Better Value Business Vans Insurance

A recent Barclays Bank survey showed that 61% of UK businesses maintain that the recession has made them more efficient.   That’s come at the price of an increase in working hours for 43% and recession-related redundancies, none of which will be news to those whose livelihood depends on owning or operating a van or fleet of commercial vehicles.  Rising fuel prices, increased costs of ownership and the uncertain economic outlook made everyone who runs pickups, small vans like Fiesta’s and Renault to Transit vans and larger models seek greater efficiencies and better value for money long before the Credit Crunch really kicked in.

One of the major overheads for anyone whose van is essential to his livelihood is the need to have the vehicle insured to be legal on the road and to cover risks that wouldn’t face non-commercial drivers.  It’s not just road tax, but liability insurance quotes that are the additional expense here.Commercial van insurance is more than just an elaborate version of business car insurance because vans transport a large and expensive payload.  It’s important to protect against threats to that payload as well as threats to the vehicle.Delivery vans tend to be much bigger than a company car and often operate in tight, busy, city streets. thus increasing the risk of an accident. Physical damage and collision cover is therefore important and so too is protection against serious injury or even death.

Most business vans insurance providers will offer comprehensive insurance cover for up to five vans and up to fifteen different drivers under a single policy and the best policies also extend that cover to European countries.More owner/operators are seeking providers that will not penalise start ups by premium or policy excess loadings up front and some of the better companies not only offer commercial van insurance but will also bundle a wide range of business insurance policies, covering everything from public liability to professional indemnity insurance in one integrated package.

Businesses Saved by Vehicle Leasing

Van leasing is currently helping many businesses to stay afloat during these difficult times. Many businesses have been forced to look carefully at their cash flow and capital expenditure. Van leasing provides businesses, large and small, with the commercial vehicles that they need with payment methods that they can afford.

Van leasing and contract hire have become increasingly popular as businesses recognize the benefits of leasing over outright purchase. These include:

• Fixed, known monthly payments enabling businesses to accurately forecast their finances;
• Low initial down payments mean that businesses can secure brand new, top specification vans for very little initial outlay;
• Maintenance and servicing can be included in the lease price which can save a lot of headaches;
• Leasing is a great way to lessen the impact of depreciation;
• The leasing company can often provide commercial vehicle insurance at very competitive rates;
• No problems disposing of vehicles at the end of the lease period;
• There are tax benefits to leasing as it is classed as rental which means that 100% of the lease charge is tax allowable.

Although van leasing is generally advantageous to businesses there are some additional considerations that should be borne in mind. One thing you may need to do is accurately estimate your anticipated mileage. You should always check to find out if there are any penalties for exceeding the stipulated mileage and maybe look for an unlimited mileage contract.

Another important aspect of the contract to consider is exactly what is included in the maintenance agreement. Some lease contracts include replacement tires and even replacement windscreens, but always check the details.

Always gather several quotations when shopping around for a good van leasing contract and compare them in detail. Be certain that you are comparing the same models of vehicles with all of the same options.

Like company car leasing, van leasing is increasingly recognized as a financially viable option for providing a business with the transport needed to stay in business.