Insuring a Minibus
If you own a minibus then it’s essential that you protect it with the right type of insurance policy. Although you can drive a minibus for non-commercial with a regular driving licence, More »
A Guide to Motor Trade Insurance
Any motor trade business in the UK needs to have the right type of insurance. Below is a guide to the different types of traders insurance you can get as well as More »
Is a Thatched Roof Property Suitable If You Have a Disability?
Thatched roof properties have a unique style and character that’s impossible to replicate and are often located in very desirable areas, which is why so many people dream of owning one. If More »
Taxi Accessibility Explained
Getting a taxi is something that most people take for granted. However if you or somebody you know has a disability that means you require special accessibility measures to use a taxi or More »
Common Challenges Disabled Motorists Face
Disability brings with it a lot of challenges, not least of which is driving. There are many common challenges that disabled people face on the roads every day. Below are some of More »
Insuring a Minibus
If you own a minibus then it’s essential that you protect it with the right type of insurance policy.
Although you can drive a minibus for non-commercial with a regular driving licence, you’ll need to get a special type of cover for it since there are different risks involved with larger vehicles.
Below are the types of minibus insurance you can get as well as some great ways to save money.
Types of cover
- Third party – Third party insurance is the lowest level of cover you can get for a minibus. It will provide cover for other road users if you’re involved in a crash and to blame for it. If you want to get some more protection for your own vehicle then you can add fire and theft to a third party policy.
- Comprehensive – Comprehensive insurance will provide full protection for your minibus and will cover you even for accidents where you’re to blame. Fire and theft is also included.
- Public liability – If you’re using your minibus for commercial purposes then you’ll need to get public liability insurance included in your policy. This will ensure that you’re protected in the event of a passenger or a member of public making a claim against you for dangerous driving or any other reason.
- Breakdown assistance – If you don’t have breakdown assistance in place already then you can usually get it added as part of a minibus insurance policy. You might even be able to save money by doing this.
Saving money
Below are some great ways to save money on minibus insurance –
- Get a lot of quotes – One of the best ways to save money on minibus insurance is by getting quotes from many providers. This way you can easily compare them and chose the policy that offers the best value. You can get minibus insurance quotes very easily from sites such as –https://www.cleangreencars.co.uk/minibus-insurance/
- Park securely – Another way to keep the cost of minibus insurance is to park securely. If you have a driveway or locked garage then this would be ideal and will certainly mean you’ll pay less compared to parking on the street.
- Pay annually – Another way to save money on your minibus cover that a lot of people don’t consider is by paying annually. While it’s true that you’ll need to pay significantly more upfront doing this, the upside is that most insurance providers will give you a good discount for paying in this way.
Is a Thatched Roof Property Suitable If You Have a Disability?
Thatched roof properties have a unique style and character that’s impossible to replicate and are often located in very desirable areas, which is why so many people dream of owning one.
If you’re considering buying a thatched roof property and have a disability then you might be worried that it won’t be suitable.
Below are some of the main things to consider with a thatched roof property –
Accessibility
If you have a disability that limits your movement then accessibility is going to be an obvious concern. There are a lot of thatched roof properties that are bungalows, which of course removes the worry of getting up and down the stairs. Most properties are also easily accessible via the front or back door so there isn’t anything in particular that would pose a concern compared to a regular property.
There are also steps you can take to improve accessibility, such as getting bifold blinds rather than curtains. If you suitable doors, then it’s also important to pick the right bifold door blinds.
Roof maintenance
If you have a thatched roof property then you’d need to make sure the roof is properly maintained. Although the roof itself will last a long time, it will need to be inspected/repaired every 8-10 years. For this reason it’s important to find out when the roof was last inspected when purchasing a thatched property.
Is the property listed?
There are some thatched roof properties that are listed buildings. A listed building is one that is considered to be of significant historical or cultural value. The reason it’s important to know if a property you’re considering is listed is because it will affect whether you’re able to have any structural work carried out on it. If you wanted to have work carried out that would affect the exterior appearance or structure of the property then you’d need to obtain permission from the local council.
Getting the right type of insurance
When you have a thatched roof property, you’ll need to get the right type of insurance. Regular home insurance usually isn’t suitable due to the cost and expertise required to repair/replace a thatched roof. Because of this you’ll want to get quotes from a site such as Thatchedinsure.co.uk Thatch roof home insurance.
Chimney cleaning
Having the chimney cleaned regularly is vital when you have a thatched roof property. One of the biggest hazards of owning a thatched roof home is the risk of fire. If a fire were to break out due to to a poorly cleaned chimney then it can spread extremely quickly and cause total damage.
Getting a Car As a Disabled Person
Choosing the right vehicle
When you have a disability it’s extremely important to get a vehicle that’s suitable for your needs. How much your car needs to be adapted will depend on the extent of your disability. In some cases, simply being a car with automatic transmission is enough since they’re much easier to drive and frees up your left hand from constantly changing gears.
If your disability is more severe then you might have to have your vehicle extensively adapted, including things like hand controls for operating the vehicle and having the pedals shifted to suit your needs.
Of course not all disabilities require you to have a car adapted or even purchasing a particular type of vehicle. There are disabilities that don’t manifest themselves physically to a point where it would impair your ability to drive a regular car.
motability scheme
The main organization that provides vehicles for disabled drivers is The Motability Scheme. If you receive financial support for your disability then you can use it to lease or purchase a vehicle from Motability. Motability provide a range of cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs.
There are certain criteria you must meet in order to be eligible to get a vehicle from Motability.
You are also able to get a Motability vehicle and pick somebody else to drive it for you, as well as being able to claim a vehicle for your child.
Getting a vehicle through the Motability Scheme comes with some fairly substantial benefits. These include –
- Vehicle insurance (convicted drivers such as drug driving insurance may cost more) of is included as standard, including tyre/windscreen replacement cover
- Breakdown cover is also included
- Vehicle tax is already paid for
Car Tax
If you have a disability and choose to get a vehicle outside of the Motability Scheme then there’s a possibility that you won’t have to pay car tax on it.
Check out this page for information on how to apply for free vehicle tax or to renew your current vehicle tax exemption.
A Guide to Motor Trade Insurance
Any motor trade business in the UK needs to have the right type of insurance. Below is a guide to the different types of traders insurance you can get as well as some ways to save money.
Types of cover
- Road risks – Road risks is a very important type of cover for motor trade businesses. No matter what type of business you run, you’ll need to be dealing with different vehicles all the time, whether you’re fixing them, modifying them or buying and selling. You need to be covered for any unforeseen accidents that might occur and this is what road risk insurance is for.
- Liability claims – Liability claims are a considerable risk for business owners so it’s always essential that you have cover for them. The two forms of liability insurance you’ll typically find in a UK motor traders insurance policy are public liability insurance and employers’ liability insurance.
- Legal expenses – Having liability cover in your policy isn’t always enough. Not all liability claims are legitimate and in the event you need to fight one in court, you want to be sure you can afford the legal expenses. This is why many motor trade business owners choose to get this included in their policy.
- Combined motor trade insurance – A combined motor trade insurance policy providers a comprehensive type of cover for motor trade businesses. It include cover for road risks, liability claims, premises, tools, stock and cash.
How to save money
Below are some great ways to save money on motor trade insurance
- Get a lot of quotes – Getting quotes from many different insurance providers is a great way to save money on traders insurance since it will allow you to make an informed decision when taking out a policy.Luckily it’s now incredibly easy to get motor trade insurance quotes by using a site such as traders-insurance.com traders insurance cover service.
- Make premises secure – Another step you can take to reduce the cost of motor trade insurance is to make your premises secure. This means having good locks on doors and windows, having perimeter control measures and using security lighting and CCTV cameras. You might also consider installing blinds in your office to reduce the chance of theft and improve privacy. You can get blinds for bi fold doors as well as traditional wooden blinds for windows – both of which help to improve privacy.
- Pay upfront – Paying for a motor trade policy upfront is an often overlooked way to save money on traders insurance. Although a lot of business owners opt to pay monthly to help spread the cost, you can save a good deal of money by paying annually.
Taxi Accessibility Explained
Getting a taxi is something that most people take for granted. However if you or somebody you know has a disability that means you require special accessibility measures to use a taxi or minicab then it’s useful to know what your rights are when it comes to taxi accessibility.
The laws regarding taxi accessibility tend to vary depending on which part of the country you’re in and whether or not you live in a major city. In most major cities, any licensed taxis must have wheelchair accessibility.
In London, all black cabs are wheelchair accessible. In addition to this, many new cabs also come with an intercom so the driver is better able to communicate with hearing aid users.
Of all the methods of transport available if you’re disabled, a taxi is the most convenient so it’s reassuring to know that in most cases, you’ll be able to order a taxi or minicab that comes with wheelchair access.
What if you have an assistance dog?
If you have an assistance dog then it shouldn’t be a problem for it to enter the taxi. The only real exception to this is if the driver has an exemption certificate, for example if they’re allergic to dogs.
If you’re calling for a private hire taxi then you should always mention that you have an assistance dog so they can ensure that a driver who accepts them is sent to you. If you’re looking for a taxi on the street then you should look for an exemption certificate, which should be clearly displayed on their vehicle windscreen.
It’s worth knowing that under no circumstances should you be charged extra for travelling with an assistance dog and trying to do so can result in a heavy fine for taxi drivers.
Although you’re entitled to travel in a taxi with an assistance dog, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the dog is clearly identifiable as an assistance dog or that you have the correct documentation with you. Many taxi drivers may not insist on this but it helps to avoid any problems.
Another thing you must ensure when travelling in a taxi with an assistance dog is that it remains on the floor at all times and doesn’t cause any damage to the vehicle. If any damage were to occur then the taxi driver or taxi firm could ask you to pay for it.
Common Challenges Disabled Motorists Face
Disability brings with it a lot of challenges, not least of which is driving.
There are many common challenges that disabled people face on the roads every day. Below are some of the most common.
Disabled spaces
The Blue Badge Scheme helps disabled drivers in a number of ways, with the most obvious being access to disabled parking spaces. Depending on the severity of the disability a person has, if they’re unable to find a disabled spot then they might not be able to carry out the task they left the house for.
Unfortunately there are people who will park in a disabled space even if they don’t have a disability. Even those that are able to produce a blue badge are sometimes not genuine. For example they might have a badge that’s stolen or fake; or they could be using the badge of friend or relative.
This type of abuse of the Blue Badge Scheme can make the life of genuinely disabled people much more difficult.
Refueling
Refueling can be another challenge that comes with being a disabled driver. For those who have a disability that means they require assistance with refueling, this can often be a challenge, especially for smaller petrol stations that might only have 1 or 2 people working there. A lot of petrol stations don’t have any clear instructions on how a disabled person should get the attention of a staff member either.
Getting insurance
Getting insurance at a reasonable price can be an issue for disabled drivers too. Unfortunately a lot of insurance providers instantly make the assumption that those with modified vehicles are more likely to be involved in accidents that require a claim.
There are a couple of ways to get round this problem though –
- Shop around – One of the best ways to avoid overpaying for car insurance is to shop around. Thankfully it’s very easy to get private hire vehicle insurance quotes now due to the number of insurance comparison services out there who can also offer monthly instalments. By getting a lot of quotes it ensures that buyers can make an informed decision when it comes to their insurance.
- Motability scheme – The Motability scheme allows people with a disability to lease a car where the tax, insurance and servicing is already taken care of. This is obviously a big advantage and the wide selection of vehicles available on the scheme means it’s suitable for a wide variety of people.
A Guide to the Blue Badge Scheme
The Blue Badge scheme provides disabled motorists with a number of concessions throughout the UK. These are mostly related to parking but also include things like tax exemption and exemption from being clamped on public roads.
Parking concessions
One of the main parking concessions that Blue Badge holders benefit from is the ability to legally park in disabled spaces. Disabled parking spaces are extremely common in the UK and are found in a wide range of places, from football stadiums and arenas to supermarkets and shopping centres.
The other major parking concession for Blue Badge holders is the ability to park on roads with single or double yellow lines. In England and Wales, Blue Badge drivers can park on roads with yellow lines for up to 3 hours; there is no time limit for parking on such roads in Scotland.
On roads where there are parking meters or pay and display machines present, Blue Badge holders can park for as long as necessary. The exception to this is when there is a notice stating that there are specific time limits for Blue Badge holders. In such cases it’s necessary to display both your Blue Badge and a parking disc to show what time you arrived.
Additional concessions
Below are some of the additional concessions that Blue Badge holders can benefit from.
- Road tax – In the majority of cases, if you hold a Blue Badge then you will not have to pay road tax. Even if you don’t currently hold a blue badge but have a disability then you might be eligible for tax exemption.
- Insurance – disability cannot be used as a rating factor for all types of of insurance including
- taxi private hire insurance and other uses
- motor trade insurance cover including road risks
- fleet insurance policy – all types of fleet
- Tolls – If you’re a disabled driver then you might be exempt from having to pay the full fare at toll crossings in the UK. Visit https://www.gov.uk/toll-concessions for full details.
- Wheel clamping – Providing your vehicle is displaying a valid Blue Badge, it cannot be legally clamped on public land.