Low Cost Vans

Everyone loves a good meal deal. If you see me sauntering around my local supermarket, you better believe that I’m nabbing a breakfast triple sandwich, a packet of Doritos and a Twix. Then again, I go to the supermarket quite often and so those meal deals are going to pile up, and by extension, so will the waste. Enter Roofer Stewart Gosling, aged 43, from Hertfordshire. Stewart was driving his white van through Chingford, North East London, when he was pulled over by council workers. Unfortunately for him, these members of Waltham Forest Council were conducting spot checks. Almost immediately upon opening his van, they found a commercial refuse bag filled to the brim with sandwich and crisp packets. They mustn’t have liked the empty crisp packets because they charged Stewart with an on-the-spot fine of £300, for "failure to furnish documentation (waste carriers licence)". According to them, regardless of the contents, carrying a commercial refuse bag in a trader’s van...

More than 24,000 miles of UK roads are now peppered with potholes, according to the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey. This is becoming a growing issue for motorists – and thus our customers – with a growing number of individuals and associations keen to stress the real cost of the nuisance. Just one repair from a bad encounter with a large pothole can cost a car owner as much as £3,500. According to car warranty company MotorEasy, the most common types of damage was to axles and suspension systems in vehicles. In total, it is estimated that this problem cost motorists as much as £1 billion in 2017 alone. There is no easy answer to the problem. Local authorities are cash strapped and have other priorities. There seems to be a growing number of individuals taking matters into their own hands. In a bizarre incident in North Wales recently, a Hollywood film crew working in the area took matters into their own hands, and fixed a pothole in Bangor. Meanwhile, the...

Parking your own car will become something of the past, as bay parking technology is set to become legal in June. This innovative technology can be found in vehicles such as the BMW 7 series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It involves the surrounding cameras identifying the space, which can then allow passengers and even the driver to exit the car – and the car will autonomously park itself. The driver of the vehicle is still able to stop the car if necessary using either a digital key or smartphone app, which will hopefully decrease the chances of accidents or malfunctions. The digital key or app can operate the car outside of the vehicle by up to six metres, and according to BMW, “the car must be straight and centred, facing the parking space for the remote-controlled parking function to be activated”. BMW ConnectedDrive offers a range of industry leading elements in its technology. As well as autonomous parking, this includes sending notifications from your phone to the car, such as what...

You only have to be in a traffic jam to see that there’s a big difference in the amount of time people spend looking after their vehicles - some gleam and some, well, just don’t. Assuming that everyone washes their vehicle once in a while, a key difference in retaining the sparkle on a car or van is the waX factor. It’s the only way to keep or create that ‘just out the showroom’ look. Waxing protects your paint from the rain and any other weather it might be hit with by sealing it. But how often should you do it? Guides go from advising twice a year, to every three months. However, if you’ve lost track of time and want to check if your vehicle needs a wax, just chuck some water on it and then take a look – does the water bead up? If so, then it means that your car is still protected by a coat of wax. If not, then it’s time to put a bit of elbow grease in! Another thing to consider is what kind of environment you live in. If you live on the side of a busy road then you’re more exposed t...

Van insurance is known to be more of a headache than car insurance. Vans are often more technologically advanced and of course as the majority of van owners use their vehicle for work purposes, the insurance needs to cover loss of business if someone loses work. Both these factors mean that insuring your van is usually pricier than insuring your car. And last year average premiums for vans rose 20.3% in the year to the end of January, making premiums an average £1,202! But there’s some good news for once… over the last six months there has been a slow-down in insurance prices for vans with prices dropping by 3.5%. It’s due to a change in tack from the government around something called the Odgen rate. If you’re not familiar, this is a figure decided by the government when they calculate what interest they think a compensation pay-out for a serious injury could gain - the lower the interest rate, the greater the compensation. And early last year, the government slashed the rate from 2.5...

Bristol – a city synonymous with the Suspension Bridge, Massive Attack and Banksy. But is it better known these days as a city with an army of van dwellers? There are apparently 68 official van dwellers living in the city, with the majority said to be under the age of 35. They’re able to choose a four-wheeled home because as long as their van has an MOT and is taxed, the authorities can’t demand that it moves. But there are some people who aren’t that happy with the new homes in the city – there has been name calling, heated meetings and one women even reported going back to her van to find somebody with a knife. It’s a far cry from the glamorous #vanlife lifestyle which is projected by Instagram photos of attractive couples choosing to live an alternative lifestyle, leaving the responsibilities of conventional life behind in order to see the world. Van dwelling in Bristol seems to be less of a choice and more of a response to the cost of living in the city – not unlike the situation i...

    Getting your first vehicle used to be a right of passage – the opportunity to get about without asking for a lift; the chance to explore places beyond your local bus route, and precious moments when you could pull up at college with music blaring out the window. But it looks like this version of adulthood is becoming less appealing - or at least feasible - for younger drivers. Recent research shows that the number of teenagers with driving licences has dropped by nearly 40% in comparison to two decades ago. There seem to be different responses to this news: some rejoicing in the fact that this will mean less cars on the road, while others focus with some nostalgia about the end of the era when a car meant your ticket to adulthood. The costs certainly are prohibitive, from driving lessons through to buying and running a car. And that’s without even factoring the £1,000 + insurance that young drivers need to pay. This is certainly the perspective that the AA has, with presid...

As we go into 2018, it’s clear that the way we get about is going to change in a big way. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, headline news was that two huge firms – Uber and Volkswagen – have teamed up with technology giant, Nvidia. Nvidia if you’ve not heard of it before, it’s a company which grew off the back of making computer graphic chips. Now however, it is making a name for itself around autonomous cars. And its two new friends reflect how wide ranging this technology will become in our lives. For those of us in the UK, there is currently a question mark hanging over the future of Uber as last September, TfL didn’t give the firm the right to hold a London private hire operator licence. This was on the grounds of ‘public safety and security implications’, with concerns being over Uber’s approach to doing background checks on its drivers. Despite this, Uber is continuing to operate whilst waiting for a hearing on whether it can continue in the capital – that hea...

There are several ways to welcome a new year in, but getting your car or van stolen isn’t one of them. So it’s wise to be aware of the fact that vehicle theft is on the rise – last year 85,688 cars were stolen, up 30% in comparison to four years previously. With car alarms being one of the most ignored sounds on the planet – can you remember the last time you got out of bed to investigate whose car was being stolen out on the street – is this increase all that surprising? Well it’s actually thought that those alarms can still be effective, with the AA saying that they can act as a deterrent in the same way that floodlights in a garden might. However, it seems that the real culprit when it comes to an increase in vehicle theft, is the fact that thieves have expanded their repertoire and started using what are known as ‘locking jammers’. These devices block the signal sent to a vehicle by its key when the owner is trying to lock their car. Thieves also have a device called a ‘relay box’ ...

Love it or loath it, the drive home for Christmas is a necessary tradition for many. But amid the excitement of getting in the car and being able to legitimately sing Jingle Bells at the top of your voice for the next few hours, there’s a chance you might forget some things… So, here’s a few reminders before you leave your regular residence to travel home for Christmas: Get a winter check on your car before you go, particularly if you’ve got a long dark journey ahead. You can then sort out any issues and head off knowing that your tyres are ok and your anti-freeze is topped up Don’t forget to pack your presents! You know how you decided to be organised and buy some presents back in November? Well do remember to bring them with you Before you leave your house do a quick check that you aren’t leaving any milk or other food to rot away until you return (never a nice homecoming) And make sure you turn the lights off before you go so that you don’t waste electricity. You might howev...

WINTER IS HERE! It really is Narnia across the Isle at the moment. Prepare yourselves for your journey as best you can. Here's a reminder of what to stock up on for your journeys in cold weather. 7 essentials to carry in your vehicle this winter: - Snow socks, the thicker & longer the better! - Travel charger. Portable - remember the leads & to pre-charge. - Wool blanket / Hand warmers. - Food & Drink (carry a flask of hot water for tea/coffee/noodles, soup). - LED Flash / torch - with spare batteries. - Shovel - LARGE. - Windshield de-icer Staples are: first-aid supplies, jumper cables, gloves, a flashlight, duct tape and a tow strap. Check on the latest travel information, before setting off on your travels. The best places for this is with local police forces on twitter who often regularly update their information, the Met Office and the AA website. -  Met Office Link  -  Twitter List of 'most' UK localised Police Forces - see 'Members section'  - AA ...

Christmas is fast approaching and with many people perplexed as to what to get their late teen and early-20-something family members, we thought we’d give you a few ideas on potential fun and practical presents, that would be perfect for a young driver.   A Black Box Insurance prices are higher than ever, and this is especially apparent for young drivers, with some having to annually pay upwards of £6,000. An effective way to bring the price of insurance dramatically down is with the introduction of a black box. It gives young drivers the opportunity to prove their ability to drive safely, and thus reducing their premiums by as much as £500. Scissor Jack and Wrench Almost everyone at some point in their life falls victim to car related issues, however young drivers in particular are historically known for having cars that break down more regularly. One of the most common problems a young driver might face, is a punctured tyre. However, with a scissor jack, wrench and some careful r...

Honda promises Electronic Vehicles (EV's), that charge in 15 minutes by 2022. Currently most 30 minute charges, re-charge to about 80%. Drivers seeking to transition to an EV will be pleased of the governments vast investment into strengthening the provisions of electric charge points across the UK. In order to meet a faster charge duration, Honda are looking to create a new battery collaboration. They hope faster charging and longer driving ranges will make the EV market more appealing and accessible to mass market. I wonder how many other manufacturers will heed the faster re-charge race and have faster charge times in future? It certainly seems the EV market will be fast expanding in the next seven years, past 2022 towards other 2025 targets. View the Low Cost Vans Electric Hybrid Range here:  http://www.lowcostvans.co.uk/electric-vans.aspx Ref:  Shane McGlaun.Slash Gear. 

You may feel like you don’t have a moment spare in the busy morning dash, but be sure to save a few minutes to de-ice your car window legally. Yes I did say legally… Little did I know until reading a recent news article , that poor windscreen defrosting management can actually mean you’re breaking the law. Confused? Well it makes sense when you think about it… What do many people do to warm their car up and thereby defrost their windows? Get the engine running! This is fine in itself of course, the problem is when people leave their keys in the car while the engine is running and go back in the house to finish breakfast/pack a school lunch/look for a lost library book. Leaving your car with the engine running on a public highway breaks Rule 123 of the Highway Code. Alongside that, you don’t stand much chance on the insurance if someone decides they fancy driving your car to work instead of theirs that day. The other way to break the law and end up receiving a fine at the start of the d...

With winter just around the corner, those cold early morning starts will soon be upon us. Considering nippy starts to the day and the risk of your heater conking out, it’s wise to have a few ideas on hand about how you can keep yourself warm in the car: Layers : The first and most obvious tip is doubling up on clothes. This is a simple and easy way to get warm - just wear more. The best thing about it is that if you get too hot, you can just take some layers off! Look after your extremities : If you’ve got cold hands or feet it’s likely that the rest of your body will feel pretty chilly too. Ensure that you’ve got good socks on and get yourself some driving gloves; they’ll make all the difference. Make sure that they’ve got good grip though and are suitable for the wheel. Hot Water Bottles : Bring a hot water bottle along on your journey. It’ll warm you in an instant! Warm Fluids : Drink warm fluids – they’ll keep you warm from the inside. And if you get yourself a thermos, you can top...

Calling someone a white van man is not the biggest compliment on earth. After all, the Collins dictionary describes the term as: a male van driver, often of a white van, whose driving is selfish and aggressive. Apparently, the term was created by a Times journalist back in 1997. Twenty years later, the label may still be recognisable by many, but it’s arguable that the white van man stereotype is becoming a little dated. A recent piece in the Telegraph looked at whether the stereotype should be dropped. It revealed that in the first half of this year, there were 100,316 new white vans registered compared to just 24,482 silver vans – clearly white vans are still the most popular neutral colour. Add to this the increase in the number of vans about in general – van registrations saw a 1.8% reach this June - there are clearly a number of white vans on the roads. If the majority were aggressive drivers, the roads would be in absolute chaos! With many small businesses using white vans to car...

The other night, at a crucial point in my tv programme, the screen went black and the lights went out. At the same time wind howled through the chimney. Clearly, the season of inclement weather is upon us and unfortunately, it’s looking wilder than ever. So although the last thing on my mind last night was getting in the car and going for a drive, sometimes you’ve just got to. Or maybe you’re already on a long journey and the weather suddenly turns. So this week, here’s my top five tips on how to drive safely in windy weather… Be informed As far as possible, check reports before you leave the house. Is there a massive traffic jam due to a road closure somewhere? Or is there a route you could take that would avoid going over a bridge or exposed area? Hang tight It sounds obvious but make sure that you have both hands firmly on the steering wheel - now is not the time to have one hand fishing about in a packet of crisps. Keep your space To keep yourself and others around you as safe as p...

Just as we’re getting our heads around the fact that driverless cars aren’t an invention from Back to the Future, it seems that Ford has found a way to turn windscreens into 50-inch movie screens as part of its ‘autonomous vehicle entertainment system’. Yes, that means that at some point in the future we could be watching Game of Thrones while not driving down the M4. And this could be just the tip of the iceberg… The fact that it’s even being considered shows just how much our lives could change - remember how phones were once trapped in homes and now we’re trapped to them? The days of getting into our cars, turning the radio on and going from A to B may be dwindling. So if you also relish the time-out feeling of being in a car in your own bubble, then brace for a potential pop. Because apart from cars becoming the new living room, augmented reality could also see huge billboards outside your car displaying a targeted advert just for you. It could be easier to find out more about you ...

I love festivals. I love the music, the vibe and … the food. This didn’t used to be the case, back when festival food meant soggy chips and dubious burgers, but these days it’s all world food and wood fired pizzas. And most of it comes out the side of a van. In fact if you’ve ever been thinking about setting up business out of the van than the time is ripe - jump onto the bandwagon. You never know where it may take you. Heard of Baz & Fred? They set up a pizza business with a single mobile catering van and now, just five years later, they have a network of vans cruising across the country. This year the pizza gurus will cook pizza at more than 200 weddings. I guess the marketplace has changed – people want something different and original. Street food is a return to big flavours and charmingly hap hazard presentation. And there are an ever increasing number of opportunities to try it –festivals, country shows, street food collections… You’ll need to do a fair bit of research first ...

I tend to think of driving in winter as a constant battle with rain, snow and misted windscreens. Driving in summer on the other hand, conjures up imagines of open top vintage cars with the wind in your hair and a new adventure every day. Like most things, the reality is a little different, with summer driving throwing up just as many risks as winter driving – the difference is that we’re probably a little less prepared for them. So let’s for the moment put aside the fact that in the UK we can get winter weather in ‘summer’ and look at the top things that you can be aware of to make your summer driving safe and sunny. Healthy tyres The higher temperatures that we get in summer can cause tyres which are damaged or set at the wrong pressure to blowout. So make sure that you’ve checked the condition of your tyres recently. And remember that if you load up your vehicle to take it on a holiday somewhere, check that the pressure of the tyres suit the extra load that you are carrying. Sun gla...