Few vehicles are as demanding to drive on the road as a van, whatever its size. Add to this tricky winter conditions and you create a scenario that requires a great deal of care, concentration and motoring ability. Having the correct van insurance is just the first step towards ensuring you can drive around Wales in safety.
Like any other vehicle, insuring your van is a legal necessity. In accordance with the Road Traffic Act of 1988, the minimum insurance required covers injuries suffered by other people or their property. Vans that weigh in with a gross total of less than 3.5 tonnes are considered small commercial vehicles by insurance companies. Anything heavier needs to be insured as a truck and may have specific licensing requirements accordingly; in this scenario, the driver will need to be fully qualified and in possession of a large goods vehicles licence.
Third party, the most basic form of insurance, protects you for little more than the legal minimum (i.e. damage to other persons or property). A third party and theft premium will cover your vehicle for any damage sustained during a theft or attempted theft or anything sustained during a fire. If, following a fire or theft, your vehicle is destroyed or not recovered, then your insurance company will pay out the value of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
If your van is particularly valuable then it's worth considering paying the extra costs to take out fully comprehensive cover. This type of commercial vehicle insurance includes all the facets of the previous two categories with additional cover for damage to your vehicle during an accident (even if you were at fault) and malicious damage.
Most comprehensive policies will have an excess; this is the amount of money you agree to be responsible for should you need to make claim. For example, if you make a claim for £1,000 worth of damage and your excess stands at £250, you will be required to pay for the first £250 of the claim and the insurance company will foot the bill for the rest. Furthermore, there may well be restrictions on where you can use your vehicle as well as what for and exactly who can use it.
Van insurance typically has three common types of use: carriage of own goods, haulage insurance (which will cover a single load carried over a long distance), and courier insurance (which is similar to haulage but for travelling shorter distances).
As with every vehicle travelling on the roads this winter, van drivers need to be aware of the potential dangers that this season brings. It's important to ensure your van is in full working order, in particular check the brakes and tires. Additionally, be aware that country roads in particular might well contain patches of ice and visibility may be reduced.
Remember that, due to the structure of vans, your blind spots will be increased and extra space will be required for parking, tight corners and other manoeuvres. Though the higher seating may give you a wider view of the road and greater visibility of what is in front of and around you, the sheer size of your van could prove to be problematic.
