Think twice before helping out friends and family

As a van owner, you probably realise that this mode of transport makes difficult situations, such as moving house or transporting heavy items, much easier. Therefore, even if you use your vehicle for commercial purposes, it isn't uncommon for friends, acquaintances, and family members to ask for help with personal jobs.

In fact, according to a provider of business van insurance, 81% of van drivers have been in this situation, with 10% having to deal with these requests "all the time".

Although those who agree to help are probably making the lives of their friends and family members much easier, van insurance holders should check with their providers before offering assistance.

For example, if a van driver is asked to briefly transport goods for an acquaintance's business, some providers of commercial vehicle cover may see this as a secondary occupation. Consequently, the driver's insurance policy could be rendered void.

Moreover, if a friend asks to borrow the keys, letting them jump behind the wheel could also invalidate the policyholder's cover.

The van insurer also warned that helpful drivers might not be suitably covered when transporting goods for non-commercial reasons. For example, if a policyholder agrees to help a family member move house, he or she may be unable to claim if the items are damaged or stolen.

Although van drivers may be helping out friends and family members by supplying their vehicles, this gesture carries van insurance risks . Therefore, the next time you get asked to help out with a task, it is probably a good idea to check with your insurance provider before agreeing.

Photo © Victor1558 via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

He may be Top Gear, but he certainly won’t be top satnav

As a holder of business van insurance I occasionally have to resort to my satnav when I’m not entirely sure where I’m headed. But when news emerged that Jeremy Clarkson was going to have a starring role as a voice on satnavs I was less than thrilled.


It’s not as though I harbour a particular hatred for Jeremy Clarkson, he’s just not my favourite person in the world. Plus, the satnav quotes included, “Keep left – if you're not sure which side left is you really shouldn't be on the road,” and other similarly insulting remarks.

When I’m forced to use my satnav, the last thing I want is for it to bark rude comments at me!

However, the chances are I’ll never have to suffer the Jeremy Clarkson voice as the BBC has had to go back on the deal. It has been revealed that the satnav breaches the broadcasting organisation’s editorial guidelines regarding conflicts of interest.

Apparently, around 54,000 of the satnavs have already been made, some of which have been delivered to shops. So now, all the proceeds made from the sales will be donated to Children in Need and no more of the devices will be manufactured. Plans to make the voice available for download for existing satnav owners have been scrapped too.

Now that I am extremely unlikely to have to endure Jeremy Clarkson telling me what to do, I can sleep soundly in bed (or van!) once again.  

Photo © Handolio via flickr, under Creative Commons Licence