With used and new van and commercial vehicle sales on the rise over the last number of years, more and more people are seeking van insurance. It is a requirement by law in Ireland to have van insurance for your vehicle to drive legally on the roads. The cost of van insurance depends on many different factors these can include the model and make your vehicle, or even if you have been involved in an accident in recent years. In general, the cost of van insurance can cost a lot more than car insurance. This is due to the larger engines in vans and you may carry equipment inside which are valuable. Here are some tips to help you lower the cost and save money on your van insurance.

Change your vehicle size

Larger vans tend to be more powerful and big. The bigger the vehicle you have the more insurance premium you will pay. Insurance companies see you as more of an accident risk with a bigger van so your insurance will be a lot higher. By downgrading your van to a smaller sized engine, the less money you will have to pay for your insurance. You will save money on the running costs of your vehicle and the cost of your insurance also.

Voluntary excess should be increased

Another way of reducing your van insurance is to set an excess amount that your insurance company can take from a payout on any claim you make before it gets to you. A lot of excess can’t be avoided and are issued by your insurer. The excesses are mandatory and generally apply if you are an inexperienced driver or are a young driver.

Update the security of your van 

It is defiantly worth thinking about adding extra security features to your vehicle in ways of lowering your vans premium insurance costs. Some insurance features could include immobilizers, alarms, and trackers. Van vehicles can be susceptible to risk and a target for thieves, so it is always important to have your van secured. Always park your van in a secure location especially at nighttime, such as your garage at home.

  • Alarm 

Some vans do come with an alarm system installed already; however, it would be a good idea to upgrade to something a little bit more up to date and modern. Alarms are installed to stop thieves from stealing your van and the contents inside of it.

  • Immobilisers 

An immobiliser is a device that is fitted to the engine of your vehicle if your van has been broken into it will not allow the ignition to work. So, if a thieve manages to get around the alarm system, there won’t be much chance they will get away with your vehicle quickly.

  • Tracker

GPs tracking systems can be installed into your van to track where your vehicle is if it was ever stolen. You can connect a tracker to your smartphone which would be easier to operate. Where you store your vehicle is important in ways of reducing your insurance premium.

Have a no claims bonus

A great way to save on your van insurance is to have enough no claims bonus built up. Your no claims will count on the number of years you are driving without making a claim on your insurance policy. The longer you go without never making a claim the safer driver you will appear to your insurance company.

Always consider who is been added to your policy 

Young drivers will tend to push your premiums costs up. A driver with points or irresponsible drivers will push up your insurance costs also. It is worth thinking about who is driving your vehicles and will they put you at risk increasing the cost of your van insurance.

Advertise your business 

A good deterrent for thieves is to advertise your business logo and name to the side of your vehicle. Your van will look a lot less risky to an insurance company and less likely to be stolen if it stands out as a business. This way your price could be lowered in the long term.

Annually Pay   

You could save significant money if you pay upfront for the year. Some insurers do prefer having a lump sum of money, so they do offer discounts on annual payments.