Tag: cheap van insurance

White Van Drivers Throw Away Ham Sandwiches

Posted on by News Desk

In a survey that has sent shockwaves around the country, it was revealed that so called “white van men” are throwing away their ham sandwiches.

It’s a tradition of course, for your average white van owner to take a packed lunch of ham sandwiches with them on a hard day of work…a tradition that now seems to be coming to an end.

According to the survey, it is “fruit, vegetables, and salad,” that tradespeople are now consuming at lunch time. Sure, they might still have a flask of tea and even a chocolate digestive, but, when it comes to healthy eating they are right on track.

The survey went on to find out that white van drivers are also swapping the traditional British fry up for more healthy options. Maybe some Greek yoghurt with sunflower seeds? They can leave it in the fridge overnight…ready for eating first thing in the morning.

Also, these van owners are getting out of their vans it seems. Usually, during the winter, they spend most of their time sat in the van with a blanket and thermal gloves, but this winter they have become more active, hitting the gym at least twice a week.

1 in 10 admitted they even hit the gym at least 5 times a week, typically going at the end of a work day to pump some iron and jump rope, no doubt.

Do you know what though? In my opinion this whole healthy eating and exercise regime is good for the white van man. Regular readers of this blog will be only too familiar with stories of “rage” and “discontent.” Going down the gym gives them an outlet for their frustration, so they are more calm throughout the day.

The survey went on to profile white van drivers even further, asking them questions about their lifestyle and interests. The answers were fascinating.

Football is the most popular activity for white van drivers, with 54% saying they watched or played it on a regular basis, with another 29% saying they preferred rugby.

Snooker is the indoor sport of choice for your average van driver surveyed, with most of them saying they enjoyed either playing it down the local club or watching it on the TV.

Interestingly, 12% said that scuba diving was a hobby, something which could be done while “on tour” abroad, although Siberia or Nevada probably wouldn’t be good destinations.

As we get further into the survey then it paints a picture of your average “white van man,” so to speak, as an angelic choir boy who couldn’t melt any butter in his mouth.

For example, 40% of those who took part in the survey said they were concerned about the so called stereotype of the white van driver, while 27% said they thought it was unfair. A further 60% claimed they were polite and understanding while on the road, while 47% stop on a regular basis to help other road users.

I wonder if this includes cyclists? As we all know, drivers of white vans and cyclists have a long running and bitter feud on our nations roads, which many times results in violence.

While white van men might be throwing away their ham sandwiches, the one thing they are not throwing away is cheap van insurance. “The Nations Favourite” is what many of them shout when it comes time to renew their van insurance, and then within 3 minutes they get quotes from around 40 companies and brokers.

Admiral On Tour – Madrid Bound…

Posted on by News Desk

One of the partners to Cheap Van Insurance is Admiral, that well known company who are always on the TV.

When you fill out the 3 minute form on this website then you can expect Admiral to be one of the companies offering you are a quote. Are they the cheap? I don’t know, fill out the form and find out is my advice.

Right now everything is good between CVI and Admiral. We are friends.

However, if a recent news story is to be trusted then Admiral could soon be following white van men out of the country…to Madrid.

Off they go…on a cold Monday morning on a Ryanair flight to the Spanish capital, and after touching down and after saying a “Hola” to their driver, they will then be taken directly into the Madrid city and into an empty office block.

This isn’t a holiday you must understand and there will be no sun, sea and sangria. Oh no. What we have here is your classic example of a company going AWOL from British shores after Brexit is here.

So right there in the centre of Madrid, in between the tourist shops and postcard sellers…well, one sunny afternoon in the heat of the Spanish Summer.

The kind of Spanish afternoon where, if the sun shines too long on your plastic roller shutters then they become stuck, and you have to wait until the sun goes down so they cool off.

Well, on that particular afternoon there will be a Spanish sign maker in dungarees up a ladder outside the office block in Madrid, and in no time at all, “EL ADMIRALO” will overlook the Madrid skyline.

There may even be a white van man on tour passing by on the busy road below, on his way back to the UK.

So does this mean that CVI and Admiral will no longer be able to continue their famous partnership…the partnership that has potentially saved the UK public a lot of money.

Actually, while Admiral are looking to diversify their operations because of Brexit, they will have an office right here on British shores, just like they always have.

Just like your average white van owner. Sure, they like to travel and they like to go on tour, but when it comes down to it they know where their bread and butter is. Right here in the UK of course.

If you are looking to get your next van quote and considering Admiral as one of the insurers, then my advice is to check with our 3 minute form first.

You get a quote from Admiral and you also get quotes from around 40 other van insurance companies and brokers.

If Admiral offer the best quote then great, you win. If someone else offers the best quote then great, you win.

I think the message here is that everytime you use Cheap Van Insurance as your starting point for getting quotes…you win.

The Day Van, Man

Posted on by News Desk

We have heard about the white van man, that has been covered a lot right here…but what about the “day van man?” Not many have heard.

Fortunately, the day van man (or woman) is the kind of driver that is not causing trouble on the roads of the UK or Siberia. No. They are much more relaxed.

What is all this about exactly? Well, a “day van” is a special combination of campervan and van, which has become very popular over recent years.

In the past no-one knew exactly what a day van was, but these days they are lining up to buy them, credit cards in hand.

The main problem is that insuring these things is not always straight forward because the van insurance companies are a bit confused.

“Is it a campervan or is it a van?” they often say, while sitting at their desks and twiddling their thumbs. “No, It’s a day van,” the customer will say, getting a bit hot under the collar (not white van level) and becoming frustrated.

This frustration doesn’t lead to rage and it doesn’t lead to discontent…there are no unleashings and nobody is being unchained.

Instead, all the day van drivers do is to inform and educate. They explain exactly what a day van is, and then once the van insurance company has a clearer picture of what they are talking about then they feel more confident of offering the right kind of insurance.

However, day van owners might no longer have to spend time on the phone explaining themselves to van insurers. The reason? Because there is a new insurance product in town…one that caters specifically to insuring day vans.

It is offered by Caravanwise and they know all about day vans and how to insure them. Visit their site or give them a call is my advice, although before you do that make sure you fill out the form right here.

Where? The Nations Favourite…van insurance comparison website that it, the place where thousands of van owners get the quotes that make them jump in the air with joy and fist pump when those cheap quotes start coming through.

Many have described the experience of using the form here at CVI as like getting your GSCE or A Level exam results…only to find you have straight A’s…a perfect score all round.

In that moment you would have a level of excitement that be difficult to surpass, especially after working for all those years in order to be a straight A student, and now you have done it.

However, the CVI form only takes 3 minutes but you still get that same level of excitement when you press the submit button and get the quotes.

No Van Insurance? Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk

Posted on by News Desk

There used to be the days when milk floats were a common sight and sound around the early morning roads. People liked their milk…delivered.

In recent years your average milk float has gone the way of the dinosaurs (almost like ice cream vans), to the point where seeing a milk float is like seeing a calm white van man. It just doesn’t happen.

However, there are some people out there who still like their milk delivered in the morning, waiting at their doorstep and as they collect it in their dressing gown. For some it is a tradition they just don’t want to give up.

To fulfil this demand, your average milkman, or milkwoman, has decided to swap the milk float for a van…one of those light commercial vehicles is typically preferred.

So it’s good to see that milk is still being delivered in some parts of the country, like Bolton for example, where I hear that getting milk on your doorstep is still a common occurrence.

That is why on one cold morning on the streets of Bolton a light commercial vehicle drove around the empty streets. You might be forgiven for thinking the driver was up to no good, until you saw him get out of the van and then get some milk out of the back.

This milkman was just going about his business and doing the rounds…he didn’t expect what was about to happen next.

Suddenly, and unexpectedly, a voice came out of the darkness, “Freeze. Put your hands where I can see them. Down on the ground…NOW,” is possibly what was said, although no-one knows for sure.

It was the Police, and what appears to have happened is they had scanned the van. “Beep, Beep,” it sounded, and for your average man and woman in Blue, this is the green light they need to go in and take action.

So at 1:20am on a cold morning in the city of Bolton a tense standoff was happening. Would the milkman make a run for it? Maybe in the good old days of milk floats he would have decided to take off and let the Police give chase, but on this day he decided to give himself up.

He knew they had got him, and he knew exactly what for…no van insurance. That’s right. For some reason this particular milkman thought that driving around in the early hours meant he didn’t have to buy van insurance, but he was wrong.

The Police are everywhere, even in bushes, and it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is…they will get you, arrest you, and send you to jail if they find that no van insurance is the crime.

So now this milkman has to do the time…although there is no point in crying over spilt milk.

Much to the credit of Bolton Police they did recognise the fact that people would not be getting their milk now this van was off the road and the milkman was behind bars. That is why they allowed him one phone call, where they suggested he phone a mate to come and pick up the milk and get it out to customers.

So another van arrived. This time with insurance and enough space in the back to put the milk in there and then make the deliveries.

If there was Wi-Fi at the Police Station then I just hope the milkman took the time to visit Cheap Van Insurance, The Nations Favourite.

In 3 minutes he could have filled out his details, and then in no time at all get around 40 quotes. That is all you need to legally deliver milk.

He could have even used Cheap Van Insurance as a negotiating tactic in the interview room. “Look at the cheap quotes I’ve just got. I’m on the straight and narrow now, guv, no more bother from me,” he could have said to the Police officer.

With those words the milkman would have been back on the roads the very next morning, ready to deliver milk once again.

“Vantastic” is Fantastic? Maybe, But…

Posted on by News Desk

With vans being stolen on a daily basis there is one thing that every van owner in the UK needs…protection! Not just any protection either…

What they want is the kind of van insurance policy that offers peace of mind if you should wake up one morning and find an empty parking space on your drive.

“My van used to be there,” you will say, followed by “It’s okay, I have protection.”

This is the kind of van insurance policy that Cheap Van Insurance enthusiasts have no doubt been waiting for…or is it? Let’s take a closer look at exactly what is going on.

“Vantastic” is the name of a brand new van insurance product for commercial vehicle owners around the country. It is has been produced by a Lancashire based company called BP Insurance Brokers, and what they want to do is offer the ultimate protection for business owners and their vans.

For example, if your van is stolen then they immediately give you a replacement van to keep your business on the road and trading.

During this time you can either hope that you van is found or you get a cheque through the post from the insurance company…but it’s good to know that you can keep on trading and not lose any money.

BP Insurance Brokers have obviously put a lot of thought into this new van insurance policy and it also appears they have got a bit creative in the process.

Enter “Dave Van Dog,” the official mascot of “Vantastic” which is sure to get the attention of white van owners all around the country.

“Dave Van Dog,” might even become a household name in the near future, up there at the lofty heights with “Churchill the Dog” and those “Meerkats.”

I would imagine they might even venture into offering a “Dave Van Dog” cuddly toy with each new policy, as an incentive to get van drivers to do business with them.

The cuddly toy known only as “Dave Van Dog” could then take prime position in the front of the vans of roofers, builders, electricians, and carpenters…right next to the dashcams.

So is “Vantastic” really that fantastic? In my opinion, while it certainly sounds like a good product and you should definitely visit their website to find out more…what you should be doing is starting off right here, at The Nations Favourite in your search for cheap van insurance.

All you have to do is fill in the 3 minute form and then expect to get quotes from around 40 van insurance companies and brokers. Many of these will have many of the same features as the “Vantastic” product, and they might even be a bit more cheap. You never know until you compare.

Tool Theft Again! But…Reunited is the Man With Van

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Cheap Van Insurance enthusiasts will no doubt remember the numerous blog posts where I talk about tool theft. It’s headline news.

Unfortunately, most of the time those sneaky but clever van thieves are in your van, and then, with a crafty plan they are away with your tools…never to be seen again.

This usually means the tradesperson is left in a bit of a situation, because the simple fact of the matter is that most people out there do not include tool theft protection in their van insurance policy.

Maybe you think it’s too expensive? Think again is my advice, because all you have to do is compare van insurance, right here of course, and then you get the really cheap deals. Include some tool theft cover and you really won’t be paying too much.

Despite the fact that van tool theft is typically a crime that usually leaves police officers baffled, some of these incidents do have a good ending.

Take the recent story of Ryan Harman-Taylor who hails from the town of Weston-Super-Mare. He was having a great day due to the fact his second child had just been born, but then he returned home to find his van broken into and the tools vanished.

Yes, it was those cunning yet methodical van criminals I am always talking about, who are waiting to pounce no matter where you are in the country. Sometimes they drive all around the country, armed with an A-Z street book and circling the points of interest.

On this particular day they were in Weston-Super-Mare, and it didn’t take them long to find their target.

So they were in and out like a flash, and then…gone…back to base to offload the loot before hitting the streets again to get more loot.

Back to the story and it was £19,000 worth of tools that were stolen from that van, that day, and it left Ryan Harman-Taylor without any way to do his work as a carpenter.

In situations like this most tradespeople have to admit defeat and get directions to the local job centre, but in this story there was a twist.

For once the Police actually got their act together and apprehended the tool thieves. These particular thieves had been doing a lot of activity, to the point where Avon and Somerset Police were actively patrolling the roads looking for suspicious individuals.

It didn’t take them long to find the culprits, and after searching their property they found thousands of pounds worth of stolen tools, including the £19,000 worth of tools we have been talking about in the story.

So, the man with van is reunited with his power tools, and for once those criminals didn’t get away with it, although it wouldn’t surprise me if they avoid jail and are on the streets again in no time at all…the captured, once again the hunters.

This all just highlights the importance of making sure you have insurance for your tools. Don’t leave it a minute longer…fill in the 3 minute form now and be rewarded with 40 quotes from van insurance companies and brokers.

25% Off Van Insurance – Just Smile!

Posted on by News Desk

How would you like to get 25% off your next van insurance policy? All you need to do is smile for the camera and it could very well happen.

The dashcam that is, or the Nextbase 380GW dashcam to be exact, where the manufacturers are making the bold claim that owning one (or two) of these bad boys will save you 25% off your next van insurance quote.

Why? Because the Nextbase 380GW comes with features such as anti-tamper technology and adjustable lenses for van windscreens, which means that van drivers are more protected from things that can potentially go wrong.

Tool theft, for example, is a big problem around the UK, where criminal gangs are becoming millionaire gangs, dressed in Gucci instead of bargain basement clothes.

Most vans are ripe for the picking and have about as much chance as a gazelle when faced with a pack of lions. It’s those magic keys, some people say.

Also, let’s not forget that there are a lot of loose cannons on the roads of the UK right now. Crash for cash scams are common, especially against commercial drivers.

Millions of pounds are lost each year from these kind of false claims, and that means the van insurance companies are losing out as well, because they have to pay out.

They pass the costs on to you, the van driver, which means that van insurance just keeps on getting more expensive year after year.

However, if you have a dashcam or two in your van and they are pointing the right way, then guess what? Those criminal gangs and crash for cash scammers will soon be saying “no thanks mate” when they see the camera pointing at them.

“Smile for the camera you will say,” but the Gucci gang won’t want any of it and they will go elsewhere to easier targets.

Do you have to specifically buy the Nextbase 380GW dashcam to save on van insurance, or will any make or model do? There are a few different options out there right now, so if you ask me, you might want to shop around a bit to see which one fits your needs the most.

A white van owner for example, will have different needs to a company that has a fleet of vans…but the one thing I do know is that a dashcam is definitely the way to go.

Once you have those dashcams installed then make sure you come right here, to the Nations Favourite, where you can compare around 40 companies and brokers that are prepared to give you a quote. All with the click of a button.

White Van Men On Tour – Europe Edition

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Not content with causing destruction on the roads of the UK, the white van man is now on tour, across the channel and in Europe.

To countries such as France, Germany, Poland, and Russia they go, sometimes to make deliveries and sometimes just to go for a scenic drive, maybe do a bit of business on the side. Business and pleasure.

I’ve reported before of course on how all British van drivers need to get a special sticker before entering the country of France.

Just stick it on your windscreen and you won’t be bothered by the French police, but ignore their laws and you will soon see those flashing lights in the rear view mirror.

Would that set off the average white van man on tour? Seeing the red, white and blue of the French police waving for them to “pull over, monsieur, je m’apelle.”

It could very well be a return to the scenes from the summer of rage and winter of unrest, where white van men, so to speak, were unchained and unleashed…only this time it would be on the roads of France.

Not only that, but let’s not forget that our French cousins drive on the other side of the road. Confusion could very much win the day when your average white van pulls out from Calais. Could that confusion then turn to all out rage? It very well could do.

The main thing all British van drivers should check is that they are fully covered by their insurance company to drive abroad before setting off from home.

You might have to pay extra to make sure your overseas van insurance cover is all in order, and if your renewal is coming up then perhaps it is time to switch to a cheaper deal, one that includes overseas insurance for your van.

The comparison website of choice for the average white van owner is of course The Nations Favourite. The place where comparing companies and getting quotes is as easy as making a flask of tea.

You can even access Cheap Van Insurance from any European country, so for any white van driver that is currently on tour and needs to sort out their insurance, you know where to go.

It’s much better to come here rather than being taken to a European prison, which is what could happen if you don’t have the correct insurance.

The Russian Police, for example, are always on the lookout for international commercial drivers AKA British white van men, and if you are not prepared to slip them a few rubles then you might just find yourself down the local gulag.

Sure, the white van man would resist at first, he might even get very hot under the collar in the freezing temperatures of Siberia, but then, in no time at all he would be overpowered, much like a polar bear being taken down by a pack of wolves.

The Siberian wilderness is a lonely place to be for white ford transit drivers, every day doing hard labour and eating soup of the day for lunch. No ham sandwiches on the menu.

It would be a time for the white van man to learn their lesson if you ask me. To turn over a new leaf and keep their temper in check. Until they are released, back to the UK…

Delivery Driver Robbed, Sacked and Charged

Posted on by News Desk

Becoming a delivery driver has become quite popular in this day and age. Many people have vans, and they are making money with them it seems.

Amazon are one such company who are always on the lookout for self employed courier drivers. Millions of packages are delivered every day and they don’t deliver themselves now, do they.

It is the courier drivers around the nation who are busy going from door to door and making sure Mr Jones and Mrs Smith get the items they ordered. On time and in one piece.

One courier driver didn’t have that much luck though, on this particular day not so long ago which seemed just like an ordinary day…until, one of those criminal gangs came out of nowhere and proceeded to rob him of all 62 parcels that were in his van that day.

Make no mistake about it, these criminal gangs are organised and efficient. One minute they are not there, and then they are there, and in no time at all they are gone…with the loot of course.

This courier driver, through no fault of his own had been stripped of the main assets of his van, but at least he managed to stop his van being stolen as well.

However, after reporting back to base the delivery driver found his superiors not very sympathetic at all, to the point where they were actually pointing the finger of blame directly at him.

That’s right. Gone are the days of being an innocent victim of crime. It appears we are now in the days where even if you are stolen from then you are to blame.

At this point it is probably worth mentioning that although this courier driver was delivering parcels for Amazon, it was actually another company he was getting the work from. Kind of like a sub contracting deal no doubt.

Anyway, what proceeded to happen was that after being robbed, the courier driver then had the second blow of the day…he was sacked. This company did not want any parcels going missing, and if they did, well, you get your P45 right away.

Not only that, but about a week later this driver got a text from the company saying that he was being charged for the stolen packages and that it would come directly out of his wages.

Not only was this guy robbed, but he was also sacked and charged, and is now probably in a position where he is considering a career change.

That is why I always advise any courier driver…make sure you know exactly what happens if you are robbed while on the job.

Obviously in this story the company hiring the driver didn’t offer him courier insurance as part of the job, which means he should have sorted it out himself.

Anyone can compare courier insurance right here at the nations favourite van insurance website. All you need to do is fill in the simple 3 minute form and then get quotes from around 40 companies.

Can’t Stand The Heat…Get Out Of The Van, Man

Posted on by News Desk

Self driving vans are all over the place…California, New York, Tokyo, Slough. Are they having it too easy though? A bit too…temperate.

The company Waymo, who are owned by Google and have been testing self driving vans all around the world, well, they seem to think all of their testing has been on the “easy setting,” and that is why they have decided to move on to pastures new.

Where exactly…perhaps Benidorm or Aya Napa? Places where the sun shines year round and the self driving vans would get a bit more heat.

No they are going even more extreme than that. Forget about the Costa Del Sol…the place where it really gets cooking is in the Nevada Desert.

Some parts of the desert over there in Nevada reach temperatures that would make your average white van man be forced to take off his socks. The shorts and vest would stay on of course, complete with a hat to keep their head out of direct sun.

Perhaps the ice cream vans of Britain could find a new trade in the desert of Nevada? I’m sure there would be a big queue for 99 cones once the midday sun came out and temperatures reached 50 degrees Celsius

While Waymo are testing in Nevada to see how the vehicles react, the one thing I think they should be testing for is how the average white van driver would react.

We all know that warmer weather tends to bring out their more aggressive side…the summer of rage, it was called.

How would they react in the heat of the desert? Putting them in the situation would be the only way to get our answer, but what I do know is that if they could access the Nations Favourite Van Insurance Website then it would go a long way to making them more chilled out.

I would imagine your average white van man, so to speak, would get a bit hot under the collar while navigating around the emptiness of the Nevada desert.

Of course, it would be the self driving Google van doing the driving, but that wouldn’t stop the agitation, if you ask me.

Even if it was a mirage they were seeing over yonder, of a cyclist swerving out and acting like they owned the road.

I’m sure that would soon get their attention, and even after finding out it was just their minds (and the desert) playing tricks on them, I’m sure there would still be a bit of swearing and fist banging.

All out rage? Maybe not. As long as they have access to Wi-Fi then they can always access Cheap Van Insurance to get quotes, even in the Nevada Desert.

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