CVI Shining Part 1

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.”

The Truth About Admiral Van Insurance

A press release about Admiral van insurance has just landed on my desk, and after reading through I decided to write a blog post about them.

“Great reasons to choose Admiral van insurance” was the title at the top of the page, and the writer of this particular piece went on to highlight the key features of becoming a customer over there at Admiral.

As many of you may very well be aware, Admiral are one of the companies that partner the nations favourite van insurance comparison site…Cheap Van Insurance, and if you fill in the quick 3 minute form then you instantly get quotes from around 40 companies…with Admiral being one of them.

There is no doubt that Admiral are a legitimate and well trusted van insurance company, I can vouch for that.

They offer insurance for all types of vans, including small, transit and larger commercial vehicles that weigh up to 3.5 tonnes.

Not only that, but 14 million customers have at one time or another called Admiral their van insurer, while at the same time they offer policies to suit your needs, whether it be third party, fire and theft, or comprehensive.

With all that being said do I recommend that you go directly to the Admiral van insurance website and sign up as a customer? Absolutely not!

Instead, you should do what every smart van driver in the UK does…compare quotes right here at the comparison website that delivers results, not just hype and failed promises. We don’t do any fancy advertising…just a straight forward approach designed for UK van owners.

Cheap Van Insurance is the name and discount prices is the game. You don’t need any other comparison website. Most of them are rubbish anyway.

The great thing about comparing right here is that Admiral could very well give you the best quote for your own unique situation. If that happens then great, you can go directly through to their site from here with the click of a button.

However, it could just be that another van insurance company are the right match for you and your business requirements.

Let’s not forget that there are many different considerations to take into account when comparing van insurance. For example, if you want fleet management insurance then another company might offer you the best quote or most flexible options. The only way to truly find out is to fill in the form right now.

It doesn’t matter if you have a Ford, Renault, VW or Vauxhall. You can get quotes right now for any make or model.

This is the site where van drivers in all professions come to get their quotes, and usually save a packet. So if you are looking for a brand new quote or you want to switch companies then you are most definitely in the right place.

Brightside Group and Vans Direct Join Forces

The world of van insurance quotes is always competitive, we know that for sure, and the competition is getting even more fierce.

It’s just been announced that a van insurance broker called Brightside Group have agreed a new deal with the company Vans Direct.

What appears to be on the cards is that Brightside will now be selling commercial vehicle insurance through the Vans Direct website, and two of its smaller websites…Van Man and best4vans.

Many in the industry are commenting that the “joining of forces” is a good one, with both companies offering a joint venture that van men and women around the country will truly benefit from.

“This is an important account win for us with a leading UK van supplier,” said a spokesperson for Brightside Group. “Vans Direct customers will be able to access CVD through their websites or via a call to a dedicated Brightside CVD sales team,” the spokesperson went on to add.

It seems that Vans Direct are equally excited about the partnership with a company representative saying “we are delighted to welcome Brightside as our new partner, and look forward to a long relationship.”

In my opinion this is a good move for both companies, and I’m sure they will go on to have a long and lasting relationship with each other. As long as anything doesn’t go wrong of course, which I’m sure it won’t.

Not everybody is possibly excited about the joining of forces however, with many of the staff for Brightside and Vans Direct facing a “consultation,” regarding the move. Who knows exactly what this means? Let’s wait to see what happens.

What I do know is that while buying van insurance directly does have its merits, if you ask me, you are much better off going to a comparison website first to get some quotes.

You might very well get the cheapest quote possible with Brightside Group or Vans Direct, but, you don’t really know unless you see what the opposition are offering.

Fortunately, you don’t need to contact all of these van insurance companies individually, as that would be just way too time consuming. I’m sure you would agree.

Instead, just use the simple form right here at this website, Cheap Van Insurance (the name says it all), and then instantly get quotes from around 40 van insurance companies.

You can then see what offers are on the table, and then compare that against any quote you may have got from Brightside and Vans Direct.

This is the smart way to get van insurance in 2017, and the way to get the cheapest prices possible.

29.5% More? Van Drivers Can’t Believe It

We all know that van insurance costs are outrageous right now, but 29.5% more? That is how much more van drivers are expected to pay in 2017.

That’s right. New official figures are just in, and what they are basically saying is that van insurance is now 29.5% more expensive than last year.

Many hard working van drivers from around the country have been left bewildered by this news, with some commenting they just “can’t believe it.”

The figures, which were uncovered by Consumer Intelligence, went on to say that an average van insurance policy is now priced at £1627.

Just what is going on here? According to experts within the industry, it has a lot to do with new changes in the sector, which is hitting many van insurance companies hard.

For example, the Ogden rate is currently at 0.75%, while this time last year it was at 2.5%. What this basically means is that insurance companies now have to pay out more for injury claims, but of course, it’s really you who is paying for it.

Then we have the insurance premium tax, also known as the IPT, which recently went to an unprecedented 12%. It was only half that 18 months ago.

As we all know, it’s the customer that has to pay for this expensive tax, and that is why we are now seeing van insurance quotes that many can’t believe.

It’s got to the point where van drivers are being quoted 2 and half times more than car drivers, and the average car insurance policy is £1000 less than the van equivalent

This is despite the fact that many van owners now have light commercial vehicles, also known as LCV, which in many cases are not much bigger than your average car.

The figures don’t get any better for van drivers either, as it was also reported that if you take out a “carriage of own goods” policy then you can expect to pay another 28% more, while a “social, domestic, and pleasure” policy is 32.5% more.

A spokesperson for Consumer Intelligence had this to say, “choosing the correct cover is vital, and shopping around will reduce premiums.”

I agree with that comment. If there is one thing that every van driver in the UK can do to fight back against these crazy prices it is to use a comparison website.

That means when you are looking for a new quote, or want to renew an existing policy, instead of just getting 1 quote or going with the same old van insurance company, what you want to do is shop around and get as many quotes as possible.

Comparing van insurance is the only way to find cheap quotes, and you can get started right here.

How to Get Cheap Van Insurance – 2017 Edition

We’ve been hearing a lot recently about how van drivers are causing havoc on the roads of the UK and getting their vans stolen while watching TV.

Is it really all doom and gloom? It doesn’t have to be, and in fact, if you get cheap van insurance then you might just save yourself a packet.

I’m sure that would put you in a better mood and less likely to go into a rage the next time a cyclist does something annoying.

Firstly, let me just say that insuring your van in 2017 is a requirement by law, and if you don’t get it then you are driving illegally.

This means when you get pulled over by the cops (and it will happen because they have the technology now to catch you) not only will they take your van away, but you will also get a fine and points on your licence.

So we know that you definitely need van insurance, but does that mean the cheapest van insurance is always the way to go? In my opinion, no, because while you might be able to find a really low quote, and there are plenty of those here at CHEAP VAN INSURANCE, it might not always be the best option for your own needs.

For example, if you just get third party van insurance cover, then you are only covered when you do damage to other vehicles on the road. If your own van gets written off or stolen, then you have to pay for it out of your own pocket, which isn’t always ideal.

That is why many van drivers opt for third party, fire and theft insurance, because if their van is damaged by fire or stolen, then at least they have some kind of coverage.

You must understand that although this does cover you for theft of a van, if your tools are stolen then you won’t receive a penny, and as we’ve been hearing a lot about recently, thieves are having a field day when getting into vans quickly and easily to steal tools. It’s all to do with these magic keys that are sold on the internet.

This means that if you do want to be covered for theft of tools then you need to opt for a fully comprehensive van insurance, although be aware that not every policy is the same.

Many times you will have to buy “goods in transit” cover as an extra to be covered for tool theft, so make sure you check that before handing over your cash to the insurance company.

Once you’ve chosen what type of cover to get, then how do you get cheap van insurance and not get left paying full price? Good question…here are a few ideas.

Ask about discounts

One way to get cheap van insurance in 2017 is to speak directly with insurance companies about any discounts that might be available

For example, a no-claims discount is something that is offered a lot, as well as special fleet discount insurance when you you want to cover more than 1 van.

Always tell the truth

I know there are some van drivers out there who might be tempted to lie a bit when trying to get cheap van insurance, and although it might work at first, if you ever need to make a claim then you might find yourself out of pocket.

A good example of this is van drivers who say they park their van in a garage overnight, even though it is parked on the street. You might get a cheaper quote by saying this, but if your van gets stolen then the insurance company will quickly rip up your policy and ignore your calls.

Use a comparison website

There are so many insurers out there in 2017, how do you know that your current provider is offering very cheap van insurance? The simple answer is…you don’t, and that is where a comparison website comes into the picture.

All you need to do is enter your details in the form once, and then all of that information is instantly sent to around 40 different companies. Getting cheap van insurance has never been so easy.

You Could be Wasting £350 a Year on Van Insurance

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.

Man Admits Driving Without Van Insurance

A man in Lancashire was spared a prison sentence when he admitted to driving his van without any kind of insurance.

Not usually something they send you to prison for anyway you might be thinking, but when you consider he was also a disqualified driver then it becomes a more serious offence.

The man, who is 34, plead guilty in a court of law for not having a driving license and not having van insurance, although the judge decided not to send him to prison.

Instead, he got a suspended 8 week sentence, which means if he commits an offence again, especially driving a van without insurance, then he will be sent to prison for around 2 months. Not only that, but he also has to follow a 6 week curfew which does not allow him to leave the house between 8pm and 6am.

He was also given a 12 month driving ban, had 6 points put onto his license, given a 6 month supervision requirement and had to pay costs that came to £200.

The sentence was handed out because the man had only recently been banned from driving, and had significant previous offences.

It just goes to show you that driving without van insurance is something that can get you into a lot of trouble. Even if you don’t have any previous offences or a history of being in trouble with the law, if you get caught driving without insurance then the Police will not be very impressed.

You could find yourself in a lot of trouble, and may even have to go to court. As we’ve just seen, a prison sentence is unlikely, but you could easily get a suspended sentence, as well as fines.

My advice is simple…always make sure you get van insurance, and never drive without it. I’m hearing a lot of complaints recently about how “insurance is so expensive” and “I don’t want to pay it anymore,” but in reality you don’t have any choice.

It is UK law that your van must be insured, so if you don’t have a policy right now you must do it right away.

Sure, van insurance is getting more expensive, but if you shop around then you might be surprised to find out exactly how cheap it can be.

The best way to do this is by using a van insurance comparison website so you can have your details sent off to all the major insurance companies, and then within a few minutes you get all the quotes right there in front of you.

Some people have reported saving hundreds of pounds on their van insurance by doing this, so in my opinion, anyone who wants cheaper insurance should give it a try.

We Don’t Want Van Drivers say House Builders

New houses are being built around the UK every week and many of them are very nice, but van drivers are not always welcome.

That’s right. If you happen to drive a van, either for your job or business, and are planning to buy one of these new houses, then the message from many house building companies is simple…”we don’t want you.”

This is because they think the sight of vans parked in the area could affect the value of the houses, which ultimately means they lose out on money.

My opinion on this? Who really cares what is parked in other driveways when looking for a house. Is someone not going to buy a house because the person next door has a van parked in the drive? This is all just madness if you ask me.

It’s funny, because if they start to struggle selling the houses then I’m sure they would more than welcome van drivers and their money, but when things are going well it seems they get a bit too choosy.

One van driver who wishes to remain nameless has even had his van banned once he purchased a house. Initially he got two £100 fines for parking it on the street, and now he has to park about a mile away in the town centre, which as you can imagine, is not ideal.

Another van driver has refused to pay tickets issued for his van, and once they tried to ban his van from the new estate he refused again. Currently, he is in dispute with the house building company, so let’s wait to see what happens with that one.

There is also the story of a van driver who saved up a deposit for a £300,000 house in an area he had always wanted to live, only to be then told he couldn’t park his van either in his drive or on the street.

It’s funny because many van drivers are in the building trade, and are the very people that build these houses. Once everything is finished though, they are technically being banned from ever living there, unless they are prepared to park their van somewhere else which just isn’t realistic for most people.

I understand that these house builders wouldn’t want someone parking their vans all over the street, especially if it is 4 or 5, but when you only have 1 or 2 vans and you park them on your own drive, then I don’t really see what the problem is.

This comes at a time of course when van insurance is a major expense, and having to park away from your home would make it even more expensive.

Do you know what? If most house builders don’t want your money then just look elsewhere. There are sure to be some who don’t have a problem with vans. Also, don’t forget to always compare van insurance to get cheaper quotes.

Van Drivers Confess in Anonymous Survey

We all know that van drivers do some things they shouldn’t now and again, but a new survey by a van insurance company shows exactly what they are up to.

The survey, which was taken anonymously by 2500 van drivers, came up with many interesting (and quite shocking) statistics.

For example, who would have guessed that 95% of those surveyed admitted to regularly breaking the speed limit? At least they are being honest, although it’s not recommended and can get you pulled over by the Police of course.

What else was admitted to in the survey you might be wondering? Interestingly, 73% of van drivers said they don’t use social media while out on the road, while virtually all of the people surveyed denied ever taking a selfie while at the wheel.

Yeah, probably a good idea that you don’t do that. However, the fact that 27% of van drivers are checking their Facebook while driving is a bit worrying.

The survey also showed that 28% of van drivers say they have driven through puddle in order to splash someone walking on the street. If you’ve ever been a victim to one of these soakings then you will probably dislike van drivers after reading that.

Some more statistics:

55% of van drivers don’t wear their seatbelt on a regular basis, especially when they are making short journey’s. Just be aware this is illegal and could result in a fine and points on your license.

70% don’t use indicators when changing lanes. You know, it’s usually a good idea to let other drivers know what you are going to do.

85% admitted to some kind of road rage within the last year, although only rarely did this result in violence. Good to hear that van drivers are not getting out of their vans to get involved in punch ups, but it does seem like overall they need to become a bit calmer.

The van insurance company who conducted the survey commented that they were surprised by the results, although on the whole they regard van drivers as safe on the roads.

“As an insurer of thousands of commercial vehicles every year, we know that the majority of drivers are extremely careful on the roads,” they said.

I agree. Yes it is a bit shocking to hear that 55% of van drivers don’t wear a seatbelt now and again or 95% break the speed limit at times, but in general they are a good bunch who follow the laws of the road most of the time.

To all van drivers out there…just be aware that if you do break the laws of the road and you do get caught, then it could negatively affect the price you get quoted for van insurance.

In order to get the cheapest van insurance possible, and to follow the laws of the road like you should, make sure you always wear your seatbelt, keep to the speed limit, don’t use mobile phones at all, always indicate and keep calm when things don’t go your way.

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