Why UK Tradespeople Are Travelling Further For Better Pay And More Work

Introduction

The world of van-driving tradespeople is changing fast.

New research reveals a clear shift across the UK.

More and more tradespeople are travelling further than ever before.

Why?

Because the rewards are too good to ignore.

Higher pay.

More jobs.

Bigger opportunities.

But with this shift comes a new challenge.

More miles means more risk — and that makes van insurance more important than ever.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

  • Why tradespeople in the UK are driving further for work.
  • The biggest reasons for this dramatic shift.
  • How longer journeys impact van insurance costs.
  • The smart strategies every tradesperson should use.
  • Why cheap van insurance matters more than ever.

The Rise Of The Travelling Tradespeople

UK tradespeople are on the move.

According to a new survey, 63% of van-driving workers now travel over 30 miles more than when they started their current role.

That’s a massive increase.

But it doesn’t stop there.

The research, based on 500 tradespeople, shows that most are willing to travel an average of 31.7 additional miles for work.

Let that sink in.

This isn’t a small shift.

It’s a complete change in how tradespeople operate.

In fact, nearly 70% of those surveyed said they expect to widen their travel radius even further in the next five years.

Why is this happening?

Let’s take a closer look.

Why Are Tradespeople Willing To Travel Further?

The short answer?

Money.

Better pay was the number one reason given by 61% of respondents.

But that’s not all.

Many tradespeople also cited increased job opportunities (56%) and a desire to grow their client base (43%).

It makes sense.

As a result of higher competition in local areas, tradespeople are now forced to expand their reach.

After all, why stay local when the bigger jobs — and better pay — are further away?

It’s a clear trend.

And it’s only going to accelerate.

But it doesn’t come without challenges.

The Impact On Van Drivers

More miles mean more expenses.

It’s not just about fuel.

Longer journeys put extra strain on your van.

Tyres wear out faster.

Servicing costs rise.

And let’s not forget about van insurance.

The more you drive, the higher your risk.

That’s exactly why tradespeople need to stay one step ahead.

Flexible working brings flexible risks.

Your insurance should reflect that.

Want to check if your policy is still right for your driving habits?

A guide on checking your insurance policy is here.

Temporary Van Insurance Could Be The Answer

For tradespeople taking on occasional long-distance work, there’s a smart solution.

Temporary van insurance.

This type of policy offers flexible cover for short-term needs.

No need to commit to a full annual policy if you’re only taking on the odd far-away project.

It’s fast.

It’s cost-effective.

And it can save you serious money in the long run.

But that’s not all.

Temporary van insurance can also give peace of mind for unexpected jobs or one-off projects.

Want to know more about how temporary van insurance works?

Find out how new drivers can access van insurance options here.

How Tradespeople Can Prepare For Longer Journeys

Of course, travelling further isn’t just about jumping in your van and hitting the road.

Instead, it requires a smart plan.

After all, longer journeys can quickly drain your time, money, and energy.

That’s why tradespeople need to take action before those miles add up.

Here’s how to stay ahead:

  • First, use route-planning apps to avoid traffic and wasted fuel.
  • Secondly, group nearby jobs together to cut down on unnecessary driving.
  • Moreover, always factor travel time and fuel costs into your quotes.
  • Finally, schedule regular van maintenance to avoid breakdowns miles from home.

As a result, these small steps can save you money and protect your van from wear and tear.

Even better?

They help you stay competitive while taking on long-distance work.

Want to cut costs further? See the essential insight into soaring van costs.

Why Cheap Van Insurance Matters More Than Ever

Because tradespeople are travelling further, risks on the road increase too.

More miles mean more exposure to accidents, breakdowns, and theft.

Therefore, having the right van insurance has never been more important.

Without it, you could lose far more than just fuel money.

This is exactly why cheap van insurance UK policies are essential.

Not only do they protect your van, but they also protect your income and your reputation.

Even so, not all insurance deals are the same.

That’s why you should compare policies regularly to find cover that fits your changing needs.

Moreover, you may want to explore flexible options like temporary van insurance if your workload varies.

Want the best deals on very cheap van insurance?

Start comparing now at Cheap Van Insurance UK.

Conclusion

In summary, tradespeople across the UK are travelling further than ever before.

Why?

Because better pay and bigger job opportunities often lie beyond their local area.

However, longer journeys come with extra responsibilities.

More miles mean more risks.

Therefore, it’s essential to stay organised, plan smarter, and review your van insurance regularly.

After all, protecting your van is protecting your livelihood.

For even more ways to save money and stay safe on the road, check out these useful guides:

No License, Van Insurance or Permission = Friends No More

When your van goes missing you don’t expect the culprit to be…a work colleague. Forget those criminal gangs. Everybody is a suspect.

The potential thief who is going to take your pride and joy could very well be a neighbour, family member, or even someone you are sharing a B&B room with.

That is exactly what happened in Manchester, where two men were doing some work in the area. To save money, only 1 B&B room was booked, although while one of the owner of the van was sleeping the other man…

…Took the keys for the van and decided to go off on an adventure. What kind of adventure? The kind where you have no driving license and no insurance for the van, but, most importantly you have no PERMISSION.

Let’s face it, if a friend just took your keys and drove off into the night with your van without any kind of permission then wouldn’t you be a bit miffed? Of course you would.

To make matters even worse, the man who went off in the van had apparently drunk 6 pints down the local boozer.

So just to sum up…he had no license, no insurance, no permission, and was drunk. Something tells me this story is not going to end well.

And it didn’t. Our boys and girls in Blue did their job for once and pulled over the friendly joyrider.

“It’s my mates van,” he could have said.

“Do you have permission from your mate?” the Police officer might have asked.

“No,” would have been the honest reply.

As we all know, any time the Police pull you over and find that you have no licence or insurance then you can expect to find yourself in trouble. A night down the local nick could be in store and a star appearance at the court is definitely going to happen.

So the man with no permission had his day in court and immediately pleaded guilty from the dock.

This was all the judge needed to hear, and with the trusty hammer firmly in her grasp she slammed it down with such force that everybody in the courtroom jumped a bit.

Jail time was not on the cards in this particular case, but a 12 month community order and 120 hours of unpaid work was.

Not only that, but he was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

I think the moral of the story is…if you are thinking about going for a drive in a van that is not yours, then make sure you get permission.

Also, make sure you have a licence, and check to see if you are insured to drive the van.

Temporary van insurance can be compared right here of course, at CVI, The Nations Favourite.

Once you have permission then go directly to the top of the page and click on “get a quote.”

Pay-as-you-go Van Insurance set to Launch

Want to get van insurance on a vehicle that is driven infrequently? Well, you could soon have a very flexible pay-as-you-go option to save money.

That’s right. A car insurance broker named Cuuva are just about to launch a new type of insurance that is aimed at people who drive their cars on an infrequent basis.

Research shows that around 6 million cars in the UK only take to the road now and again, so as you can imagine, there is no doubt going to be a lot of demand for this type of policy.

This got me thinking though, surely there are also many van owners out there who only drive now and again? This is why I reckon pay-as-you-go van insurance could be something that we see launched by Cuuva or a different company pretty soon.

I guess it all depends how the pay-as-you-go car insurance performs, but if successful I’m sure we will be seeing a “van equivalent” as some point.

Of course, there is already similar types of insurance out there, with things like temporary van insurance being offered. However, many people have complained these kind of policies are way too expensive. Perhaps pay-as-you-go is the solution? It could just be.

Some experts have even commented that this type of insurance will revolutionise the sector, and could leave many customers saving up to 70% on what they are currently paying.

When you consider that the average van insurance policy is around £1500 and the average car insurance policy around £700, then there are many people around the country who are going to be interested in this news.

If you want to save money on van insurance the first thing I always recommend is to start with a comparison website. Never go directly to the insurance companies website for a quote because then you instantly lose your bargaining power.

Instead, get quotes from many different companies, and then you are in a better position to see what is out there, choose the cheapest price, and even haggle if you want to.

Some van insurance companies have no problem if you want to try and bargain with them, especially when you have a few different vans or commercial vehicles and want to get the best price possible.

It all begins with a comparison website though, but fortunately you only need to put in a few basic details. It should take around 3 minutes.

Back to pay-as-you-go insurance, and it seems that Cuuva also have an App available to download, which allows you to get a quick quote when you want to borrow a car from friends or family.

Will this work with van insurance? Yes it would in my opinion, especially when you consider the amount of times people need to quickly borrow a van but don’t want to become a named driver or take out complete van insurance.

Anyway, let’s wait to find out what happens with pay-as-you-go van insurance, although I’m sure we are going to be hearing more about it.

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