You would think that, due to the amount of accidents and call-outs in winter due to inappropriate tyres, car and van insurance companies would be lobbying parliament to make snow tyres a legal requirement in the UK, come December every year.

However, we cannot blame David Cameron for our differing stance to Europe, this time. Unlike our premier’s decision not to follow in the seventeen Eurozone states’ tracks to resolve the Euro crisis, we may be able to learn something from our continental cousins when it comes to fitting the right tyres in winter; in fact, your van insurance broker is probably taking Spanish lessons, as we speak, si?.

The UK remains one of the only EU states where it is either unusual or even illegal not to carry two sets of tyres: a set of summer slicks and winter grippers. In mountainous border regions of EU countries you would be ill-advised to attempt to traverse winding roads in winter, like Stelvios Pass with its sixty hairpin bends on the Swiss/Italian border up in Tyrol country, without snow tyres and a set of chains.

However, there are some legalities for tyres here in the UK; relating to tread depth, whatever the season, if your galvanised rubber has less than 1.6mm tread (there will be bars impressed on the grip to highlight this – when these elevations are exposed, you need to change) across the main 75% flat of the tyre, you’re running illegally. You have an accident with bald radials or cross-plys, your van insurance may pay your third party costs but, if it’s your fault, you’re unlikely to get anything back towards your own repair bill.

Another outlawed practise is having a combination of the two types of tyre, cross-ply and radial, on either end of the same axle. Neither can you fit cross-ply on your rear axle if you’re sporting radials up front. Either scenario makes the van unstable and will seriously jeopardise any resulting van insurance claim.

When it comes to snow tyres and insurance, we ask: do they incur an extra charge as an ancillary to your base van insurance policy? The general rule of thumb is no, but you should notify your van insurance provider when you change, either to or from, your winter tyres.

Providing that your snow tyres (run-flat or not) are the same spec , i.e. marked with their load carrying and speed capabilities which are legal components and should mirror your van’s capacities, as your summer tyres, you should be on the right side of the law, hence within your van insurance policy remit. However, this is still a grey area, as snow tyres are not legal in the UK, so always check with your van insurance provider before undertaking that change.

If you were a commercial vehicle insurance provider, how would you interpret the latest UK car-sales figures when trying to apply some sort of logic to calculate next year’s business vehicle insurance premiums?

There is a hint of an underlying trend emerging in the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) latest figures, but with so many other instances occurring that will affect UK drivers from the outset in 2012 – none of which those of us looking for cheap van insurance nor those seeking to provide it can control – what surprises are we going to find when it’s our turn to renew our van insurance next year?

Firstly, let’s take a look at the figures themselves, based on car sales, year on year, January to November. The domestic market has seen disappointing returns; no 16% is quite a slump – not just a disappointment, but a substantial let-down. Given the doom and gloom of the double-dip recession we seem to be talking ourselves into globally, that’s not so much of a surprise. However, actual vehicle sales were up 5,000 units on the target figure, thanks largely to fresh investment in new vehicles from the private sector. That’s a good sign for the economy, and business in general, but the subsequent result may kick any lingering hope of next year’s van insurance being as cheap as this term’s right into touch.

Where van insurance providers are going to get a mixed message from these results is in the fact that sales overall only dropped by 4.5%, due to a sizeable hike in sales – 8% – in the commercial, or fleet, sector. And that really is the mark of confidence that will interest the commercial vehicle insurance bigwigs as they start calculating targets and realistic budgets for 2012. All of this will have an impact on your van insurance renewal quote when the time comes around, next year.

In addition to the uncertainty of future sales figures, there is London (anyone north of Watford has just turned off – wake up; I know you’re sick of hearing it, but what happens in the capital does have a knock-on effect nationwide due to the pure concentration of the marketplace, there).

Two things could possibly happen as a result of the LEZ – London Low Emission Zone – which comes into effect 3rd January. At £100/day for non-conformists, the sum raised should be enough to pay for the Olympic stadia over and over again. Read on for further possible implications of the LEZ on van insurance […]

[…] further possible implications of the LEZ on van insurance.

Business owners – mainly sole-traders whose focus is purely in and around the heart of the city – are flooding the second hand auction sites to buy 3-5 year-old vans, which are more in line with the revised EU emission regulations (Euro III). For van insurers, older models, as is the advice generally given to apprentices and start-up entrepreneurs looking for cheap van insurance for young drivers, attract a more competitive van insurance quote. The brokers may well lose out there.

For larger corporations, who have historically purchased brand new fleets en masse as soon as they roll off the production line, they may be tempted to lease vehicles rather than fit filters to their new models. The charge for failing to comply within the LEZ is £100 per day, after all. If you are a courier firm and have ten vehicles servicing the Low Emission Zone, you may want to keep that possible £5,000 fine in reserve by hiring vehicles month on month rather than tie the capital up in new vehicles for the Capital, as it were.

The problem for van insurance companies in this latter scenario is that the van insurance premium is usually tied in with the monthly rental charge for the lease of the vehicle. Those corporate accounts, which have paid for many a broker’s Christmas party, may start to fall away rapidly, and someone has to pay for the champagne!

So, even on the back of this mini-surge in economic confidence, there still could be a sting in the tail when you come to search for your next cheap van insurance policy, only to find a nasty, large premium waiting in its place.

Before we even get to 2012, however, we’ve got December to tackle. For weeks, as we’ve reported on cheapvaninsurance.co.uk, insurance companies have been pleading with us to get our vans ready for another big freeze. If we have as prolonged a winter as 2010/11, van insurance premiums may rise just to cover the costs of excessive payouts, much like it did for the boiler industry in early 2011.

Furthermore, where are commercial vehicle insurance firms going to recoup the money from spare parts that may be lost, as van owners can now source their own in instances of breakdown and do not have to rely on the exact manufacturer’s part either direct or via an approved distributor?

Savings for van drivers in 2012 may come in the form of better use or type of fuel, as it seems all other factors are stacking against them.

Fuel efficiency has taken the average miles per gallon to 52.5 for new cars rolling off the production line, so it’s hoped vans can reproduce the same output. And electric-powered vans may tempt many, either zero-emission or hybrid; especially those driving around London’s LEZ. With Mercedes now up to production line capacity and Renault promising to bring the Kangoo model to market at half price to help bring realise their vision of 10% of cars on UK roads being powered thus within five years.

It’s not that often that changes in the law favour the motorist, their warranty and their van insurance policy all in one fell swoop. Take the London Low Emission Zone, for example – come January 2012, if you’re van doesn’t meet the Euro III Emission legislation it could cost you £100 per day, if you are tested.

However, it seems that Brussels aren’t all bad, as another ruling they have instigated sees not only a cost benefit for the motorist, but also opens up availability to reduce time lost on the road when awaiting replacement spare parts. These factors can only have positive connotations for your never-ending quest to find cheap van insurance.

The problem in the past has been, when a bespoke component has malfunctioned, in order to remain within the terms of your warranty, hence your van insurance policy, you have had to seek the replacement part from the manufacturer direct or one of its approved dealerships. Although you could take the component once sourced and have it fitted at a non-franchised network, but that was just adding time and may have caused problems when making a claim for repairs against your commercial vehicle cover.

There have been massive calls, not least by independent garages for this to change, and now it has. As long as a component meets regulations that classes it as approved, part manufacturers can now sell them direct to independent dealers and mechanics.

half-price repair costs a real possibility

WhatCar have looked into this ruling and what it could mean for businesses that rely heavily on their fleet of commercial vehicles remaining in tip-top condition; the cost of the repair itself, subsequent associated costs such as prolonged warranties, cheaper van insurance and time off the road whilst awaiting repairs.

Being able to negotiate deals with local garages, time saved not having to wait around and components not subject to a list or fixed price could save approximately 50% for each and every repair.

However, you will not find this publicised to any great extent by either the car manufacturers or their authorised dealers, due to the profit they stand to lose. WhatCars tests have shown massive differences between similar components bought at authorised dealers and general wholesalers. The appointed dealership were 42% more expensive on a battery, wanted 44% more for brake pads and 45% heavier on the wallet for an oil filter.

These similar components were all available off the shelf but, it must be stressed, if you are buying replacement parts yourself, make sure that the retailer is reputable and that the components are fit for purpose.

Following WhatCar’s assessment of the EU legislation shift that now means you can lawfully purchase similar spare parts to the manufacturer’s exact component but remain within your warranty and van insurance policy, they followed up with a list of ten top tips you can take to the market.

If you are confident that you are mechanically savvy enough to self-source a similar approved part, here are a few helpful guidelines to ensure that you have a) a part that does the job it’s supposed to and b) should help you reduce your van insurance quotes, if you tell your broker that in the event of a claim, you won’t be waiting days for components as they do not have to source the exact manufacturer’s spare part for you:
1. Mechanics and garages spend a lot more time sourcing spare parts than you do; talk to them first to save time and possibly even more money, levering their extra discounts
2. The change in legislation does not mean you can fit any old nut, bolt or gasket from your DIY store – do purchase your part through a reputable outfit, if not entrusting your garage
3. Just because it’s not the exact component doesn’t mean you can forego warranties or returns policies for your similar part; proof of cover may enhance any later van insurance claim
4. In order for your chosen outlet to be sure they’re sourcing the right part for you, take in your registration or vehicle identification number; the spare part can then be confirmed on the van’s original specification if there are doubts
5. Reputable garages will only make replacements with ‘fit-for-purpose’ parts, to maintain their own reputation as well as your safety and to save any backlash if you find that an inferior component invalidates your van insurance; if you’ve purchased the part yourself, it is worth getting them to corroborate the part’s quality
6. The warranty may state that you can have your spare part fitted by non-authorised dealerships, but any old Joe may not cut the mustard; to keep your warranty valid, have a reputable mechanic fit your part so you can have a receipt for your van insurance broker
7. You may think you’ve got a bargain, but there’s cheap and there’s cheap; if you think the cost is suspiciously low, ask for a copy of its test certification
8. In order to keep your service history up-to-date, and to maintain your warranty, cover and MOT validity, keep your receipts attached to your van’s service record
9. Buying on the internet can be fraught and it is unlikely that the online retailer is local; do check for reviews of the supplier before committing to buying your spare part on the web.
10. It your online merchant looks respectable, do insist that the garage that eventually fits your spare part checks its validity and fitness for purpose before risking your van, cover and livelihood.

Given this plethora of information many commercial vehicle owners may think it safer to stick with authorised dealerships and that safety comes before cost. The last thing any business needs in these difficult times is to be proved liable due to inferior fitted replacements parts that render any van insurance policy invalid.

There are savings to be had, but make sure you’re covered before taking the repair on yourself.

London – capital of the UK, home to the modern entrepreneur and launch pad to many of our fine country’s must-have new gadgets. So why, all of a sudden, the craze for second-hand commercial vehicles? Another ruse by the white van man to save on his van insurance premium? In this instance, although cheaper van insurance may be a bonus, it is not the reason.

When businesses return to work after this year’s Christmas break, emission legislation for vans will be waiting for commercial vehicle drivers in this category. If your van is not compliant with Euro III Emission Standards, every time your run takes you trough the London Low Emission Zone, you will be paying £100 for the privilege. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that, by the time you’ve fuelled up for the chug around the city, coughed up for the new year’s tax, MOT and not-so cheap van insurance afforded to the Capital’s van drivers, that amount of money is an inconvenience many business owners could do without.

The reason so many van drivers are going for the slightly retro model is that vans manufactured between 2002 and 2006 are more L.E.Z. friendly than vehicles produced either side of that period.

This is good news for the second-hand van market, but perhaps not what the PM wants to hear in his drive to encourage new automotive construction, rather than drive business-owners away; this plan may have back-fired already, with fewer new-model sales and less income for the van insurance brokers, as similar older models are cheaper to insure, in the main.

If you’re in the market for a second-hand commercial vehicle, get in before the dealers this Christmas. Vehicle auction site Manheim Remarketing, who have seen first-hand instances of 350 active bidders competing over one van in the 3-5 year old category, “would encourage dealers to source vans now…as there will likely be a large number of drivers wanting to avoid paying the £100 daily charge for entering the LEZ.” If you get in now, as they suggest, it will give you plenty of time to look for cheap van insurance quotes over the break, so you are ready for 2012 from day one!

When considering an investment as critical as your van, it is important to remember how integral it is to your business. Do try to find one with full service history and under current MOT. Do consider that, if it is second-hand, it may have a past; always worth checking that out. And, finally, do check that you incorporate all the details on your van insurance renewal policy that you will be using your van for. This could save you even more, in the long run, in the event of any claims.

Okay, enough already. We hear you, constant reader (how dare I para-phrase the great Stephen King?!) – we do not show biased to van insurance brokers, even though it is the cheap van insurance quotes we provide that draws you to our site, so neither should we show favour to commercial vehicle manufacturers.

We recently ran an article for Mercedes Benz Commercial and the beginning of a transition of their commercial vehicle fleet to electric and hybrid powered vans. It is only fair then, Papa, to mention their French counterparts Renault, who are no slouches in this department, either.

This is good news for those interested in going green with their delivery vehicles but may have been dissuaded by expensive van insurance premiums in the past. It is simple logic – the more competition, the more available spare parts so, when a van does break down, the sourcing of the replacement component does not become a factor when calculating the price of your van insurance renewal policy. Theoretically brilliant, but let’s see how and when that does actually have an impact on your next van insurance quote, eh?

This has just been one issue persuading business owners not to turn their fleet to electric juice – speed, fuel availability – many factors have deterred van drivers in the past, but that is all changing. And Renault firmly believe that, with Euro III Emission legislation and the London Low Emission Zone kicking in next month (January 2012), many UK business owners will be tempted by their Kangoo ZE model.

Mercedes have struck the first blow with their zero-emission vehicles coming off the production line, already. But they are also focusing on a hybrid series. Renault have approached it differently with the Kangoo ZE. Whereas Toyota undoubtedly ruled the roost with hybrid technology, they want to do the same with 100% electric power, leaving the Germans to dabble in both but, if you like, be a Jackboot of both trades, rather than the master of either.

Following tests, Renault have found that once the 9,000 milestone has been breached, the new model is much more cost efficient than its diesel rival – especially when you eliminate the £100/day fee for non-compliant vans in the LEZ. What’s more, they are bringing the van to market at approximately half the cost of its electric competition. Shocking!

And for business owners worried about constantly replacing components, Renault will change the battery once its power has depleted by 25% – that’s a staggering eight years, from new. If that remains an issue, Renault are offering both outright purchase and also rental options. They do this as their belief is that, before the end of this decade, one tenth of all UK vehicles will be electric or zero-emission powered.  Nous serons l’Anglais verts, mes amis!

When we reach that point, there will be no excuses for anything other than very cheap van insurance policies for all business owners who go for the greener option.