Archive for the ‘Finance’ Category

Flexible Van Fleet Insurance

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

To keep the cost of insurance premiums down on a number of vans owned by the same business a flexible fleet insurance policy is the answer. Fleet insurance offers the opportunity for any driver to drive one or more of the vans as long as they meet the criteria set down by the van fleet insurance companies.

Typically the criteria includes the following:

1. That the van drivers are under 25 years old, however insurance cover is available for any aged driver if required, the premiums will be increased for younger drivers under 25 years old.
2. That drivers have the appropriate full UK driving license.
3. Some insurance companies will offer discounts if you restrict the number of drivers, with further discounts if all drivers are experienced and have held a UK license for over two years.
4. If you or one of your drivers have a poor claims record stricter terms are generally applied. Although insurance cover will be offered it will usually mean an increase in premium for that particular driver.

The majority of insurance companies will offer flexible policies for your fleet vehicles. The lowest premium insurance is Third Party Only. This option may be beneficial if your van or one of your vans is an older vehicle which has a low market value.

Third Party Fire and Theft offers the same as Third Party Only cover with added cover should the vehicles be involved in incidents of fire or theft. This type of insurance may be suitable for one or more vans which travel in higher risk areas such as cities and large towns.

Comprehensive insurance is suitable for vehicles which are new, under three years old or you prefer peace of mind that vans in your fleet have the most effective cover.

It may be possible for you to increase or decrease the amount of excess you pay should you make a claim. Increasing the excess will generally mean lower premiums, while decreasing the excess means that you will pay more in premiums as well as having to pay more up front if you make a claim.

When all of your vans are covered under one insurance policy the overall risk management of the fleet is easier to maintain. Importantly, a fleet policy ensures the correct insurance cover is given to each vehicle. If your vans are used for different purposes fleet insurance will ensure that each vehicle meets insurance Legislation correctly. Vans travelling to the continent will be required to meet each countries minimum insurance requirements. The minimum insurance requirements in most European Countries is Third Party.

The great thing about flexible fleet insurance is that you can mix the different types of cover depending on the needs of each vehicle. A fleet policy is based according to the vehicles on your schedule, their market values and the claims performance records for the past three years. It is advisable to discuss your needs with an insurance company or insurance broker who specialises in van fleet insurance to obtain the most competitive premiums which meet your business needs.

Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
fleet insurance

Insurance Policies For Vans

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Vans have their own type of insurance policy, varying from very basic cover to specific and bespoke cover tailored to your business needs. This allows you to have full control over exactly what type of insurance policy you purchase, choosing only the options that are suitable for you.

Any insurer who offers basic car insurance will also offer commercial van cover, however it is often the cheaper to find companies that specialise in van or business orientated insurance. These companies will have the best deals available to you, as well as being more suited to helping you find the perfect deals on the cover you require.

If you have a car you may be able to receive a discount from applying for van insurance from the same company. For more car focused insurers this is normally in the form of multi car policies, however business focused insurers will have deals and schemes set up intentionally for this purpose.

It is important to note that van insurance is not the same as courier insurance. While most policies will protect your van and any goods stored in the vehicle, it will not protect goods in transit, nor will it protect public property stored onboard your van.

One of the easiest ways to find a policy is online, where you can fill in online forms to receive instant quotes. This cuts out having to deal with the slow phone process, speeding up your search. It is important to remember however that the cheapest policy is not always the best.

Some insurers impose limits or restrictions, such as maximum mileage limits, or have high excess costs. This means that should you ever need to make a claim the excess could make your once cheap policy far more expensive than other comparable policies.

You can also use online sources such as comparison websites, which check multiple insurers at a time. As such they can save you a great deal of time and effort, allowing you to only fill in a form once and check for the perfect deal.

However some insurers are not listed on comparison websites and may offer even better deals, which you might be eligible for if you go directly through the insurer. It is important to try both methods of obtaining a quote and seeing which offers you the greatest deals.

When trying to find the best deal it is often useful to use an insurance broker. Finding the best deal is a matter of using an insurance broker who specialises in van insurance. Brokers will find the most suitable insurance policy for you at the cheapest rates available. Not only do they ensure the policy will fit your needs, they also save you the hassle and time of searching through quotes.

Van Insurance is very similar to standard car insurance, with third party, third party fire and theft and comprehensive policies available. As expected these work just as a general policy does, however most will also include cover of goods stored on your vehicle while not in use.

Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
van insurance

Courier Insurance Options For Courier Companies

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

If you run a courier company it is vital to ensure you use the right type of insurance policy. While a lot of insurance companies offer insurance for courier companies, they are not all equal. By knowing exactly what insurance options are available you can receive the best deals.

It is important to note that standard insurance for your vehicle is still required with a courier policy. You firstly need general insurance for courier vehicles, then you will also need either a Goods in Transit Insurance or a Public Liability Insurance or both.

Vehicle Insurance is the standard type of insurance for all vehicles, covering both the items stored with the vehicle as well as the vehicle itself. While this is the most common type of insurance, it is not a suitable policy to have alone for a courier company if you are constantly transporting goods for which you receive payment or reward.

Goods in Transit Insurance is required if you are travelling with goods owned by someone other than yourself. This provides insurance cover for any goods onboard the vehicle even during use. Unlike standard vehicle insurance which only coverers goods in a parked vehicle, the Goods in Transit Insurance protects items aboard the vehicle at all times.

Public Liability Insurance is optional, yet it is a good way to provide a more professional service. Any issues that arise with the public regarding accident or injury will be resolved via your insurer. This also frees you from the obligation, as such the small premium for Public Liability Insurance is nearly always more cost effective than dealing with any potential issues yourself particularly if your courier vehicle or the contents cause personal injury to a member of the public.

It is vital to make sure that not only do you choose the right kind of policy for the type of courier company you operate, but also the exact use of your vehicles. This is because some insurers apply restrictions of limits, such as a maximum mileage and the nature of the goods which are carried. Goods which are considered high risk or hazardous will undoubtedly carry higher premiums.

This can seriously hamper your business, especially if you were unaware of the restriction when you applied for the policy. As such it is vital that you fully check for the policy that is most suitable for your company’s needs.

It is often a good idea to purchase both courier and Goods In Transit insurance from the same company as well as Public Liability and Employers Liability if these apply to your business. Not only does this make it easier to keep track of your policies and make any claims, many insurers will offer discounts or reductions on purchasing more policies from them.

There are many types of courier insurance available to cover all types of courier business needs. As such, always ensure you fully understand what your insurance policy covers you for, as well as any limitations or restrictions it may impose.

Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
courier insurance

Cheap Courier Insurance? What To Look For

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

The courier business is relatively easy to get into compared to many other traditional businesses, and this is often the draw for many new people thinking of starting a new business. In part because the start up costs and overheads are relatively low for small businesses, compared to other types of industry. All that is really required is a vehicle, a cell phone and some initiative. The vehicle, should obviously be a van or transit large to handle packages or parcels, which should be reliable and legally road worthy. Alternatively courier dispatch riders are in great demand due to the ability to deliver packets and documents fast.

One thing that is easily overlooked when people consider starting their courier business is the insurance of the vehicle and customer’s goods. Insurance is both required by law and necessary so ensure your customers goods are insured should they be lost or damaged whilst in your possession. Many customers will not engage the services of courier who cannot prove the have sufficient insurance cover.

Vehicle Insurance is a legal requirement to every vehicle driven on the public highways. The minimum cover is Third Party Only. Make sure to inform your insurance company that you will use your van for businesses as this will affect the premium and your rights to make claims towards your policy.

Goods In Transit is not a legal or mandatory requirement however it provides cover for goods being transported for damage or theft. Customers will want to know that their goods are protected against all eventualities. Even though you could potentially afford to reimburse customers, they will be feel more safe with you if they know there is a third party guaranteeing their goods.

Public Liability Insurance is another voluntary insurance cover that you should give serious consideration to. This policy will cover you in case of damage done to public property or personal injury your vehicle may cause to a member of the public. It will also help portray a responsible image to your customers. Public liability insurance will also provide cover for those who offer a door to door courier service. Check with insurance companies to find out when the standard courier insurance cover starts and ends. Quite often insurance will only provide cover for goods which are actually inside your vehicle, not whilst they are being collected or delivered outside of your vehicle, speak with the insurance companies to find out if any restrictions are applied.

Before signing any courier insurance you should also be sure you have read and understand the terms, conditions and fine print. You should especially make sure to understand what exclusions or restrictions apply. If you have any questions about the policy, your insurance company representative should be happy to explain to you what a particular clause means. Most insurance companies also have a 24 hour free phone hotline that you can call.

When it comes to finding the best cheap courier insurance on the market, you should obtain quotes from a number of different insurance companies who specialise in courier insurance. Make comparisons and choose the company which offers the best combination of price and cover to meet your courier business needs.

Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
courier insurance

Who Needs Chauffeur Insurance?

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Who needs this insurance? For most people that make a living of transporting people, that usually means driving a taxi of some sort. In these instances there are many options for taxi insurance. Taxi Insurance will cover all the basic costs and risks both mandated by law and those to protect your business from those ‘expected’ events that will happen for everyone who spends a lot of time on the roads.

If you are a commercial driver or chauffeur driving a vehicle that can not be classified as a taxi, then you need a different kind of insurance to meet legal demands, but also to protect your vehicle, which an expensive executive or luxury car or is difficult to replace immediately.

Vehicles that can be included under this kind of insurance is usually private hire luxury cars, such as Mercedes, BMW, Rolls Royce or all other kind of expensive vehicles used to transport people. Stretch limousines, wedding cars, minibuses, hospital vehicles, public transport and many more may also fall under this category that can not be insured under van, taxi or courier insurance.

The insurance required by law is a Third Party cover, that covers your responsibility on the roads with regards to other vehicles and persons. It covers damages to vehicles, personal damage and death of third parties. Your premium will depend on the driver of the vehicle, such as age and past driving history, the safety of the vehicle and other criteria set by the insurance company.

Public Liability covers claims to damage on public property or personal injury claims made by members of the public. You are not required by law to have this, but it can be good to have if you plan on doing businesses for government or civil service, where they will most likely require that you have in order to award you a contract with them. It will also help you project a responsible image to the public.

Then there is a number of optional packages that are recommended or mandatory:

Employee Insurance:
If you employ people to work for you outside of your family then you need insurance to cover liabilities to them, as long as they are working for you either in your vehicles or at your place of business. This includes all other staff such as maintenance crew, mechanics and office workers, who may be injured whilst at work.

Property Insurance:
This policy covers your property, be it office, garage or any other premises that you own and operate your chauffeur business from, in case of events such as fire, flood, theft and other events.

Businesses Interruption Cover:
If you are unable to do businesses because of breakdown or damage to vehicle or property, this policy insures losses that may be incurred.

Money Insurance Cover:
This provides cover for money lost in your vehicles or property in some cases, as well as money stolen from you on your premises or in your vehicles.

Insurance for luxury cars have risen substantially in the past years, while demands for a fixed duration of contract are stricter. When you consider purchasing chauffeur insurance, the main thing to compare is extent of the cover offered in comparison to the price. On top of that, you can check out what extras are offered free.

Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
chauffeur insurance