Are your tyres suitable for wet conditions?

Drivers in the United Kingdom may have recently experienced heavy rain, severe storms or even flooding – I know I did. Although this weather may put a dampener on summer plans, these conditions can also make driving hazardous.

To help motorists stay safe on the roads, TyreSafe, a tyre safety organisation, is urging motorists to check the treads on their vehicles to ensure they are suitable for wet conditions.

Oh, great! How long is that going to take? Well, fortunately, these checks should only take a minute and use something which every motorist should have access to – a 20p piece.

Apparently, to check the quality of their van tyres, drivers should insert the coin into the main grooves of the tread. If they can see the outer band of the piece after insertion, the tyre may not be able to safely handle wet road surfaces. This is dangerous as a vehicle with unsuitable tyres may be unable to grip road surfaces properly, might take longer to stop when the driver brakes, or could aquaplane.

If a vehicle's tyres contributed to the outcome of a traffic accident, the owner may find it hard to obtain cheap van insurance following a claim with their insurer.

In addition, while carrying out the 20p test, drivers should also check their tyres for any signs of degradation; such as cuts, bulges or wear and tear. I had a look at mine and saw a cut on the inside of one of my tyres just in time – I've since purchased a replacement.

If you're concerned about the safety of your vehicle tyres, it is always better to be safe than sorry – take a look yourself, or ask a qualified mechanic to inspect them as soon as possible.

If a tyre does not have a minimum depth of 1.6 millimetres across the central three-quarters of the tread around its complete circumference, the owner may be breaking the law.

As a result, those who drive with illegal tyres may receive three penalty points on their licence and a £2,500 penalty fine for each offending tyre – I don't know about you but I'm keen to avoid that!

Although this summer may be turning into a washout, it doesn't have to be a dangerous one. Before setting off, reach into your wallet and test the safety of your tyres. By ensuring they are working appropriately, you might be less likely to claim with your van insurance provider.

Besides, if you save money on your premiums, you may be able to visit a warmer, sunnier country this summer!

Photo © nateOne via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

How to Get Cheap Van insurance for Lady Drivers!

Looking for an insurance company that offer low-cost premiums to women is easy. However, finding a company that actually delivers on its promise to provide cheap van insurance for women is a different story. Many companies that purport to specialize in van insurance for lady drivers seldom provide cheap premiums as they promise in their ads.

Lady drivers and cheap premiums are supposed to go together. This is so because statistics show that female drivers process less insurance claims than their male counterparts. In addition, female drivers are less likely to get involved in road accidents. Nevertheless, being a woman is not enough to ensure that a female driver will get cheaper insurance. There are, however, some things that women can do to get cheaper premiums.

First and foremost, choose the right insurance company. The most suitable company does not always mean the cheapest. Rather, it is the one that can give customers the best value for their money. Hence, a "cheap" insurance company can easily turn out more expensive than one that is slightly more expensive but delivers more quality services.

Second, earn driving certifications or take driving lessons. Certifications and other documents that can prove a female driver's competence and skills may convince insurance companies to give discounts on, or generally cheaper premiums.

Third, avoid excesses when choosing a vehicle to insure. Insurance companies usually rate the make or engine size of vehicles to determine the cost of premiums. So, female drivers who want to limit their car insurance premiums should go for smaller vehicles. Not only will one get cheaper insurance, smaller vans also consume less fuel, making them the appropriate choice especially at a time when the economy remains volatile.

Fourth, stock up on security gadgets but limit modifications. A souped up van is most likely to compel insurers to charge higher premiums than the one that has not been modified. In addition, fitting security devices to a vehicle can reduce the risk of the vehicle being stolen. Hence, the chances that the driver will process a claim are significantly reduced. Consequently, insurance providers will see this as a reason to give a cheaper premium.

Fifth, take advantage of no claims discount. This is especially applicable to older drivers who have had insurance coverage for years. No claims discount is the surest way to significantly bring down the cost of car insurance. Female drivers can easily build up their no claims benefits because statistically, women are more careful than men when it comes to handling automobiles.

Finally, don't get stuck on a single insurance company. Most insurance companies seldom reward customer loyalty. In addition, competition is driving many companies to bring down the cost of their premiums. Hence, by keeping their options open, female drivers can find cheaper car insurance companies. Moreover, the Internet has made it easier to find the cheapest van insurers. So, female drivers can easily go online and scour the Web of the cheapest, high-quality van insurance providers in the world.

How to Buy Classic Van Insurance

Looking for suitable classic van insurance can be more difficult than buying the vehicle itself. This is either due to the dearth of information about this type of insurance or because of owners' lack of interest to get the right policy for their precious classic vans. Neglecting to get an appropriate insurance for classic cars can lead to a host problems for owners in the future, and this includes losing the vehicle altogether.

This scenario can be avoided by getting the right classic van insurance. Before owners can begin comparing quotes, it is necessary to first know when a van is considered classic. There are really no uniform requirements that make a classic vehicle a classic. Depending on the owners' location, a vehicle may be considered classic when it is at least 20 years old.

The Classic Car Club of America, for instance, defines a classic van as one that was built between 1925 and 1948. As to van insurance, owners may qualify for classic van insurance if their vehicle is 20 to 24 years. The approximate definition of a classic car settled, owners may now begin the actual process of getting their insurance.

Before anything else, owners must choose which insurance company they want to trust with their hard-earned money. There are several things to consider when choosing an insurance company, but the most important ones to ensure are its reliability and trustworthiness. The cost and quality of its services should also be considered.

Next, prepare the necessary documents such as the current registration and existing insurance coverage if applicable. In addition, owners should also be ready with their driver's license and other personal information just in case the company asks for them. Some insurance companies may also ask for photographs of the vehicle.

Another important thing to do is to have the vehicle appraised. Knowing the current value of the vehicle will help owners get them best coverage or policy for their classic cars. The estimated cost of the classic van can determine the appropriate insurance for the vehicle.

Before filling out an application for classic car insurance, owners should also inquire about the requirements and circumstances that must concur to qualify the vehicle for the type of policy sought. For instance, some insurance companies impose an annual mileage limit for a classic car to remain covered by a chosen policy. Insurance companies are likely to charge higher premiums on classic cars that are used regularly.

If owners choose, there are add-ons or accessory benefits that they can pick aside from the usual coverage included in their chosen classic van insurance policies. Owners must pick additional products carefully so as to avoid spending for something that they do not need. Insurance coverage for classic cars is reasonably priced in their barest, but its cost could easily rise when other products and services are added.

Finally, owners should double check the information they've provided in the application form. This will ensure that the insurance company can provide them with policies that fit their needs and the type of classic vehicle they own.

Ivan’s iVan van insurance blog

Welcome to the iVan cheap van insurance blog. My name is Ivan (handy eh?) and I drive a van for my living.

My van is what keeps my business going and without it I can’t work, so, getting the right information about all types of vans, van maintenance and van insurance is really important.

Choosing the right commercial vehicle for a business is crucial – I mean it’s no good buying a Ford Transit Connect or a Vauxhall Combo when you need to move pianos or long lengths of copper pipe. And turning up to a job with the wrong tools is always a bad idea so why would you get your van insurance from someone who usually covers cats and dogs.

No, when you need a special job done, you turn to a specialist and if you need to know anything about van insurance, van driving or where to find the best bacon Butty in Hampshire, just ask Ivan and I’ll do my best to keep you up-to-date with all the goings-on in the commercial vehicle world.

And if I don’t know I can always ask the missus – Vanessa. She drives a van too and if there’s anything I can’t answer about driving a van for a living, she’ll be able to answer it for me! Know what I mean?