VanMagazine.org

Cheap Van Insurance

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:04:17 +0000

One of the best ways to get the cheapest van insurance quote as possible is to shop online, as many of the lowest deals can be found through either visiting the provider’s website directly, or going through an independent price checker website.

It also helps if you have a few years no claims bonus that you can transfer to your new policy, so try and avoid claiming for anything under £500, as although this can seem like a big expensive at the time it will save you money in the long run on your annual insurance by helping you to build up your no claims bonus.

You should also get an alarm and immobilizer fitted to your van as although this will cost a bit of money it can help to reduce your insurance costs and will also help to prevent theft and damage to your vehicle, as can keeping your van parked in a safe off road place such as a private driveway or locked yard.

Can You Insure a Van if You Have Previous Convictions?

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:59:42 +0000

It is important to remember that one in every driver has some sort of traffic conviction on their license, and this doesn’t necessary mean that they are any worse drivers than someone without a conviction. For this reason many insurance companies will still provide van insurance for drivers with previous convictions, but you must ensure that you notify the provider when you apply for a quote, as a failure to inform your insurance provider of previous convictions can lead to your insurance being invalid.

When you apply for a policy most insurance companies will ask you if you have had any previous convictions before they give you a final quote, and if you omit any details at this stage not only can it affect on your insurance, but you will also be in effect misleading your insurance provider and this can have legal implications in terms of fraud as well.

Getting Insurance for Your Van

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:59:25 +0000

You will need to have the following details ready before you start looking around for quotes for your van insurance:
· Drivers – you must provide details of each driver that will be using your van, including any information about convictions or previous claims.
· Van Details – you will need to be able to provide the registration of the van, as well as details about the make, model and any modifications it may have such as signage or racking.
· Van Use – some insurance companies may ask what the primary use of the van may be, and whether or not you will be towing a trailer.

Once you have these details then you can start looking around for a quote and it is a good idea to look online, as many of the best deals can only be found over the Internet, and you will need a valid credit or debit card in your name in order to pay for van insurance online.

Cost Effective Used Vans

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:03:39 +0000

New vans can cost a lot of money, but there are plenty of used vans for sale, both from private owners and dealers and this can be a cost effective option for those drivers looking for a replacement van.

Don’t forget that used vans hold their prices well, so you should still expect to pay a fair amount for a van with under 100,000 miles on the clock and it may be a good idea to visit a dealer as not only will they offer you a warrantee in most cases but you will also be able to trade in your old van (or a car) against the new one.

Before you buy a used van make sure you do a little research on the models you will be going to look at, so that you know common problems to look out for as this could save you a lot of money later on.

For example Fiat Ducato Vans often have problems with gearboxes wearing quickly and these will need to be replaced after 60,000 miles in many cases (particularly models between 2000 and 2006) as this can cost a lot of money.

Van Breakdown Insurance

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:04:03 +0000

Because vans are generally used every day and do a lot of hard miles they have a greater chance of breaking down than the average car, so it is important to get some breakdown cover in place, as it can be expensive if your van does breakdown and you need to get it towed back to your home or to the nearest garage.

Lots of van insurance policies offer inclusive breakdown cover, and it is a good idea to check this thoroughly to ensure it is suitable for your needs, and also check you will receive a cover vehicle whilst yours is off the road as this will be a big help for businesses to avoid any unnecessary interruptions to daily work. Also it can sometimes be cheaper to get this type of cover separately, as you can get some great deals on breakdown cover directly from the provider or online.

Buying a Used Van – Paperwork Checks

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:03:11 +0000

When you are buying a used van you must make sure you check the paperwork thoroughly, especially for high mileage models, as this can save you a lot of money and hassle later on. Request full service history, MOT certificates and any receipts for works and repairs that have taken place and check these against the owner’s description of the van and its condition. Look at the number of previous owners carefully, as generally people keep vans for quite a few years and a van with a high number of previous owners but low mileage could indicate that it is problematic and people have sold it on to get something more reliable.

Also check the vehicle identification number (VIN) matches the MoT certificates and other paperwork to ensure that the records you have been given relate to the right vehicle.

If you are unhappy with the paperwork for any reasons it would be best to move on and look at other, more reliable options.

Tips for Buying a Used Van

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:01:35 +0000

Second hand vans hold their prices very well, so you can end up paying quite a lot of money for an older model with a lot of miles on the clock, and this is why it is important to make sure you get the best possible vehicle you can for your money. Here are a few tips for buying used vans:
· Mileage – vans with heavy mileage can still be a good deal, but only if they have been looked after properly and serviced well, so make sure you get full service history and receipts for any large repairs that the seller has claimed has been carried out already. Check that the mileage matches the ‘look’ of the van, so if it looks very worn on both the interior and exterior, but the mileage is very low, you should be wary in case the clock has been tampered with.
· Engine – always start up a van you are intending to buy from cold, as this can reveal many potential problems both with the engine and the ignition system that might not be obvious is the van has already been running for a while and is warmed up.

Tips for Running Your Van Economically

admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:01:21 +0000

· Servicing – regular servicing is essential for vans, as generally they are made to work hard, carrying heavy loads and doing a lot of miles every day. Servicing can help identify potential issues before they become expensive problems and will also extend the life of your van.
· Overloading – overloading your van can cause strain on the engine, gearbox, axles, brakes and suspension, and can cause expensive repair bills in the future so only ever run the van to the recommended maximum capacity. Loading your van efficiently will also save you on fuel costs, and running a smaller, well loaded van is much cheaper than running a larger one which is half empty.
· Engine Size – larger, more powerful engines are not very fuel efficient around town, but they do burn less fuel at higher speeds so are much more economic if you are going to be doing lots of motorway and main road miles. Make sure you choose an engine size appropriate to the types of journey you will be making the most, as this can save you a lot of fuel.

Top Passenger Van

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:02:57 +0000

GMC Savana Ranks #1 in Passenger Vans
Overall Score – 7.6 (Good)

Based on U.S. News editors’ analysis of 12 leading automotive reviews and test drives, the 2010 GMC Savana ranks #1 of 6 in Passenger Vans.

Please check back soon for our full review

Choose the Right Van Size for Your Needs

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:01:06 +0000

Vans are very expensive pieces of equipment but can be invaluable for businesses to provide transport for bulky items, and it is important to do some research before you buy a van to ensure you are getting the right one to suit your needs.
· Van Size – it is a false economy to buy a larger van than you need, so make sure you estimate carefully what capacity you actually need, and then choose an appropriate model size. You can always hire a larger van for one-off jobs if you need more space in the future.
· Engine Size – this is important in terms of economy when it comes to daily trips, as it is more fuel efficient to run a larger engine van for long motorway and main road trips as they work much less harder at higher speeds, but a smaller engine will probably be more fuel efficient on short trips around city roads and in heavy traffic.