Swinton Commercial is advising van drivers to declare any modifications to their vans or they risk invalidating their insurance policy .
According to a survey conducted by the retailer of van insurance, there has been a 10 per cent increase in modifications to vans during the past three months. Of the 1,200 online van drivers questioned, 15 per cent revealed they had made modifications to their van but had not notified their insurer .
Swinton found the most popular modifications to vans included alloy wheels, a larger engine, or vehicle suspension. The insurer is also warning van drivers that even simple modifications such as signage on the side of a van needs to be declared to the insurer.
Phil Moss, Commercial Vehicle Manager at Swinton said: “There is nothing wrong with modifying your vehicle especially if it saves you money in the long run or makes your vehicle more aesthetically pleasing. However it is vital that you inform your insurer of modifications as failure to do so could result in van insurance quotes being invalid, leading to a costly payout in the event of a claim.”