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Posts Tagged ‘vans’

Choosing the Right Van for You

Monday, January 30th, 2012

If you are thinking about getting a new van, there are a few considerations to take into account. Here are a few tips from VanQuoteDirect:

Use the internet

The first step would be to scour the internet for the best vans around, you’ll soon dig up praises (or complaints) about different vehicles. The make & manufacturer of the van can be an important factor for some people. Some people can be loyal to a certain manufacturer, which is understandable if their past vans have been very reliable.

Costs

The next step would be to make sure you are getting the best for your money. Some things to consider include if you or your company afford this van, would you want a brand new van or a second hand one?

The costs of running a van can differ with everything from breakdown cover, commercial van insurance and fuel efficiency, which can be very daunting, especially if it’s the first van you’ll be buying. The figures for all new vans for sales can be found via the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) database, which tells you information regarding commercial vehicles fuel consumption.

Safety

Safety and security is another factor to think about when investing in a new van. High security can lower your insurance premiums and is vital for safeguarding your van and equipment or tools it contains.

These are just a few hints from us. Good luck with your van search and please get in touch if you have any more useful tips for us!

Tags: Buying a new van, commercial van insurance, Hints, Tips, VanQuoteDirect, vans
Posted in Van Insurance, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Drivers should prepare now for LEZ changes

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

With just six months to go before the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) impacts on around 150,000 van and lorry drivers, Kulvee Ranger, Boris Johnson’s Director of the Environment, is the latest high profile leader to remind drivers of vans with commercial vehicle insurance of the penalties they will incur for non compliance with the LEZ.

Whole host of vehicles included for 2012

The charges for being caught out by the new rules do not bear thinking about for anyone running a business. Vehicles that are affected will be charged a minimum of £100 a day to enter the zone and apart from van drivers, owners of motor homes and motor caravans may well be affected. The new legislation will also affect ambulances and mini buses, utility vehicles and pickup trucks.

New legislation should benefit all

The Director of Environment pointed out that better air quality is something that will benefit everyone in a city that is said to lose 4,000 citizens a year prematurely because of air pollution. He also pointed out that Mayor Johnson has been doing a sterling job in persuading van manufacturers to help out London’s army of tradesmen, couriers and haulage professionals.

Manufacturers offering green deals

The Mayors consultation with motor manufacturers certainly seems to have done the job. Fiat, Renault, Ford, Volkswagen and Peugeot have all made special offers to van drivers who need to upgrade their vehicles, with some offering small deposit requirements, payment holidays and low interest rates. The deals also get better if van drivers are looking to get van quotes on the more environmentally friendly models.

Drivers warned to comply quickly

Van drivers who will upgrade their present vehicle rather than buy a new one should be mindful of the time it may take to get the work carried out. Motor maintenance companies are preparing for a rush of business towards the end of the year but say that ordering a new filter, fitting it to the van and then getting the vehicle certified could easily take three months. Very few van drivers can afford to lose their vehicle for such a length of time and some will be checking their commercial van insurance cover to see if they are protected in these circumstances.

Tags: eco-friendly, London Emissions Zone, van drivers, Van Insurance, vans
Posted in Van Insurance, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

How often do you wash yours?

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

A recent survey has shown that van drivers are not only quick to clean up on any good van insurance offers; they are pretty smart when it comes to cleaning their vans too.

The survey carried out by a company offering commercial vehicle insurance to van drivers showed that the White Van Man was more conscious of the outside appearance of his vehicle than any other road user. Apparently almost 40% of van drivers clean their vehicle on a weekly basis compared to only 15% of car drivers.

Vested interest

It is fairly easy to find reasons to explain this. Many van drivers use their vehicle as a means of achieving an income. The van therefore is not only an integral part of the business, in many cases it is a moving advertisement of the service on offer. It would indeed be wasteful to spend a fortune on a spray job in an attempt to draw attention to your business and then leave the van looking dirty. Consumers today are choosy when it comes to selecting tradesmen and service providers; they are unlikely to phone a number on a grubby looking vehicle.

DIY is cheaper

The survey also showed that van drivers are more careful with their cash. A clean van is, more often than not, a safe van. A safe van is less likely to have an accident which in turn will lead to cheap van insurance. The survey showed that almost 50% of van drivers clean their vehicles themselves using a bucket and soapy water. This not only saves money in regard to not having to pay charges for someone else to do the job, it also means the owner can often pick up little faults and niggles early and stop them turning into something more serious. Tyre faults are a good example of this.

Of course not all van drivers wait until they get home to wash their vehicle. Apparently 1 in 4 now use the burgeoning roadside valet services that are springing up all around the country and challenging the position of costly automated car wash stations.

Tags: Advice, business, commercial vehicle insurance, style customisation, Van Safety, van sales, van wash, vans
Posted in Advice, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Delivery firm fit ‘Vancams’

Monday, September 6th, 2010

A company operating a nationwide delivery service has taken the decision to fit 50 of its delivery vehicles with controversial ‘Vancams’.

City Link has at great cost implemented the cameras on their vans after running a trial that proved hugely successful. For three months a pilot scheme operated at depots around the country and the result was a 100% success. The vans with cameras had no traffic accidents, no reports of health and safety transgressions, no damage to vans and, impressively no loss of parcels.

The vans to be fitted out will have cameras fitted on each door, one in the drivers compartment and one in the cargo hold of the vehicle. The cameras will be switched on when the van is unattended as well as when it is operating, and each van will be observed from the company’s central operations unit at all times. City Link is convinced the security on the vehicles will be enough to deter anyone to tamper with the van or its goods.

City Links head of security, Russell Mannix, believes the cameras will have a twofold effect saying “If a customer tells us that a parcel has not been delivered we can quickly work out what has happened. Vancam will clearly play a significant part in reducing losses and claims. Hopefully it will act as a preventative measure against attacks on drivers.”

The decision to implement the scheme could have been influenced by a recent court case which saw four City Link drivers prosecuted for stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods from their vans.

The implementation of the cameras on the vans could also have a positive effect on the company’s commercial vehicle insurance policy when it comes up for renewal.

Tags: Safety, security, vans, vehicle insurance
Posted in commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »