As all vans in the UK must be insured to use the roads, a big, competitive van insurance industry has sprung up to provide cover for these ever-present highway workhorses. But this competition doesn’t necessarily make van insurance particularly cheap. Therefore, before coughing up for next year’s cover, check out these tips that, with any luck, could help slash the costs of your van insurance.

But before doing so, it’s important to realise that getting the right price isn’t just about getting cheap quotes, it’s also about getting the most suitable insurance for your van. Therefore, these tips are also aimed at ensuring you remain adequately covered and protected against the most likely eventualities that may affect your van.

1.Increase your voluntary excess

In the event of a claim, voluntary excess is the portion of that claim which you agree to pay. Upping the excess will lower your van insurance premiums, but remember that the higher the excess, the more you’ll have to pay following a claimable incident. To learn more about voluntary excess, check out our article The Excess Factor.

2.Make your van more secure

There are several ways to help stop your van from being stolen or broken into, and each one could lower van insurance premiums. Security measures include fitting an alarm, immobiliser, tracker, teering/gear stick/handbrake lock, or getting the van security etched/marked, and parking your van in a secure location overnight, such as a secure car park or garage. For more on vehicle security, take a look at 8 Great Car Security Tips.

3. Prove you’re a good driver - declare any no claims bonus

If you have a proven history of claims-free driving, whether it’s for another company vehicle or for your own car, then tell the insurance company as they may rate you as a lower risk and reduce the premiums. Some van insurers will “mirror” an existing no-claims bonus (NCB) that’s been built up on your car - i.e. apply your car’s NCB discount to the van - resulting in cheaper premiums. It’s also worth finding out from the insurer if a letter from your employer confirming your safe driving history will lower premiums.

4. Build up your van’s NCB

If you’re unable to mirror your car’s no claims bonus onto a van, then start building one up from scratch. It’ll take a year to start reaping the benefits, but an NCB is a sure-fire way to reduce van insurance premiums. So once you’ve bought some cover, do your best to drive carefully and avoid any scrapes.

5. Don’t put points on your licence

Careless driving can result in points on your licence, and points will increase your van insurance premiums. Such things as speeding and careless driving can get you points, a fine, and even a ban (to learn more, take a look at Motoring Conviction Codes). Van drivers should also observe the vehicle’s safe towing weight limits, if pulling a trailer or machinery is a part of your job. So to keep premiums as low as possible, always drive carefully and within the law.

6. Pay van insurance premiums annually

Paying for your van insurance premiums for the whole year in advance rather than by monthly instalments is a simple way to pay less for cover. All van insurance providers prefer to have the money up front, and most will offer a discount in premiums if you agree to do so.

7. Use as small a van as possible

In general, the smaller the van, the lower the van insurance premiums. This applies to both physical size and engine size. If in carrying out your job you can get away with driving a smaller engine, short wheelbase van rather than a more powerful, long wheelbase model, then your premiums (as well as general running costs) should be lower.

8. Use a van insurance comparison site

Using an online insurance comparison site is a great way to find cheaper van cover. You can quickly compare a range of insurance deals on one simple page, and you don’t just see the cheapest deals, you also see the deals that best suit your requirements.

9. Advertise your business on the van

Get a sign writer to paint your business name/contact details on the van. Some van insurance companies have realised that, statistically speaking, easily identifiable vans - i.e. those clearly marked with business names - are less likely to get into a scrape and are less likely to be stolen, which means they’re less of a risk to insure. Also, vans with “report this driver for bad driving” type signs could benefit from reduced premiums as, again it indicates the driver is more likely to drive carefully.

10.Accurately state your van’s mileage

As insurance companies figure that the more miles you do, the more likely you are to be involved in an incident, try and cover fewer miles in your job (if it’s at all possible) and enter this reduced figure when you next apply for cover. And remember to give an accurate annual business mileage when asked. Rounding up your mileage to the nearest hundred could push you into a slightly higher premium rate, so it’s best to be precise.

11. State the van’s correct use

Although this list is primarily for drivers who use their vans for work, if your van is for personal use, make sure you tell the insurer. Personal, recreational use is likely to be cheaper to insure than a van that is used for business reasons. In any case, it’s always important to give the correct use in order to find the most suitable type of van cover for your needs.

12. Be careful who you add as a named driver

Premiums will increase with each driver you add to the policy, but by adding a driver who is under 25 years old, or somebody with a claims history or points on their licence, the premiums could shoot up. Experience counts when it comes to cheap van insurance, so if you have to add another driver, try and find one with a clean licence and a claims-free history.

13. State if you’re a member of a trade body

It’s a little known fact that some van insurance companies will offer lower premiums to drivers that belong to recognised trade federations, such as the NICEIC, Gas Safe, Federation of Master Builders, Federation of Master Craftsmen, and the FPDC. So if you do belong to such a body, make sure you mention it when applying for van cover.
These tips will add to your premiums, but could save you £thousands in the long term

14. Tell the truth

When applying for van insurance, it may be tempting to tell the odd white lie in order to get cheaper premiums. However, as an insurance policy is a contract based on trust between the customer and insurer, always answer accurately, even if it means higher premiums. If you don’t, any later claim could be refused. Also, as lying on a policy can constitute insurance fraud, you could be prosecuted, future premiums could rise sharply, and you may even be refused cover altogether. In short, when applying for van cover, honesty is always the best policy.

15. Breakdown cover

If your van is essential to your business, you should factor in the potential loss in earnings that could occur if the van is off the road. Some van insurance policies offer breakdown assistance and a replacement vehicle for when the van is being repaired. Such options will increase van insurance premiums, but the cost could be far less than the loss suffered due to your van being off the road.

16. Protect your no claims bonus

Protecting the no claims bonus means that if you have to make a claim, you won’t lose your NCB - well worth considering if you’ve carefully accrued several years of claims-free driving. Many van insurance providers will offer the option to protect a no claims bonus, which will increase premiums, but could prove a smart move in the long run.

17.Insure your van’s contents

If it’s not practical for you to empty your van of its valuable contents (expensive tools, machinery etc) each night, then be certain to insure them. Again, it will increase your premiums, but it will be a lot cheaper than having to replace costly equipment. Courier drivers should also consider ‘goods in transit’ cover, which insures cargo that’s left in your van whilst you make deliveries.

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Read more about van insurance at http://www.confused.com

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There are many ways to find cheap perfume so that you don`t have to break your budget to smell good. They can be found at a variety of places to make your shopping a bit easier. These perfumes are perfect for anyone who wants to smell great on a dime.

You may have always dreamed of having a cabinet full of perfume, but just can`t seem to justify spending a hundred dollars on a bottle. For some the idea of even spending a high amount on perfume and watch it dwindle away as you use it sounds ludicrous. It might be because you just don`t have the money, or it could be that you don`t see the point in spending money on frugal things. Shopping smart, will ensure that you can live well for cheap.

The internet is booming with perfume outlet stores. You can just look up the web pages and scan through each website until you find something that you like. Some outlets that are online will have brand name and designer name perfumes, while others may just be perfume that you may not know, but might still smell great.

These websites allow you to pay through credit card transactions and most use PayPal so it is safe. You can usually collect an order and then at the end of your shopping just check out, pay and have your order delivered. The only thing you have to be careful of, is making sure that before you pay, that it can be delivered in your area.

When you find a website that you love, you will probably continue to use it. Wholesale websites get their perfume for cheap through various resources, they could have been over bought somewhere, or perhaps a store went out of business. The perfumes on these sites are always changing so if you don`t see anything you like, you can always just go back and check again.

Another great place to find discounted perfume is through a local pharmacy with makeup counter. The perfume that is offered there may be designer and offered at a cheaper price than buying it from a department store. And they will have lots of other perfume fragrances that you can test out right there to see if you like it. This is a great place to buy at a cheaper price.

Magazines specializing in fashion many times give out samples of perfumes in-between the pages. And while this is not a way to collect perfume on a dime, it can allow you to test out a perfume over a few days to see if it is really worth buying. Many times someone will go and spend lots of money on a perfume they thought they wanted, only to have it not smell as great on. This prevents the wasting of money.

There are also outlet stores that are local and sell makeup and perfume. You can find these through the yellow pages and call to check and see when they are open. Sometimes these outlet stores operate only on weekends or during special peak hours. This is a great place to find makeup and perfume that was not selling well, and pick it up for a cheaper price.

You can also check out for designer perfume and makeup companies and for when they have special factory sales. Usually this happens once a year, so you can even contact them to find out when it will be. Then you can go and get the perfume you really want and get it at a discount price.

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You can have access to articles about perfume in Portuguese language from page Perfume

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil

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Residents of Western Europe have been taking vacations in Majorca for over fifty years - and it’s as good today as it’s ever been for a well earned break.

Information about Majorca is readily available through many travel articles and wiki websites. As a vacation location and tourist attraction, the Balearics have made quite a name for themselves. Some of the islands are considered party islands while others have earned a more family friendly reputation.

Most articles focus on the resorts, hotels and beaches in the Balearic Islands, but we would like to focus on residential areas and towns. Aside from being a great vacation destination, Majorca is home to about 3.5 million residents. Some of the more famous residents include Hollywood’s star couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Annie Lennox, Claudia Schiffer and Julian Lennon to name a few.

Palma de Majorca

Palma de Majorca, officially named Palma, is the capital city of the Balearic Islands. According to the last, the city’s population was 383,107 and the surrounding area was home to 517,285 people. The sheer number of people living in or around Palma made it Spain’s 12th largest urban area. The city’s economy is largely driven by the port and tourism. Cruise ships and other water craft dock in the harbour as the city welcomes tourists and other visitors with an open, friendly atmosphere. The airport is here, and Palma is well known in Europe among frequent flyers for cheap flights to Mallorca

Transportation in and around Palma includes taxi services, boats, rental cars and off-road vehicles. Walking is the most popular mode of transportation in the busy streets of the city. Aside from tourists and winter residents, full-time residents of Majorca live and work in the city just like any other city in the world. The Son Sant Joan airport serves as a transportation hub for more than 22 million people per year.

Port de Soller

Port de Soller is located on the northwest coast of Majorca. Soller is a valley in the shape of a bowl and includes the village Fornalutx and the hamlet Biniaraix. The combined population of the area surrounding Soller is about 13,000. Soller and Port de Soller are linked by a tram. The port is open year round for cruise ships and other water craft.

Port de Soller is a horseshoe shaped bay surrounded by incredible beaches and treacherous cliffs. The resorts and hotels nearby provide many of the local jobs and support the economy. The area surrounding Port de Soller is a large mix of residential homes as well as rental properties to support tourism. This area is connected to Palma de Majorca via bus service.

Palma Nova

Palma Nova, or New Palma, lies just outside Palma de Majorca in the Calvia municipality. Palma Nova has seen tremendous growth in recent years with many international property investors purchasing investment property on the island. Each year more and more Brits, Germans and Russians are purchasing property on Majorca. The most recent focus has been Calvia, or more specifically, Palma Nova.

About 28,000 people call the municipality of Calvia home and welcome an estimated 1.6 million tourists each year. The municipality as a whole is one of the wealthiest in Europe. It is home to four professional golf courses, several water parks, a modern promenade and the Gran Casino Majorca. The Chess Olympiad, where some of the brightest minds in the chess world compete, was held in Calvia a few years ago.

Majorca Much More Than Vacation Hot Spot

Although it is one of the most popular year round vacation destinations in the world, Majorca is simply called home to more than 3 million people. Residents live, work, raise families and play on this incredible island that so many tourists each year enjoy for only a short period of time. On your next Balearic Islands vacation, take the time to really look and enjoy the normalcy the island has to offer. Make a point to visit Palma, Port de Soller and Palma Nova; even if it’s just to pass through and see the sights.

If you haven’t decided where to go on holiday this year, why not try Majorca and join many others who have visited before and fallen in love with the island over and over again.

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Tour operators with both regular vacation deals and holidays in Majorca
are at yourmajorca.net

Villa holiday companies with plenty of villa holiday Majorca information is also on-line at the travel resource.

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