Providers of both commercial van and personal car insurance have begun to refuse to cover drivers that have been caught using a mobile while driving, even if it is a first-time offence, industry experts recently warned.

Eight insurers were recently surveyed by the AA, with the motoring organisation discovering that fully half of them would raise a driver’s rates by almost 20 per cent for being awarded three penalty points for the offence.  However, the other half indicated that motorists that engage in such behaviour are such poor insurance risks as to refuse to offer them cover at all, the AA found.

Industry experts say that other insurers may be even more heavy-handed.  In addition to refusing to provide a quote, there could be many insurance providers willing to raise rates by as much as 50 per cent in order to cover the increased risk in insuring someone convicted of using their mobile whilst behind the wheel – and there are other offences, such as speeding, which can trigger massive rate hikes as well, with the AA finding that seven out of the eight insurers it surveyed stating that even the most minor of speeding violations would lead them to increase an offender’s motoring costs.

The average rate hike for a speeder was found to be 9.3 per cent by the AA.  However, other insurers surveyed independently indicate that this figure may be much too conservative, as one insurance provider stated that a single speeding conviction would prompt a rate increase from 10 to 20 per cent alone.

Van drivers are growing tired of being stretched to their limits when it comes to keeping their vehicles on the road, sources say, and with the average price of petrol increasing higher than 140p a litre (and diesel being even higher), small business owners are having to scramble to keep their vans moving in the face of massive operating cost increases.

Motoring experts say that petrol has gone up in price by almost 8p since the beginning of 2012, and even though the average price is hovering at about 140.2p per litre, this upward trend shows little to no indications that it will slow.  Those who need to purchase diesel fuel are even worse off, as a record high of 146.72p per litre is currently wreaking havoc with anyone with a commercial van that uses the fuel to keep their vehicle running.

The power to choose what we pay for our fuel is largely out of the hands of the average motorist, experts say.  However, you can control other unrelated costs of driving, such as how much you pay for commercial van insurance, in an effort to leave more cash available for other areas of your motoring budget.  An excellent way to save money on van insurance is to use a comparison site to find multiple quotes, as insurers often attempt to remain competitive by offering excellent rates to new customers.

However, industry experts warn that many of these inexpensive policies come with a price.  You need to check carefully that your level of cover is going to be sufficient before taking out a policy from a new insurer experts warn, and many providers will raise customers’ rates by a significant margin upon renewal, which would necessitate once more switching insurers after your initial 12 months of cover.

Industry experts say that for drivers looking for a cost-effective choice for their next light van should consider all the possibilities and not just the most common ones.

The cost of doing business in the UK is on the rise, and for those of us in business for ourselves and in need of a delivery vehicle such as a van, it’s important to control costs as much as possible in order to facilitate business growth.  If you’ve got to move product from a distributor or supplier to a customer, it’s important to have a reliable vehicle that won’t break the bank when it comes to the petrol pump or the annual insurance.

Most commercial van customers will think immediately of the Mercedes Vito, Volkswagen Transporter, and Ford Transit when it comes to a medium-sized vehicle for their business needs.  However, you would be remiss in looking at less-popular vehicle choices from manufacturers such as Renault, Vauxhall, and Nissan.

The Nissan Primastar, for example, is a highly affordable vehicle, first emerging on the scene in 2001 to little fanfare, but with an impressive fuel efficiency of 37 to 41 miles per gallon, the low purchase price of the vehicle in combination with the high mileage could lead to cost savings that could be better spent on commercial van insurance to provide cover against any eventuality on the road.  Insuring the vehicle will be less expensive overall as well, as it lies within the 4T car insurance group, and maintenance intervals are a relatively lengthy 18,000 miles.

If you’re looking for the best deals to save on the cost of your commercial van insurance, experts say that you’ve got to shop around by going to a van insurance comparison site as quickly as possible.

Van owners are in the same boat as people who just have their personal vehicles to attend with; petrol prices keep going up, leading everyone to scramble for the best way to cut back on motoring costs – especially since car insurance firms continue to raise their rates as well.  Oil suppliers are ratcheting up their prices in response to consumer demand, especially since the first week of this month saw many Brits panic buying as much petrol as they could get their hands on after news of a possible tanker workers’ strike began making the rounds, and the increased price at the pump has driven many to pull out tufts of their own hair in frustration.

There’s no way to convince oil firms to cut the price of their product, experts say, which leaves many van drivers feeling helpless and at the mercy of their local garage.  However, van owners and car drivers alike can find a way to reduce their outgoings by switching to a less expensive insurance provider, and the best way to find one is to visiting a quote aggregator such as a comparison website.

Comparison sites have become quite popular over the past few years, especially since the economic climate has grown cloudy in the wake of the credit crunch and resultant worldwide recession.  Many motorists have found excellent deals on their insurance by using a comparison website, as they offer drivers a direct way to exert some control over a situation that can otherwise seem completely out of their hands.

Cheap van insurance experts say that van drivers across the length and breadth of the UK are in search of the best ways to reduce their operating costs, with many of these drivers looking to compare van insurance in an effort to find the most affordable rates.

Commercial van insurance policy holders are much like their counterparts with cover for their personal cars – cutting back on day-to-day outgoings is usually in the forefront of their mind, especially since petrol prices continue their inexorable climb skyward.  The first week of this month saw many people panic buying fuel due to fears of a tanker worker strike, leading oil firms to raise their prices in order to capitalise on the high levels of demand, leaving many drivers scrambling to find the best way to cut their motoring costs.

While customers have little to no control over the price of petrol, industry experts say that you can switch insurance providers if you’re looking for a way to save money.  Insurers remain competitive, and many will offer their best rates in order to entice new customers, but this results in loyal motorists getting the short end of the stick at renewal time; if you’ve recently received your renewal paperwork in the post and are disgusted at your new annual insurance premium, waste no time in looking for an alternative provider, experts say.

There are other ways to offset the cost of fuel for van drivers in addition to selecting a more affordable insurer.  Experts say that you should check your tyre pressure regularly, as driving with tyres that are low can reduce your van’s fuel efficiency.

Experts say that changing the details on your van insurance policy could cost you, as a fee of as much as £30 could be charged to you independent of any changes to your premium.

Cheap insurance providers say that such fees are only used to cover the administrative costs of making changes to a customer’s policy.  However, with different commercial van insurance providers charging various fees, evidence seems to say that insurers simply charge their customers whatever they feel they can get away with charging.

Policyholders wanting to change their name after an event such as marriage would be able to do so for free if they are insured with many providers.  However, there are some, such as Swiftcover, that would charge a £30 fee to update your details.

Another fly in the ointment with Swiftcover is that the provider does not charge customers for changing their personal details via the insurer’s website.  Industry experts suggest that the company feels the time spent by a call centre representative making the changes – which could not possibly take more than a few minutes at most – is worth £30; however, you would be hard pressed to find a call centre staff worker paid as much as £30 an hour, much less £30 for every five-minute call they handle, and with the high stress of working at a call centre while countless disgruntled policy holders ring you up for hours on end, £30 an hour is not nearly enough to pay for the therapy needed after working such a position for any length of time.

Van drivers and van insurance policy holders have been stretched to the absolute limit lately by monthly running costs with diesel prices at record high and the price of a litre of petrol rising higher than 140p.

Many van drivers have tried to make savings wherever they can, leading some to attempt to offset the costs of fuel by looking for cheap van insurance quotes.  Many have attempted to compare van insurance by using comparison sites in order to find some respite, especially since diesel is now 146.72p a litre, a record high, and petrol has risen to 140.2p, with industry insiders stating that these price increases are unlikely to abate any time soon.

One industry expert and an insurance partnerships director for a major comparison site, David Jackson, commented on the fuel increases, stating that there may be little that drivers can do to actually save money on fuel.  However, there are many other ways that have the potential for reducing overall driving costs and that could act to offset the increases in fuel prices, such as using a comparison site in order to find the best dealss.

Mr Jackson said that taking the time to compare rates could lead to discovering a less expensive alternative to insurance cover.  Switching providers could lead to substantial savings, which would leave more cash left over to pay at the pump with less angst and terror.

Most comparison sites specialise in much more than just van insurance, offering their customers a simplified and quick way to find the best deal on several financial products.  Many of these websites can also offer comparisons for utilities for the household, such as digital TV, broadband, phone, gas, and electricity as well.