Tag: van insurance

British Gas Vows To Electrify With New Vauxhall Vivaro E Vans

Posted on by News Desk

Are electric vans the future…

With potential fuel tax hikes, van and delivery drivers may face tough times ahead.

As it stands, fuel costs are already rising quickly.

Furthermore, an additional 3p per litre could add £1 billion to the UK Treasury.

But for van drivers, this means an extra £250 a year on fuel.

Reports say that after a 9-year freeze on fuel tax, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering lifting it.

The aim?

To help pay off lockdown costs.

But at what cost for delivery drivers?

Rising Fuel Costs – What’s At Stake?

For van drivers, these hikes don’t just impact the bottom line.

Each added expense eats into profits, especially for small businesses and independent drivers.

The increase, while seemingly small, compounds over hundreds of fill-ups.

It’s a relentless drain on resources.

So, what options are there?

Could Electric Vans Be The Future Of Britain’s Fleets?

With these rising fuel prices, the future of Britain’s vans could very well go green.

In fact, more motor companies are now pledging to produce only electric vehicles by 2030.

But here’s the real question:

Could this shift not only cut costs but also benefit the environment?

Electric vans, while an upfront investment, can lead to lower fuel costs and reduced maintenance over time.

As traditional fuel costs soar, the cost-benefit of going electric looks more attractive.

British Gas certainly thinks so.

British Gas Takes A Bold Step Toward Electric Vans

In fact, British Gas is taking major steps toward a greener fleet.

Recently, they made the biggest electric vehicle order in the UK.

They’ve ordered 1,000 of Vauxhall’s new, all-electric Vivaro-e vans.

This is just the beginning.

Once available, they plan to add more electric vans to their fleet.

Electric vans can help companies cut down on emissions and lead by example.

British Gas, a significant employer of van drivers, is setting the standard.

The New Vauxhall Vivaro-e: A Game-Changer For British Gas

And they’re not stopping there.

The Vauxhall Combo-e, launching this summer, is also 100% electric.

It’s quickly emerging as a strong contender in the small van market.

Moreover, British Gas, owned by Centrica, has ambitious environmental goals.

Specifically, they’re aiming to transition their entire workforce to electric vehicles by 2030.

This move goes beyond compliance—it’s about future-proofing their operations for sustainability.

Preparing For an Electric Fleet By 2030

How will they make it work?

British Gas has plans to provide electric vans to employees who volunteer for the switch.

Additionally, they’ll prioritise areas with high emissions or places where van replacements are needed most.

This targeted strategy ensures that their electric fleet makes a meaningful environmental impact.

What started as an idea—the switch to electric vehicles—is now in full motion, with real changes underway.

Installing Charging Stations For A Greener Future

Worried about charging stations?

Don’t be.

British Gas is installing home chargers and training engineers in electric vehicle use.

This proactive approach means they’re prepared for a seamless transition.

Their engineers won’t be scrambling for charging points or dealing with long downtimes.

With infrastructure in place, the goal of a fully electric fleet is more achievable.

British Gas Commitment to “Net-Zero” Targets

British Gas’s commitment to achieving “net-zero” targets is truly setting a new standard.

Their efforts focus on reducing van emissions while improving local air quality.

But they’re not stopping at promises—they’re taking action.

Lowering van emissions is key to shrinking their daily carbon footprint.

Over 4 Million Deliveries: Supporting Communities In Need

Since the pandemic began, British Gas engineers have delivered over 4 million meals to those in need.

These deliveries highlight the crucial role that van drivers play in supporting local communities.

Their dedication goes beyond just work; it’s a lifeline for many.

This commitment highlights the importance of protecting these essential drivers for many households.

Thinking About Electric Vans? We’ve Got You Covered

So, is it time to think about an electric van?

Perhaps you already own one.

Rising fuel costs and environmental goals could make electric vehicles the new norm.

Whether you’re exploring electric options or already on board, the right insurance is key.

Having the right coverage can make all the difference when making the switch.

Either way, we’re here to help with affordable electric van insurance.

We’ve got you covered—because the future of vans might just be electric.

Courier? You May Need Special Insurance

Posted on by News Desk

If you’re working as a man (or woman, obviously) with van as a courier, we hope you’ve got the right insurance.

Some, pushed into a new courier career, thanks to Covid, may not be aware that it’s more than standard van insurance that is required.

Couriers can’t just make do with van insurance and hope for the best.

If your van gets broken into or stolen, you need to be pretty certain that the cost of whatever you have inside is covered,

or you could find yourself in a sticky situation.

Not only that, as couriers are also in contact with member of the public for work,

anyone working as a delivery driver needs to have public liability insurance to make sure that they are fully protected.

Most van insurance companies offer specialist courier insurance policies, regardless of what type of vehicle you are using.

These are often more expensive than regular car or van insurance.

The high cost of the goods you transport is one factor.

Plus, spending more time on the road than other drivers increases your accident risk and expenses.

Similar to regular car or van insurance, you can choose third-party cover, third-party fire and theft, or comprehensive.

Comprehensive is always the best option for full coverage.

Additionally, goods in transit insurance protects the value of any items lost or damaged during transit.

This also covers your van and contents in case of theft, whether parked at home or out on deliveries.

A longer driving history, strong van security, and fewer motoring convictions all help.

These factors keep your courier insurance costs down.

Use our free quote tool to ensure you are getting the best deal on your van insurance.

We may be over the snow, but accidents and thefts can happen any time, so it’s always best to stay safe. 

Time To Ditch The Go-Faster Stripes?

Posted on by News Desk

Here at Cheap Van Insurance, we know what it’s like.

Van drivers are busy people.

You’ve got places to be and people to see and no time for a chat.

But if you are one of the many white van people who are tempted to exceed the speed limit from time to time,you may want to think again. 

That’s because the boys in blue are rolling out the speed cam in blue.

Anew, handheld camera that is capable of catching drivers who are exceeding the speed limit, day and night, from a distance of 750 metres. 

The new, handheld cameras are being rolled out by police forces up and down the country, including by Warwickshire and Northumberland police.

Costing around £10,000 per camera, they can automatically identify the make, model and number plate of vehicles from a distance – far greater than was previously possible with other handheld speed guns. 

And don’t think if you haven’t been stopped that you haven’t been caught.

These devices automatically send video images to a database and automatically issue a penalty charge.

Penalties are currently a minimum of £100 and three points on your license.

Not only that, these cameras are also capable of detecting errant mobile phone users, tailgaters, and non-seatbelt wearers too.

The days of pretending it wasn’t you behind the wheel of the company van are well and truly over. 

If that wasn’t enough, it can also read rear number plates too and is untraceable to jamming devices that identify fixed speed cameras ahead.

So if you are a bit prone to putting your foot down or driving that littler bit too close, beware. Y

our days without getting caught may just be numbered. 

BBC Biased Against Van Drivers?

Posted on by News Desk

So, as another lockdown comes into full force, the weight of online shopping rests on van drivers.

Builders and brickies keep on keeping on, while the BBC finds itself in hot water this week.

The issue?

Allegations of bias against car and van drivers, which may surprise absolutely none of you.

The cycle-friendly broadcaster has been accused by lobby group Fair Fuel UK of an anti-car and van bias.

The BBC often portrays the motorist as the cause of problems, says Fair Fuel UK.

Fair Fuel accuses the BBC of favoring the well-financed green environmental position.

Historically seen as the voice of neutrality, the BBC now faces increasing criticism for biased opinions.

These views are increasingly out of step with the average person on the street—or in their van.

The BBC seems to particularly target diesel drivers, despite many unable to afford newer electric vehicles.

Not everyone is on a state-funded BBC salary, after all.

The reality?

Not everyone can get around by bike, especially during winter.

The unused cycle lanes from the last lockdown prove this point, especially in winter snow and ice.

Chaos up and down the country is already building, with more to come in the weeks ahead.

We appreciate the work of Fair Fuel UK, standing up for British van drivers once again.

They face constant challenges while keeping the country moving, rain or shine.

Let’s not forget we’re here to help you, too.

Whether it’s a news story to brighten your week or saving on van insurance, every bit helps.

An End to Border Chaos?

Posted on by News Desk

Good news this week for international drivers, especially those caught in the channel crossing chaos over Christmas.

The UK announced plans to open 20 new COVID testing centres.

These centres are designed specifically for van and truck drivers, providing rapid testing to streamline their journeys.

Consequently, drivers can move forward with ease before reaching the border into France.

This week, officials opened the first centre in Peterborough at the Peterborough services on the A1M.

The army joined the effort to support these centres, aiming to prevent the delays and tailbacks from just a few weeks ago.

The government is taking furthers steps too.

Giving hauliers the chance to set up their own test centre at their premises, with free of charge test kits. 

This is part of a plan to give lorry and van drivers a Kent Access Permit.

This is to help ease the delays that were causing chaos throughout Kent, as divers queued in huge tailbacks as they awaited tests.

Additionally, light goods and van drivers have access to these government centres for testing before they reach Dover.

Enabling them to move quickly through customs and border control and onto the continent. 

The centres provide results within the hour and offer free advice on new border processes.

This is to help ensure van drivers have the correct paperwork, as we navigate this new Brexit era. 

Top Tips for Keeping Van Insurance Down

Posted on by News Desk

You know us, here at Cheap Van Insurance. Always on your side, always backing the little guy, the honest van drivers of the UK, as you speed up and down the country, doing what you do best – getting stuff done.

So, this week, we thought we would put together a little aide memoire of all those tips and tricks we like to share with you each week, of how to keep your costs down when taking out your next van insurance policy. 

1: Shop around

It goes without saying, but you’re in the right place to start. Everyone should shop around for their van insurance, to find the best possible deal, but there’s no need to traipse from site to site, or broker to broker. Who has time for that? Our simple form gets the brokers and insurance providers coming to you, with their best deals and offers. 

Because let’s face it, life is hard enough. But shopping around for the best van insurance deal doesn’t have to be.

2: Don’t auto-renew.

Shop around! Last year’s van insurance may have been the deal of the century at the time, but as we have reported here, a lot has changed in the last 12 months (even more than usual), so it makes sense to see what new deals are out there and have some better quotes to go back to your current insurer with, should you really want to stay with them.

Knowledge is power.

3: See what else you can get:

Once you have some competitive quotes, see if you can haggle a bit. See if one of the companies will throw in a useful added extra (we don’t mean a cuddly toy – something actually useful) that will save you money. 

4: Mileage:

Don’t underexaggerate how far you travel. Often, the difference between mileage is negligible when it comes to the cost of your van insurance premium, so do the right thing and tell the truth. The same goes for where your van is kept and what it is used for. 

5: Named drivers

You may have always had the missus on your van policy, just in case, but if she has got some points on her car license recently, you may wish to reconsider if she doesn’t actually drive the van. It’s the same with employees – only have those ones on the policy that will actually drive the van. And make sure you are hiring people with a clean license that won’t cost you a fortune to cover in van insurance fees.

6: Tools:

We talk about this in-depth next week, but it’s essential that your tools are covered with a good policy. The optimum is the firms who offer 24-hour replacement for stolen tools, so you’re not stuck twiddling your thumbs, waiting for your replacements to come through.

Do all the above and make the most of our free quote tool, and you can thank us for making your life that tinny bit easier. 

You’re welcome. 

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Posted on by News Desk

How is everyone this week? Whether you’re currently locked down or out on the road, rest assured we are here, cheering you on, whatever is happening in the world. Week nine of lockdown may be sending us slightly stir crazy, but it won’t stop us in our quest to bring you, our trusty van drivers of the UK, the latest news and opinions in the van driving world.

Let’s start with some good news – if some of you have lost your jobs as a result of COVID-19, there appears to be a marked increase this week of companies seeking reliable van drivers up and down the UK. It appears that employers are ready to start their recruitment engines as things start to get back to normal. And for those of you who have been waiting on self-employed government payouts, the Self Employment Income Support Scheme is now live and processing payments to those who saw significant business interruption. There are also new bounceback loans available through all high street banks, which offer a government-backed loan of up to £50,000 for small businesses. These loans are interest and payment-free for the first year. 

And it seems the UK government is also ramping up to get the country moving again, although, with the new fuzzy messaging, we’re not entirely clear on what changes when, but then we don’t think anyone else really knows either. But let’s be optimistic and hope it starts to gear up again soon, like we anticipate it will.

Less good news is that the rebates for van and car insurance that we hoped would be forthcoming as they have been in other countries, has not yet rolled out through the UK. Two insurers are offering a small rebate, but we still hope to see all van insurance companies giving their customers some of their profits back, given the huge drop in claims they have seen as a result of the lockdown. 

And absolutely terrible news for those in the south of the country is that London Mayor, Sadiq Khan has raised the congestion charge to £15 (including weekends) whilst simultaneously outlining plans to close major London roads over the next six weeks, to make way for walking and cycle routes. Good luck if you’ve got deliveries in the capital – seems like the mayor is expecting you to bike them in from the suburbs. More on this next week as we get to grips with all the implications.

So there we have it – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. But to end on a high note, don’t forget we can make your life that little bit easier if you need to renew your van insurance policy with our free 3-minute quote tool to give you the best deals around.

Until next week  – stay safe. 

Van Drivers – what’s ahead with coronavirus?

Posted on by News Desk

Well, it’s a strange time to be alive, that’s for sure. Panic is mounting over the threat of coronavirus and for your average van driver, that could be a good or a bad thing.

The upside is that more and more people are choosing not to go out unnecessarily and have goods and services delivered to them instead. So many of you can look forward to busier weeks ahead (just think, it will be like Christmas all over again with a ton of deliveries each and every day). Happy days?!

The downside, of course, is what happens if you actually get the virus yourself. And being in and out of businesses each day makes you particularly vulnerable not just to catching it, but potentially spreading it too. Get hold of hand sanitizer if you can, don’t be afraid to ask businesses if you can wash your hands at regular times throughout the day and take a large pack of tissues and a van bin to dispose of them. Consider buying and using disposable gloves if you’re coming into a lot of contact with people. 

Many van drivers form the backbone of the gig economy and many are saying they simply can’t afford to take time off if they get sick. With a budget due this week, we hope that the new chancellor makes moves to do something positive to provide financial help to those who need it, should they be sick. Nobody needs a super-spreader making things worse. 

And of course, what happens for those of you who drive longer distances if we get to a stage where travel restrictions are put in place? Smart fleet owners may be able to set up an inter-regional relay type of structure where deliveries still get from a to b, but who knows if handovers will be possible? We’ll need to look to countries like Italy to see how they handle things and if there is anything we can learn from them. 

Hopefully builders and traders won’t see too much impact in the short term, but of course, there may be supply chain issues down the road (no pun intended) with goods from overseas getting to us on time. And there is of course, the threat of recession down the road all around the world, not just here. 

One thing you can do is make sure you keep an eye on your own money and keep hold of what you can in case you need it to get through the months ahead. Thankfully, we can help with that, by offering the best van insurance prices that will help you keep hold of as much of your hard-earned dosh as possible. In the words of one supermarket – every little helps. Just don’t go and blow all your savings on loo roll. 

More Needs to be Done For Working Driver Safety, Report Finds

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UK Road Safety Charity, IAM Roadsmart has delivered a call to action for working drivers and their employers, stating that more needs to be done to keep working drivers safe and reduce the levels of accidents on the roads.

Their report has found that there were 5,506 serious and fatal crashed that occurred in 2018, where at-work drivers were involved, a number that has increased over time. This is in sharp contrast to the overall number of deaths and serious accidents in general, which has shown a reassuring decrease over the same amount of time. Also worrying was that almost half of employers expected their employees to answer their phone whilst they were on the road. A shocking 13% of those surveyed said that the hard shoulder was a suitable place to take or make work phone calls, and 17% of driving employees said they had been involved in an incident as a result of a phone call from a colleague.

The head of the charity said that not only do employers have to wise up about what is acceptable for their own, in-house drivers, but that many don’t realise that grey-fleet (self-employed, but working for the company) drivers are also liable and subject to the same codes of conduct and laws as those who are fully employed.

The report goes on to demand that more needs to be done by businesses in terms of educating drivers on codes of conduct and behaving responsibly whilst behind the wheel and that companies need to have a responsible set of rules for all their drivers, employed or not.

Many employers and employees fail to acknowledge that while taking hands-free calls is legal, it is still a significant distraction that they should actively be avoiding. And the reality is that for businesses who have a fleet of drivers, around 30% of that fleet will be involved in some kind of collision whilst on the roads each year.

Employers need to have solid health and safety whilst driving at work plans, but many still do not.

Meanwhile, almost a third of drivers for work do not have the correct insurance and are lacking any or adequate cover for business travel, rendering their policies useless. And, while we don’t have all the answers for improving road safety, that one we can help with. Simply fill out our online form and let the best insurers come to you directly with a range of insurance policies for van drivers that will cover pretty much all eventualities.

Stay safe, out there!

Winter Driving – Are you prepared?

Posted on by News Desk

As winter spreads its icy tendrils out over our green and pleasant land, most of us don’t do anything to prepare either ourselves or our vans for winter. But the days are most definitely shorter, and the north of the country has already seen its first snow, and some are saying it’s going to be our worst winter for a while. So here at CVI, in the name of being responsible writers, we thought we’d arm you with our top tips for staying safe this winter.

  1. Give yourself more space to the car in front. Yes, we know this goes against everything many van drivers believe, but being bumper to bumper with the car in front isn’t actually a good idea, especially in winter. Slowing down and giving yourself more space to the vehicle in front, so you have a greater chance of recovering the van if you do lose control can be the difference between life and death – not just yours, but of other vehicles around you. 
  2. Check your van is ready for the road. That means checking your tyre pressures are ok, (even better if you have a set of winter tyres for this time of year), your fluids are topped up, including some de-icer in your screen wash, your van battery is working well and you have a personal emergency kit ready if you need it. That includes water, a blanket or duvet and a couple of little snack bars to keep you going if you do get stuck. It’s recommended that you check your type pressure each week to be safe. Also check your roadside emergency kit is complete, your fire extinguisher is tested and you have everything you should have.
  3. Winter tyres are worth the investment. They will ensure you have better grip in the ice and snow, are less likely to aquaplane in the wet and the compound is better suited to winter conditions. Invest in a set and they should last you for years to come. 
  4. Do you know how to handle your van in case of a spin or a skid? Just thinking through and visualising how you’d handle this will leave you better prepared than just winging it in the moment. 
  5. Keep everything clean. Again, we know keeping your van clean isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but ensuring windscreens, lights and wiper blades are clean and in good working order can help keep your vision of the road at its best.
  6. Give yourself extra time. When the weather is bad, don’t just assume you’ll get from A to B in your usual time. You won’t, and rushing to get there is putting your life in danger when conditions are bad. 
  7. Try to avoid stopping on hills in snowy and icy conditions. Use a low gear to get to the top, because once you’ve stopped on a steep hill, getting going again, especially in a heavy van, is easier said than done. 
  8. Make sure your van insurance is up to date and you have enough cover for the contents. If you’re delivering Christmas gifts, check your policy covers the full value of what you’re carrying. The cheapest van insurance policy often isn’t the best. Thankfully, this is something we can help with, by filling out our form and getting the pick of the best deals and offers available.

All these things can help to keep you safe, keep other road users safe and make sure you’re around for the joys of spring, even if it does feel as if that’s a very long time to wait still. 

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