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.

Scottish police stage crackdown on car insurance dodgers

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The Scottish police forced staged a 3-day long intensive crackdown on car insurance dodgers over the August bank holiday weekend. The operation, which was coordinated in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), used the very latest technology, including sophisticated registration plate recognition systems, to help seek out drivers using the roads without legitimate car insurance on their vehicle.

With increased police powers, the authorities are able to dole out on-the-spot fines of £200 to anyone caught driving without motor insurance. However the heaviest penalty for anyone caught dodging insurance stands at a fine of £5,000 and also as the addition of 8 points on a licence. In the most serious cases, police can have the uninsured vehicle removed and even destroyed as a result of the driver not having taken out motor insurance.

The tougher penalties for uninsured drivers are part of a UK wide drive to stamp out the practice of driving a vehicle without cover. Recent statistics show that uninsured drivers pose a major safety risk as they are involved in accidents which have caused 160 deaths over the last year, and smashes which have caused 23,000 injuries. Drivers without insurance also cost the economy a whopping £500 million every year.

In addition to the worrying statistics mentioned above, the police have found that uncovering a driver with an uninsured vehicle is often the tip of the iceberg as these motorists are often involved in other criminal activities.

As more and more police forces stage clamp downs on uninsured drivers across the UK, the warning is clear, car insurance dodging will not be tolerated, and those caught doing so will face tough penalties.

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.

Car insurance scammers on the rise

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Car insurance scammers who stage accidents in order to claim money off the innocent party’s policy are on the rise, according to recent statistics.

It’s been estimated that these “cash for crash” fraudsters cost the insurance industry £350 million last year, adding an extra £44 to the cost of each UK motorist’s car insurance policy.

The most common technique employed by these fraudsters is to cause a situation whereby the innocent driver behind them, crashes into the back of their vehicle. It’s generally accepted that the driver who rear-ends another vehicle is in the wrong.

The scammers often set up these “accidents” on clear roads, or at roundabouts. Another trick they use to lead the victim into rear ending their vehicle is to slam on their handbrake so the driver behind won’t be alerted to the fact that the vehicle in front is stopping from the brake lights.

Victims are not chosen at random, instead the scammers single out elderly drivers, and lone parents, as they are less likely to fight the insurance claim. Commercial drivers are also a favourite with the fraudsters as they are less concerned about the damage as their vehicles are owned by their company.

The average amount obtained from each claim was approximately £17,000. This amount includes costs for personal injury, and also the damage to and recovery of the vehicle.

Insurance company offers tailored cover for ice cream vans

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Dudley based insurance provider Cater N Sure are offering specific tailored cover for all kinds of catering units.

The insurance company offers a range of insurance policies with cover provided for all kinds of mobile and static catering units including ice cream vans, mobile tea and coffee units, burger vans, buffet caterers and chocolate fountain and hog roast suppliers to name just a few.

Cater N Sure provides comprehensive insurance policies for businesses involved in the catering industry. These policies cover vital equipment onboard the mobile or static unit, stock, plus money from takings or for the till float, business interruption, and employer’s liability.

Additional policies are also offered alongside the main comprehensive policies, these include the Caterer’s Towing Vehicle Insurance which protects against damage to the vehicle used to tow the catering unit. Another useful policy offered by Cater N Sure is a Caterers Breakdown Insurance which includes roadside assistance, plus home start and vehicle recovery throughout the UK. This policy can be purchased from as little as £69 a year.

Quotes for trailer and liability insurance can be received online, however quotes for the additional policies can be obtained over the phone. Cater N Sure also offer customers the opportunity to purchase insurance online for added convenience.

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.