Courier van drivers posing an insurance concern

Couriers are usually regarded as “high risk” for motor insurers. Van drivers statistically have a higher accident rate than private vehicles, their exposure on the roads is far greater than that of a private motor car, therefore dramatically increasing the chances of a road traffic incident. The vehicles are more often than not owned by a company or fleet and drivers are less likely to worry about the damage they may cause to the vehicle.

Courier van drivers, also referred to as the ‘White van man’ are notoriously known for being involved in road traffic accidents. Couriers can be up against tight pick up and delivery time slots, and some are even incentivized on the amount of collections and deliveries they make. This can encourage the drivers to race around town and hence are prone to more incidents. Insurers take this into consideration when quoting this type of risk and the premiums quoted are a reflection of the claim statistics.

Some of the common accidents that van couriers typically experience include:

• Scrapes & Scratches – which commonly occur to the paintwork of the car or van.
• Chips & Breaks – from broken lights to chips in the windscreen
• Wear and tear - the durability of the van to wear and tear that occurs within the courier industry. One can typically expect:
  • The replacement of tyres
  • The replacement of brake discs/pads

Maintenance – as they are on the road a lot of the time, the vans will become more prone to maintenance. This will include:

• • General servicing
  • Auto electrical replacements
  • Mechanical replacements

(note: these factors can contribute to the accidental and safety risk of the van, increasing it’s insurance premium.)

• Dents – courier van drivers will find that they will be exposed to getting more damage to the framework of the van. This can be due to a series of things.

1. Potentially due to the experience of the driver at the wheel.
2. The maneuverability and safety of the van
3. The driving environment the van will typically be exposed to.

Due to the common accidents that couriers are usually exposed to, obtaining a cheap van insurance rate will be difficult to come across due to the nature of high premiums that are charged by the underwriters of the insurance companies. However, Van Quote Direct can help courier van drivers find a policy that will be tailored to suit their needs that will be cost effective and simple to find.