Wednesday, November 6, 2013

The Hassle of Trying to Get Your Van Back on the Road Without the Backup of a Good Mechanic

A van can be the most expensive purchase that you are ever going to make, after your home. So, the thought of that vehicle encountering an accident or undergoing any damage might understandably give you nightmares. And, if that nightmare ever comes true, you are going to have quite a hassle getting it fixed. But, you need to overcome this hassle, and so does your precious van.More than often, a van is a valuable business tool and a van accident or a van breakdown can mean loss of business days - and hence loss of earnings. Therefore, it is imperative to have the van repaired as soon as possible so that it can be back on the road and back to business. The process of repairing the van and making it fit for the run is troublesome. It is unbelievably hard to find a good repairing workshop with efficient mechanics. And, the necessary process of contacting the insurance office and fulfilling all the formalities so that the claim is favourably settled, is also a huge worry that weighs on the van owner's mind. It is a hassle as it is time-consuming and troublesome.But, at the end of the day, insurance is a boon. It is a cushion to fall back upon, as it will compensate the van owner financially for the repairing costs and other damages, if and when the claim is settled. The cushion has its own costs though. Many are apprehensive about getting van insurance, under the impression that it is a very costly affair. Firstly, they tend to forget that they cannot drive an uninsured van on the road. Secondly, they also forget that it is the insurance that will let them get their van back on the road without creating a big hole in their pockets, should anything occur to it. Moreover, van insurance is often not as expensive as it is thought to be.Cheap Van InsuranceWhile looking for a cheap van insurance policy, van owners are often tempted to cut costs by going for only the basic cover. In this way they underinsure their vehicle, and thus have to bear the majority of the expenses at the time of a breakdown or accident.This may not be the case if the van owner searches for companies that provide a considerably good coverage at a reasonably cheaper price. There are many such insurance providers today, who offer competitive rates by way of various discounts and concessions. They do not compromise on the quality of the coverage though.Good MechanicA mechanic plays practically the most important role in getting your van back on the road. He is the one who is making all the replacements and repairs, and thus the quality of materials provided by him and the sincerity of his work determine how well and how fast your van is being mended.But he plays a far more important role when the insurance claim comes into play. Mechanics and workshops often engage in dishonest and unethical practices of doing unnecessary replacements and necessary ones with unnecessarily expensive materials. This increases the bill exorbitantly, and thus the van holds a bad record with the insurance company. Sometimes, a van requires only a minor repair, which costs so small an amount that the van owner would get ready to get it done without lodging a claim. But, a dishonest mechanic often misleads the van owner or driver and deliberately blows up the costs. This leads the van owner to lodge an insurance claim, which otherwise he would not have done, and thus absolutely unnecessarily nullifies his no claims bonus, if any, and spoils the claim history of the van.Thus a good honest mechanic and a good insurance coverage are absolutely essential to get a damaged van back on the road. If you are hoping to get your van back on the road without the back ups of a good mechanic and a reliable insurance company, you are in for some major hassles and expenses.