Tag: cheap car insurance

Weighty Mistakes: How Overloading Your Van Could Cost You Thousands

Posted on by News Desk

Van weight.

This week’s latest news comes to us from the wonderful town of Reading.

You may have heard about an unlucky driver who was fined a whopping £6,000 for breaching restrictions to do with his van’s weight. 

Thankfully, not all of us who breach weight restrictions can expect a £6,000 fine.

The Mercedes Sprinter driver had overloaded his van by 900 kg.

So, not just by a smidgen then.

Unlucky for our Sprinter driver, a weighbridge found an excess weight of 25.7%.

The Public Protection Partnership (PPP) quickly spotted how low the van was to the ground.

It was clear the van was under strain.

We’re sure you already know this:

but it is against the law to breach weight restrictions,

and unfortunately, the driver’s defendant company found themselves paying over £6k for the sorry mistake. 

Do you know how much weight you’re legally allowed to have in your van? 

Avoid the fines and stay up to date with the latest laws.

The DVSA may carry out spot checks.

So here’s an easy reminder of how you can stay safe and know just how much you should be carrying:

  • Your van’s gross vehicle weight (GVW) minus (-) your van’s unladen weight.

Let’s explore an example:

  1. GVW is 4000 kg. Unladen weight is 2250 kg. 
  2. Therefore, 4000 kg – 2250 kg = 1,750 kg. 
  3. So, 1,750 kg is the most your payload can weigh.

It’s important not to forget that the payload weight also includes any excess luggage and passengers, too.

How you load your van could also affect the overall weight,

as you want to make sure you’re not putting too much weight at the front to cause an overload.

Learn More About Van Weight Limits

If you’re unsure about how much weight you’re carrying and want to check within the limits,

you can visit your local weighbridge. 

If you’re new to van driving, it’s essential to get acquainted with the basics.

Therefore, you should consider exploring the latest government guidance.

This guidance encompasses all aspects, from loading to effectively driving a van.

Additionally, it provides comprehensive details to enhance your understanding and skills.

It serves as a valuable resource for ensuring you operate within legal standards.

There’s even a handy video.

Access further information and visit the site here.

Whether you’re new to driving a van or know all the rules and regulations like the back of your hand,

we’ve got you covered with insurance.

So, if you’re on the lookout for cheap van insurance,

take a couple of minutes out of your day to see just how much we could save you right here.

Overall vehicle costs down, but not for long at all

Posted on by News Desk

VAN INSURANCE NEWS ROUNDUP: 7 DAYS ENDING 13 JUNE 2014:

There’s good news and bad news for you this week: while it’s true that the overall cost of keeping a vehicle on the road has gone down, this isn’t set to last.

Whether you’ve got a personal vehicle or you use a van or lorry for work, it can be a serious endeavour keeping your motor on the road. Between petrol costs, trying to find cheap car insurance or commercial van insurance, and the cost of maintenance and testing it’s a major expense. However, it looks like these costs have eased over the last 12 months according to new data released by the AA.

Overall costs dropped by around £300 a year for a vehicle of around £13,000 to £18,000 in value, which is most likely the average value of many cars used as daily drivers or vans used for work by tradesmen. It’s a minor drop, but it’s a welcome one for sure – an extra £300 may not sound like much, but that can go a pretty long way if you’re smart with your cash.

Of course, the good news is eclipsed by the bad news rather quickly. It turns out there are new fines that will be going into effect for many driving offences in the very near future, and the penalties are growing by leaps and bounds in comparison to the level they are now. For instance, right now while it’s possible you could end up paying a fine of £2,500 if you’re caught speeding on UK motorways, the new penalties see this maximum fine rise to an eye-watering £10,000!

Well that will certainly work as a deterrent. If I knew there was a chance I could get slapped with such a hefty fine, I’d sure as anything not deviate over the speed limit on any motorway I was on. Still, there will undoubtedly be a few white van men that get distracted behind the wheel and end up getting caught – it’s almost inevitable. With a sudden £10,000 penalty to pay, you’d better hope that other motoring costs keep going down!

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