Author: News Desk

Van Driver VS Traffic Warden – CONFRONTATION!

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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 Insurance – The £144 a Year RIPOFF You Can Change

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If you insured a van this year then there is a chance you were “RIPPED OFF” approximately £144, directly out of your wallet. You don’t have to be though.

This comes on the back of research which suggests that van drivers who pay monthly, well, they are charged £144 more a year than those who pay all at once.

It sounds like the best thing to do though, doesn’t it? You’ve just browsed Cheap Van Insurance and decided to take a break from your flask of tea and ham sandwich in order to fill in the really simple 3 minute form.

You then get some cheap van insurance quotes that really will save you a packet, and then once you choose the best quote decide how great it would be if you paid for it over 12 “easy” monthly instalments to make everything…easier.

What you don’t realise is the total amount paid is actually more than the initial quote offered. Now that is nothing to do with Cheap Van Insurance you must understand, we just put you in contact with van insurance companies.

Once you choose the best quote for your needs then you are transferred through to their website, where everything is then done directly with them. If they offer you a 12 month instalment payment program, then what they are essentially doing is saying “do you want a loan mate?” Of course, loans come with interest rates, which is why you pay more.

This is why here at Cheap Van Insurance (the nations favourite van insurance comparison website) we advise all van owners to pay upfront for their premium.

Interestingly, the research went on to show that poorer van drivers are more likely to say yes to a payment plan, while more affluent van drivers will go with the upfront payment option.

Also, it was mentioned that van drivers who did go with monthly payments were 40% more likely to stick with their provider at renewal time, something I do not recommend at all.

The reason? Because those van insurance companies are crafty you see, and what they will almost certainly do is hike up your premiums at renewal time, even if you don’t realise it.

That is why the message to all van drivers around the UK, whether you pay monthly or not, should be to compare van insurance every single year.

Not only that, but you should get started as early as possible. Many experts suggest to start comparing at least 3 months before your renewal date. Good advice.

So what are you waiting for? Start comparing van insurance quotes right now here at this website and find out how much you could save.

Van Rental Company Owner Blasts Criminals

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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 WARNED About Scam HotSpots

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There is a menace on the roads up and down the UK and it goes by the name of “crash for cash.” It’s a scam that van drivers are being warned about.

Up until now, the whole crash for cash scam has mostly affected car drivers. Maybe you’ve heard about it in the news, but always felt safe when in your van? Not anymore.

Research shows that van drivers are now being targeted by these organised crime gangs who roam the roads looking for their next prey. It’s an industry worth millions every year you see, which means there is a lot of cash up for grabs. These criminals want to get as much as they can.

During this new research, which was conducted by the IFB, or Insurance Fraud Bureau if you want to be more official, well, they highlighted the 10 so called “hotspots” where van drivers need to be on high alert.

The number 1 place to be vigilant for these scammers? Birmingham comes out on top, where road users are victims every single day, hour by hour.

Manchester and Bradford also feature highly on the list, while Bolton, Sheffield and Blackburn are also cities that van drivers are being warned about.

Surprisingly, London is named but not as one of the top cities. The reason? I think because most of these criminal gangs have their base in London, but prefer to ply their trade away from home turf.

How exactly does this whole crash for cash work anyway? Quite simply, a car or van will crash into your vehicle on purpose. They will then take your details and start claiming there was more damage than actually happened.

So for example, the scammers start hitting up your van insurance company for major repair costs, even though nothing really happened.

They manage to pocket a lot of free cash from this type of scam, with some estimates putting the crash for cash industry at a whopping £330 million a year. That is just under 1 million a day, that is being stolen from car and van drivers. It’s daylight robbery.

Why should you care though…yes it might be an inconvenience, but at the end of the day it’s your insurance company that picks up the tab, right? Wrong.

All that happens is that van insurance companies pass on the costs to you, the driver, who pays for it with more expensive premiums every year.

So make sure you are well aware when driving around these hotspots for any potential crash for cash incident about to happen. If it does happen and you suspect a scam, call the Police directly to the scene. Don’t let them get away with it.

You might also want to try comparing van insurance as a way to fight back. Yes, these crash for cash scammers might be winning right now, but if you get cheap quotes year after year then you have the last laugh.

The 4 Hour Delivery Van That Drives Itself

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In the time it takes an average delivery driver to do half a shift, a complete self driving van could be built by one person according to the manufacturer.

This is certainly bad news for delivery drivers around the country, who may have took comfort from my prediction that self driving vans will be here, but not for years.

It seems like I might be wrong because this particular self driving electric delivery van that was unveiled at a top secret conference in London, well, it is scheduled to be on UK roads next year.

The claim is that the van can be assembled in only 4 hours by one person at a factory, which means we could see an army of these self driving vehicles ruling the roads and delivering packages.

People in the government want to see self driving vans out and about by 2020 of course, but if everything goes to plan then it could be sooner. Van drivers watch out is my memo to anyone reading this.

Maybe a change of career is in order for delivery drivers, or should you just stick with what you know? It really is your choice, but if you ask me, the local job centre might be a good starting point.

Not everyone is going to embrace self driving vans though, and even if they do, they won’t be out of a job.

Take your average builder, roofer, electrician, plumber or carpenter as an example. Sure, they might enjoy buying a driverless van and then putting their feet up on the way to a job, but once they arrive the van can’t do the work now, can it? They will still need to put in the hours.

It’s delivery drivers I fear for, especially once they work out a way for the van to actually deliver the packages…maybe with some kind of robot? Who knows exactly what is going to happen, but what I do know is that during all of this van insurance will still be very much required.

No matter if you own a company that has a fleet of delivery vans or you are a builder working for yourself…you must have van insurance by law, so make sure you start comparing quotes to get the best deals.

Many van drivers start right here, at the Nations favourite van insurance comparison website, where all you need is 3 minutes and the click of a button.

So forget about self driving vans and all of that right now, and instead, just focus on getting very cheap van insurance to save yourself a packet.

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

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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.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance is Half Price Thanks to 3G

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The one message I get a lot from company owners is this…”our fleet of commercial vehicles, the insurance is just too expensive!” Not anymore.

I’ve been hearing good things about one particular commercial vehicle insurance company you see, who have been implementing something called “3G vehicle cameras” on all the vans they insure.

One of these 3G vehicle cameras is the IT1000 device, which a business who has a fleet of 30 commercial vehicles recently installed in every single one.

Amazingly, this has led to a 50% reduction in their insurance costs, which is roughly about £4000 per year, per vehicle, which they haven’t had to pay out.

The reason? Because they now have advanced cameras on each and every van, which means when someone tries to make a claim against one of their vehicles, they are in a much better position to defend themselves.

Not only that, but the insurance company can also see exactly what happened, which means they are not paying out for bogus claims.

It’s working very nicely as well. The previous year, this particular company had almost 40 claims made against their fleet of commercial vehicles. Fast forward to the present day and that number now stands at only 6 claims.

Even better, the use of “3G” in their vans has made the company more profitable, as drivers and their driving style is now more easily monitored, resulting in a more focused workforce who get the job done to best of their ability, and more importantly, on time.

So is 3G vehicle cameras now essential for all companies that want to get the best and cheapest insurance quotes for their fleet? In my opinion…YES.

Any kind of camera or monitoring system will do, although these 3G gadgets are state of the art and allow the insurance companies to see exactly what went on, as quickly as possible.

What about the average white van man, so to speak…should they also embrace this whole 3G thing or is it more for fleet management? While I think installing a IT1000 device might be a bit over the top for a sole trader roofer or builder, you might want to consider buying a dashcam (or two).

You then install these dashcams on the front and rear of the van, where everything is recorded and available to be played back if needed.

Fortunately, van insurance companies are starting to notice the power of these dashcams and that is why you can get cheap quotes for having them installed.

Also, don’t forget about something called telematics, which many insurers now offer in a bid to monitor your driving style.

Agree to this and you could be well on the way to cheap van insurance, as long as you obey the laws of the road.

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.

Brightside Group and Vans Direct Join Forces

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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.

Ice Cream Van Drivers Fight Back, Not Going Quietly

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The summer of rage is coming to end on August 31st, but ironically it could be ice cream men and women that need to cool down the most.

Regular readers of this blog will be only too aware about how ice cream vans are on their way out…with only 2500 left on UK roads.

This has obviously led to some frustration within the ice cream industry which was highlighted recently in an incident at Parkgate Shopping Park, Rotherham.

A couple by the name of Rob Tracy and Tracy Dixon decided it would be a good idea to buy two of their favourite ice creams, 99 cones, which they believed were priced at £1.50 each.

So they approached an ice cream van in Parkgate Shopping Park and placed the order. Unfortunately not everything went to plan.

With 3 English pounds in his hand Rob was getting ready to buy the ice creams and then enjoy a summers afternoon in Rotherham, but the ice cream man had other ideas.

Instead of asking for 3 pounds, the man in the ice cream van asked for 5 pounds, which left both Rob and Tracy stunned. This was NOT the advertised price, but also, a fiver for 2x 99 cones? That’s a bit of rip off they thought. I must admit, I’m in agreement with that one.

It isn’t like the good old days of ice cream eating if you ask me, where you could run after the ice cream van with 50p and still go back home with change in your pocket.

Back to the story and after a brief argument about the price, the ice cream van man (only known as Steve) did something completely unexpected…he threw the two 99 cones directly at Rob and Tracy.

We’ve heard right here on this blog about the summer of rage when it comes to van owners, but this really is taking things to the next level.

The ice creams hit Rob on his head and then went down his shoulder and back. This wasn’t the way he expected to be served his ice creams, I’m sure.

The couple’s German Shepherd dog also caught a bit of ice cream in the face. Coincidentally, the dog’s name is “Ice,” and he does enjoy eating ice cream according to Rob, but not when it is launched into his face.

At this point Rob and Tracy decided that enough was enough and they called in the Police, and when they arrived, after hearing both sides of the story they decided the best course of action was to send the ice cream man home for the day. Probably best.

Hopefully he was able to cool down a bit, and once relaxed, he might have even used the rest of the afternoon to compare van insurance quotes right here on this site.

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