AA offer new insurance products for motor trade

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Leading roadside assistance provider, the AA, have launched a new insurance product aimed at the motor trade. The move will see the AA expand their commercial insurance range offering a wider choice of cover and policies aimed at those in the motor industry.

The new range is being offered as part of an arrangement with leading independent business insurance broker, Bollington. The exclusive agreement will see the AA offering a range of services for recovery operators, those involved in the taxi, private hire and motor trade, and also repairers and those operating self drive hire fleets will benefit from the new range of policies on offer.

These newly launched products are in addition to the existing policies offered by the AA which include van and commercial vehicle cover.

The AA have described the move as a “natural extension” of their existing services, adding that there’s a greater need in the current climate to tailor insurance policies to meet the specific needs of the policy holder, and this is especially apparent in the motor trade. The AA believes that the introduction of their new range of policies will enable those working within the industry to tailor their cover to their requirements.

As well as being one of the most recognised roadside recovery agents in the UK, the AA also offer route planner facilities and the latest traffic news to driver, as well as motor insurance for private drivers and those in the motor trade.

Van drivers more likely to keep their vehicles clean says insurer

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Van insurance provider Swinton Commercial has revealed that van drivers are more likely to keep their vehicles clean, and to tidy them more regularly, than car drivers.

As part of an online survey of 1,200 online customers, 45% of van drivers said they would use a bucket and sponge to give their vans a proper clean, whereas only 25% of car drivers would adopt this traditional elbow grease method to clean their vehicle. 27% of van drivers would also use a roadside valet service to ensure their vehicle is spick and span.

The online survey conducted by the insurance company found that van drivers are more likely than any other driver to keep their vehicle clean with 39% regularly cleaning their vehicle, whereas only 15% of car drivers would clean their car this regularly.

Swinton Insurance believes van drivers’ attention to cleanliness is down to the fact that most van drivers and self employed, and so a clean van is a good advert for their business. The insurance provider added that a clean vehicle is a safer vehicle, especially if the rear and front windows are kept clean so visibility is clear, and there is nothing to obstruct the view while driving.

Van drivers must declare all modifications to avoid invalidating their insurance

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Van drivers are being warned by insurance companies to ensure they declare any modifications made to their vehicle to avoid invalidating their policy.

Swinton Commercial is calling upon all of its customers to declare any change they may make to their work vehicle, regardless of whether or not the modification affects the vehicle’s performance.

It’s a common misconception that the policyholder need only inform their insurance company of a change to their van if it changes its performance. However all changes must be declared, whether the modification is just aesthetic, or functional.

If a driver fails to tell their insurance company about a change they’ve made to their van or car, then in the event of an accident, the insurer may not pay out. This is a nightmare for any driver, but for an individual who relies on their van for the livelihood, it would be a disaster.

Some of the most common modifications which are made to work vans include installing frails, which are rails that are secured to the outside or inside of the van so that items can to attached to them during transit.

Ply lining is another popular alteration being made to vans, as is adding a tow bar, and installing bulkheads. Even the smallest of modifications, like a change of signage on the exterior of the van needs to be declared.

Courier drivers regularly invalidate their van insurance during their working day

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It has been revealed that a high number of courier and delivery drivers are regularly invalidating their van insurance policies by leaving their keys in the ignition of their vehicles while making drop offs during their working day.

The news was revealed after a study was carried out by The Fuel Card Company which questioned a number of delivery drivers about their driving and work habits. The survey found that out of all of the drivers who were involved in the study, 21% admitted to leaving their vehicles unattended while they delivered goods.

Van insurance specialists have warned that this is a high risk practice, and should the van be stolen because the driver left the keys inside the vehicle, insurance companies will be unlikely to pay out.

Often delivery drivers say they leave their keys in the van with the ignition still switched on as the constant switching on and off of the engine while deliveries are being made can cause the vehicle’s battery to go flat. However insurance companies recommend that the drivers take the risk of a flat battery, rather than invalidating their insurance policies by leaving their vans open to opportunistic thieves.