How To Get Cheaper Motor Trade Insurance

As with most types of insurance there are some proactive steps you can take to help lower the costs and while cheap may seem like a good option it does not necessarily give you sufficient cover.

Never assume that all types of vehicles, such as motor bikes or high performance cars are included on the policy. You need to make it very clear to insurance companies that you need a policy which covers all types of vehicles.

You could save money by applying online for motor trade insurance as a new customer. It is also worth considering using this method with your existing insurance company as many will offer discounts if they think they could lose your valued custom.

Consider offering to increase the amount of voluntary excess on your policy. This means that you will have to pay more if you have to make a claim before the insurance company pick up the rest, but if you rarely make a claim it is worth considering or discussing with insurance companies.

No claims discounts continue to give the largest savings. Some insurance companies will allow you to transfer no claims discounts earned on a private car policy to a motor trade policy.

Although paying one instalment for your policy may seem expensive, paying by monthly instalments will cost you more in the long run, so it is worth giving consideration to just one payment when you purchase the policy.

Having premises, equipment, public and employers liability cover all provided by the same motor trade insurance company can also help you save money as well as additional savings in your own administration costs.

Top Taxi Insurance Tips

To help keep the cost of your insurance premiums low there are some tips which may be worth considering.

* Think about the amount of excess you can afford to pay. Buy increasing the amount of excess you can reduce the annual premiums, this also indicates to insurance companies that you will only be making small claims which exceed your excess. If you live in high risk areas this may not be an ideal option.

* Having owner drivers only or named drivers only will also help to lower the costs. Taxi firms which have ‘any driver’ policies will pay far more for their insurance. The only exception to this is if you have a lot of young or inexperienced drivers on your team.

* Give careful consideration to the optional extras offered by the taxi insurance companies. Consider whether you really need them as tempting as they may seem they will add to the costs.

* If you have accumulated a no claims bonus it is well considering protecting it. This typically means that you can make a number of claims without losing your no claims bonuses. Although this may cost slightly more in the long run it can save you huge amounts of money.

* Keep your taxi in a garage or secure compound when not in use as this will significantly reduce the premiums costs.

* If you have an older vehicle with a low replacement value it will be cheaper to have taxi insurance which is third party only or third party, fire and theft rather than fully comprehensive. Speak with insurance companies as those who operate in high risk areas may not be legible for this lower type of insurance cover.

 

 

 

 

Can Price Comparison Sites Save You Money?

The use of comparison web sites is becoming an increasingly popular way to obtain insurance quotes and while some insurance companies advertise on TV that they can’t be found on any comparison sites others say they do! So how do they work?

Comparison web sites do charge the insurance companies for their services, however, due to the advertising and the increased number of people who are asking for online quotes via a comparison site, the commissions are not necessarily passed onto the consumer or they are included in premiums whether you go to them direct or via a comparison site!

There are some basic key points that you need to check before choosing which insurance company to use. Some may seem very cheap and yet they often only include the very basic cover or have high excess. By the time you have added optional extras such as a courtesy vehicle or legal cover you may not be making the savings you first thought.

Whether you use a comparison site or not you should always spend time and shop around for the best deals and only buy the insurance and optional extras you need!

This is also advisable if you are looking for HGV insurance. However, in order to ensure you are getting the exact cover you require it is advisable to use an insurance company which specialises in HGV insurance.

This may sound very obvious, but with people trying to make big savings on their premiums cutting corners can be a very costly error. Choose an insurer who will offer you a quote that meets legal requirements and your business needs to ensure you have the correct type of cover.

Concerns For Diabetic Taxi Drivers

Diabetic Taxi Drivers in Nottinghamshire anxiously await their council decisions to see if they are legally allowed to drive a taxi while having type one diabetes.

Last Thursday a meeting was held at the Newark and Sherwood council to vote on whether taxi driving licenses should be taken away from taxi drivers who suffer from type one diabetes. The fear is that one of the drivers may have a hypoglycaemic attack while driving a fair, putting public safety in danger.

This form of diabetes requires control of insulin levels, normally via injection or insulin pump. It also requires careful dietary management. As such it can often be difficult for taxi drivers to ensure their insulin levels are at healthy levels during long shifts as such any diabetic taxi driver should always be careful.

It is important to ensure that any diabetic taxi drivers under your supervision are given adequate time for breaks to check their insulin levels and resolve any issues. It is important to remember that while type one diabetics are allowed to drive cars, and often taxis, they are not allowed to drive larger vehicles.

The Nottinghamshire council currently regulates its diabetic taxi drivers on a case by case basis, however they plan to readdress the issue again in July. According to council members there was not enough information gathered to make a decision straight away.

Diabetes UK say that there is no reason why people with diabetes should not be allowed to drive taxis, and that many people with diabetes are fully fit to drive vehicles. They say that by withdrawing the licenses from taxi drives indiscriminately it would deny some taxi drivers the chance to earn a living.

Currently the DVLA must be informed if you have type on diabetes, however it does not exclude you from driving a personal vehicle. Most insurance companies require you to inform the DVLA of any medical conditions prior to applying for insurance, and should your medical conditions change without informing the DVLA you may inadvertently void an insurance policy, this includes taxi insurance.

Taking Positive Steps i the Credit Crunch

Finding cheap van insurance has never been easier, simply go on-line and let the search engines work their magic. A whole host of different insurance companies and brokers are currently offering some very competitive deals and with the credit crunch hitting many businesses now is the time to take a look at what is being offered at the most competitive rates.

There are a number of things that you can do to help reduce your insurance costs further still. Many insurance companies will offer discounts if you add a company logo to the side of your vehicle, there is no need for expensive art work and flashy designs, it is a matter of showing the insurance folk that you use your van as part of your business. A logo may also help to distinguish your van from the ‘white van man’ syndrome which is still being bandied about by many people.

Fitting immobilisers and alarms may also help cut the cost of your insurance, removing expensive tools and equipment from your van each night may become tedious, however, you can bet your bottom dollar that the night you don’t remove them the thieves will strike and you will be left high and dry with no gear to work with. Many van insurance policies will cover tools and equipment and although you may think it unnecessary to include them consider how much it would cost to replace just a few tools, let alone the time it will take trudging round the shops trying to find replacements.

Is Your Fleet Ready for Winter?

Frosty mornings and snow fall in many parts of the country means that your fleet needs to be in tip top condition to keep all of the vehicles on the road and earning money.

Simple tasks such as using anti-freeze is quite often overlooked by many people. Whether you have your own garage which services the vehicles prior to winter or each driver has responsibility for the vehicle they drive, it is imperative to make sure that anti-freeze is put in the radiator and that tyres are in good condition to help reduce the risk of breakdowns or accidents.

Making tyres are in good condition is an essential part of winter driving. Tyres which are on the verge of reaching the minimum permitted tread depth will not grip the road well. This may cause vehicles to slip and slid and potentially cause accidents.

Overlooking these simple tasks can potentially increase your fleet insurance premiums as you may have the need to make more claims. Not only may the premiums increase your no claims bonus may also be lost. Having a generous no claims discount can have a dramatic impact in reducing the insurance premiums. Make a claim and your bonus goes out of the window!

Some insurance companies will offer protected no claims which enables you to make a certain number of claims before losing the discount. Although this is ideal, you may also need to read the small print of the policy as many insurances will not payout on claims which the insurance company believe to be caused by negligence. Failing to put anti-freeze in the vehicle may be classed as negligence. An expensive mistake to make for such a simple task!

Fleet Insurance Documents

You will receive three different documents from the insurance company. Once received all three will need to be read through to ensure all of the details and information is correct. If there are any errors the insurance company should be advised as soon as possible to ensure all of the fleet is covered.

The certificate: The certificate is the document which contains the details of the fleet vehicles. It also includes the dates for which the policy is valid and will include the drivers named to use the vehicles.

The insurance certificate is the legal document which is required to be produced when an accident occurs, when the vehicle/s need to be taxed or if a driver is asked to produce it by the police. It is an offence in the UK not have appropriate vehicle insurance.

The Policy: This sets out and informs the full terms and conditions of the insurance cover.

The Schedule: The schedule provides details of the policy. This will include the amount of excess, no claims discounts and the level of insurance cover e.g. Third party Only, Third Party Fire and Theft or Comprehensive.
Each vehicle will be given a certificate insurance, along with a copy of the policy and or schedule depending on the insurance and company requirements.

All fleet drivers should be informed of where the full set of fleet insurance documents can be located within their workplace base.

Fleet drivers are advised to check through the fleet insurance certificate and inform management of any discrepancies or inaccuracies to enable them to have them amended by the insurance company.

Is Your Taxi Detrimental to Public Safety?

The police in many cities throughout the country are stopping taxis and requesting them to go to the testing station for an on the spot check. If they find anything which is deemed to be of detriment to public safety on the cab then it’s being taken off the road until its fixed.

The police are also using the opportunity to check that valid taxi insurance is held and that your local authority taxi driver’s licence is being worn.

These spot checks are welcomed by legitimate taxi drivers who are becoming sick and tired of people thinking they can earn some quick cash by offering a ‘taxi’ service without meeting the legal requirements.

Taxi driving is a serious occupation offering a valuable service to the public. Taking care of customers and your taxi is equally important. Having Public Liability taxi insurance will at least provide you with cover if a member of the public harms themselves whilst in your taxi.

Public Liability insurance will also provide cover should your taxi harm a member of the public. Check out your insurance policy to see whether you have the correct type of cover.

Times are hard enough at present with the countries economical decline. Keeping your taxi in tip top condition inside and out and having all the right documentation, including the correct type of taxi insurance, in place before you get pulled over by the police makes for common sense. The spot checks don’t take long and if everything is in order you will be back ‘earning’ the same day or evening.

Don’t let Breakdowns Stop You Earning

With probably the busiest time of the year just around the corner now is the time to make sure your taxi is running at its best, a break down means that you will be losing out on fares, income and livelihood. Some taxi insurers offer breakdown cover either as part of their comprehensive policy or as an optional extra which is well worth considering, some include roadside assistance and home start style options as well, which can be extremely useful if your taxi is not that new. Some insurance companies also offer a courtesy vehicle which means while your taxi is off the road being repaired you can keep working and earning.

Another thing to include on your insurance is public liability insurance (PLI), you never know when you may have an accident and the last thing you need is to be taken to court for personal damage claims which could ruin you and your business. Most taxi insurance has public liability cover, however, the maximum amount can vary quite considerably, particularly if you are running your taxi from major cities within the UK. Check out your policy and if necessary you can ask to have the PLI increased, of course you’ll pay more but its well worth considering.

If your taxi insurance is due for renewal don’t forget to see whether you can transfer your no claims discount, as this can save an awful lot of money. Taxi drivers with a proven record of no claims can get up to whopping 60% discount with some insurance companies or brokers, making a considerable saving for you.

Noise Pollution Issue

A local news programme in the south of the country has reported that the noise from tail gates and unloading of lorries is causing noise pollution problems in residential areas. It wasn’t just tailgates that were seen to be causing an environmental issue here, the carrying crates ‘rattling’ were also seen to be a problem, outside smokers spilling onto the streets from nightclubs and pubs were also under fire for increasing the amount of noise.

With many people lobbying against the large super markets on the outskirts of towns taking the lion’s share of trade complaints such as these are not helping to keep local traders open in my opinion. Unloading lorries and trucks is usually carried out as quickly as possible due to limited unloading times, surely a little disruption can be tolerated by local residents?

The police have no specific powers regarding noise pollution, this falls under the Environmental Health Authority responsibility who have dedicated folk who record and monitor noise levels. I feel this is yet another ‘dig’ at lorries driving and delivering in towns. How do these people expect deliveries to be made, surely noise such as this is part and parcel of living in a town? The supermarket in question did offer their apologies and were taking the complaints seriously, but at the end of the day there is probably little they can do to lessen this type of noise from their delivery vehicles.

Your HGV insurance covers many eventualities, however, I really don’t think noise pollution of dropping tailgates is going to be included!