With winter fast approaching, and the Met office already issuing amber weather warnings before we hit December, Brake, the charity for safer driving in the UK, has a couple of check-lists that all drivers, whether your time behind the wheel is for either commercial or domestic purposes, should be refreshing themselves with.

Not only are the guidelines exercises in appropriate driving skills and attitudes during the winter months, but utilising these practises will both keep you (and others) safer whilst driving in inclement conditions and by avoiding accidents will help you keep your no claims bonus in tact, thus keeping your van insurance renewal quotes in check for 2012, onwards.

The safest bet, of course, if the weather is looking likely to turn before you hit the road is: don’t. Unless driving is imperative, the sensible decision when facing treacherous conditions is to stay put. This can be difficult if driving is your job, of course, and the temptation to fit that last job in before closing the door for Christmas is always going to call to you.

But, ask this one question: would your daughter prefer that new iPhone 4S she’s mentioned that you could pay for with one last run or would she rather come and see you in hospital on Christmas Day? Sometimes, it’s not about the money!

steps to take before starting your winter journey

As much as police, charities and van insurance providers can do to discourage driving in wintry conditions, the decision will always lay with the individual. If you are unsure whether conditions risk your livelihood and increase the likelihood of making a claim in the new year on your van insurance, consider the following:-

• alternate transport:- rather than an empty, low-traction van, is another mode of transport viable, such as bus, metro or train?
• visibility:- snow, thick ice and fog all impair vision; will you see your accident coming? And if so, will you be able to stop in time to prevent it?
• minus temperatures:- be prepared! plan your route beforehand, incorporate stop points where necessary and keep up to date with travel and met-office updates en route
• external temperature – the heater inside the cab may keep you as warm as toast, but the moment the external gauge dips below zero, the possibility of ice increases
• time:- hold-ups, slower traffic and impassable sections of the journey can all lead to delays, so allow enough time to incorporate these possibilities; never put yourself in the position where you need to catch up
• vehicle preparation:-
• are your tyres tread-worthy, and do you have spares? Are chains an option, if available?
• how much fuel will you need – is your tank full or are there gas stations en route?
• anti-freeze – are your radiators and wind-screen wiper canister topped up, and do you have more?
• ensure your windscreen is free of condensation and have a clean wiper and de-icer readily at hand.

Many of these we do without thinking, but the amount of van insurance claims last year where incoroporating these tactics beforehand would have negated the need you would think these guidelines were written in another language.

Tomorrow, guidelines whilst winter driving and the effect of accidents upon the likelihood of obtaining a cheap van insurance renewal.

Many drivers believe that they can drive a commercial vehicle on their fully comprehensive domestic policy. That’s not saying that you cannot get a reduced premium from your existing provider for a second car on the policy; however, there are significant differences between a cheap van insurance policy and its domestic equivalent.

Not only do vans offer a different proposition in volume, but also their purpose and the amount of hours you are likely to be behind the wheel; all have effects on the premium.

The term also is critical; as we run up to Christmas, due to the increasing rates of beer, wines and spirits in the UK, van insurance providers are aware that domestic drivers may only want insurance for a few days as they nip across to France or Belgium to bring back the essentials for the family’s Christmas Week celebrations. Therefore, 28-day insurance policies may be an option, with an EU ancillary product to cover you for driving on the continent, knowing that cover is only required for the duration of the excursion.

will the type of van affect my insurance quote?

If cost is an absolute consideration prior to taking on a new project, ensure that the van you purchase is neither more nor less than fit for purpose. There would be no point in purchasing a high-sided van with a 1m-wide loading clearance if you are thinking of delivering small components to the plumbing or automotive industry.

Another aspect that may prove the difference between your success or failure in finding very cheap van insurance is the value of the cargo you are likely to be transporting. The general rule of thumb is, of course, the higher the value of your product, the steeper the effect on your premium.

One ancillary product, by ancillary we mean ‘item over and above the basic requirement’, that may help reduce your van insurance quote if you were to take it off is the ‘courtesy vehicle’ option. As a car owner, if your van was to breakdown, you may be able to get a member of the family insured on your car to come and tow you away from any minor incident. Any repairs you would obviously have to pay or claim on your van insurance, but there is no need to pay for a professional organisation to pick you up if a family member can do so, locally.

And lastly, if you have removable security features on your car, such as a steering wheel lock or ‘plug and play’ immobiliser, these may help in your quest to reduce your quote to a very cheap van insurance premium by transferring them to the commercial vehicle.

In the penultimate article in our guide to delivering you the tactics with which to arm yourself in the search for the cheapest possible van insurance, we’re going to look at two aspects that van insurance providers often do not declare.

One can save you money from the outset and the other can cost you in the long run, if you incorrectly assume that your van insurance policy covers each and every eventuality that driving can bring and don’t check the small print of your policy.

The first aspect is something that you will only get offered once, when taking out van cover with a new broker. And this is an introductory offer.

In order to entice you to move, insurance companies are very aware of how much van drivers cherish their no claims bonus, thus amend their offer; but only if they have to. The amount of reduction usually reflects the discount you would expect to receive for the period which you have been driving without making a claim under your existing van insurance policy.

personalised van insurance worth the extra expense

The second aspect is personal to you, as the business owner. Irrespective of price, not all van insurance policies are created equally.

You may well think that paying more for your commercial vehicle cover guarantees the highest level of cover, but that is simply not the case. You may find that a very cheap van insurance policy suits your requirements more adequately, especially if you trade only locally or the costs of your tools are negligible.

There is no guarantee that every aspect of your transport requirements will be covered by basic van insurance, so it is up to you to check the small print – painful, but there is absolutely no other way. It is, after all, your livelihood that may be at stake if you have to shell out for expenses that your policy does not cover.

If you check the intricacies and they do not suit your business needs, most van insurance providers will offer you specific add-ons to complete the cover – these are normally found under the heading ‘ancillary items’.

It can grate, to pay more than you think you have to, but a cheap van insurance policy can prove worthless if you expose yourself to elements that you know you may encounter in your day-to-day business.

Build your van insurance policy to suit your business and it will justify the expense.

The final part of our guide to bringing you the cheapest possible van insurance to ensure that you have appropriate cover for your business looks at the ancillary items mentioned in part five.

These are items that may not be covered in the basics of a van insurance policy but, for a small amount extra, you can fortify your cover to provide you, your business and your livelihood with components that protect you in most eventualities.

One of the aspects overlooked by many when looking for cheap van insurance is the legal expense that follows a road traffic incident. Policies may cover for third party fire and theft, where a third party will be paid if you are at fault but what happens when it is the third party at fault?

If you are not to blame for the incident, you will need to be able to lean on your van insurance policy to reclaim the costs that you have incurred getting you back on the road in the swiftest manner possible. Unlike domestic vehicle insurance your van is your livelihood – the more time you are without it, theoretically, the more money you stand to lose.

As such, you need to check that your van insurance covers you for:
• all costs incurred in the reparation of your van are claimable
• earnings lost due to the inability to work following an accident
• actual injuries to yourself and those travelling with you
• damage to your belongings, which can include electronic devices and clothing
• if you claim on your policy for repairs, you will have paid the excess – it is possible to claim this back, too

In the event of a roadside breakdown, due to an accident at the hands of a third party, you will want to be on your way (if you are able) in the shortest possible time. If you have suffered mechanical or telematics malfunction and are immobilised as a result, you can insure yourself in varying increments to get you on the way, again.

This can be from roadside rescue alone to a whole package that rescues you, your vehicle, takes you home and provides transport so that you can continue on your way immediately until your own vehicle is returned, repaired.

Obviously, the more of those stages you insure against the price will rise, accordingly.

Additionally, if your business transport incorporates an attachment like a trailer or takes you to the continent, you can arrange rescue in those instances, too. Again, these are ancillaries that you only need add on if it is likely you are going to need them.

So there we have it – a six-part overview to help you tailor your van insurance to your business needs. It is only a guide, but should help you achieve the cheapest possible van insurance for your business by filtering those components out that you don’t need, but ensuring that you incorporate everything that you do.

It’s true enough to say that we don’t very often prise much from the claws of insurance brokers. Ever seen a poor one? Didn’t think so. That’s why it’s imperative to get the cheapest possible van insurance from the outset.

Even when you do make a successful claim, you often walk away feeling as if you have had to justify your very existence, not just be recompensed for that which you have paid you dues, by way of premium instalments, in advance.

One of the reasons we do begrudge making a claim, which does have a massive bearing when looking to renew and get cheap van insurance, is that by going through your insurance broker to resolve a motoring incident with your commercial vehicle you will negate your no claims bonus.

It matters not if you were completely innocent, nor what the size of the payout was (for which you may have had to pay the excess). The fact that the insurance firm has paid out on your policy will strike out any opportunity of getting a reduction on your renewal, when it is time to do so.

That is why so many people, especially if they have only incorporated the compulsory excess, who are involved in minor incidents where a repair or replacement of goods damaged will amount to less than the excess and/or subsequent costs, will often prefer to settle any differences in cash.

No claims bonuses can differ from provider to provider, but the ethos that affects your search for cheap van insurance is pretty similar throughout the industry.

A ‘no claims bonus’ will be discounted from your renewal if you have made no claims during the period of the previous or existing policy. Most van insurers will increment the discount relative to consequent years in which you have not made a claim. The percentage off the full premium can go as high as 60% for long-term driving without (claimable) incident. Once you reach that maximum discount, many brokers will give you the option to protect that amount (for a small increase in your premium), year on year. Without this protection, the no claims will become invalid after a gap of two years. In the search for very cheap van insurance, consistent safe and incident-free driving is one of the largest single factors to be taken into consideration.

If you are an existing customer with an insurance firm for your domestic vehicle, you may be able to factor any no claims on that policy into your van insurance policy; however, this rule may differ from broker to broker. It is always worth asking as a provider who assumes your loyalty may not point this fact out up front, without prompting.