The winner of the inaugural, reader-voted, Insurance Company of the Year Award is Adrian Flux.
The firm is the UK’s largest specialist motor insurance broker, and an area it covers that is of crucial relevance is multi-drop delivery work.
Small businesses can feel as though they are being hit with legislation at every turn, and even something that should be relatively simple, such as insurance, can prove complex if the vehicle is being used for frequent deliveries.
Many operators may be unaware that most small commercial van insurance schemes only cover three to five delivery drops per day, so it’s easy to run foul of the policy limits during busy periods.
In the worst-case scenario, owners could find the vehicle is not covered and so delivery promises can’t be honoured. No company can afford to let down its customers in this way.
“Many insurance companies are cautious when it comes to offering cover on vans for busy small businesses. They seem to think that frequent stops and starts during delivery runs equate to higher risk,” says a spokeswoman for Adrian Flux.
“But we’ve looked at the stats and it’s not such a straightforward link. There are many other factors at work such as driver experience, make of van, type of business and time of day. By taking these into account we’ve been able to customise a policy especially for these vehicles.”
The multiple-drop insurance scheme is designed to provide peace of mind for small businesses that undertake regular deliveries – it offers cover irrespective of the number of drops per day. By tailoring the policy to the individual business Adrian Flux claims it can offer SMEs multi-delivery insurance at an affordable price.
To discuss their requirements small-sized van operators can contact underwriters specially trained in commercial vehicle insurance. They will calculate the risk, based on the client’s specific needs, and offer suggestions on how to reduce premiums while still retaining the maximum cover.
As an insurance broker Adrian Flux is able to focus on a wide range of LCV insurance types and works with insurers to create schemes tailored for a variety of customers, including a sole trader with a single van, a company running a fleet of commercial vehicles or even a private van owner.
As well as standard panel van insurance, Adrian Flux can offer cover for pick-up trucks, including for grey imports and modified pick-ups, American left-hand drive imports, conversions and tippers, refrigerated vans, short terms from one day to six months, and competitive insurance for drivers with previous convictions.
Highly Commended: Brightside Insurance
The runner-up in our new reader-voted category is Brightside Insurance, which has been around for 16 years. As well as Brightside, its brands include Commercial Vehicle Direct, One Insurance Solution, ProSport Insurance and AXA Specialist Risks.
Brightside prides itself on providing insurance to a wide range of businesses, from those selling refreshments out of the side of a catering van to removal van companies. It caters for self-employed tradespeople and specialises in sourcing insurance cover for those who may be classed as high risk, such as individuals with previous motoring convictions or even customers who have criminal convictions and are looking to get back into work.
Brightside Insurance has a panel of insurers that it claims can offer bespoke insurance products, regardless of customers’ individual circumstances, without expecting them to pay over the odds.