Many companies use a van or indeed a fleet of vans for their business and for some, these vehicles are the most important tool for their service. So it’s worth knowing there are several new changes and updates to be aware of when choosing these types of vehicle.
Safety and reliability are huge factors to consider, not only for the obvious reasons, but to help keep overall running costs down. In fact, choosing a safer van will help keep your insurance costs down too. Your van insurance provider will be able to help you establish the safety of your vehicles and provide a quote.
However, it’s worth doing your own research on the options available before you invest. There is quite a bit of useful information out there. For instance, recently the UK’s fifty largest contract vehicle hire companies were surveyed about various models of van, and the results were used to produce a list of the top ten most reliable vans of 2010. This information is valuable for anyone looking for a safe van that they can rely on for their business.
The top ten safest vans of 2010 are as follows.
1. Ford Transit
2. Mercedes Sprinter
3. Ford Transit Connect
4. Citroen Berlingo
6. Vauxhall Combo
7. Nissan Navara
8. Vauxhall Vivaro
9. VW Caddy
10. VW Transporter
These are all great manufacturers and any of these models will be an excellent choice, although various features will differ so it’s worth considering which will be best for your particular requirements. This is something you might also want to speak to your insurance company about as it may make a difference on what policy you get.
Another thing to consider is the value of purchasing a van which is speed-limited. There has been much support for this from a member of the European Parliament, Martin Callanan, who believes that all light use vans should be designed to go no faster than 75mph. This speed-limiting concept relates largely to the level of CO2 emissions created by these types of vehicles, yet there are many other benefits to this change as well. Plenty of companies who use vans are supportive of speed-limiting as it helps prevent their contractors from exceeding the speed limit and being left with hefty speed fines. Lower fuel consumption is another reason companies are getting on board and law may be introduced across the EU by 2015. The environment committee is currently discussing the implementation of a penalty for van manufacturers whose vehicles are not meeting the agreed levels Co2 output.
As more businesses and van-owners make informed choices when purchasing their vans, we can expect a move towards safer, greener vehicles. Lower fuel consumption and less Co2 emissions are just two of the benefits of this; lower costs for your company and safer, more reliable vehicles are two more. Which just goes to show how valuable it is to do your research before you buy.
