subject: Van Insurance - Never Mind The Law [print this page] Anyone who has spent any length of time in the UK knows that it's illegal to drive a vehicle without having the proper type of insurance, but if you're insuring your van simply because the law tells you to, then you really need to take a step back and think about things, particularly if you run a business.
Vans have always been popular targets between thieves, but of course with the recent recession, matters have got steadily worse. In fact, the number of vans being reported stolen nowadays is quite staggering. To make matters worse, many business owners have been forced to cut back on expenditure as much as possible in order to try and survive these trying times.
In many cases, insurance policies are the first to suffer. Many van owners have since downgraded their van insurance from fully comprehensive to third party, fire and theft cover instead. Even though this level of cover does protect you against having your van stolen, you could still end up in serious trouble.
For example, you could be on your way to do a job when your van suddenly breaks down. Because you have no breakdown cover, you push the vehicle to the side of the road and you call someone to come and pick you up. Once you get back to the office you make arrangements to have your vehicle seen to, but then you receive a phone call to let you know that your van is no longer where you left it. The obvious reaction would be to think that your van has been stolen, so a phone call to your local police station is in order.
Next up, you get a copy of the police report and you contact your insurance company, but then, after just two days, you get another phone call to let you know your van has been found. At this stage you've already lost a few days worth of earnings, and now just when you think everything is going to be all right, you discover your van has been severely vandalised by the joy riders who took it. Not only will it need to go in for repairs, but all your tools and equipment are also missing.
In a way, it would have been better for you if your van was never recovered, because at least then your insurance company would have come to your rescue. Unfortunately, however, your van was recovered, so your 'third party, fire and theft' policy is really of no use to you at all.
Fortunately you're able to afford having your van repaired, but can you also afford to replace all your tools and equipment? Irrespective of whether you can or not, by the time your van is fully stocked and back on the road, you could essentially have lost thousands of pounds because of downtime.
As you can see from the above example, van insurance plays a crucial role, and as such, it's not something you should skimp on without giving it plenty of thought. If your current policy is costing you too much, then rather than downgrade, you should instead make a point of getting van insurance quotes from several companies. The chances are you'll be able to find cheaper insurance without having your level of cover compromised.
by: Tom Jones
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