Dec
General News
Top Tips for First Time Van Drivers
Our Top Tips for First Time Van Drivers
Whether it is your first time driving a van or you just have not driven a van in a long time, it can be difficult to adjust to a new vehicle. While driving a van for the first time might feel strange, the physical act of driving a van is not much different to driving a car. The pedals, the gear stick and the steering wheel are usually in the same place as a car. However, there are some things you need to be aware of when driving a van. Here are some of Insure My Van’s top tips for first time van drivers!
Know the height & width of your van
Vans are manufactured in a range of different shapes and sizes these days. The time it will take to adjust to driving a van normally depends on the size of the van you are driving. If you are driving a smaller van, such as a Nissan e-NV200 van, it is unlikely that you will find it difficult to adjust as it’s not much bigger in size than a car. However, if you are driving a larger van, such as a Ford Transit High Roof, you will need to make some changes to your driving, like taking corners a bit wider and slower. Finding a parking space for a larger van can also be more time-consuming as you will need to search for larger parking spaces, and you will need to allow extra time for precision when parking.
Whether you are driving a small van or a large van, it is important to find out the dimensions of the vehicle so you know how much space will be required on roads. The height of the vehicle is another key factor to make yourself aware of sooner rather than later. You do not want to discover the roof of your van is higher than you realized when driving under a bridge or entering a car park with a height restriction!
Driving a loaded van vs driving an unloaded van
A van is designed to be able to carry a heavy load safely. However, often drivers do not realize how different it can feel to drive a loaded vehicle in comparison to an unloaded vehicle. If you are driving a van with a heavy load, you might notice that the vehicle feels more secure on the road. On the other hand, if you are driving a van with a small load, it is likely that the vehicle will seem more unsteady. This is because the suspension of a van is designed to become more rigid with a heavier load. Although a heavier load makes the van steadier, we recommend avoiding potholes if your van is under a heavy load as you will hit them harder, and it could cause damage to the van.
Get the right van insurance
It is essential to find the right van insurance policy for your specific needs, whether you’re a first time driver or an older experienced driver. Getting the best value van insurance on the market does not necessarily mean the cheapest insurance. Cutting corners on insurance costs is never a promising idea if it means you must forego on the cover that you need. At Insure My Van, we cut prices so that we can provide you with cheap van insurance, but we do not cut back on quality or benefits! Get your van insured with the right level of cover for the task you need it to do.
It is perfectly reasonable to feel nervous about getting behind the wheel of a van for the first time but take solace in the fact that you are protected with Insure My Van if you decide to choose us for your van insurance.
Looking for ways to get the best value van insurance? Read our tips here: ‘How to get the best value van insurance’
If it’s not van, but regular car insurance you’re after, read here more about cheap car insurance for first time drivers over 25 in Ireland and the best cars for first time drivers in Ireland.
