According to a recent insurance survey nine out of ten households in the UK were found to have under-insured their home contents. At an average of at least £10,000 per household, this leads to a national figure in the region of £250 billion pounds worth of un-insured household possessions.

Out of those living alone over 30% had failed to buy any house contents insurance at all. It appears that households with single occupants are therefore at greater risk of suffering a financial shortfall in the event of a robbery or damage.

The majority of these single homeowners are high earners with disposable incomes. They predominantly spend their extra cash on gadgets, expensive clothing and entertainment systems. All of these are costly to replace and attractive to burglars.

As more people marry later in life and the rate of divorce increases, more people live alone. The survey revealed that many of the single homeowners surveyed did not realise the total worth of their home's contents and so had failed to insure their possessions with a reliable home insurance policy.

The value of contents in the average home is in the region of £30,000 to £40,000, yet too many people get buildings insurance only, as this is insisted upon by mortgage providers. Unfortunately, UK burglary statistics also outweigh the risks of damage from a fire or flood.

It is important to have adequate home contents insurance as well as insurance that covers the house, as a financial hit on either can have long running effects on homeowners’ financial wellbeing. 

Driving in London in a van can be a tricky business in itself but it now also comes at a price following the introduction of the congestion charge in 2003. Whether you’re a London van driver looking to refresh your knowledge or a regional van driver heading into the big smoke wanting to familiarise yourself with how the charge will affect you then this overview of the congestion charge should come in handy.

How does it work?

Cameras read the number plates of vehicles entering, driving within and exiting the congestion charge area and are checked against the database. If you haven’t paid, the registered vehicle keeper will receive a penalty charge notice. Failure to pay the penalty charge could result in further enforcement action being taken.

The congestion charge applies to vehicles driven within the charging zone during designated charging times.

The charge applies to areas within Central London as shown here: www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/congestioncharge/whereandwhen/assets/DetailMapECCZ.pdf

The standard congestion charge varies depending on when you pay. Visit the　TFL　website for latest charges.

As highlighted below, discounts and exemptions are also applicable in certain circumstances.

Eligible residents will receive a 90% discount. You will need to register to qualify.

The following will receive a 100% discount. You will need to register to qualify.

The following vehicles are exempt and you are not required to register to qualify.

Reductions may be available for those who wish to pay the congestion charge in advance and for fleets of vehicles.

If your future travel plans change after you have paid the congestion charge, then you can apply for a refund. You won’t, however, be able to claim a refund for unused days in the past or single or weekly pre-payments.

Charging times

0700–1800 Monday to Friday.

Non-charging times and days

You can pay for the congestion charge up to 90 days in advance. There are various ways in which you can do this such as online, by post, by text message, over the phone, via an automated telephone service and in designated shops.

To find out more information about cheap van insurance and news on congestion charges visit http://www.directline.com.

If you’re out in your van day in, day out then driving is probably second nature to you by now. But it’s vital that as you go about your daily business you remain alert to the road, its conditions and other users.

According to　Think! Road Safety　around 200 road deaths and serious injuries each week involve someone driving for work so it’s essential that whatever else is going on in your life is put to one side so you can focus on the job in hand – driving safely. The repercussions for driving badly are costly – lost lives and livelihoods, prosecutions and increased　van insurance　premiums to name but a few.

Believe it or not, speeding laws aren’t designed to make you late for your next job. They’re there to protect drivers and other road users. According to RCGB (Road Casualties Great Britain) (2008) ‘Speed is still one of the biggest contributory factors in fatal road accidents. In 2008, 4,685 people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) in crashes where a speed contributory factor was reported; 586 of these were fatalities.’

By breaking speed limits you’re also risking fines, penalty points, a potential driving ban, other driving-related prosecutions and increased　van insurance　premiums.

　!　The national speed limits for vans are different from those for cars, depending on the road you are on.*

　*An exception to this is car-derived vans that are goods vehicles developed from a passenger vehicle and have a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of no more than 2,000 kg.

Remember, the speed limit is designed as a maximum. Other factors such as the weather, the road surface and other road users will affect the speed at which it is safe for you to drive. Also, just because you’re driving within the speed limit it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re driving safely for the traffic you’re in. Driving too slowly could also be hazardous.

Weather, road surface and road layout all affect the speed at which it is safe for you to drive. Swot up on your　Highway Code　for all you need to know about signs, stopping distances and hazards.

Other factors affect the safety of your driving. For information about mobile phones, tiredness, drink and drugs, maps, cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and horses see our article on　Road Safety: Distractions.

If you’re an iPhone user and insured with Direct Line then should the worst happen you can kick-start your claim by using our latest free　On the Road app.

It’s also important to remember that if you’re found guilty of a speed-related or other driving-related offence then you must report this to your insurer. Failure to do so could invalidate your insurance.

Driving within the speed limits and being alert to what’s going on around you should go some way to keeping you safe on the road as you go about your day-to-day business.

Direct line provides cheap van insurance, including cover for commercial use. Visit Direct Line for an instant quote now.