While tradespeople seem reluctant to insure their tools, they’re not against insuring the value of their vehicles. GAP insurance was taken on by just 55% of van drivers.
Tom Roberts, LCV specialist at Vanarama, says, “These low figures of tool insurance uptake paints a concerning picture for tradespeople. Our internal data suggests that van drivers are happy to protect the overall cost of a van, but few worry about investing in protecting their tools – the very items they need to keep working.”
To help tradespeople stay safe this season, Vanarama have shared five tips that you can take on to decrease the chance of a break-in.
- Where you go, your tools go – it’s simple, if you’ve got expensive tools in your van, don’t leave them unattended overnight, take them with you. It may be easier said than done, but removing tools overnight is a major deterrent to potential tool thieves.
- Park your van in safe locations – parking can be a pain, but having your tools stolen is a nightmare, so make sure you give where you park a second thought. Don’t park in an unlit area that doesn’t have any CCTV cameras in sight. If you can, park the rear doors of your van close to a wall to make it difficult for thieves to get at large objects, such as ladders.
- Keep an inventory so you know if anything is missing – for your own peace of mind, as much for insurance purposes, keep a list of everything in your van along with photos. It’s easier to spot a theft or missing item quickly when you know what should be there. You can even make tools easier to identify if lost by marking your initials on them with a UV pen.
- Darken your windows – if your van has rear windows, it’s easy for thieves to see the contents of your van. Darkening your rear windows will reduce the risk of your van being broken into, meaning anything that is left in your van won’t be on view to thieves.
- Hide valuables – Like you would in a car, ensure any sat navs or gadgets are hidden before leaving the vehicle. Thieves will break in for much less value than a box of tools and removing any valuables in plain sight can reduce the chance of break-in.