Driving a van in the UK automatically gives you a ‘negative road reputation’ according to eQuote Direct – a broker that specialises in finding fair insurance for convicted roadsters.
eQuote Direct have recently advised drivers of any vehicle to be honest when filing for insurance – explaining road convictions needn’t always inflate a premium excessively. For van drivers, the broker’s support could be something to cling onto as they come under fire in the way of statistics, again:
On a national average, research shows more than 15 per cent of van drivers are carrying penalties on their license. That figure stretches beyond 17 per cent in the south east (mainly London). As less than half of that percentage reportedly applies to car drivers in the UK, a surge of negativity surrounding the ‘White Van Man’ has been reignited this month.
Meanwhile, eQuote Direct is looking at the bigger picture and believes a detrimental ‘generalisation’ of van drivers could be unfair. Still, the broker is keen to underline how a van driver’s portrayal in the media ought to be far less of a worry for them than dangers such as theft this winter.
A spokesperson for eQuote Direct commented:
‘If you’re driving a van in the UK, then no matter how careful you are – rest assured that you have a negative road reputation. There is an imbalanced generalisation of van drivers here and although a small number of them do push their luck on our roads, it’s important to remember that the majority are professional drivers, who are likely to have more road experience than those of us just commuting back and forth.
‘Nevertheless, commercial van drivers have much more serious concerns than how they’re perceived by the public; winter is coming and so too is the yearly influx in theft. It’s not just merchandise and tools at risk now – it’s been reported in Lincolnshire that gangs are even snatching catalytic converters from vans! We’re here to help everyone when it comes to protection.’
eQuote Direct’s standpoint on this issue is characteristically supportive. As a dutiful broker, the firm will continue to seek out the fairest insurance policies for every client; whether that client is a van driver susceptible to high levels of theft in their area or one of the 2.4 per cent who have been found guilty of using their phones while driving in the last five years.
Professional assistance with convicted driver insurance can be the difference between sacrificing an entire livelihood and affordably getting back on the road.
Brokers Examine Britain’s Best and Worst Van Drivers
Latest comment from Insurance Brokers on Referral Fees
In the last 11 years, the cost of personal injuries has doubled to approximately £14 billion and fraud remains the biggest threat to motor insurers. One veteran insurance broker gives their opinion on both issues.
eQuoteDirect is a motor trade insurance brokers in Kent. The firm has been operating since before Labour legalised referral fees in 2004, so is well-positioned to comment on how the change affected the industry and how its impending ban could impact the modern insurance sector.
An 18% rise in personal injury cases between 2010 and 2011 cost the insurance industry an estimate of £400 million, according to a report by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. eQuote Direct has taken an honest standpoint on the stats – recognising how the vicious cycle of referral fees has eaten away at the insurance industry ‘from the inside-out’.
Also, eQuoteDirect is keen to remind businesses that the best way to find an affordable commercial insurance package, is to work with a broker. The brokers are connected to multiple insurers and negotiate deals with these, on the client’s behalf – meaning they can identify and liaise with the insurers who are countering fraud and keeping their premiums reasonable.
A spokesperson for eQuoteDirect commented:
‘The combination of organised fraud and referral fees has developed into a real parasite for the insurance industry. The money made on selling claimant information is negated by the money lost in that claimant winning their case – meaning some insurers are forced to keep selling information to keep up. Referral fees are eating away at parts of the industry from the inside-out.
‘Whereas the government have stepped in to criminalise the fees in April 2013, we still can’t stress enough how important it is to speak to the experts when it comes to insurance. Brokers are experienced and know how to connect your business with the insurers who aren’t caught up in the referral fee cyclone or anything that can affect your premium – making sure you’re never paying over the odds for your protection.’
Cutting Costs and Improving Your Bottom Line in the Motor Trade
We’re in a bit of a fix around the country at the moment. The financial difficulties that have beset the world have hit a lot of families hard, so it’s no surprise to see a lot of small businesses go under. One area that has remained protected from these problems, however, is the motor trade. This year, sales of new cars in the UK rose a massive 8%. Now, while most of this is clawing back the ground lost when the financial bubble first popped, there are new customers appearing to breathe new life into a great old industry.
Let’s start selling
Now, while this is great news for car salesmen around the country, don’t rush out to become a used car salesman just yet. At the same time as new car sales reached this high point, the average price of used cars has dropped to its lowest in a year. While this means that a lot of used car dealerships are not getting as good value for their time, it has opened a whole new area of opportunity for those willing to spend some time.
Average prices have opened up a huge difference depending on region. While cars in London may still be relatively expensive, their price in the South West, for example, is a lot lower. So get travelling around the country to find those top deals, bring them back and sell them for a tasty profit.
The other thing that a lot of people are looking at is how to make money quickly. Many people are selling possessions quickly in order to pay off debt or to invest in a new venture. One of the things that tend to go is the second car. With people looking to sell quickly, bargains can be had.
Know What You’re Looking At
Be careful, though. You need to know exactly what you are doing. Spending your hard earned cash on a car with a dud part or two could see your investment go right down the drain, so be careful. Take care, too, with your costs, one of which is your insurance.
By taking out motor traders insurance, you are making sure that you are covered should anything happen while you transport the cars and while your customers test drive. As with other insurance, make sure you read all the small print in your motor trade insurance, as there may be a surprise if you don’t go with professionals. So get good advice from those professionals.
Lots Looking to Car Share as Prices Rise
With the current financial situation, keeping your costs low is essential and many are looking at ways to get rid of the non-essentials. One of these is the humble car. Whereas in times of plenty the car is seen as almost irreplaceable, people have found ways to cope without their four wheeled friend. One of the big winners has been car sharing and car hiring companies.
Peer-to-peer sharing
One of the new crazes is the idea of peer-to-peer car sharing. This allows individuals to rent cars from other individuals at low rates. Instead of using a car once a week, with all the costs involved, people just rent as and when they need it for costs in double figures.
Yet there is still a lot of scope for small businesses to make money from the current situation. With such a high demand for car hiring, offering a cheap, bespoke service could net you a tidy profit. Second hand car prices are at their lowest for a long time, so it’s the perfect time to invest in a fleet of cars to rent out to paying customers. With trust of big corporations at an all-time low – not helped by the recent goings on at Glaxo Smith Kline or Barclay – now is the perfect opportunity to reach out to those customers.
Business Fleets on the Rise
Another opportunity is the business fleet. A lot of companies are slashing their company car budget as they encourage their employees to share rides to work. Instead of offering every employee a car, they are operating a carpool which can be booked as and when it’s needed. While some companies are able to do this in house, others will need to outsource this – which is where you come in.
Whatever route you choose to go down, you need to make sure that you get the right variety of fleet insurance. With a huge range of potential policies to choose from, you could get bogged down in the decision and miss out on the best deal for you and your company. Make sure you talk to the professionals and scope out all the possible options before diving in at the deep end.
With such a huge variety on offer, there are companies that offer bespoke motor fleet insurance tailored to your company’s needs. So contact the professionals today and rest easy that your fleet is safe.
eQuoteDirect Comment on Plans for Careless Driving to Become a Fixed Penalty Offence
The Department of Transport has unveiled plans to make careless driving a Fixed Penalty Offence (FPN). There will also be the option of education training and even discusses the idea of raising some motoring fixed penalty notices from £60 to £90.
The proposals were outlined as part of a published consultation paper by the department in a bid to shake up the current approach and improve road safety.
How it will work exactly is that motorists who commit ‘less severe’ offences will be given the choice of either accepting an FPN or attending and paying themselves for a driver training course.
The consultation paper commented that the current system of charging motorists for offences was ‘overly bureaucratic’, ‘resource intensive’ for the police and courts, and that ‘high resource costs’ actually deterred officers from making charges.
At the moment there are apparently no proposals to change penalties for parking restriction FPN offences, Mr Penning has said. However, he has warned that they have ‘broadened the scope of the measure’ and are ‘consulting on other options such as increasing the levels for non-endorsable offences, motor insurance offences, and graduated fixed penalties’.
A spokesperson for eQuoteDirect, who specialise in convicted car insurance, comments: ‘The new plans by the Department of Transport are targeting the root cause by trying to improve the impact of enforcing the consequences of these offences. Ultimately driving more safely and making sure you have adequate car insurance cover makes the roads safer for everyone’.
The consultation paper revealed how the preparation of a court file can currently take up to three hours to complete whereas an FPN would take less than half an hour, therefore making the processes more efficient for officers. It is hoped it would therefore make police more likely to enforce them on careless drivers.
In 2011, over 26,000 people were prosecuted for careless and many will be wondering whether the new plans are as a result of those figures.
The government is confident however that the measure would deter careless driving as after driving with a mobile phone was made a fixed penalty offence in 2003, offending rates have dropped and decreased by more than a third in 2008.
So the idea is that if there is a real risk of being caught and the penalty being enforced, then drivers will avoid taking the chance of driving dangerously. eQuoteDirect are also hopeful that it will make drivers more sensible when it comes to taking out insurance policies and also giving insurers the right information, as if the Department of Transport look into this next then many drivers without the right insurance could be playing with fire – and convicted drivers especially could suffer real repercussions.
Changes are aimed at being in place by April 2013. To get car insurance advice from eQuoteDirect today visit www.equotedirect.co.uk and get a quote for your fleet or private vehicle straightaway.
