How to Get Cheaper Van Insurance
As a van owner, you’re probably wondering what you can do to make your insurance cheaper. The size of vehicle, and the fact that they tend to carry more valuable equipment, generally makes van insurance more expensive than car insurance.But it isn’t all doom and gloom. At Brightside Van Insurance, we’ve come up with 10 things you can do to ensure your policy is as cheap as possible, from assessing your vehicle needs to the length of time for which you’re insured.
1. Reconsider the Size of Your Van
In most cases, the bigger the vehicle, the more expensive the insurance policy. More powerful engines are required for big vehicles, and these are regarded as higher risk compared to their smaller, less powerful counterparts.Vans vary in size, but those on the larger end of the spectrum need bigger and more powerful engines, meaning it will be costlier to insure them.
Because of this, it’s worth reconsidering the size of van you need. Do you need a large transit van when you’re only going to be transporting small, lightweight tools?
2. Change the Way You Pay
Do you pay for your insurance monthly or annually?It might seem as though either ends up the same amount, but that’s not the case. Monthly payments can often work out significantly more expensive than annual payments because of the interest charged.
Sometimes this option is out of your control. But, if possible, paying for your van insurance yearly can make it cheaper.
3. Improve Your Security
Vans tend to contain expensive cargo, and that makes them a regular security risk. Thieves will be attracted to vans because of the increased chance of finding tools or other important items.Improving the security of your van by using alarms and immobilisers can make van insurance cheaper, while trackers may also help you find any stolen goods.
It’s important to check with your insurer prior to making these changes to confirm whether or not they’ll have any impact. However, having extra security for your van will always have its benefits.
4. Improve Your Van Driving Skills
For some insurers, the better the van driver you are on paper, the less likely you are to claim. This can often result in a cheaper policy.Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and Pass Plus are well-recognised accreditations that can be expensive in the short term, but make van insurance significantly cheaper in the long-run. This is especially true for new and young drivers.
As with point three on improved security, not all insurers take advanced qualifications into account when adding up the cost of a policy. It’s always worth checking whether or not they do, as sometimes the cost of taking the course is greater than the saving itself.
5. Think of the Level of Insurance You Need
There are different policy levels available, from comprehensive to third party, fire and theft. These cover different things, and as a result come at different costs.It’s important that you have a policy that provides the coverage you need, so this should be the priority. But consider whether or not you need everything first, as a lower level insurance will make your van insurance cheaper.
6. Start Looking for Insurance Policies Soon
The later you leave it, the more expensive your policy will be. If you want cheaper van insurance, you’re best off looking as early as possible.You don’t necessarily need to make any decisions straight away. Try and set some reminders a few months before your policy is being renewed to start the ball rolling. Or, if it’s a new policy, look at insurance long before you take it out.
7. Check Where and How You Park
As with cars, where you park can have a huge impact on the cost of your van insurance. Parking on a drive or in a garage means the vehicle’s more secure and less likely to be damaged or vandalised. Road parking away from your home makes it far more likely.This is often out of people’s control. However, if you have the option to, always park in a safe location.
When you do park, ensure any expensive cargo within the van is taken out overnight. This won’t directly make for cheaper van insurance, but it reduces the risk of your having to make any expensive claims should theft or vandalism occur.
8. Limit Your Mileage as Much as Possible
The most important thing is to be honest with your insurer about the number of miles you cover in your vehicle. However, when doing this, it’s worth looking into whether you can reduce this at all.The more miles you drive, the more likely you are to have an accident and therefore claim. Consider how often you drive your vehicle, where you drive it, and whether any changes can be made for a cheaper policy.
9. Build up No Claims
Drivers of any vehicle build up a no-claims bonus for every consecutive year they don’t make a claim. With most insurers, this can make the price much cheaper.If you already have five or more years’ no claims, make sure you let your insurer know when applying for a policy. If you don’t, try and go claim-free for as long as possible.
10. Your Work Status
Do you use for van for work purposes? How are you describing your work status to your insurer? Both of these could impact the cost of your policy.While you need to be honest with your insurer as to what your occupation is, how you describe your role can have big implications. Are you a Delivery Driver or Courier?
If you use your van to commute or for work purposes, you need to make this clear in the cover. However, if you don’t, a social and domestic use policy could be much cheaper.
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