IFB Warns of Van Insurance “Ghost Brokers”
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Van insurance customers have been warned against being directed to buy their policies through social media during the post-Christmas period after a number of scams came to the attention of the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).
The van insurance scams centre around the use of so-called ‘ghost brokers’ which offer seemingly enviable rates, usually targeting younger drivers and others vulnerable to exploitation because of their difficulty in finding cheap cover – one in three victims are aged 18 to 24.
However, by buying one of these bogus policies, van drivers face being left without any form of cover and potential prosecution for driving without insurance, which can result in six penalty points and a £300 fine as well as seizure and destruction of their vehicle. Unfortunately, for those who are unwittingly caught out by the scam, ignorance of the law is no excuse.
According to the City of London’s Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, victims of the scam lose an average of £769.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fye said that although cheap van insurance “may seem tempting”, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is; as such, the best course of action for these motorists is to compare van insurance quotes with one or more firms who specialise in the provision of van insurance quotes.
Furthermore, the IFB says that rising van insurance prices have led to an increase in ghost broking scams, with IFB investigations into ghost broking scams more than doubling over the past three years.
How to check whether a broker is real
According to the Insurance Fraud Bureau, the only way to check whether an insurer is legitimate is to see if they are registered with the British Insurers Brokers’ Association; policies should also be registered with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.
Tips for Van Insurance Customers in the 2020s
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A new year and a new decade have arrived for the nation’s van insurance customers. As is typical, the new year and the new decade are a time of change, so if you rely on a van for your business, you better be aware of some of the driving laws and driving innovations that will serve to make this new decade different to the last.
New smartphone laws
We have known for some time, that driving while using your mobile can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. As such, in 2003 the government introduced rules to stop drivers from using their phones when behind the wheel.
However, the 2003 law had its limitations – it was drafted at a time when phones still had buttons and sophisticated touchscreens largely remained the stuff of sci-fi. In 2020, as a response to the acquittal of man who used his phone to film a crash, loopholes in the 2003 law have been closed, so from spring of this year, the law will also apply to the use of phones for purposes other than communication – i.e. to “browse the internet, film, take photos, or scroll through playlists”.
Those who break the law face a £200 fine and six penalty points.
Post-Brexit forays into Europe
With the UK now finally scheduled to leave the EU on 31 January, you should be aware that if you plan to drive on the continent, you may need to apply for an international driving permit (IDP).
An IDP costs £5.50 and can be applied for from the Post Office. Check whether you will need one for your intended destinations – for example, you will need an IDP for France but not for Belgium (if you are visiting for 185 days or less).
Importantly, remember that you will also need a van insurance green card from your commercial vehicle insurance company.
New MOT rules
Many people are unaware that the rules regarding MOTs recently changed. For example, there are now more stringent classifications, and if your van fails its MOT, you will not be able to drive it until it has been adequately repaired.
Also be aware of new tests for contaminated brake fluid and underinflated tyres.
Van insurance market evolution
The van insurance market is continuing to evolve and this is likely to continue apace in the new decade. Nowadays it is possible to search online for niche cover such as an any driver van insurance policy, young driver policy or fridge van policy. It is also increasingly easy to compare van insurance quotes by using a specialist company such as iVan – Happy New Year!
Organisation Important in Search for Cheapest Van Insurance
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Never underestimate the benefits of being organised. Whether you are a school pupil trying to keep on top of your homework, a parent getting packed lunches ready for your children or a van driver looking for the cheapest van insurance, there is no substitute for being organised.
If you needed any confirmation of these assertions, consider the following: according to one study, leaving it late to get your cover ready can cost you as much as £338, making it all but impossible to obtain the cheapest van insurance.
The research, which was carried out by a motor insurance comparison website, revealed that the longer you wait to organise your renewal, the more you risk paying. The study claimed that if you renew on the day your cover is due to expire, you risk paying an average of £775, whereas you would pay only £436 if you organised your van insurance cover just three weeks earlier, £660 if you had renewed a day earlier, £547 if you had renewed a week earlier and £472 if you had renewed two weeks earlier. The picture is even more pronounced for those who renew at the end of the year, with premiums particularly expensive in December. This is because demand for motor insurance tends to be at its lowest in December; without a great deal of competition, insurers do not work so hard to entice customers.
Despite this, nearly four in ten of all motor insurance renewals come either on the day a policy ends or the day before it is due to expire. The comparison site also found that average premiums in December are higher than any other month of the year. Drivers renewing this month are forking out an extra £75 for cover.
Can you find the cheapest van insurance with iVan
iVan can help you on your journey to finding the cheapest van insurance cover. If you are organised enough to search the market – ideally well in advance of your renewal deadline – you stand a much better chance of finding cheaper cover. Try our quote engine today, whether you are looking for any driver cover, fleet cover or some other type of commercial vehicle cover.
January 16: The Worst Day for Accidents
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If you've managed to make it through January 16 without needing to notify your van insurance company of an accident, you have done well; January 16 is the most accident-prone day of the year in the UK, according to data from a motor insurance company.
It has long been known that January is the worst month of the year for accidents and van insurance claims, so, in a way, it makes sense that the 16th would be the worst day for collisions; it falls right in the middle of the month. January 18 and January 13 were the fourth and fifth worst days respectively.
The data shows that on January 16 there are 420 collisions per hour in the UK, which equates to one every 8.57 seconds.
Why are there so many accidents in January?
It is easy to see why there might be a disproportionate number of accidents in January. Not only are daylight hours at their shortest, but there are also climatic variables such as cold and frosty mornings, high winds, flooding and black ice to contend with. Furthermore, many may also be worn out by or ‘coming down’ from the Christmas period. One thing is surprising, however: drivers tend to cover fewer miles in January so in theory have less opportunity to become involved in an accident.
What is the most common kind of January accident?
The majority of January crashes involve one vehicle rear-ending another, while the difficulty of January driving conditions is reflected in the fact that the second most common type of insurance claim is for single-vehicle collisions. The third most common January motor insurance claim is for incidents involving a parked or stationary vehicle.
The causes, a statistical breakdown
Driver explanations for the accidents tally with the notion that January makes for a perfect storm when it comes to road safety. Drivers said their accidents were caused by poor concentration (24 per cent), bad weather (20 per cent), poor visibility (20 per cent) and tiredness (10 per cent).
Penalty point van drivers find it harder to find cheaper cover
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Just how much does disregarding driving laws cost you on your van insurance?
Although there is no exact formula for working out this question, a new piece of research has revealed that picking up three penalty points can result in you paying an additional £209 on your van insurance, with those carrying the weight of a three-point penalty paying an average of £746 for their motor insurance.
Unsurprisingly, the more points you carry, the greater the hit to your wallet, with drivers who have received six points on their license paying an average of £1,160; the theme continues with 12-point penalty drivers paying an average of £1,466 in addition to their inevitable disqualification.
Penalty points – how are they shared around Britain?
2.6 million of the UK’s 33.6 million drivers have penalty points on their license. Around two million of these are men, compared to 780,000 women – a factor which helps explain why women drivers typically find it easier to obtain cheaper van insurance than their male counterparts.
There are many reasons why a driver might receive penalty points, with police sometimes handing out penalties for infringements for careless or reckless driving that might not otherwise be covered by the law. According to the DVLA the most common penalty point infringements are broken down as follows:
- Speeding (85%)
- Running a stop sign or traffic light (7%)
- Using a mobile phone while driving (5%)
Penalty points are an effective punishment, with 75% of drivers saying that after receiving them, they took steps to improve their habits behind the wheel.
iVan insurance, for cheaper cover
To increase your chances of getting the best price possible on your van insurance, there are precautions that you, and any drivers you employ, can take so that insurers view you as less of a risk. Having drivers with impeccable driving records is sure to lower the price of your premium, so it's of course important to drive carefully and obey the rules of the road at all times. You can also ensure you're getting a great price by finding a quote with iVan. We'll compare quotes from over 30 of the UK's top insurers to find you the most suitable policy at the cheapest price.
Whether you are looking for fleet van insurance, any driver van insurance or comprehensive cover for a single commercial vehicle, at iVan we are confident that we can help you find cheaper van insurance so that you can take to the road with the quality protection you need.
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