It seems both counter-intuitive and to defy common sense, but if you have had the good foresight to buy snow tyres for your commercial vehicle this winter, you could be in for a nasty shock when you notify your small van insurance provider.
This is because AA Insurance Services has revealed that many small van insurance companies are telling snow tyre-enabled policyholders to pay up to 20% more for their cover.
However, this stance has come under criticism from a number of motoring and insurance industry groups, all of whom have accused insurers of being inflexible and unimaginative – not least because there is an argument that snow tyres should make motor cover cheaper.
Indeed, some insurers are reported to have even refused cover to motorists using snow tyres. This is a startling fact when it is considered that snow tyres are proven to be an effective winter road safety device and are actually compulsory for winter travel in some Scandinavian countries.
A spokesperson from RoadSafe charity comments, "There's a very, very, strong argument that people in the UK should fit winter tyres for the four to five months of the autumn and winter,"
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has branded the actions of some insurers "a mistake" and categorically stated that snow tyres should not result in a more expensive premium.
It is thought that the mistake has been caused by small van insurance company call centre staff failing to understand that snow tyres are a safety device – not a "modification".