Insurance for lorries
It may seem like the obvious priority to get your lorry insured but there are many individuals and companies that flout this obligation. It doesn't matter if you own a cement mixer, tipper truck, classic lorry, skip wagon or any other type of lorry, insurance is still very important.
There have been reports that organised crime gangs are targeting lorries for insurance fraud. They pick a lorry and have deliberate accident causing thousands of pounds of damage to their vehicle and also claiming compensation. As we all know lorry drivers bear the brunt of frustration when it comes to driving. They do not signal in time and sometimes pull out in front of you giving you little time to react. Many people target this because in most cases the lorry driver will lose his case if it goes to court and it's even worse for foreign drivers who drive on the left.
Just like car insurance, if you make a claim for lorry insurance, your premiums can increase dramatically. Unfortunately the only thing you could to do lower the insurance for your lorry is to have a higher excess rather than a low minimum figure. Depending on how frequent a lorry is used and what kind of work it does, the cost of lorry insurance will vary.
Lorry drivers need to have a separate licence to enable them to drive heavy goods vehicles as a standard driver's licence does not cover this. It may seem obvious but it is also the responsibility of the company to make sure lorry drivers are qualified to do so. If a lorry was to be involved in an accident and the driver did not have a licence to drive the lorry, the insurers will not pay out and the owner of the lorry will be liable to do so. The lorry driver could also receive a court summons or fine for driving without a licence.
Is lorry insurance worth it?
Yes it is worth it and it is also illegal to drive a lorry without adequate insurance in place. It will not only protect you in case of an accident but also others who try to falsify claims by staging accidents. Lorry parts are also highly sought after due to how expensive new parts are, so there are thieves that also target just lorries. Lorries can also be targeted for the goods that are being transported and there have been many claims due to this also.