Author: News Desk

Car Calamities and Doggy Disasters

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So, we’ve spent the past few weeks here warning you about the uptick of idiot drivers on the roads as lockdown eases (day 98 and counting), but it seems it’s not just the members of the great British public who are at it, you lot are having your own fair share of accidents too.

Let’s start in Lancashire, whose police force are currently without their drone unit, thanks to a red van driver who failed to stop and rammed into the police unit before making off. Thankfully he didn’t get far and has been arrested and is awaiting further action.

Meanwhile, a van driver up in Wakefield will be praying his van insurance is the best he could buy, after crashing into the back of a car which was awaiting roadside assistance on the M1. Except it wasn’t just any car. Oh no. The car in question was a Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, which was just 20 minutes old, having just been collected by its new proud owner, before running into mechanical issues and was awaiting assistance. 

Ouch.

Who doesn’t like to take their dog to work? Especially now, given that social distancing in vans means there is more space for our four-legged friends to join us on our day to day adventures. Although with it comes a great responsibility, especially in hotter weather. If you are going to take your dog along, don’t do what a Wilshire van driver did, and leave his Springer Spaniel in the van with the windows closed for over an hour. Seeing the dog was in distress, luckily the police were on hand to break the van window and give the dog some much-needed water. The van driver however, on returning to his vehicle was less than impressed with the police, ‘not seeing a problem’ with leaving his dog in a hot van. Thankfully, this has earned him a referral to the RSPCA. 

DO NOT LEAVE DOGS IN YOUR VAN IN THE SUMMER.

It’s that simple. If they are coming to work with you, it’s your responsivity to make sure that they are well taken care of and not left unattended by you. Otherwise, you are likely going to be better leaving them at home.

One final thing – we expect an uptick in drink driving this weekend when people flood back to the pub, so if you are out, stay safe, and if you are going to the pub – don’t drink and drive, and don’t leave your dog in the van. It’s really not so hard.

Cutting costs – How to Save on Your Van Insurance

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It’s been a rough few months for everyone. Even the most hardy of us have been affected one way or another by COVID-19, and van drivers haven’t been exempted. And with the threat of a recession looming, keeping costs down is crucial, especially those that could be cheaper. 

So, we thought that now would be a good time to take a look at ways that you could potentially trim back some costs on your driving expenses. Just the smallest tweak could save you some bucks, and right now, that’s got to be a good thing. 

1: Do you really need that big van?

Yes, it makes you feel like the man, out on the road, compared to all those amateurs in their Twingo’s and Kangoo’s, but they may be having the last laugh, if they are running close to capacity and you’re riding around with space in the back almost every day. Not only is a bigger van costing you more in fuel and van insurance, but you’ll be paying more insurance for it too. Now, there are of course, costs attached with selling one to replace with another, but if It’s time for a new van, it’s worth thinking about trading down for something a bit smaller if you have the capacity to do so. And you could even spend that money you save on a fancier model with a few more bells and whistles. Doing that may not save you money upfront, but you might end up with a comfier ride and lower fuel and insurance costs.

Are you secure?

Not that your missus might run off with her personal trainer, but your van security – is it up to scratch? A tracking device or security etching could also save you. Vans are a big target for thieves, and anything you can do to reduce the risk of yours getting nicked or help in it being recovered can reduce your annual premiums. Don’t forget where you park overnight, either. Leave it on the roadside outside your home, because it’s a pain to get into your driveway, and you could be paying extra. 

Can you pay your van insurance annually?

If you can afford to, it’s always cheaper. APR’s of around 30% are not uncommon if you’re opting for monthly van insurance payments, which can add a few hundred quid onto your policy cost if you’re paying monthly. If you do need to pay monthly, make sure any comparison quotes you get are all showing those costs so you can make an accurate decision on which one works out the cheapest.

Consider Telematics:

Ok, so if you’re a bit older and prone to the odd white van man manoeuvre, then maybe getting a black box fitted is a bad idea. And there’s the whole Big Brother aspect that nobody likes, but if you are new to van driving or maybe the other side – older and generally sensible, then adding a telematics device could save you a few quid on your insurance too. 

Get Fast, Competitive Van Insurance Quotes

But, if all these options seem like a bit of a pain and not really your thing, we have one thing you can do that will definitely save you not just a few quid, but a massive chunk of time too – when it comes to renewing your van insurance, don’t forget to fill out our quick quote form. We’ll get the best quotes delivered directly to you, without you having to put in the legwork to getting you the best deal possible.

And who isn’t for the easy life, especially when times are tough?

Safe driving!

We’re Leaving Home…

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Another week dawns, and with it, we finally have some reasons to be cheerful. First of all, FOOTBALL IS BACK! We’ve got La Liga with crowd noises finally feeling like footy used to feel, and the Prem kicks off this week with your trusty editor’s team of their birthright, relegation-facing Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United this Wednesday. 

For van drivers around the UK, life is also starting to form a semblance of normality, with shops and non-essential retail reopening from today, meaning deliveries need to be made and people need to buy things – and, if the reports of people queuing round the block to get into Primark and Next are true, then that’s a lot more deliveries that are going to be happening. Will the bubble of retail enthusiasm last? It remains to be seen, but it surely bodes well for the lifeblood of the UK economy, the white van man. 

With it though, comes more stupid drivers out on the road, some of whom haven’t been out in their car for the best part of 3 months. Just as we cautioned last week, there’s a lot of it about, and reports this week show that there has been a massive increase in insurance claims for accidental damage, as Doris reverses into that bollard, or Clive scrapes that car he’s trying to parallel park next to. 

In the South-Central region, vehicle insurance claims for accidental damage are up a whopping 48%, compared to the previous week, with numbers similarly bad in London and the North East. So, while your white van men and women get on with doing what you’ve been doing, keeping the country moving in bread and value pack knickers, it is a case of worrying about what the other idiots on the road are doing and going all out to avoid them. 

Also, worth avoiding are any retail parks where there is a fast food outlet, as reports reach us of queues around the block for certain Mcmeals which are back on the menu. Queues of up to 3 hours have been reported at some branches for a drive-thru after months of home-cooked food only. And we see a great deal of you have been in those queues yourselves. Was it worth it? Just be aware that in some areas you’ll find whole lanes queuing for a taste of those golden arches, so if you’re in a hurry, maybe give those hotspots a swerve.

We hope your lives are returning to normal. We’re sure by next week our soccer enthusiasm will be back to despair, meaning life really has resumed its status quo. In the meantime, safe driving. 

Beware! Dangerous drivers!

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If you’re out on the road this week, keep an eye out. What for? Those fresh-out-of-lockdown drivers who have forgotten how to actually drive. 

Up to a fifth of motorists say that they have struggled to get to grips with gearing back behind the wheel after months of staying home in lockdown.

Many car owners have driven just 90 miles (some fewer than 25 miles) while restrictions have been in place, meaning they are considerably out of proactive and an even greater liability to van drivers of the UK, who never stopped motoring through the crisis. 

This is bad news for everyone, with the added possibility of un-roadworthy vehicles out there, thanks the waiving of the MOT scheme. 

In other news, there are a number of initiatives underway that are aiming to boost the high street when it reopens, but that may have huge impacts for van delivery drivers. Many high streets are calling for pedestrianised streets, restrictions in speed limits and no-go zones for vehicles, all in a bid to drive foot traffic back to shops when the time comes for them to reopen, with sufficient space for social distancing outdoors. What this does mean, where it goes ahead is little to no van parking, restrictions on out-of-hours delivery times and slower deliveries, as a result of speed restrictions. 

Thankfully, some traders are banding together to object to these well-meaning plans, seeing not just the issues for white van men, but for those who are unable to walk far, or those who need to collect or drop off goods by car. If they do happen, you can kiss goodbye to the quick drop off on the High Street that you know and love. Fingers crossed that people see that these well-meaning ideas will kill the high street, not bolster it.

As always, stay safe out there.

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

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Another week, another series of trials and tribulations for van drivers up and down the UK. As lockdown slowly eases, the roads are starting to return to normal and, with more traffic on the road, for you, the trusty van drivers of the UK, the stresses and strains of life on the road are also on the up.

The good news is that with more non-essential shops scheduled to reopen in the coming weeks, there should be more work out there for everyone and even more, when, all being well, more of the rest of the country opens up again in early July. 

But, with the lack of traffic on the road you have been used to, there have also been more and more stories in the press of van drivers behaving badly. From hit and runs, to intoxicated drivers, and speeding and dangerous driving, it appears the quieter roads have had a bad effect on some of you. And let’s not forget, anything stupid in your van and you’re not just risking your license, but also your career too. 

Meanwhile over in Ireland, Yodel have dealt a blow to their delivery drivers, who have been banned from taking their vans home overnight, forcing many drivers to need to use public transport to get home at night from their depots. At a time when nobody wants to be on public transport unless they absolutely have to, the timing and tone-deafness to what is going on in the world couldn’t have come at a worse time. 

On the upside, over in London, some savvy business owners have found the best use ever for a white van, turning one into a mobile pub on wheels. The ‘tactical beer response unit’ is on the streets of East London, the back of the van full of kegs of their craft beers, serving customers pint glasses of the good stuff at their doorstep. As one of his customers commented – ‘not all heroes wear capes.’ And who doesn’t miss a pint outdoors in this weather?

And on that note, safe driving. 

Van Insurance Is Cheaper Than Ever

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Yes, more good news this week for our van driving men and women of the UK. We’re over all this doom and gloom, let’s find some reasons to be cheerful. 

And one more bit of good news to follow from last week is the news that van insurance is now cheaper than ever. Well, not ‘ever,’ but it is now the cheapest it’s been in over four years.  Since February, car and van insurance premiums have fallen an average of £56. 

This is as a result of fewer cars on the road, and, fewer accidents as a result. This means that the pay-outs that insurance companies are making has dropped, and so they are able to reduce the price of your premiums. In fact, one or two of the insurers have even paid out to their customers in the form of a rebate because there has been such a dip in claims made, making it worth a phone call to your van insurer to ask what they are doing – after all, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. It’s also worth checking to see if your annual mileage can be reduced if you’ve been of the road at all these past few months, which could also save you money.

In other news, if you are in the trades and anticipating getting back to work in the next few weeks, be aware about new coronavirus restrictions on who you can have in your van. Yes, it’s now illegal for there to be anyone in the middle seat of your van, unless you are all members of the same household, in which case, you can fill your boots and your van with as many as you please. If your van is a two-seater, there’s only the driver allowed to be in it. And if you do have back seats, the second person needs to be sitting there, on the passenger side. So, getting everyone on site might become a bit of a nightmare.

Whatever you are doing, stay safe and keep at it, our UK van driver heroes. 

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

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How is everyone this week? Whether you’re currently locked down or out on the road, rest assured we are here, cheering you on, whatever is happening in the world. Week nine of lockdown may be sending us slightly stir crazy, but it won’t stop us in our quest to bring you, our trusty van drivers of the UK, the latest news and opinions in the van driving world.

Let’s start with some good news – if some of you have lost your jobs as a result of COVID-19, there appears to be a marked increase this week of companies seeking reliable van drivers up and down the UK. It appears that employers are ready to start their recruitment engines as things start to get back to normal. And for those of you who have been waiting on self-employed government payouts, the Self Employment Income Support Scheme is now live and processing payments to those who saw significant business interruption. There are also new bounceback loans available through all high street banks, which offer a government-backed loan of up to £50,000 for small businesses. These loans are interest and payment-free for the first year. 

And it seems the UK government is also ramping up to get the country moving again, although, with the new fuzzy messaging, we’re not entirely clear on what changes when, but then we don’t think anyone else really knows either. But let’s be optimistic and hope it starts to gear up again soon, like we anticipate it will.

Less good news is that the rebates for van and car insurance that we hoped would be forthcoming as they have been in other countries, has not yet rolled out through the UK. Two insurers are offering a small rebate, but we still hope to see all van insurance companies giving their customers some of their profits back, given the huge drop in claims they have seen as a result of the lockdown. 

And absolutely terrible news for those in the south of the country is that London Mayor, Sadiq Khan has raised the congestion charge to £15 (including weekends) whilst simultaneously outlining plans to close major London roads over the next six weeks, to make way for walking and cycle routes. Good luck if you’ve got deliveries in the capital – seems like the mayor is expecting you to bike them in from the suburbs. More on this next week as we get to grips with all the implications.

So there we have it – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. But to end on a high note, don’t forget we can make your life that little bit easier if you need to renew your van insurance policy with our free 3-minute quote tool to give you the best deals around.

Until next week  – stay safe. 

Need a New Van? Sit Back and Wait

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So, instead of all the doom and gloom you read elsewhere, you know we always try to do our bit here at CVI where we can to keep you van drivers smiling. 

And there is potentially some good news on the horizon. We suspect that if you are in the market for a new van, the end of this year could see some absolute bargains to be had.

Reports show that new car and fleet sales were down in April by a massive 97 per cent, the lowest level since 1947 for new vehicle sales in the UK. The Mercedes Sprinter was the best selling fleet vehicle in April, selling an underwhelming 814 vehicles, while the Ford Transit could only muster a disappointing 138 sales. A huge backlog of new vehicles is gathering in car parks and airfields up and down the country as dealerships wait to reopen. The date they are working to is June 1st, when, subject to health and safety legislation, they may once again start to do business. 

But that isn’t the time to go spending your money on a new motor. Analysts are forecasting some pent-up demand and so many dealerships will inevitably be busy with sales over the next few months to accommodate those who simply can’t wait for their new car or van. Slow your roll, there. Because once that rush of sales has happened, and even excluding the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus bringing everything to a grinding halt, there is going to be literal tumbleweed swirling between that backlog of used vehicles. Which means that there are going to be deals to be done, possibly the biggest we’ve seen in living memory, as manufacturers struggle to shift that stock that is just sitting around, depreciating by the day. 

Come September, we think you could be stumbling onto the deal of the decade if you’re in the market for a new van, especially if you’re open to one of the less popular models, such as an Iveco or Nissan. For once, it feels like the customers will be the winners, snapping up bargains as dealers focus on shifting volume sales at lower margins to be able to clear the decks before the new 2021 models are launched.

So sit back, give your current van a little bit of TLC to keep her going for now and wait and see what happens. We think if you’re buying a new van this year, you’ll be in for a treat. And don’t forget, your new van will need new insurance and, as always, even in times of corona, our 3-minute form can help bag you the sort of savings you’ll love, without having to hold out until later in the year.  

Locked Down, But Branching Out?

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We’ve spoken a lot these last few weeks about the many van drivers who are still on the road and keeping the country moving, but for some of you out there, you too may have found yourself grounded due to the lockdown. If your business is temporarily suspended, hopefully, you’ve found yourself furloughed and are not reduced to claiming Universal Credit or waiting for the Coronavirus Payment Scheme for the self-employed to kick in.

Hopefully, the other thing that you’ve remembered to do is go and start your van at least once a week to prevent a flat battery. A gentle rev for 15-20 minutes a week keeps the roadside recovery at bay, or so the saying might go, if it was written for van drivers.

So, for those of you who aren’t working right now, what are you up to? New research shows that Brits are making the most of lockdown and teaching not just the kids, but themselves a whole load of new skills in the downtime.

Maybe you’ve taken the time to work on your fitness. If it’s anything like where we live, there are a whole plethora of new exercise nuts out every day pounding the pavements on a daily jog, or the road on their bikes. Some of you have even been finding their inner zen, with more people than ever turning to online yoga classes (ourself included). 

Or something more domesticated, perhaps? A bit of home baking explains the shortages in the shops of eggs and flour which still seem to be in short supply. Research shows that banana bread has been a particular favourite with lockdown Britain.

DIY – yes, the photos of the massive queues outside the home improvement stores are for real, as many have decided now is the time to paint that room or fix up those odd jobs your other half has been on your case about for years. We may be locked down, but at least we’re in a nice place to be.

Gardening has also understandably been popular, especially given the good weather and sunshine we’ve been lucky enough to be enjoying. Although for many of us with garden waste services suspended and tips still closed, the productivity and amount of work that can be done might be easing off with nowhere to put the cuttings and shavings. 

And, rounding out the popular pastimes has been learning a language. Yes, we may have left the EU, but that hasn’t stopped the people of Britain polishing up their parlez-vous or honing their hola. 

Which all goes to show, we may come out of this coronavirus poorer, but we might find our lives have been enriched in other ways. 

And if you are still out on the road – stay safe. 

Weekly Roundup – Coronavirus Special

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Good news if you insure your van personally and chose Admiral – you are getting £25 back from your policy cost, irrespective of whether or not you are still on the road. Government MPs are petitioning chancellor Rishi Sunak to get involved and ensure all car and van insurers pass some of the savings on that they are making while the country is in lockdown – with a reported 50% fewer accidents happening then it makes sense that we should all be getting something back and not see insurers profiting at the expense of the regular guys and gals out there. 

We do expect more to come on this in the coming weeks and more insurers either being forced or pressured into giving rebates. Some companies are also offering front line and essential workers discounts on their van insurance premiums, so if you are a key worker, be sure to mention it to your insurance broker at the time of your policy renewal and see if you can’t bag a little extra off the cost of your policy. 

Some insurers, such as Aviva and MoreThan are offering customers who are feeling the pinch payment holidays on their insurance payments (for home as well as car or van insurance). Again, we expect more to follow, although do be aware you will still be required to repay your annual policy in full at some point during your insurance term, so it may be deferring greater pain down the line, if you choose to do so.

Sadly, there are more and more reports coming in of serious accidents as a result of dangerous driving or speeding on the quieter than usual roads. As we clearly stated last time, now is not the time to see if you can take the racing line flat in your transit, however tempting that may be. 

In a bit of good news, it looks as if drones won’t be replacing anyone’s jobs any time soon. A new study found that drone deliveries were up to 10 times less energy efficient than vans. So, if you’ve still got a job, make sure you keep it by driving safely, observing all good hygiene practices (wear a mask if you can, even if they suggest otherwise) and keep on keeping on. 

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