Tag: compare van insurance

CVI Shining Part 1

Posted on by News Desk

I walked up to the CVI main entrance and busted through the front door. “Here’s Johnny,” I announced.

Everybody applauded as I made my entrance.

“Here he is,” said the new head of the SEO department.

“The man of the moment,” added the Assistant web design technician.

Its true. I’ve been riding high after my recent triumphs. Who can forget “Apocalypse CVI” and “Van Drivers Gone Wild?” You Can’t.

The boss walked up to me.

“Thanks for doing this JNR.”

“No problem boss,” I said as I put my suitcase on the floor.

“I look forward to watching the place for a couple of weeks over the holidays.”

“Usually the CNR does this,” the boss went on to add…”but he isn’t here, of course.”

There was a pause…

“I still can’t believe what happened…”

“Its okay boss. I’m here now.”

45 minutes later and the CVI Canteen manager was taking me on a tour of the kitchen.

“Its all pretty basic. There is enough food here to last you for 2 years, never mind 2 weeks…just like here, in the pantry…you’ve got all your basics…pot noodles mostly, look here is 2 pallets of Bombay Bad Boys and then we have 5 boxes of Chicken and Mushroom and if you like Beef and Tomato then you are really in for a treat because….”

I zoned out from the words he was speaking. I could still hear a noise. There was something else though. It was like he was trying to say something to me using the power of his mind.

“Don’t go in the stationery cupboard.”

The next morning and all of the CVI staff were long gone. I was now all alone in the big building.

I thought about going for a brisk walk in the outdoor maze, which was located within the CVI grounds.

However, I feared I might never find my way out.

Instead, I decided to whiz around the CVI hallways on a push scooter which someone had left behind.

I was whizzing around…without a care in the world…and then…

I screeched to a halt!

There it was…the stationery cupboard. It was padlocked, which peaked my curiosity.

I zoned in on that cupboard for a few seconds, almost in a trance, wondering what is inside.

“Snap out of it,” I said to myself.

“I’m here to look after the place and that is it.”

That evening a snow storm hit and the electricity went out. I decided to get an early night and quickly started to dream.

I dreamt it was the noughties and everybody was dressed in the height of fashion. It was some kind of party, right here at CVI HQ.

Everybody was excited about the new van insurance technology

“You can compare over 40 companies and brokers in 3 minutes,” I overheard in one conversation.

Just then a butler brushed my shoulder as he was walking past and spilled a drink on me.

“I’m so sorry sir. Allow me to clean that up for you, it will only take a minute.”

We went in the bathroom and he cleaned my jacket with a wet cloth. It was then I got a good look at him for the first time.

“CNR…its you!”

“You seem to be mistaken sir. I am the butler here at CVI. Nothing more.”

“It is you…CNR!!”

“You are mistaken sir. It is YOU who is the CNR. You have always been the CNR.”

His face changed to give me an intense stare.

“Now you must go to the stationery cupboard and Co…RRect this situation.” he said.

“The stationary cupboard?” I asked, surprised and a bit frightened..

“Yes. Go Do It Now.”

Do You Obey These 3 Strict Rules for Van Drivers?

Posted on by News Desk

There is nothing quite like taking to the open road in your van. You have tools or parcels in the back, and the wind sweeps through your hair.

You are the king of the road there is no doubt about that. Master of your own destiny and controller of your financial future.

If you are the boss then owning your own van is essential, but there are certain rules you need to obey. Do you know what they are? Keep reading…

Rule 1 – Duty of Care

Have you ever heard of something called “duty of care?” Most van drivers haven’t, but they really should.

Why? Because duty of care is a set of rules which companies have to abide by when operating vans. Things such as the incorrect maintenance methods or improper loading methods. If you or your staff get it wrong then you can expect a fine when caught.

The maximum a company can be fined is £10 million pounds. Definitely not small change is it.

Even if you are only a small company you can still be fined around half a million quid. So make sure you get it right and get up to speed with the Duty of Care Rules.

Rule 2 – Mobile Phone

You are a busy business owner who needs to be in constant contact with customers, clients, and suppliers. If you get an important phone call while on the road…what do you do?

If you choose to “answer it” then you have just broke rule number 2 of driving your van. Never use your mobile while at the wheel.

The penalty for breaking this rule? 6 points on your license and £200. If you are a young van driver then could even lose your license.

It doesn’t matter if you are stuck in a traffic jam, getting lunch at the McDonalds drive-thru, or just checking your emails…if you are caught with your hand on the mobile then you are really in trouble.

Rule 3 – Compare Van Insurance

If you have been with the same old boring van insurance company for the last few years then you have just broke rule number 3…ALWAYS compare van insurance.

Sure, we are biased, because as you may have noticed, we are a comparison website, but that also means we know what we are talking about.

The simple fact of the matter is that van insurance companies DO NOT reward you for your loyalty. Perhaps you are wondering why your van insurance gets more expensive year after year? It’s because they don’t care about you.

The solution? Compare van insurance right here from around 40 companies and brokers who partner with us. If you find a cheaper deal then switch right away.

You should do this every single year. It only takes 3 minutes to fill in our form. What is 3 minutes of your time when you could save hundreds of pounds.

What a Load of Rubbish! (White Van Man)

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“Do you have a license for that?” said the council worker. “You what mate?” replied the white van man.

The council worker edged his nose further into the van window…

“The empty crisp packets and bottles, sir…do you have a license for that?”

“Your having a bubble bath, aint ya?”

You, the faithful reader of CVI might be thinking this is a laugh, but we can assure you this is no joke. This is something that actually happened.

In Hertfordshire to be exact, where a roofer was just chilling out in his white van and enjoying a break before he got back to fixing tiles and pointing up ridges.

Sure, there was empty crisp packets and water bottles in his van. Maybe even some empty pot noodles. Who cares? This is his van and his choice. Thousands of white van men do exactly the same thing. It eventually gets cleaned.

Well, it appears that white van owners are no longer safe. You can’t do what you want in your own van, without jobsworth council workers sticking their noses in and trying to rob you of your own hard earned money.

Like a modern day Dick Turpin, these council workers roam the roads of the UK with nothing better to do.

“A license or a fine,” is what they say, and unfortunately you don’t have any choice in the matter.

Just like the white van man in the story…he couldn’t produce a license so he got slapped with a £300 fine, all for having a few empty wrappers in his van.

“What a load of rubbish!” is what we say here at Cheap Van Insurance.

Isn’t it time these council workers got a real job, and left hard working white van owners alone to get on with theirs.

He wasn’t fly tipping. He wasn’t chucking it in someone’s garden. He wasn’t throwing it out of the window.

It was in his own van! These are crazy times, that’s for sure.

Here at CVI we would like to reach out to every white van man and woman who has ever been a victim of this kind of injustice.

These bureaucrats might wield their power over you with stupid fines but you can fight back using our 3 minute form.

The next time you get a £300 fine you can laugh in the face of the council worker handing it over.

“What’s so funny?” they will demand to know.

“I’m with CVI…I’ve already saved a packet!”

So what are you waiting for? Compare van insurance with us today and make a £300 fine seem like chump change.

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

Posted on by News Desk

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.

The Biggest Van Insurance Mistake Right Now

Posted on by News Desk

Did you know that your van insurance policy could be completely worthless? You might as well rip it up right now and chuck it out of the window.

It is all because many van drivers around the country are making this one mistake that could very well make their policy not worth the paper it is printed on.

When you consider the average van insurance price is now about £1500, well, don’t you think it’s worth making sure the document is actually covering you in the event of an accident, van theft or tool theft? I do.

So what is this mistake anyway? Quite simply it has to do with your profession or job title, which many van owners often forget to change if they have a change of career.

For example, if you started out your journey as “man with a van” or would do odd jobs or anything for a few quid, but then at some point became a professional “roofer,” the best in town, then you might encounter trouble when trying to make a claim.

If you have not contacted your van insurance company and told them about the change then they will probably slam the phone down faster than you can say “it’s those magic keys.”

Not only that, but some van owners are also doing a bit of work on the side. By day they may very well be a “builder,” but by night and weekends they are doing a bit of “courier driving.”

Van owners who don’t let their insurance company know about this change will almost certainly get hit in the wallet.

Also, let’s not forget that you probably need specialised courier insurance if you are going to do that kind of work.

Yes insuring your van is often an expensive thing to do, and that is why so many people now turn to the Nations Favourite…van insurance website that is.

A place where you can fill in your details only once, and then, with a single click of a button get magically transported to a place of quotes from around 40 van insurance companies.

Just make sure that you get your job title right the first time, and if anything changes along the way then contact the company directly and tell them about it.

Another mistake that van drivers make is to not tell their insurer about a change of address. It doesn’t have to be your house either.

What I know a lot of tradespeople do is to keep their van in a garage located elsewhere, but, many forget to tell the van insurance company if they change locations.

“Just let us know” is what the insurers are saying, and for once I agree with them.

Covea Go After White Van Men

Posted on by News Desk

White van drivers have gotten a bad rep recently. If they are not ripping off car doors they are threatening cyclists. The Summer of Rage, it was called.

Now winter is here and most white van men are sitting in their vans with warm blankets and flasks of tea. A few hours of work here and there, but no time for all out rage…wait until the warmer weather for that.

Despite the reputation of the white van man being less than desirable a van insurance company by the name of “Covea” have decided to launch a new insurance product designed specifically for van owners who own the popular white vans.

It will be branded under the name “Your Van” and will also be made available to brokers so that everyone around the country has the opportunity to take a look at what they have got to offer.

“Contrary to what many people may say about the white van man our experience shows that commercial vehicle is a market with a solid performance,” said a spokesperson for Covea.

Perhaps they have been reading the blog right here at Cheap Van Insurance, where we often report on the exploits of the average white van driver as they rampage around the country (and get some work done as well of course).

Sure, there are a few stories that might not exactly paint white van drivers in a flattering light, but in my experience they are a good bunch who provide a valuable service to millions.

Where would you be without that Argos delivery this Christmas or what if that kitchen extension never got built? It is the white van owners of this nation who keep things on the straight and narrow, if they suddenly disappeared then it would be…CHAOS.

Not only that, but recent telematics data from a company called Quartix shows us that white van drivers are in fact, the safest drivers in the UK.

They might very well explode in fits of rage when put into the wrong situation, but when it comes to driving at the speed limit and keeping their hands at 10 and 2, well, they are the group that van insurers want as their customers.

That is why it’s no surprise that Covea are going after the white van man, but should the white van men even consider this particular company? In my opinion, no.

That’s not to say that Covea and their new product “Your Van” is not very good, it’s just that there is only one place that white van drivers should look for the best van insurance in the country…the site you are on right now.

Van Drivers WARNED About Scam HotSpots

Posted on by News Desk

There is a menace on the roads up and down the UK and it goes by the name of “crash for cash.” It’s a scam that van drivers are being warned about.

Up until now, the whole crash for cash scam has mostly affected car drivers. Maybe you’ve heard about it in the news, but always felt safe when in your van? Not anymore.

Research shows that van drivers are now being targeted by these organised crime gangs who roam the roads looking for their next prey. It’s an industry worth millions every year you see, which means there is a lot of cash up for grabs. These criminals want to get as much as they can.

During this new research, which was conducted by the IFB, or Insurance Fraud Bureau if you want to be more official, well, they highlighted the 10 so called “hotspots” where van drivers need to be on high alert.

The number 1 place to be vigilant for these scammers? Birmingham comes out on top, where road users are victims every single day, hour by hour.

Manchester and Bradford also feature highly on the list, while Bolton, Sheffield and Blackburn are also cities that van drivers are being warned about.

Surprisingly, London is named but not as one of the top cities. The reason? I think because most of these criminal gangs have their base in London, but prefer to ply their trade away from home turf.

How exactly does this whole crash for cash work anyway? Quite simply, a car or van will crash into your vehicle on purpose. They will then take your details and start claiming there was more damage than actually happened.

So for example, the scammers start hitting up your van insurance company for major repair costs, even though nothing really happened.

They manage to pocket a lot of free cash from this type of scam, with some estimates putting the crash for cash industry at a whopping £330 million a year. That is just under 1 million a day, that is being stolen from car and van drivers. It’s daylight robbery.

Why should you care though…yes it might be an inconvenience, but at the end of the day it’s your insurance company that picks up the tab, right? Wrong.

All that happens is that van insurance companies pass on the costs to you, the driver, who pays for it with more expensive premiums every year.

So make sure you are well aware when driving around these hotspots for any potential crash for cash incident about to happen. If it does happen and you suspect a scam, call the Police directly to the scene. Don’t let them get away with it.

You might also want to try comparing van insurance as a way to fight back. Yes, these crash for cash scammers might be winning right now, but if you get cheap quotes year after year then you have the last laugh.

Ice Cream Vans Almost “Extinct” Because Of…

Posted on by News Desk

The traditional ice cream van man or woman used to be an everyday sight and sound, even in the winter. Those days are nearly over it seems.

Did you know that in the 1970’s there were around a quarter of a million ice cream vans on UK roads? Fast forward to 2017 and it’s estimated there are around 2500.

So the writing is on the wall for the ice cream van trade by the looks of it, which is a shame because who doesn’t remember hearing the familiar sound of your local ice cream van when you were a kid, and then running out of the house to get a 99 flake or those ice creams with the bubble gum at the bottom.

It makes you wonder why such a popular national institution such as the ice cream van looks to be going the way of the dinosaurs.

According to the CEO of the Ice Cream Association there is one particular culprit that not many people realise…and it isn’t what you might think.

“Double Glazing” has been blamed for the near extinction of ice cream vans, mainly because it is claimed that children or their parents can no longer hear the familiar chimes of the van coming down the road.

Most kids are sat inside playing on their computer or surfing the internet and updating social media, blissfully unaware that an ice cream van is outside waiting for their pocket money.

Waiting…and waiting….and waiting…and waiting, that is what many ice cream van owners did, but because of double glazing nobody knew they were around, and this led to many selling their ice cream vans and then going down the local job centre to see what van driving jobs there was, no doubt.

One expert commented, “even if a van is right outside their house, people may not hear them. The whole point is to soundproof homes and keep them warm, but they are not good for ice cream vans.”

Is it all doom and gloom though? Maybe not, because a new company have just come up with a solution. It’s called Vantoot, which is an App that alerts users when the ice cream man or woman is about to come down the street. A good idea? Let’s wait and see.

The one thing I do know is that currently, as we speak, there are 2500 hard working ice cream van owners that go out on the roads of the UK to keep on selling the nations favourite snacks.

In my opinion, these people should be rewarded for their persistence and dedication to the tradition that we all know and remember, and what better way to do that than with cheap van insurance.

Right here, you can quickly and easily compare ice cream van insurance in order to save money so you can make more profit.

It only takes about 3 minutes to write down your details in the form (which is about the time it takes to serve a family with their favourite ice creams), and then, you instantly get quotes from over 40 insurance companies with potentially very cheap quotes for your ice cram van. Give it a try.

Delivery Drivers Tell All in Anonymous Survey

Posted on by News Desk

Every day vans are driving around the country making important deliveries, but what about the delivery drivers themselves? A new survey tells us more.

No names were taken when conducting the survey, which means the drivers could relax and open up about what really goes on when they deliver goods and packages to homes in the UK.

One driver told the survey that it often never occurs to customers who have just moved in to tell them where white goods such as cookers and washing machines are going in the house, expecting him to instantly know where to put such items.

“We’ll turn up and they’ve just moved in, with boxes everywhere, and they’re expecting us to navigate this huge oven down to the basement kitchen.”

Another driver, who will remain nameless, mentioned how a woman screamed and swore at him because an expensive brand name stove wouldn’t go around the bend of her very narrow stairs. Apparently, she just couldn’t comprehend how the stove could not be taken to the kitchen, and ended up blaming the delivery drivers.

Of course, a simple 2 minute job with a tape measure would have told her that a designer stove was not getting around the stairs. Not surprisingly the delivery driver had to take the stove away and the woman was refunded.

That same driver also told a funny story about how he once delivered a washing machine to a student house, only to be asked “so can we, like, use it now?” He had to explain that it needed to be plumbed in first.

What almost all delivery drivers agree on in the survey is they just can’t stand the guy who stands around like a gaffer ordering them about and giving instructions while trying to deliver white goods and other large items.

“Mind the walls” and “bend your knees, up a bit,” these people will say, but at the end of the day delivery drivers know their job and are better off left alone to do it after getting some simple instructions.

“I’m often tempted to drop their new fridge on their feet,” said one driver when asked about the home owners who try to order him about.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, with the majority of delivery drivers agreeing that many customers are very nice, and the best ones are those who offer a cup of tea.

If there is one thing that all delivery drivers like it’s a good cup of tea…and cheap van insurance as well.

Insuring your van is getting more expensive, but you can save money by using a comparison website.

5 Van Insurance Companies Join Forces = 1 Super Company!

Posted on by News Desk

In a deal that has been the talk of the van insurance world, it has just been announced that 5 companies are to join forces.

Autonet, Towergate, Chase Templeton, Ryan Direct, and Price Forbes are the van insurance companies who have come together, in a move that many industry insiders are calling “monumental.”

It is thought that this super company will now focus all of their attention on offering van insurance for the “man on the street” or the “white van man” as some people might say.

There has also been talk that during top secret meetings and calls, the 5 companies referred to the deal as “Project Kairos,” which is a Greek work that simply means…the right moment.

Let’s hope that it is the right moment for these van insurance companies and their newly formed super company, although they are certainly entering a competitive market where things are not easy.

This is good for the consumer though, where they now have many different insurance companies all vying for their business.

If you are the “man on the street” or “white van man” and you want van insurance at a fair price, then what better place to start than right here? Sure, you could go directly to this newly formed company for a quote, or even to one of the other well known insurers, but it’s much better idea to start at a van insurance comparison website.

The reason? Because you get a much better sense of what is out there, as you are able to instantly compare quotes and deals from over 100 insurance companies.

Yes, you very well might get a better quote elsewhere by going directly to a company, but you don’t know until you compare online first. It gives you a better idea of the market and what is out there.

Back to the newly formed van insurance super company, and if reports are to be trusted then it’s understood that they will now attempt to raise £800 million worth of capital.

This will involve US private equity groups apparently, although it does make you wonder what they need all this cash for…maybe to make some TV adverts? Hopefully not.

The new company is temporarily named Kris, although if you ask me, they might want to get back to the drawing board on that one. I’m sure some of that £800 million can go towards hiring someone to come up with a decent name.

They currently have 5000 staff across the 5 companies who will now all come under the one company, and estimated revenue for this year will be around £500 million.

You might very well find the cheapest van insurance with Kris, but you should start here first where you can compare over 100 companies.

Step 1

Complete your quick and easy quote

Step 2

Reveal your van insurance policies

Step 3

Pick your favourite and get instant cover