The Irish Example

Good news for Irish van drivers this week, with the launch of a scheme that we very much hope to see cross the Irish Channel and trickle into the British system.

If you are fortunate enough to be living and working in Ireland, you will no doubt have heard about the new grant scheme that has been launched to support tradespeople in this post-COVID economy.

Yes, over the water, they have launched a new Enterprise Support Grant, which offers tradespeople a grant of us to €1000 per sole trader who do not qualify for other government support. 

Welcomed by tradespeople over, there, the grant is helping take the strain off the nation’s sparkies, plumbers, builders and carpenters who are able to claim the grant to help make their life a little easier in this post-COVD economy. 

What is really great about the grant is that not only can it be used for stocking up on tools and equipment, but the money can also be put towards vehicle running costs, including fuel, servicing, and van insurance too.

As we all know, insuring a van is not cheap. For many tradespeople, it represents a large chunk of expense towards doing and running their business. And while here at CVI, we do our very best to ensure that all van drivers get the best possible deal on their van insurance, irrespective of age, gender or trade, we know that since the economy ground to a halt earlier this year, getting back up and running has been a massive struggle for many. 

We very much welcome this news and hope that our own Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, sees this initiative and takes inspiration from it, and offers a similar scheme to the van drivers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

After all, with the government desperate to get us all back to work, we can only hope that they don’t forget the role of the British van drivers play in the economy and that they do their bit for those who may have missed out from other initiatives, such as the furlough scheme or self-employment grants. 

Here’s looking at you, Rishi.

Van Drivers Who Passed Their Test After 1996 – READ THIS

Are you a van driver who passed your driving test on or after the 1st January 1997. If so, then you MUST read this important message.

Ignore this and you could lose your license, get a fine…and even end up behind bars at her Majesty’s pleasure.

Now that I have your attention allow me to tell you exactly what this is all about.

Put simply, anyone who passed their driving test after 1996 is limited to driving vehicles that weigh up to 3500kg when fully loaded. This includes the weight of the driver as well.

If you are a tradesperson or courier driver…then its very easy to go over this 3500kg limit, especially when your van is loaded with tools or parcels.

Also, if you have been hitting the big macs or pizza hut hard recently, then it might be a good idea to eat a salad and hit the gym…hard.

Most van drivers either don’t know about this rule or wrongly assume if the weight of their van is below 3500kg then everything is hunky dory.

For example, the average Ford Transit which is very popular on our UK roads is around 2000kg soaking wet.

However, when you consider that two people can be sitting in the front and there is an assortment of heavy tools in the back…then it’s easy to see why so many van drivers are unwittingly breaking the law.

So are the cops cruising around and looking to bust you for being overweight? They might be, although most of the time they come across your crime by accident.

Many van drivers might be involved in a small fender bender and then the cops show up on the scene.

Nobody is at fault, and after both parties have exchanged details everybody is ready to leave…when…”what is the weight of your van, sir?”

The cops have a nose for this kind of thing, and busting you for being overweight is the cherry on top for them.

Hauling hardened criminals into jail…that is their bread and butter.

Busting overweight van drivers…that is their cherry.

Don’t let the cops pop your cherry. Visit a local weighbridge and make sure you are under the 3500kg limit.

If you regularly driver over the limit then you need to take additional driving tests to become legal.

Oh…and while you are at it you might as well visit our 3 minute form here at Cheap Van Insurance.

Thousands of van drivers make us their number 1 comparison website to get the best quotes. Find out for yourself why many white van men, tradespeople, delivery drivers and LCV owners call us “The Nations Favourite.”

Just go to the top of the page and click on “Get a Quote.”

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Complete your quick and easy quote

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