Tag: van insurance

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.

Nearly 400,000 Light Commercial Vehicles Registered in UK

Posted on by News Desk

Light commercial vehicles, or LCV’s as they are also known, have always been popular, but at the end of 2016 a record number were registered.

375,687 was the exact figure according to official records, although as we approach the half way point of 2017 it wouldn’t surprise me if the figure was now nearly 400,000.

This is in stark contrast to 2009, when the official number of light commercial vehicles was 186,387. In just 7 years the number of LCV’s has pretty much doubled. It makes you wonder what that figure will be in another 7 years? A lot I’m sure.

It all has to do with the fact that companies of all sizes are now investing in LCV’S, as they are both practical and look professional, and in many cases are far more affordable to run than bigger vans.

Take van insurance for example, where insuring your light commercial vehicle is now potentially cheaper than ever…as long as you use a comparison website of course.

Insurance for LCV’s is not all that owners are willing to spend their money on though, as recent reports show that many companies now like to spend a few quid on customisations for their vehicles.

Things such as sliding doors, branding vinyl wraps, and customised mats are just some of customisations that companies order with the LCV.

They also go directly to the manufacturer to get specific customisations that improve productivity and keep their light commercial vehicles on the right side of the law.

To give you an example, a business owner recently ordered 100 Renault Master Panel Vans that came with rear doors that opened at exactly 270 degrees and had a limit to how fast the van could go…68mph!

So I don’t think any of these Renault Master Panel Vans are going to be getting pulled over by the Police for speeding anytime soon, although the company owner should still warn his drivers about the possibility of being stopped for talking on a mobile phone while driving.

I’m sure it must have cost quite a bit more to have these customisations on the Renault LCV’s, but if the company owner visited a van comparison website, such as this one, then I’m sure he could potentially make a lot of that money back through the cheap insurance quotes on offer.

Also, let’s not forget that if the company has 100 LCV’s then they qualify for specialised fleet insurance, where you are able to take advantage of discounts when insuring a large amount of vans on one policy and at the same time.

If you are in the same position, where you have many light commercial vehicles in your company and you want to save money on van insurance, then my advice is to start with comparing quotes right here. It only takes a few minutes, and you get instant access to quotes from around 40 insurance companies.

Driving at 31mph Could Mean Very Expensive Van Insurance

Posted on by News Desk

As the Police are getting tougher on motorists who speed on the roads, van drivers are being warned about the potential expense of being pulled over.

This comes after reports of a van driver who was stopped by the cops for speeding at 31mph in a 20mph zone, and after a good telling off they decided to slap 6 points onto his license. Not exactly something you want to happen is it, but Police now have orders to be tougher on anyone caught speeding.

If 6 points on your license isn’t enough punishment, van drivers are being made aware of the potential expense it could mean for their wallet…when it comes to van insurance that is.

The amount of points you have on your license is taken into consideration by the van insurance companies when you send in your application, and when they see a recent 6 points, and for speeding as well…then don’t be surprised if you find yourself paying hundreds of pounds more than you expect.

One site even did a calculation on exactly how much 6 points on your license could add to your insurance, and they came up with a number of £328, which on average, could very well be put on to a van insurance quote.

Let’s face it, van insurance is expensive enough right now as it is, do you really want to be paying more? Of course not, and that is why you should always watch your speed and keep it within the limits. Even going a few miles per hour above the speed limit can result in a fine and points. Don’t take the chance.

You might want to consider telematics insurance for your van, where all of the driving data is recorded and then sent off to the insurance company.

If you stay within the speed limits and drive safely, then not only will you keep out of trouble with the law, but your van insurer will also see what a good driver you are and hopefully reward you with a cheaper policy, not a more expensive one.

Another good way to make sure you get cheap van insurance is to visit a comparison website, where in only 3 minutes you can put in some basic details about yourself and your van, and then instantly get access to over 100 quotes.

Also, don’t forget that you can get a quote at anytime even if your renewal date is a few months away.

What a lot of drivers do is to start comparing quotes around 2 months before their renewal comes up, then if they find a really cheap deal they can simply pay a small cancellation fee with their current provider to end the coverage early and begin with the cheap van insurance right away.

Admiral Launch Van Insurance

Posted on by News Desk

You’ve no doubt heard of Admiral in regards to car insurance, but did you know they offer van insurance as well? Yes they do.

Actually, Admiral have been in the van insurance game for a while now, but as a broker through their other company called Able Insurance.

Things must be going well, because they have decided to offer van insurance to drivers around the country directly, which will no doubt put them right at the top of companies who are offering insurance to commercial vehicles in the UK.

So what if you currently have a policy through Able Insurance…will this have any impact? According to Admiral it won’t, as a spokesperson for the company commented that any policy taken through Able Insurance will be honoured, and that existing customers will be invited to renew with the newly formed Admiral van insurance.

It’s good to know that Admiral are going to be looking after their current customers and not leaving them with any problems. Not only that, but I’m sure that many will continue with Admiral when it comes time to renew, although by law they must now tell you about the benefits of shopping around of course.

In other words, Admiral have to mention that visiting a site like this one, Cheap Van Insurance, could very well save you money, especially if you use the free online quote feature where you can compare quotes from many different companies in minutes.

Don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go with Admiral or renew your van insurance with them, it’s just that you don’t really know if you are getting the best deal until you shop around, something which you can do right here.

You might very well get the best quote with Admiral, or it might be with a different company completely All you have to do is fill in the simple form and find out.

If you do decide to go with Admiral van insurance then make sure you ask them about a range of other features they could potentially have on offer.

For example, telematics is becoming very popular among van drivers, where their driving data is shared with the insurance company. If you drive well then expect your policy to get less expensive.

Another popular feature is fleet insurance, which is ideal for companies who have more than 1 van and want insure them all on one policy in a bid to save money. Make sure you ask Admiral about that.

Firstly though, start right here at the number 1 van insurance comparison website, where all it takes is 3 minutes of your time and some basic information.

New Study – Best Places to Appeal Van Parking Tickets

Posted on by News Desk

Ever wondered why you always seem to get a parking ticket? It’s because you are a van driver…that’s why.

I’ve reported before about how van drivers are being singled out by over eager traffic wardens, with some owners getting a ticket when their van is parked on the drive at the front of the house. You couldn’t make these kind of stories up.

While there isn’t much you can do about finding a ticket slapped onto your front windscreen, you might be pleased to hear that you can fight back. Even better, according to a new study, there are some places in the UK where you are more likely to be successful in your appeal.

This has led pundits to refer to it as a “ parking ticket postcode lottery,” where some van drivers are going to be successful in their appeals, while others are left wondering just what is going on.

I suppose it is a bit like van insurance really. Some van drivers live in the right postcode and get rewarded with cheap quotes, while others, especially those in East London, get the highest van insurance quotes ever seen.

If you have just been quoted an expensive price for your van insurance, then my advice is to shop around on a website like this one. It only takes a few minutes, and you should start to see cheaper quotes almost instantly.

Back to the parking tickets for van drivers and you are no doubt wondering just what are the best places to appeal? The study mentions that some councils approve almost every appeal while others the ratio is just 1 in 10, so it’s definitely worth knowing which places are the most van driver friendly.

To give you an example of how bizarre this can be…last year a place called Runnymede in Surrey only approved 9% of appeals by van drivers, while just 30 miles away in Basingstoke and Deane in Hampshire 95% of the appeals sent in got a stamp of approval.

Other places where you are more likely to find success are Waveney in Suffolk, Swale in Kent, and South Tyneside in Kent.

Should you always appeal a parking ticket though, or are there times when you might be better off just accepting your punishment? In my opinion, if you genuinely are in the wrong then maybe it’s a good idea to simply pay up and move on with your life. However, if you think the parking ticket has been issued unfairly, then fighting back is a good option.

For example, if the signs were wrong, the traffic warden got it wrong, there was an error on the ticket, a thief stole your van and parked illegally, or if you just think you have been singled out because you are a van driver…then do everything in your power to appeal.

You Could be Wasting £350 a Year on Van Insurance

Posted on by News Desk

Research by a well known insurance comparison website has just gave us some interesting facts, but it doesn’t make good reading for van drivers.

What they have found, is that on average, van drivers who do not switch van insurance companies at renewal time are losing out, at about £350 a year.

Not only that, but even smart van drivers who do shop around…even they usually end up losing money. Do you know why? Because they don’t do it at the optimal time.

During their research, this insurance comparison website found that van drivers who make it their goal to switch insurance companies 4 weeks before their renewal date saved the most money, while those who waited right until the last minute typically paid more on average.

The good news is that the law is on your side, as your van insurance company now has to tell you what your insurance cost was last year when it comes time to renew. They also have to announce that comparing van insurance is a great way to save money.

I’ve been saying this for years of course. It appears that everyone in the government agrees with me and all of those van insurance companies do as well.

Sure, they might not enjoy having to tell van drivers to visit a comparison website like the one you are on right now, but at least they are doing the right thing.

Now that van drivers understand they are wasting £350 a year on insurance, will they actually do anything about it? Unfortunately not it seems, because in the last part of the research it clearly says that despite consumers being more educated about the benefits of comparing insurance and switching companies, most people simply put it off, or forget about it, or leave everything to the last minute.

Hopefully, you are not one of these people, and you are on this van insurance comparison website right now because you want to get the best deal.

That is our number 1 goal, and if you take a few minutes of your time to fill in the simple form, then you will instantly start getting quotes from many different companies.

You can then choose the best deal and switch companies if you need to, and although we can’t guarantee you will save £350, you don’t know exactly how much you could save until you give it a try.

Remember, don’t wait right until your renewal time to start comparing van insurance quotes. The optimal time is 4 weeks before.

Van Drivers Warned About Travelling to France

Posted on by News Desk

If you drive a van and are planning a trip to France over the coming weeks, then make sure you don’t get a £117 fine for driving on their roads.

Many people who drive commercial vehicles have to cross the English Channel into France and then make deliveries or collect important stock…but not many drivers are aware of the new law that has just been passed by the French government.

Basically, what this is all about is a new “vehicle emissions sticker” that every vehicle must display on their windscreen. Right now the sticker only costs £3.60, but if caught by French Police without it, then expect to get fined £117 immediately.

You won’t even get a chance to appeal, and you won’t be able to say “do you take a cheque?” From what I’ve been hearing the French Police are taking a zero tolerance stance on this new law, and if you don’t have a sticker then they will immediately whip out their credit card machine and demand instant payment for the fine.

Something tells me they are going to be watching the roads closely for vehicles from abroad driving on their roads, where people behind the wheel are not aware of the new French laws.

This includes van drivers of course, who in my opinion are always easy targets because they are more likely to have money on them. I would expect French Police to prefer cash over credit cards, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they have change on them.

What happens if you can’t pay…will they take your van away? They might just do that, and then you will have to pay even more cash to get it back.

Not only that, but in some circumstances you might even find yourself spending the night in a French jail. It certainly is a bit extreme to think that you are going to get nicked for not having a sticker, but when you are dealing with Police in another country who knows what will happen.

Hopefully, most UK van drivers are aware of this new French law, but if you have a mate or work colleague that is travelling to France soon, you might just want to let them know.

Any driver planning on visiting France in the near future should visit the Crit’Air official website and then order a sticker for £3.60.

Also, make sure you have the correct van insurance for travelling abroad, because the last thing you want is to be pulled over by French Police for no sticker and no insurance.

Prison Van Gets Parking Ticket…Outside a Court

Posted on by News Desk

In news that proves traffic wardens have lost the plot, it was revealed that a prison van got a ticket while parked outside a court in Sussex.

The whole incident was caught on video camera, where the warden can be clearly seen walking directly up to the prison van and then slapping a ticket right on the windscreen…before calmly walking away.

Did he not even notice this was a prison van…outside of a court? If the van wants to park on double yellow lines then it can, because it’s probably there to pick up criminals and take them to prison.

Much better if the driver does that rather than parking half way across town, where a dangerous criminal then has many potential options to escape on the walk from court.

In my opinion, this is just another example of these power hungry traffic wardens and the companies they work for, who seem to think they rule the cities and towns of our country. Well, they don’t, and something needs to be done about it.

Many of you agree with me as well, because every day I am getting emails from van drivers around the country who are fed up of being targeted by these traffic wardens.

A lot of hard working van owners are simply trying to get a job done or make a delivery, only to find a parking ticket on the windscreen as soon as they go to get a cup of tea. It just isn’t on.

As if you all don’t have enough expenses to be contending with right now, such as van insurance and tax…do you really need these parking firms adding more expense to your accounts? I don’t think so.

Unfortunately, fighting back against parking tickets is usually a waste of time, even when you drive a prison van it seems.

Instead, the best way to fight back against expensive motoring is to always compare van insurance when you have to renew.

Never let your policy auto renew, because I can tell you now that you won’t be getting the best deal if you do that, because your current insurer wants to get as much money out of you as they can.

You have to be smarter about van insurance in order to win, and it starts by using a comparison website.

This puts you back in control, and gives you some bargaining power if you want to confront your current insurer about their expensive prices. They are more willing to listen if you have other offers on the table.

Floyd Mayweather has UK Van Insurance

Posted on by News Desk

The boxer Floyd Mayweather is currently on a tour of the UK, but he didn’t expect to get his van firebombed by thugs in Birmingham.

Well, that is exactly what happened, where outside of a nightclub one of his TMT branded vans was firebombed which then led to a blaze where firefighters had to be called to the scene.

TMT stands for “The Money Team” if you didn’t know, and is typically a group of people that follow Floyd around.

No doubt they were all enjoying their trip to the UK, and if reports are to be trusted then some of TMT invited a few women from the nightclub back to their van outside and insisted that no boyfriends were allowed.

It appears that some of the boyfriends didn’t like the idea of their women entering the TMT van, and this is when the firebombing took place. Who knows exactly who did this…maybe jealous boyfriends had nothing to do with it? Fortunately, no-one was hurt.

The whole incident got the attention of Floyd Mayweather though, and the next day after moving from Birmingham to Newcastle, the Police decided to give him and the whole of TMT some extra protection.

This leads us to the question…did Floyd Mayweather have UK van insurance? Obviously the guy has made millions from his boxing career, so could easily pay for a new vehicle with the cash in his pocket no doubt, but, it doesn’t matter how rich or famous you are…getting insured is a legal requirement.

Our understanding here at Cheap Van Insurance is that Floyd Mayweather did have the correct insurance for all vehicles that were being used by himself and TMT…they may have even used a comparison website to get the cheapest deal, although those reports are yet to be confirmed.

Many people have probably heard of Floyd Mayweather being mentioned recently in connection with UFC star Conor Mcgregor, with a potential superfight on the table.

If they fight in a boxing ring then Floyd should win quite easily, but it would probably be the biggest PPV of all time, meaning that both guys would make a lot of money.

There are no reports about whether or not Floyd will be meeting with Conor during his tour of the UK, although if he travels to Ireland where Conor lives, then he should be aware he will need to get Irish van insurance to lawfully drive on the roads over there.

Let’s just hope Floyd and TMT get all of their van insurance sorted out, and there are no more incidents while he is here.

Van Driver Takes on Crash for Cash Gang

Posted on by News Desk

It is typically cars that are associated with the crash for cash scam, usually these gangs leave van drivers well alone…until now that is.

Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary for the van driver who was no doubt on his way somewhere important, when suddenly and without warning, the car in front slammed on its brakes and caused the van to crash into the back.

There appears to have been another car in front of the one that braked, although that quickly sped off after the incident.

The collision was only at 5mph, but enough to cause a bit of damage. However, the van driver immediately became suspicious about what had just happened.

No doubt the van driver had read about these crash for cash scams before, and how criminal gangs are roaming the country looking for innocent victims.

Well, he wasn’t going to accept the blame here, and instead, decided to confront them about the fact they were trying to pull a fast one. It seems they were in no mood for a showdown, and decided to make a quick exit away from the scene.

Fortunately, he was quick thinking, and got out his phone to take pictures of the men and their car before they got away. Not only that, but he also put in a call to his van insurance company to let them know what just happened.

Long story short…and the 3 guys did try to make a claim against this innocent guys van insurance…but he didn’t just take it and decided to get the Police involved. It quickly became apparent that not all was legit here, and in no time at all the 3 guys were arrested.

It turned out they were part of a criminal gang who had been doing the crash for cash scam all over England, and they might have continued to get away with it if they had just stayed away from van drivers.

Moral of the story…don’t try and scam van drivers. You won’t win, and will probably end up in prison just like these 3 guys have.

That’s right. The 3 people in the car have just been sentenced to 17 months, 15 months and 14 months respectively, which means they will have a bit of time to think about a career change maybe? I doubt it. They will be out and about on the roads again in a few months time.

Anyway, it’s good to see people are beginning to get wise about these crash for cash scams, and if drivers, insurance companies and the Police are willing to work together, I don’t think there is any reason why there can’t be more success stories like this.

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