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When it comes to owning a vehicle in the UK, there are many things to consider. After all, as a bureaucratic democracy, this country has an extensive list of rules and regulations to which, as a driver, you must adhere to avoid the risk of driving penalties or even legal action. Some minor road misuse fines, such as driving in a bus lane, will only result in a penalty and a small fine. However, there are a series of other legislative issues which can result in harsher penalties. One of these instances is, of course, insurance. If you are caught driving without insurance, you can find yourself with a huge fine and even a ban on driving altogether. So, it is vital that you obtain insurance.
There is no question that insuring a van is a touch more challenging than perhaps your standard daily car. Cars are, after all, very popular on the roads and there are hundreds of thousands of them in the UK alone. This makes the process of obtaining insurance for these vehicles incredibly easy and the process can take as little as just a few minutes. Unfortunately, with vans, this is not quite the case and there are many different forms of van insurance which you should consider before making a decision on the right package for you. As you might well expect, these packages all refer to how you use the van but we’ll get onto that later.
Other areas of consideration
Of course, there are many other legal factors which will come into play when you own your own van and you must still take these matters seriously. Vehicle maintenance issues, such as tyre pressure and oil levels, are all extremely important and may also result in fines from the authorities. After all, these issues keep you, your passengers and other road users safe from harm. There is also the question of road tax and registration, which must play a factor in your vehicle paperwork. So, all in all, there is a great deal to consider, and you must take each of the factors equally seriously to ensure that you are safe on the roads. The last thing you want is for your business affected by a fine or worse, a driving ban.
How does insurance work?
You may well be asking why you need insurance. Why do you need to pay money to a company every year to keep your van on the road? Well, in essence, this all comes down to making sure that any damages which your vehicle or another vehicle on the road causes can be paid for and held to account.
Let’s say you have a collision that is not your fault, for example. In this circumstance, the vehicle which has caused the collision will pay you a fee to cover the cost of the damage on your van, so nobody leaves the incident out of pocket. If you flip the narrative and assume that the collision was your fault, we’re sure that you won’t want to pay for the damages out of your pocket, which is why your insurance firm will cover this cost.
This is, in essence, the principle of insurance and it is imperative for all road users that people have this at all times. After all, when someone does not have insurance and you find yourself in a road collision, the last thing you want is to pay for any damages that are not your fault. This will leave you with a huge bill to pay and a sour taste in your mouth.
The different types of van insurance
As we have already mentioned briefly, there are a few different forms of van insurance and you will need to consider all of these options before you decide which is the right choice for you. After all, these different insurance packages all depend on what you are using for the van and how often you use it. So, let’s run through these options so it’s a little easier for you to get a picture of the industry.
In essence, there are four main types of insurance: social, social and commuting, business use and haulage. As you might expect, all of these different types of insurance have a variety of different uses, so it is vital that you make sure that you understand these different forms. It is also important to note that if you use a van for a use which is not specified in your insurance bracket, then you are technically not insured and in the case of a collision your company will not pay out for any damages. So, it is vital that you consider these options and ensure that your van is covered for all eventualities.
So, how do these four different insurance types compare and which one is right for you? Keep reading this blog to find out more about this and other important factors to consider within the insurance sphere.
Social only
This form of insurance is for people who will be using their van for strictly leisure activities and other general run-around tasks. Perhaps you need to quickly pick the kids up from school or do your weekly shop. Tasks like these are usually why people will choose this form of insurance and it is a great option if you only plan to use your van for jobs like this. One of the main benefits of this form of insurance is due to the lack of options you have in terms of the vehicle’s use. The insurance price is often much cheaper than other packages so you can save money on the running costs of the vehicle.
We should warn you that if your circumstances do change and you need your van for other uses such as commuting or for work, then you will need to change your insurance bracket and notify your insurance company. If you continue to use your current insurance after you have started using the van for other purposes, then your insurance will no longer be valid and you risk a fine and a hefty bill if a collision or accident does occur.
Social and commuting
This is a slightly upgraded package to the previous insurance group mentioned (social only). The difference with this option is you will be able to use the van to commute to your place of work. The morning and late afternoon are often the times on the road when it is busiest and most dangerous and if you’re commuting to and from work, this is when you will be travelling. This is why many insurance companies charge more if you are using your car during these hours as there is a higher chance of collision and damage to you or another road user’s vehicle. Another important aspect to note here is that commuting only applies to one regular place of work.
Business use
This is the bracket of insurance that will apply to most people that use a van and will be a must-have for those people. Business use essentially means that you are covered to use your van to carry out the tasks within your business. Perhaps importantly, this also means that your tools and any other equipment within your van are also covered by the issuance company. So, if your van gets broken into, don’t worry! All of your tools and other equipment will be covered so you won’t lose any of your money. This is vital for many tradespeople as van break-ins are becoming increasingly common.
Haulage
This form of insurance refers to if you are using the van to deliver items that are not yours and are either owned by another company or a single party. The insurance will cover the contents of the van and allow you to use the vehicle for the purpose of delivering other items. This is vital for you if you are a delivery driver by trade, so make sure you have this insurance. There are many companies that offer this kind of insurance package, so make sure you shop around and find one that is well-suited to you.
If you need help to find the right van for you, then make sure you contact us today. We have an extensive range of vans available and will certainly be able to find the right one for you.
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