The problem that many small businesses and sole traders are going to face next month is, as it’s the start of a new financial year, just how much keeping a commercial vehicle has gone up since this time last year. Many organisations take stock at the end of March and, based on history, plan a budget for the following year. In many instances this is to satisfy the bank manager as much as themselves, but it shouldn’t be.

What small businesses may struggle with this April is sticking to a budget right from the outset when the cost of cheap van insurance has risen so dramatically, given the amount of spurious ‘whiplash’ injuries automotive insurers are having to pay out – irrespective of the fact than van drivers remain amongst the safest on UK roads, they will still bear a brunt of that responsibility on their shoulders. Totally unfair, but c’est la vie, mon ami.

It is therefore highly recommended, before drawing up a finalised budget for the beginning of the imminent tax year, to check exactly how cheap van insurance still is, if at all, compared to last year. The best way to do that is to compare van insurance brokers online before committing to the historic provider. Yes, there may be the incentive of the no claims bonus to take into consideration, but most insurers now are offering discount to new policy holders commensurate to at least part of any no claims that the new customer has accumulated against their previous cheap van insurance policy.

Even if only one van insurance comparison site is checked, the driver has a tool to hammer down price

Even if a commercial vehicle driver chooses to look at only one compare van insurance online site, they have a negotiating tool – providing it is a ‘like’ van insurance quote – to beat their existing broker down with. There is absolutely nothing to lose by at least asking for a discount, especially if there is evidence elsewhere of even cheaper van insurance than the driver is already privvy to.

Given the bleak economic outlook, now might not be the time to think of investing in new equipment. However, there are some elements of van driving that literally pay for themselves, security being one of those aspects.

Absolutely anything a small businessman can do to shore up their light commercial vehicle will be looked upon favourably by the van insurance broker. These desperate times have led to more break-ins in the early part of this year than many that have gone before it. Even deterrents such as steering locks or immobilisers can save money on a van insurance renewal quote, especially if those measures can be backed up with a secure lock-up over night.

It really is nearly that time of the year, again. If you don’t want to be one of those van drivers shocked into a faint next month, do yourself a favour and build the appropriate amount of van cover into your budget by comparing van insurance quotes using our database of over sixty providers, while you’re here.

There is no denying that, through innovations in fleet management technology, organisations are delivering cost savings on multiple platforms, from reduced fuel consumption, less off-road time through reduced wear and tear and cheaper van insurance through improved driver training, coupled with less daily mileage.

One surprising aspect of technology that the casual observer may not automatically associate the common-or-garden van driver with is the use of the Smartphone, but that’s exactly what’s happening in cabs and behind the wheels of UK light commercial vehicles.

Swinton Commercial, who place a huge amount of emphasis on delivering the cheapest van insurance possible based on its countless research projects, have recently compiled a study based on exactly how and what hi-tech devices Britain’s van drivers are using to find that Smartphones are way out in front of any other device, as far as popularity of use goes, although not always for business reasons, as Phil Moss, Swinton Commercial’s CV Manager points out.

The results of the survey show that well-thumbed A-Zs, with broken spines falling open on the pages containing the van drivers most popular routes, hardly even qualify for a place in the glovebox, these days. Whereas the sat-nav was the in-gadget up until only very recently, tablets and their smaller hand held equivalents are now the device of choice for many of today’s commercial vehicle drivers and can provide a similarly good service through implementation of free software such as Google Maps.

Mr. Moss does, however, make an extremely valid point, encouraging the tech-savvy van driver to retain the responsibility to know when to use the device for business purposes, rather than check up on social media updates that can stream continually through the device.

The very real worry is that, by taking their eye of the ball, van drivers can seriously jeopardise a previously cheap van insurance policy by being distracted in what would otherwise be an avoidable minor incident.

As we recently reported here on cheapvaninsurance.co.uk, this is a major frustration for fleet managers who are trying to remain within budget when it seems that, with company vehicle tax thresholds and record fuel prices, everything is conspiring against them. Needless claims on fleet van insurance are headaches that they can truly do without.

Yes, Smartphones are great for avoiding roadworks and accidents or even sending e-mails directly back to the office whilst on the road, when used appropriately; but van drivers are reminded that keeping their eye on the road in front of them is the key to bringing that additional technology to optimum fruition.

One of the most frustrating aspects considered by fleet managers is when drivers have minor incidents which are border line whether to repair and pay the cost out of their budget or risk the cheap van insurance by claiming through their broker. Each incident in its own rite mat not be sizeable, but when you’re talking about a fleet, the immeasurable costs of off-road time and loss of van insurance discounts can soon start to really pile up.

In order to address this issue, however, Interactive Fleet Management has compiled a guide to coincide with its interactive Driver-Link fleet management program. As experts in handling every aspect of running and improving a company’s fleet efficiency, they have a first hand insight into the amount of time spent dealing with van insurance companies in light of any claim for such minor incidents. This is just another of the unseen costs that can make a fleet manager think twice about whether a cheap van insurance policy is cost effective time management for their organisation when specialists such as Interactive Fleet Management can streamline such operations.

The guide, overall, is made up of smaller modules, each concentrating on individual aspects to deliver safer that, as a consequence, help achieve cheaper van insurance in the long term. Rather than aim this initiative at the operatives back at base, this new paper is targeted towards drivers, who are having more and more aspects to consider in their daily duties than ever before.

A combination of this and, especially after a driver has been doing the job for some time, complacency can set in causing the van driver to take their eye of the ball. This has been highlighted as one of the major contributions to minor incidents and, thus, more expensive van insurance quotes when it’s time for renewal. In particular, the report looks at reverse parking, so that there’s never the need to pull out backwards blind, underlining that patience is a virtue and not everyone on the roads spends as much time on the road as they do, leaving adequate distance between the van driver and the vehicle in front, extending that distance in winter and, in line with the patience aspect, some gaps are just plain too small to fit the van through, so don’t try!

Operations director Jayne Pett, for Interactive Fleet Management, reiterated the lack of support that drivers get in what can be a very single handed job at times. In order to keep overall costs low, van drivers have to be mindful of fuel efficiency and journey planning, checking both the loads of their commercial vehicle and its ongoing condition.

The first module, covering winter driving, she said had been ‘hugely popular’ and, irrespective of what their office was doing, many van drivers had approached them direct, whereas those fleet managers who did take up the offer of the guide ensured all their drivers were in possession of a copy. We, too, await ours to bring the utmost in safe, sensible driving to you to ensure you continue to avail yourself of the cheapest van insurance possible.

For your free copy of the Driver-Link guide, you can e-mail Amanda Hodges and request one on [email protected]

One of the biggest names in the electrical component industry in the UK, Schneider Electric, has openly welcomed the government’s move to encourage fleets across the country to invest in the ever-expanding range of electric vans that the automotive world is watching patiently. However, there are reservations, as we here on cheapvaninsurance.co.uk have mentioned time and again, held by many captains of industry that are holding them back from switching carte blanch to the ultra-green carbon-free power.

The fact that the vehicles are likely to attract the cheapest van insurance on the market when they become mainstream aside, there are reasons – and quite powerful motivators – that need addressing before EVs can be incorporated into any fleet, chiefly the lack of plug-in top-up chargers availability anywhere other than back at company HQ.

The average van driver does drive less than sixty miles per day on his route, which is well within the scope of the fully-charged batteries, many of which are boasting up to 100 miles on one charge under certain driving conditions, that are incorporated into the commercial vehicle electric range. The key word, there, is average. Every business has peaks and troughs to arrive at a mean figure for any area of its performance. And a van’s mileage – one of the key factors in a broker deciphering the base cost of a cheap van insurance quote whether you compare online or call direct – is no exception.

Yes, a van driver may drive a consistent 250 miles every week, delivering the average of fifty miles per day, but that figure may well include three days of local runs and two days out into the sticks servicing customers who struggle to find what your business can deliver on its doorstep. It is these excesses that are causing the consternation for many a fleet manager.

On top of the envisaged van insurance saving, the government have conceded three years for fleet operators to qualify for any of the seven now-named vans that appear on their qualification list for up to an £8,000 discount. This is considerably higher – 60% if my maths are what they used to be – than they have offered the domestic market for opting for an electric car, their discount hitting a ceiling at £5,000. Which is all well and good, but there is a crucial factor between the domestic and commercial vehicle markets that could dampen enthusiasm. And it all boils down to putting the cart before the horse and having an extreme national shortage of top-up points anywhere other than in the capital.

Article continues with more insight from Schneider and the cheapvaninsurance.co.uk team.