condition

The two companies have developed a mobile “app” that will sync the driver, his utility company and his vehicle no matter where he is in the world. The app which is compatible with most smart phones has been tuned in to a data reading device designed by EKZ experts which is placed in the vehicle. The phone app can then give the owner and his utility company information from the vehicle, including its battery level, its location, the mileage available, the time required to complete a recharge and the cost of charging.

Charging demand in the future will be immense

It may seem a little over the top at the moment for a van driver doing his daily calls in London, but IBM and EKZ are looking to the future and how maybe ten thousand vehicles in one city can be charged at the same time. The app will allow utility companies to project the demand on their systems more accurately and of course will give a driver mindful of motoring economy the choice of recharging his vehicle at a time of day when energy may be cheaper. At the moment low cost van insurance may be big consideration now, in the future, low cost electricity may be just as vital.

The partnership envisages as the major provider of power to electric vehicles, with solar and wind energy leading the way. They believe the app will allow utility providers, van drivers and power grid management to work together to provide energy efficient power to drive the workforce of the future.

Tags: commercial van insurance, low cost van insurance, Mobile App, renewable energy sources, technology
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Time running out for non compliant van drivers

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

With just three months to go before the new compliance regulations come into place for the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), thousands of van drivers who ply their trade in the capital still have not ensured their vehicles are fit to pass the more exacting requirements.

Non compliance not an option

The new measures will bring over 70,000 vans and similar vehicles into the net of compliance and for those businesses already struggling with expensive commercial van insurance and high fuel charges their options are not exactly inviting. No-one can afford not to comply, the cost to enter the zone in a vehicle with high emission levels comes in somewhere between £100-£200, depending on the vehicle, and to risk driving in the zone illegally will attract a fine of £1000 a day. In business terms it is comply or die!

Drivers should check TfL website

It is vital for any driver who relies on his van for his livelihood to check now whether he needs to make changes to his vehicle. The regulations and requirements are all on a Transport for London (TfL) website, but are still not simple to understand and drivers are definitely being surprised when they find their vans need to be adjusted. Many will fall foul of the 10 year cut off rule imposed by the LEZ, which requires any vehicle registered after December 2001 to have a filter fitted. A filter will cost around £3000, which for some will leave them with a vehicle that they can’t afford to modify yet cannot even sell.

Deals for those who can afford them

Of course, Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has negotiated deals with many major van manufacturers to benefit those who can afford to get van insurance cover on a new van but it is thought most businesses will be looking to modify rather than buy new in such austere times. And there is still a problem for those who have not got round to fitting a filter. Garages in the South East are reporting more and more van drivers bringing their vehicles in for modification, and though they are not swamped yet, they believe those who delay much longer will find there is a backlog and that their vehicles may not be converted in time.

Fine could run into millions for the city

Meanwhile TfL will be nervously monitoring the situation. They do not want London businesses to suffer because of the clean air requirements but are well aware that not only can they be fined by the European Commission but also by the Olympic movement who are bringing the Olympic Games to London in the summer of 2012, if the air quality does not meet the stipulated levels.

Tags: commercial van insurance, Low Emission Zone, van drivers, van insurance cover
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Drivers are slowly being convinced of the merits of electric vehicles

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Results from a multi-million pound trial of low carbon vehicles found that electric vehicles are ready to meet almost all of the daily transport requirements. However, the limited range still remains the number one concern of fleet drivers.

Drivers quick to adapt

Analysis of the trials of over three-hundred vehicles throughout the United Kingdom found that drivers were able to adapt very quickly to the change from fuel to electric power. The results also found that drivers who took part in the trials had to make very few changes to their daily driving habits, and companies who took part in the trail have indicated that they are interested in changing their vans to electric ones before protecting them with cheap commercial van insurance. They will however have to do this in stages due to the cost of changing over.

Range a big issue

The £25m Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Demonstrator programme started two years ago by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) who had the task of being in charge of the business-led innovation. The programme involved nineteen manufacturers covering electric cars, hybrids and fuel cell vehicles. Tracking data and interviews with every driver showed that learning how to use the new vehicle was easier than the drivers had thought before the trial started. Range anxiety was still a problem for drivers but the number of those concerned went down from 100% before the trail started to 65% after the trail had finished. Delivery drivers in particular wanted reassurance that electric vehicles would have range to cover their extensive daily mileage, saying they would ideally like a range of 120 miles for their daily trips.

Board delighted with results

The results have delighted the TSB who expected more resistance from the participants. A spokesman for the TSB explained that change is difficult to accept for the great majority of us and for 1 in 3 professional drivers to say they would be quite happy to take out online van insurance on the new breed of vehicles was a resounding success. The spokesman believes the drivers relaxed when they realised they didn’t have to alter from their daily routine at all and is confident that once the infrastructure is in place and charging points are commonplace then concerns about range will disappear.

Tags: commercial van insurance, Drivers, electric vehicles, environment, Online Van Insurance
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Bedford classic steals the show

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Although vans are not usually the focus of attention at “show and shine” events, one old British van got plenty of attention when it showed up at a classic event in Canada.

Vans rub shoulders with classic cars

The Saskatoon classic car event is usually seen as the preserve of famous old American cars such as Corvettes, Mustangs and Impalas but this year one or two more unusual vehicles that would have been covered by commercial van insurance at some time in their lives were present. The 29th annual celebration of the famous old vehicles included an old Ford Astro, a 1978 Volkswagen Westfalia that went by the name of Sweet Pea, and an old 1960 British Bedford 4 cylinder van that stole the show for many.

Standing tall

The Ford Astro van owned by Andre Haugedand is neither old nor a classic but its stunning pearl blue paintjob and raised axle saw it literally standing head and shoulders above many of its fellow exhibitors. Andre explained the raised axle helped him traverse the snow in Canada and the change in design had little bearing on his van insurance quote.

Sweet pea grows on owner

The Westfalia campervan belonged to Janaye Lightfoot and it was quite easy to see that the van was in fact older than its owner; however, there was no doubting they made a nice couple. Janaye explained she had travelled extensively in “Sweetpea” and her young family loved it. She said the van, which still has its original exterior, performed magnificently in the Canadian mountains and she was preparing to cross the vastness of Canada in it next year.

Workhorse becomes pet project

It was the old Bedford van of Bill Rafoss though that drew most of the attention. The 50 year old van was a common sight on the roads of the UK in former times. It was the standard bearer of delivery vans in every corner of England and a sight seen by one and all every day. The van was purchased by the car club to act as a workhorse; helping to get smaller cars and car parts to shows the club took part in across Canada. However, the restoration of the van soon became a pet project for members and it is now resplendently kitted out in British Racing green and gets plenty of attention at all the shows.

Tags: Bedford classic, commercial van insurance, The Saskatoon classic car event, van insurance quotes
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