They do say that getting married or experiencing a death in the family are two of life’s most stressful episodes. For many people, trumping even these events in the stress stakes is the trauma of moving house. ot only are you entrusting your valued and often treasured possessions to complete strangers but you’re also putting your hands in your pocket and shelling out for insurance premiums, costs of storage etc, none of which seem to make a difference when the antique china still winds up at the new address in pieces.
That’s why so many people seem to prefer DIY removals, hiring a van or MPV to shift their more breakable and valuable possessions so they can give the sort of care and attention these family heirlooms deserve. Van hire rates are on a par with removals quotes and if breakages do occur, there’s no-one else but yourself to blame. The upsurge in popularity and availability of short term van insurance has made a cheaper version of DIY removals possible: approaching a mate with a van or a large estate car capable of transporting your worldly possessions to ask if you can borrow their motor.
One day car insurance is very desirable in these circumstances and can be remarkably good value for money. Not only will it reassure your pal that their motor is covered (thus making it more likely that they’ll agree to lend it to you in the first place) and if you’re towing a trailer for example, some packages will cover the contents as well as the vehicle. Taking out 1 day car insurance or van insurance also means you can use the borrowed vehicle without risking any existing no-claims discounts you may have on your own insurance policy. Of course, it would still be desirable to offer at least petrol money or a meal and perhaps several promised pints in exchange for the favour borrowing the car or van, so there are some additional costs associated with the “borrow a mate’s wheels” approach. Taking out temporary insurance is also a good additional safeguard rather than simply relying on whatever bundled insurance protection may be on offer when hiring a car or van.