What To Look For In UK Truck Insurance
The world of HGV insurance has never exactly been the most thrilling, and while I’m aware that writing an article on what to look out for in haulage insurance is enough to put a good deal of my readers into a narcoleptic coma, I nonetheless think it’s an important, and sometimes confusing, issue worth covering. I hope that this article will prove to be of some use for those struggling in reams of small print and clauses.
Firstly, you may ask why you need insurance. That is to say, why you need specific UK truck insurance, because obviously there’s a legal requirement to have basic vehicular cover to be on British roads in the first place. Extra cover, like goods in transit lorry insurance can seem a lot of extra hassle to arrange, and an unnecessary cost in times when some owner operators and haulage companies are trying hard to make ends meet, but it’s worth considering the extra security your customers will feel knowing their goods are properly protected. Well publicised UK lorry insurance can lend an extra air of legitimacy to an unproven owner operator starting out for the first time. And of course it’s not just about appearances – if goods are damaged on the road and you’re not insured, you’re going to have to either pay for the damages yourself, or endure a drawn out legal battle with someone who could have become a good customer. Likewise, if the employees of a big haulage company have an accident and blame the owners, some kind of protection can make all the difference towards an amiable resolution.
So here’s a rundown to the types of UK truck insurance on offer, and what they provide. Some are compulsory, while others are optional – and it’s up to you to decide whether you can do without them, though obviously I have my own views that I shall share along the way…
Vehicle Insurance
Any vehicle on the road must be insured – that’s a legal requirement which most people are aware of, and naturally it counts for lorries as well! This is obviously a major expense for owner operators starting out, so it actually makes sense to see how prices compare for different lorries before you decide which type you intend to purchase, allowing you to save on your vehicle’s haulage insurance.
Goods in Transit Truck Insurance
It’s worth stumping up the extra cash for ‘Goods in Transit’ insurance as well. This will protect your cargo against loss and damage, which can offer real peace of mind when you’re loading up delicate valuable into the back of the truck. Be sure the haulage insurance you select will cover you to a high enough value – if you’re claiming for damage to items worth £20,000, and you only have goods in transit truck insurance for goods valued up to £10,000 then you’re going to be paying half the damages!
Your main insurance company might cover this, but if not, then it’s very easy to get this from specialist UK lorry insurance dealers. This is especially worth considering for new owner operators, as it makes you seem more legitimate and people will feel they have the peace of mind to take a chance on you, in all your untested glory.
Public Liability
This one may not be as necessary as the other two, but is still worth considering, especially for new owner operators with butter fingers! This aspect of UK lorry insurance will cover you for incidents involving your customers, for example if you drop their entire batch of pianos on their foot. It does more for backup basically, and gives you extra legal grounding should accidents happen.
Continental Lorry Insurance
This one is something that’s either essential or pointless, depending on how you do business, but it’s really easy to work out, of course: Do you spend any of your work hours delivering loads abroad on the continent? If yes, then you need continental haulage insurance, if not you can save that money and stick to a UK truck insurance policy.
These options vary between essential and optional, but all should be carefully considered – it really doesn’t pay to cut corners to make a short term saving, and HGV insurance can really offer you some essential leeway should things go wrong, whether you own a fleet of freight vehicles or are a humble owner operator. If you are looking to insure an entire fleet with lorry insurance, it’s worth remembering that discounts are often available and wide ranging, so don’t be afraid to shop around!
Van Insurance – Different Van Insurance Options You Have!
When you are trying to find insurance for your vans, you are probably wishing, “Please, someone find me van insurance that won’t break my budget.” The great thing is, that you actually have a variety of van insurance options that will allow you to get the insurance you need without having to spend huge amounts of money. So, if you have been wondering, “can anyone find me van insurance for a good deal,” the answer is yes. You can find great options that will provide you the cover you need for a good deal.
Option #1 – Transit van insurance – One type of van insurance that you may want to consider is transit van insurance. If you happen to use the van for transit without your business, you may want to go with this type of insurance. This type of cover will be of use when you are taking goods from place to place. Often you’ll find great discounts on this insurance if you buy it online; in fact, you can save about 10-20% if you make the purchase online instead of offline. So this type of insurance provides you with excellent deals for your needs.
Option #2 – Short Term Van Insurance – You’ll also be able to find short term van insurance, which is another option. Of course you can find this insurance for a good deal as well, and using this type of insurance can help you save on your insurance costs as well, since you won’t be paying all the time for insurance that you are not going to be using on a regular basis. Short term van insurance is especially for those who do not use their vans all the time. If you only use your van every once in awhile, you may not want to carry cover all the time, so the short term insurance is an excellent, cost effective option.
Option #3 – Courier Van Insurance – Do you deliver goods for other people? If so, then a good option on insurance for you will be courier van insurance. This type of insurance helps you to make sure that the goods in your van are covered as well as the van. You never want to end up in an accident, only to find out that the goods you were carrying were a total loss. Having courier van insurance can keep this from happening, making sure that the goods you are carrying around will be covered to keep you protected.
Option #4 – Fleet Van Insurance – If you happen to have a whole fleet of vans, you may need to go with fleet van insurance for your needs. Individual insurance for each van would be cost prohibitive; however, you can really save when you decide to just go with a policy for your entire fleet. There are many different insurance companies out there that can offer you a great deal when you insure several different vans with them.
So, in answer to your question, “Can you find me van insurance that won’t break my budget,” the answer is yes. Each of these options can be found for a great deal that will help you save money. Whether you are going to need courier insurance, fleet insurance, transit insurance, or even short term van insurance, finding great insurance no matter your budget is definitely possible.
Comparing van insurance is your best option online so…
Selecting a Type of Van Insurance
Van insurance is very important for the safety of your van. According to UK motoring laws, all vehicles should have an insurance policy. UK laws are strict, but after all they are good for saving you from heavy payments later on. Before buying any van insurance you should know the three main types of van insurance.
Comprehensive Van Insurance
This type of van insurance provides full insurance coverage to your vehicle. In other words, it covers damages, accidents, crashes, robbery, fire and destruction. Comprehensive van insurance also covers third party damages. A third party can be either an individual or a company. Moreover, this insurance also provides medical coverage to the owner and also the third party in the case of injuries. The only issue with this policy is that you have to pay too much as compared with other types of insurance policies. This is a high cost insurance policy only because it covers all the risks related to your vehicle.
Third Party Fire And Theft Van Insurance
This van insurance policy gives coverage from the risk of theft, harm, fire damage, disaster, lightning and blasts. However, this insurance does not cover your damages if an uninsured vehicle collides with your van. The benefit of this policy is that it covers most big risks and leaves only accident coverage. Furthermore, this van insurance is much cheaper when compared with comprehensive van insurance.
Third Party Van Insurance
This type of van insurance provides the least coverage to your van. Therefore, this is the cheapest and most affordable policy. This van insurance provides coverage for the damages inflicted upon a third party.
When you have a clear understanding about the types of van insurance, then you should focus on the selection of van insurance. Here are some guidelines which may help you in choosing the suitable van insurance for your vehicle.
The first point you should keep in mind while you are buying van insurance, is coverage. You should find out the right coverage for your van, for example comprehensive or third party. Second, you should also know the usage of your van; such as how long do you intend to keep your van. This information is to be given to the commercial van insurer. Third, there are a number of insurance companies which demand you to install some safety devices in your vehicle. You should know what those devices are, and how much they cost. Fourth, you should explore the benefits of a particular van insurance policy.
The basic aim of van insurance is to reduce the financial burden on you, which can arise in the case of damage/s. The cost of an insurance policy usually depends on the coverage that it provides to compensate risks. Therefore, always opt for an insurance coverage which is suitable according to your needs. Moreover, insurance companies provide additional features on different types of van insurance to attract more customers. Thus, before buying any van insurance policy go through the particular features an insurance company is offering you, and then look for the cheapest quotes.