Should you sign write your van?

Are you thinking about buying a new van for your business? Maybe you’re just about to launch a new company and need a new set of wheels. Or you might simply be in the market for an upgrade, as your current van is starting to become a little unreliable.
 
Whatever your reason, and whatever van you end up with, you’ll need to take out van insurance before you can start doing business. If you’re after great cover for a competitive price, look no further than Insurance Factory – we compare van insurance quotes from our panel of specialist providers to find you the perfect policy.
 
Van insurance arranged through Insurance Factory will be tailored to meet the needs of you and your business. We can provide policies for a range of professions, such as courier businesses, scrap dealers and fragile and hazardous goods transportation. Even if you don’t work in one of these areas, we’d be happy to chat through your requirements to see what we can do.
 

Sign writing for your van

With your company van, you’ll need to decide whether or not to have your company’s name written on it – known as signwriting.
 
Having your company name, logo and possibly some graphics printed on the back and sides of your van can be a great way to promote your business – especially if you’re a new business eager to get your name out there.
 
Essentially, it’s business marketing on wheels! Just think how many people could potentially spot your company-branded van as you drive around, to and from customers’ homes or even at the weekend. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons in more detail.
 

The pros

Cheap marketing

Compared to other types of marketing, getting signwriting on your van works out to be relatively inexpensive. A Big Van World blog explains that the exact cost will depend on things like the size of your van and the type of design you want, but it averages at around £300 + VAT. Over the course of three years, that works out at a little over £2 per week. Bargain!
 
If you work in a city, it’s thought that your van will be seen by around 3,000 people every single year. So, that’s literally thousands of people who’ll be exposed to your company name and logo – for just 0.33p per day.
 

Your contact details are always on show

Having your contact details on show all the time means you can pick up valuable leads without actually doing any work. Some van drivers report getting work from their customers’ neighbours simply because they’ve seen the van parked on their driveway.
 

Look professional

There’s no doubt about it: a sign-written van looks more professional than a blank one. It can help instil confidence in customers and prospects, proving to them that you’re a legitimate business and someone who takes pride in their work.
 

The cons

Increased risk of theft

This is perhaps the only disadvantage of having sign writing on your van. Big Van World explains that advertising the type of business you own means you give away the contents you could be storing inside, potentially making your van more desirable to thieves.
 
But on the flipside, most thieves are opportunistic and will target a van whether it’s branded with a company name or not.
 

Potential insurance increase

Due to the increased risk of break-ins on signwritten vans, some insurance providers might increase your premium. But you can be sure you’re getting a great deal on van insurance by using Insurance Factory, as we’ll compare quotes from a range of providers to find you the best, most-competitively priced policy.
 
Just remember, if you’re getting a van that’s already signwritten, you’ll need to inform your insurance provider as it’s technically a modification. They may increase or drop your premium as a result.
 

Types of signwriting

If you’ve decided to go ahead and get your van signwritten, you’ve got three main options, which are:
 
  • Magnetic signs, which are non-permanent and can be removed whenever you like. They can cut the risk of theft, but there is the risk they could fall off, especially when you’re driving at speed.
  • Stencil signs utilise a special printer and vinyl to create the sign. Once printed, the sign can be applied to both sides of the van. If you want to share the same information and graphics on all panels, this is the best (and cheapest) option.
  • Wrapping uses vinyl to quite literally wrap your entire van, for a more holistic design. Many big companies use this, and it can cost thousands of pounds.
 
And finally, some top tips…
 
  • Make sure you choose a reputable company offering signwriting services – do your research and ask for recommendations.
  • It sounds obvious, but make sure you advertise exactly what your company does. If your company name doesn’t confirm this, then make sure you include a short sentence summarising your service.
  • Less is more! If you want people to read and understand your signage as you drive past them, keep the graphics and wording clean, concise and uncrowded.
  • Be consistent with your brand – use the same colour schemes and logos as the ones on your other marketing materials.
  • When you’ve mocked up a couple of designs, ask for some honest feedback from friends and family.  You could get them to vote on the design they like best!
  • When you’ve settled on your design, make sure you double and triple check wording and numbers to make sure everything is correct. It would be pretty disastrous to drive around in a van advertising the wrong company contact number!
  • Remember, a signwritten van will be advertising your business non-stop. Make sure you retain that professionalism by keeping your van nice and clean, particularly on the outside.
 

Van insurance with Insurance Factory

With your new van proudly brandishing your company name and logo, all you need now is to take out van insurance. Let Insurance Factory find you the best policy that suits your business needs and budget. Get a quote!