A Guide to Minibus Insurance
People who own minibuses often use them for their job, as in the case of taxi drivers. However there are many people who own a minibus simply because of the extra room such a vehicle gives them.
If you do own a pleasure use minibus then you’ll need to get the right type of insurance for it. Below is a guide to minibus insurance, including the types of cover you can get and ways to keep costs to a minimum.
Types of cover
- Road risks – Road risks is the basic type of cover you need when insuring any vehicle. You can choose what level of cover you want to get depending on your budget and how much protection you think you need. A third party only policy is the cheapest option but it will not provide any real protection for your own vehicle; rather simply allow you to drive legally. A comprehensive policy is your best option if you want full protection.
- Windscreen repair – Windscreen and glass repair is a very useful type of cover that’ll you certainly be thankful for if the time comes that you need it.
- Breakdown assistance – Breakdown assistance is always important to have when you own a minibus. You may already have breakdown assistance from another company but it’s a good idea to see how much extra it would be to have it included in your policy since you might be able to save money.
Saving money
- Shop around – Getting quotes from many different providers is one of the best ways to save money on minibus insurance. Sites such as Insure Minibus make the process of getting quotes incredibly quick and simple.
- Make your vehicle secure – Making your minibus as secure as possible is a great way to save money on insurance. In addition to installing a tracking device and immobiliser, you should also make sure to park your minibus safely when it’s not being used.
- Pay annually – If you can afford to pay for your insurance annually rather than monthly then you’ll be able to make a decent saving on the overall cost.
Working as a Freelance Recovery Truck Driver
If you’ve ever considered working as a freelance recovery truck driver then you might have talked yourself out of it because you think the challenges will too great – whether it’s the initial investment required or being able to find enough clients.
Working as a freelancer comes with a lot of challenges but most freelancers find it to be worth it for the freedom it brings.
Below is a guide to becoming a freelance recovery truck driver.
What you’ll need
- A truck – Of course the most fundamental thing you’ll need to work as a freelance recovery truck driver is a truck. When it comes to buying a recovery truck, there are a few key things you need to decide. One of the most important things is the size of truck you’re going to buy. Recovery trucks vary a lot – some are capable of transporting multiple vehicles while other are designed for just one car. A bigger truck will mean you can transport more vehicles at one time but it will also cost more and be harder to drive. It’s often a good idea to start with a smaller truck so you can get used to it and see if you can make your venture a success before moving onto a larger vehicle.
- Clients – The most vital part of being successful as a recovery truck driver is the ability to find and maintain a client base. Many people find this to be the most challenging part of working as a freelancer.
- Insurance – You’ll also need to get truck insurance cover to cover you for the biggest risks that come with the job, such as road risks, liability claims and breakdowns.
Saving money on recovery truck insurance
- Get multiple quotes – One of the best ways to save money on recovery truck insurance is to get quotes from different providers. This will ensure that you don’t overspend on cover you could have gotten cheaper elsewhere.
- Get a limited mileage policy – If you only use your recovery truck at certain hours or at certain times of the year then you could save a considerable amount of money by getting a limited mileage policy.
Choosing the Right Premises for a Motor Trade Business
When you run a business, especially one in the motor trade, it’s always incredibly important to find the right premises. The right premises will depend on the type of motor trade business you run but there are certain factors that are always important.
Below are some key things to consider –
Size
Size will always be a key consideration when looking for a business premises. If you run a business such as repair shop then you’re probably not going to need as much space as a car showroom. You should think about how much space you’ll need to work comfortably, including your office, supply room etc. You should also take the parking space into consideration as this will be very important for your customers.
To buy or rent
Another key consideration when looking for a premises is whether you will buy or rent. In most cases, it’s a good idea to rent for a period of time first to check that you’re happy with the premises and there are no unexpected problems with it. Once you’re certain that you’re happy with it, you can then buy it further down the road.
Security
Security s certainly a key consideration when choosing a premises for your business. Look for key security features such as security lighting, an alarm and CCTV. You should also look for any access prevention measures that are installed, such as barbed wire or security spikes. Motor trade businesses always have to be wary of the risk of theft and damage to their vehicles so this is very important.
Blinds are a good way to improve privacy and therefore security at a commercial premises too. Check out https://www.blinds4bifolds.co.uk/ for different types of bifold door blinds.
A secure premises will not only reduce the chances of theft and vandalism but also help to reduce the cost of a motor trade insurance policy. Click here to get motor trade insurance quotes now.
Location
Location is always important with any type of property you’re considering investing in. When choosing a business premises, the location of it can be the difference between success and failure so it’s an extremely important thing to think about. Ideally your premises will be located in an area that has plenty of traffic passing by, that is easy to find and access.
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Getting Insurance as a Young Van Driver
If you are under the age of 25 and plan to purchase a van then you might be worried that you won’t be able to get cover at a reasonable price. It’s certainly true that insurance providers charge more to those under the age of 25. This is simply because younger drivers are more likely to be involved in collisions. However getting van insurance as a young driver isn’t impossible.
There are a number of specialist providers of van insurance for young drivers who can offer you cover at a reasonable rate.
Why get cover online?
If you’re looking for young van drivers insurance then there are a few good reasons to get it online. These include –
- Get the exact type of policy you want – When you look for insurance online, it’s very easy to add and remove cover options as you need. You can also easily find out more details about different cover options to help you decide if you need them or not. This is very useful since it’s easy to end up paying for additional cover that you don’t need or fully understand when taking a policy out over the phone.
- Save time & money – Another key reason to get insured online is that getting quotes is very easy. Getting quotes from different insurance providers is one of the best ways to save money and using an online insurance comparison service makes getting quotes a very quick and simple process.
- Get cover instantly – When you make your first payment for your policy, you will then be covered immediately and be sent your documents by email as well as by post. This gives you peace of mind that if you were to be involved in an accident or pulled over by the police, you would have proof of coverage.
What are some good ways to save money?
Below are a couple of drive ways to save money on young van drivers insurance –
- Increase excess – Increasing your excess is a very good way to lower the cost of your premium when you first take out your policy.
- Limit cover options – If you’re happy with a third party only policy then this is another great way to keep the cost of your insurance to a minimum.
Choosing an Office for a Mini Cab Firm
Running a minicab firm comes with many challenges. In addition to keeping your business competitive and dealing with customer and driver issues, you must also make sure you have a good location for your head office.
Some of the key things questions to ask yourself when choosing an office for a mini cab firm are –
- Is there enough space? – Space is always going to be important when choosing a mini cab office. You want to be sure that there’s enough space and light for your operation to be run from it without any problems.
- Is it in a good location? – Location is another key factor. Since you’ll need to communicate with your drivers while they’re on the road, the office should be located on high ground, or at least not in a dip.
- Can I afford it? – Knowing that you’ll be able to afford the rent is another key consideration. Depending on how established your company is, you might decide to invest in the premises, especially if you’re sure you’re happy with it.
Keeping your insurance costs down
A big part of running a successful mini cab firm is to keep the cost of your mini cab insurance to a minimum. Below are some of the best ways to do this –
- Be selective with who you hire – The drivers you hire to work for you will always affect the cost of your mini cab insurance. This is why most mini cab firms will not hire drivers who are under the age of 25. Age isn’t the only factor though. You also want to consider the experience and attitude of any drivers you hire. Insurance providers will assess your drivers and consider how likely they are to be involved in an accident when coming up with a price for your policy so always bear this in mind.
- Get quotes from different providers – Getting quotes from different insurance providers will enable you to easily compare them and choose the policy that’s right for your business and at the most competitive price.
- Pay upfront – Most firms will choose to pay for the mini cab insurance on a monthly basis so there’s no major upfront payment. Although this makes sense, if you can pay for your policy in one lump sum, you’ll be able to negotiate a better rate with insurance providers.
Finding an Office for A Taxi Firm
When you run your own business, choosing a good premises is vitally important. This is certainly is true if you run a taxi firm and are looking for a new head office.
All the administrative side of things are done from your office so you want to be sure you pick a premises that’s conveniently located and that is secure. Below are some of the most important things to consider when looking for an office for your taxi firm.
Things to consider
- Location – Location is extremely important when choosing an office for your taxi firm. Ideally your office will be located on high ground and also be in a location that’s convenient for people to get to and with plenty of foot traffic. A good location can make or break a business so you definitely want to take the time to choose a premises that’s well situated.
- Cost – Cost is another key factor when looking for a new head office. You should think about how much you’re able to spend and also consider renting a location for a few months first so you can decide if you’re happy enough with it to buy it.
- Security – If a building has good security features already in place then this is a great bonus. Things like security lights, a security alarm and working CCTV all help to make a building much more secure and will also lower the cost of your insurance.
Getting insurance
When you run a taxi firm you have a few different options when it comes to getting insurance. You can choose to get a combined motor trade insurance policy that will cover all your vehicles as well as your premises, stock, tools and cash.
The other option is to get a separate building insurance policy for your office and get your vehicles covered by a taxi fleet insurance policy. Which is the better option will depend and usually it will come down to which is the least expensive. Whichever you decide, you should always make sure you get plenty of quotes from different insurance providers and make sure you have insurance for private hire or public hire as well.
Some great ways to save money on taxi fleet insurance include –
- Be selective with your drivers
- Limit cover options
- Pay annually rather than monthly
- Get quotes from many insurance providers