Cheap Van Insurance?

[Serdna]

Me and a mate (21 and 22, 4 and 3 years claim free driving experiance repectively) at uni are looking at buying a very cheap van to begin a little side business of breaking bikes for some pocket money.

So far the cheapest quote we have got on a £400 van is £2800 TPFT.

Is there anything we can do to get this down to say £1000? Are there any cheap vans to insure that could fit up to a litre bike in the back? So far i have been looking at tatty old Ford Transits and the like on ebay. Does engine size make a huge difference?

Is there another way to insure vans?

I'm so fed up with loosing all my free time working part time alongside studying, this would be a nice way to earn enough pocket money to get by while doing something i enjoy.

Any help/ideas would be greeeeeeeeeeeat!

[Berlin]

Gladiator Van insurance is usually cheapest. Try GoCompare. Third party only, maximum excess. Haggle on the phone once you have your Go Compare price.

Good Luck!

[TamSV]

It's not the easiest of risks for insurers. Young drivers/students/part-time scrap dealers with no business premises. You've got to admit it doesn't sound the best. :p

Online isn't the best for difficult stuff, and online offerings for vans are less advanced than for cars.

As Berlin says, hit the phones.

Does it have to be a van? Car + trailer might be easier for you to insure.

[Serdna]

Tam you hit it spot on there. After posting this thread we decided fitting a tow bar to my friends corsa and buying a bike trailer is the best way to go. I even have a different friend who might lend us his trailer a few times so we won't have to commit to buying one untill we decide its worth it. So once ive finished fiddling with my SV i will begin this venture to see if i can't manage without a part time job.

[Red Herring]

Me and a mate (21 and 22, 4 and 3 years claim free driving experiance repectively) at uni are looking at buying a very cheap van to begin a little side business of breaking bikes for some pocket money.


In my experience most people who load bikes up into the back of a van and then break them aren't that bothered about getting insurance....:wink:

[Specialone]

Make sure its a commercial policy youre being quoted on.

Ive been with quoteline direct (brokers) last 4 years as they have been best for me.
My van insurance went up from £330 last year to £480 with no claims or anything, robbing gits, but cheapest i could find.

[Serdna]

Not my style!

In my experience most people who load bikes up into the back of a van and then break them aren't that bothered about getting insurance....:wink:

[Dipper]

Trailer route is by far the best, no extra insurance as most policies cover you to tow. No need for a commercial policy, surely you're just breaking your own personal bike as i just failed it's MOT or transporting a future project;)

[Specialone]

In my case, the commercial policy was cheaper when I first got a van.

[Red Herring]

How about a Traders policy? Just about every do as you likey I stop seems to have one and that would allow you to test ride the bikes as well.

[timwilky]

My son is with Commercial Vehicle Direct. They were about the cheapest I could find for somebody with zero no claims and stupid convictions on his ticket. Cost £1800 for a 1.9 Citroen Dispatch.

We did find cheaper using a comparison site. but they refused to honour the quote when we tried to take it up.

[squirrel_hunter]

If going down the trailer route check your license conditions. I know that for more recent license holders there are additional restrictions, but am not sure what they are as I'm not affected by it at the moment...