Commercial

Bus Insurance

Bus insurance will be one of those things that no-one wants to buy, and yet is an essential financial purchase for anyone who owns or operates such a vehicle. Whether you’re working as an individual or are part of a fleet you still need to make sure that you’ve got adequate insurance in place at all times, not only to protect your own interests but also to protect those of your passengers and other road users.

Of course, your own financial interests will be the ones most important to you, and that’s what makes insurance so essential. If you were to be involved in an accident where a passenger (or even another road user) were to be injured you could well be liable for any legal or medical costs, so it makes sense to be prepared.

Then there’s the possibility that your bus could damage someone else’s property, and what if your vehicle itself becomes damaged or vandalised in some way or even gets stolen? All of these cases could be hard to recover from, and that’s why you need to have the most comprehensive level of cover that you can afford.

But, there’s no denying that everyone will be different, and that’s why it’s essential to do your research. Always head to the specialists and compare several quotes, and ideally discuss your own individual needs so they can create a bespoke policy to suit. Brokers and comparison websites will be a good place to start, but always talk to any potential insurer on an individual basis as well.

You’ll need to discuss things like your personal and business circumstances, the make/model/age/mileage of your bus, your own driving history and experience, how many passengers you transport and a whole range of other points. All of these will have a huge basis on the final policy that you’re presented with, so never leave anything off the list if you want to be sure you’re completely covered.

It goes without saying that you’ll need third party cover, but in this industry it pays to go for a more rounded policy. Think about things like liability, legal and medical expenses cover, breakdown assistance, even European cover if your bus will be travelling abroad – any extras that you’ll need should never be overlooked.

Luckily, if you choose wisely you shouldn’t have to spend a fortune either. Always see what discounts can be offered and consider increasing your excess, and don’t forget to compare several quotes to get the best price. If you do you can be confident that you’ve got the bus insurance that you’re looking for, letting you get to work in confidence.

HGV Insurance

If there’s one thing that we all need to invest in, it’s insurance. Car, home, contents, mobile, landlord… the list is seemingly endless, and if you drive a lorry it’s an equally as important consideration. HGV insurance should always be invested in if you want to drive your vehicle safely and legally, and if you choose wisely you’ll be able to get cover that meets your precise needs.

The absolute minimum you should be looking for is third party, but, if you need this type of insurance for business reasons, you’d be wise to go for something that can provide a bit more cover. You should think about any damage that could befall your vehicle and any other road users, and always be prepared for anything that could happen by going for a comprehensive policy.

Think about the contents of your vehicle as well, particularly if you’re transporting expensive goods or equipment. It’s often wise to invest in goods in transit cover as an addition to your policy – think of it like having home contents cover together with buildings insurance. This way you’re protecting the vehicle itself as well as everything in it, and when you consider the expense of replacing any lost or damaged items it soon starts to become worthwhile.

But, just because there are a lot of aspects to think about, it doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune getting adequate cover. It’s true that it’ll probably be more expensive than regular car insurance but that’s simply the nature of the beast, and if you spend the time to look around you’ll be able to find a quote that doesn’t seem quite so horrifying.

Always consult specialist brokers if you’re looking for the best deals and the best cover, because these are the only people that will be able to give you the price, quotes and level of security that you’re looking for. Make sure to compare several options before you make your final decision and don’t be afraid to pit companies against each other – often, it can be the best way to drive down their prices.

So, if you want to be completely happy as you’re driving around in your lorry, remember the importance of having comprehensive HGV insurance in place. If you’ve got it there you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re operating safely, legally and with your own financial interests at heart, and if you spend the time to look you’ll have no problem finding exactly what you’re looking for.

Motor Trade Insurance Online

Looking for motor trade insurance online can save you hours of pounding up and down the high street or leafing through the telephone directory. With quotes and policy details available at the touch of a button, you do not even have to leave your armchair to find the right cover for your motor trade business.

Motor trade insurance gives your business the financial protection it needs to be able to survive the theft or damage of a vehicle you intend to sell.

The benefits of such cover are self-explanatory – without motor trade cover, you could lose thousands if one of your cars is crashed or stolen.
So how can you get a good deal for motor trade insurance online? The internet makes shopping around simple. With a plethora of providers at your disposal, you can compare quotes within minutes.

You should be able to reduce the premiums offered is you have a significant no claims discount. Anything over 3 years is likely to yield a significant reduction. Further, by limiting the number of named drivers on the policy to a couple of individuals with good safety records, your insurer will be more confident about insuring you for less.

Given that you have to seek new stock from up and down the country, limiting your mileage on the policy is probably not an option. However, limit your activities to trading alone rather than, say, breakdown activities which insurers perceive as more risky.

When it comes to motor trade insurance online, don’t forget to specify the type of cars that are likely to be in your fleet. If you trade in high performance vehicles, these are going to be more expensive to cover.
Now that you have a number of quotes to compare, how can you choose between them? Not only should you consider the quality of service that you are likely to receive from the various providers, but also what they are prepared to add on as an extra to the cover.

You can judge the service provided on the basis of whether a provider has UK based call centres that are ready to help you at all times of the day or night. Also, ask whether a complementary hire car would be provided while yours is being repaired.

Lastly, breakdown insurance is essential in your industry. What could be more embarrassing than breaking down on a test drive? Ask whether this is included in the cover, or at least could be offered with a substantial discount.

Recovery Truck Insurance

If you are in the breakdown and recovery profession, your business would literally grind to a halt if your truck is out of action. So recovery truck insurance addresses this problem, and provides a solution to keep your business going if your own vehicle is stolen or damaged.

As long as your claim is higher than the “excess” on your policy, the insurer will pay out for the value of the damage caused to your vehicle, or pay for a replacement.

Tips on saving

To save money on your recovery truck insurance, there are a number of things that you can do.

• No claims bonus – a no claims bonus is the insurer’s recognition that you are a safe driver and have not needed to make a claim for some years. Accordingly, if you have a few claim free years under your belt, bring this to your insurer’s attention and demand a discount for your safe driving.

• Limit your mileage – if you mostly operate over a small but densely populated area, consider limiting your mileage so that your insurer perceives you as a lower risk operation. However, making this decision is something that needs to be thought through carefully, as you do not want to prevent yourself from working further afield if that is where the more lucrative work is. Whichever option you choose, ensure that the insurer is correctly informed about how many miles that you do. If you have grossly underestimated your mileage and this is discovered when you make a claim, your insurer might declare the policy void on the basis of this inaccuracy.

• Raise your excess – at first glance it can seem like madness to voluntarily lift the minimum threshold for which you can make a claim. But by doing this your insurer will see you as someone who is less likely to claim, and therefore may be prepared to drop the cost of the policy.
Most recovery trucks are pretty specialised. However, if you do use the vehicle for any other businesses activity (for example the motor trade), make sure that you inform your insurer so that they can add that to the permitted uses under the policy. As with mileage, you do not want to find yourself in a situation of not being able to claim on your recovery truck insurance due to misinformation on the application form.