Tag: van insurance

Postie Out, Robots In…

Posted on by News Desk

The days of seeing a Royal Mail van pull up outside your house and a postie in shorts jump out the back may be coming to an end.

That is if the US Postal Service have anything to do with it anyway, as it’s just been announced they have very specific plans for the future of delivering mail and packages. “Postie out, robots in,” is the memo.

In other words, they want to get rid of the humble postie, who over the years has remained dedicated to delivering your mail in all weather conditions…rain, wind, snow, or sunshine, all while wearing a pair of shorts.

Instead, the US Postal Service want robots turning up at the doors of households. Sure, they will be efficient, but will they have any personality? My opinion is no, they will be too…robotic.

A robotic personality maybe, but it certainly appears that robots are the future of delivery. Remember how I reported recently about supermarkets in the UK wanting self driving vans with robots controlling them? Or how about the 4 hour delivery van that only requires a robot? The writing is on the wall it seems.

Or maybe not…we are talking about the “US Postal Service” here, perhaps they wont follow suit in the UK? Unfortunately I believe they will, just like everything else. McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, American Football…the UK ends up getting everything from America and this includes robot posties in vans.

Right now there are 228,000 US Postal vans on the roads of America, and if everything goes to plan the vast majority of these vans will be self driving and featuring robots by the year 2025.

I would expect the UK to jump on board with the same kind of plan as soon as the technology is proven, and once this happens we may never see another postie in shorts turning up at doorsteps again.

Instead it will be the robot with a delivery. Focused? Yes. Time for a chat? No. Robotic by name and robotic by nature.

Will all van drivers be robots in this futuristic Britain? Not at all, because while there are some jobs that can be done by a robot there are others that will always need a human on board.

Take your average roofer as an example. Like posties they also wear shorts in all weather conditions, but unlike posties I don’t think they are going to be replaced by robots anytime soon.

I just can’t imagine letting a robot loose on your roof to change the roof tiles or point up the ridge tiles, that would be a disaster waiting to happen.

Better to keep roofers very much human then, just like the majority of tradespeople such as builders, electricians, plumbers and carpenters.

Skilled workers who get the job done, wear shorts, visit a comparison site for van insurance and sometimes get involved in bouts of rage. The “white van man” so to speak.

Van Driver VS Traffic Warden – CONFRONTATION!

Posted on by News Desk

Don’t worry, we are not returning to the summer of rage where van drivers were unleashing violence, but an incident did happen recently.

It was more calm though. Some would say even diplomatic on the van drivers behalf, who witnessed something happening that caused him to stop his van and question someone that was supposed to be in authority.

The authority of a traffic warden that is…someone who is handed a badge by the government with the message of “protect our roads from illegal parking. Punish anyone that doesn’t obey.”

So every morning these traffic wardens set off from their house and apartments and then patrol the streets and roads of the UK looking for violations

Sometimes they arrive in packs, and then split up to prowl the streets individually. They can give out more tickets that way.

Other times, traffic wardens are given their own vehicles…just like in this particular incident, where the traffic warden was riding a scooter.

So what happened is that the van driver noticed the traffic warden was parking on a double yellow line, something which is illegal of course, and then when he pulled up alongside to point our this fact he was met with a response that left him in shock…

“It’s okay, it’s only for 5 minutes,” said the traffic warden, referring to the fact that parking on double yellow lines is cool as long as you are not there for a long time.

Well, in actual fact this isn’t okay at all, and when a member of the public or a van driver tries to use this excuse they are almost always met with a “sorry, got to give you a ticket.”

In this particular incident the van driver was not satisfied with the traffic wardens response and no doubt all out rage might very well have been on his mind for a second, but then he decided to simply question him instead.

“Oh so you’re allowed to park on a double yellow for five minutes,” said the van driver, referring to the fact that the UK public are not allowed to but traffic wardens are.

“There is nowhere else to park though,” replied the traffic warden, almost as if it excused him from breaking the very law he was hired to protect.

Talk about double standards over these double yellow lines, it’s almost as if these traffic wardens really do think they are above the law.

I’m sure the van driver wanted to get out of the van and make the warden see a bit of sense, but on this day he decided to accept the fact that it was better to stay in the van and get on with his job.

A brief confrontation yes, but not the kind of confrontations that we have been hearing about over the last few months. A return to the summer of rage this isn’t, although who knows how long van drivers are going to remain so diplomatic.

The one thing I do know is that all van drivers in the UK should visit this website to compare van insurance. You get cheap quotes so you can save money, and then at least you have some extra change in your pocket.

Van Rental Company Owner Blasts Criminals

Posted on by News Desk

It’s the perfect match. You need a short term van and go to a van rental company. Unfortunately, not everyone has legal intentions…they intend to be illegal.

Criminals that is, who are renting vans all around the country as a way to carry out their activities without being caught by the cops. Many are getting away with it as well, but the owner of one particular van rental company is fed up.

Andrew Tindall who runs Foxy Rentals in Hull has recently commented to the media about criminals who rent his vans to do illegal activities, and he is not impressed.

“Criminals are using my vans to go on stealing sprees,” said Andrew. “You are only one insurance claim away from closing down,” he went on to add.

In other words, it’s these criminals who are putting his van rental company at risk, because if they keep on using the vans to do things such as armed robberies, shoplifting, smuggling, home theft, crash for cash and drug dealing, then the van insurance company could make his policies more expensive, to the point where it would be almost impossible to make a profit anymore.

While the vast majority of people who rent vans are above board and legitimate people who just need a vehicle to do things like move goods from one house to another or pick up some stock for their business, the problem is that finding the criminals is not easy.

The requirements to hire a van are quite limited in the UK, where people only need to be 23 and have a driving licence that has no more than 6 points on it.

Any criminal with bad intentions can tick these boxes and hire a commercial van with ease, and then be on the road in minutes ready to commit illegal acts of crime that would certainly interest the Police.

Not only that, but many people seem to think that driving in a hired van makes them above the law when on UK roads, with Andrew commenting that “there are some people that will not accept responsibility. They get in somebody else’s property and think they are invincible from the law.

This includes drivers speeding, driving in bus lanes, avoiding tolls, and splashing innocent members of the public with puddles.

Also, let’s not forget that many van drivers have been known to take part in a bit of road rage, with this past Summer being known as “The Summer of Rage.”

Things seem to have quieted down a bit on that front, maybe because it is getting too cold to get out of the van and start throwing punches. Van drivers are wrapped up in blankets and sipping a hot cup of tea, only leaving their vans to do a bit of work before going back to have a sandwich

The one piece of advice I can give to van rental company owners is to always use a comparison website for your insurance.

Yes, you might be getting more expensive rates because of criminals, but if you compare then at least you can get some better quotes and save yourself some money.

Van Drivers – Save £300 a Year on Insurance With Telematics

Posted on by News Desk

A recent study found that only 5% of van drivers in the UK have a telematics insurance policy. It’s amazing when you think about it…really.

Amazing how? Well, that same study discovered that van drivers who do have telematics installed, save, on average, around £300 a year on their van insurance costs. Not exactly small change is it now, and it makes you wonder why so many people are ignoring the power of telematics.

Perhaps the word on the street is that telematics van insurance is something to be avoided? It could very well be.

I myself have heard a few traders and “white van men” speak of telematics as though it is some kind of big brother watching over your shoulder, ready to pounce on any mistake in your driving style and then dish out punishment.

Of course, if you drive like a maniac and regularly break the rules of the road then a telematics policy for your van probably isn’t the best idea, but then again, being on the road probably isn’t a good idea either.

However, as far as I can tell your average van man or woman are a decent lot who want to follow the rules and be safe drivers on UK roads. This is why I reckon telematics would benefit the vast majority of van owners…far more than 5% anyway.

So how do you get started with telematics van insurance anyway? The best way is to contact your current insurer and ask them about it, or even better, use a van comparison website to find out which companies are offering the best deals.

Once you’ve chosen a provider they will probably install a device in your van which runs 24/7 and starts recording every time you turn the key in the ignition. Don’t worry, it isn’t recording your conversations. This isn’t the FBI, it’s telematics.

All they are interested in is driving data such as how fast you accelerate, how harsh you brake, and if you obey the speed limits. What is really impressive is the fact that all of this data is then available to view in Apps where the driver is given a score or rating.

Some van insurance companies even reward their customers with more discounts and prizes each month if you really impress with your driving.

So the incentive is definitely there to be on your best behaviour…but will British van drivers actually take the bait, or will they continue to pay sky high insurance rates, year after year? In my opinion, it could be the latter.

Which is a shame really because with the average van insurance quote reaching £1500 for the first time this year, I think a lot of van drivers could do with a £300 discount.

When you combine telematics with the power of a van insurance comparison site, then the potential to save even more cash is right there for the taking.

Drivers to Face Tougher Scrutiny When Renting a Van

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We’ve seen terror attacks in the UK, France, Germany and more recently, Spain where the humble van was used as the main weapon by extremists.

It’s an unfortunate fact that vans are being used in this way, but what can be done? According to the UK government there needs to be more checks carried out when drivers are renting vans. If done correctly, it certainly could stop many of these terrorists in their tracks.

One proposal by ministers in Parliament is for van rental companies to share data with the government, so it can be checked against the so called “terror watch list” to see if there are any matches.

In other words, if someone who is suspected of being involved with terror activities tries to hire a van, then immediately the government will know and will be in a position to potentially do something about the situation.

Officials within the van rental industry appear to be welcoming of any changes that help to stamp out terrorism once and for all, with Toby Poston, the director of the BVRLA, AKA, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association having this to say…”The industry is looking at ways to share data with the authorities in as real time as possible so it can be cross referenced with counter terrorism watch lists.”

I reckon any kind of system that makes it easier to identify potential terrorists is to be welcomed, although some might disagree with me, no doubt using the argument that it is an invasion of privacy and is simply a way for the government to take us further into a “big brother” type society.

Perhaps…but when you think back to all those terrorist incidents involving vans and lorries that could have potentially been avoided with tougher checks and security, then, if you ask me I would say we are on the right track with these proposals

For example, the leader of the terror gang who committed the London Bridge terror attacks initially tried to hire a 7.5 tonne lorry. The payment wouldn’t go through however, and instead, he resorted to hiring a white van to carry out the attacks.

This is someone who was on the so called “terror watch list” and he could have been stopped with tougher scrutiny when renting the van.

If more checks within the van rental industry do come into force then we might also see something like it in the van insurance sector.

Obviously, if terrorists can rent vans then they can also buy vans, and in order to avoid drawing attention to themselves with ANPR scanners while planning their attacks, they would no doubt look to insure their vans.

It’s an unfortunate fact that all of this needs to happen of course, but as they say…it is what it is, and that is why I think both the government and van industry have to work together to try and stop it happening once and for all.

New Figures Suggest Van Insurance “Way More” Than Inflation

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During the 12 months of 2016 van insurance had a rise of 11.7% according to new official figures, which is “way more” than inflation commented one expert.

I have to agree, and it’s just like I’ve been saying for a long time now…van insurance is just too expensive for the average white van man so to speak, but because many people need vans for their work they don’t really have any choice.

In other words, you have to pay it, and the van insurance companies know this which is why they have no problem adding another nought to your policy whenever they feel like it.

The new figures also said that an average van insurance policy is now priced at £1591 for the year, which is pretty much double what you pay for car insurance, despite the fact that many small commercial vehicles are not much bigger than a normal car.

Like I’ve talked about before though, it’s the under 25’s that really get hit in the wallet, and as the new figures suggest, this age bracket has an average premium of £4700 a year.

Yes you read that right, and that is why I always advise young drivers who want to insure a van – “use a comparison website,” because you might be able to save a few quid, although you will still probably pay quite a bit.

The good news, if you can call it that, is that under 25’s only witnessed a rise of 3.6% in their van insurance costs during the 12 months of 2016, although that is still more than inflation.

Despite all of this, sales of vans around the UK are stronger than ever before, with the new figures suggesting that there will be more sold this year than ever before. This really is a good time to be a van manufacturer it seems, and with the self driving revolution just around the corner things are going to get even better.

One way that many van drivers save money on their insurance is to opt for “carriage of own goods” cover, as this does save a bit of money. If you are a trades person such as builder, roofer, plumber or carpenter then you might want to give it a try.

Also, don’t forget to use a van insurance comparison website, where all you have to do is submit a straight forward form and you then instantly get access to around 40 quotes from different insurers.

The one tip I will give you is to stay away from those comparison websites that have fancy gimmicks or give you a free gift.

You are much better off going with a site that is no-nonsense and designed for the average van driver, like this one, so the quote you are offered is the price you pay should you decide to go with it.

Delivery Drivers Tell All in Anonymous Survey

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Step 1

Complete your quick and easy quote

Step 2

Reveal your van insurance policies

Step 3

Pick your favourite and get instant cover