Professionals replace White Van Man
Upmarket professionals drive new van growth, says Swinton Insurance report
The traditional tradesman driver of a van - the eponymous white van man - is being replaced.
White van man is being edged aside by more upmarket professionals.
And not just men.
Typically these are self-employed engaged in creative professions such as landscape gardening, interior design and organic groceries.
Insurance company Swinton has tracked a sharp increase in insurance policies taken out on sophisticated and expensive vans - Mercedes Vito and VW Transporter Sportline, for example.
Of these applications, 35% come from female van owners.
The average value of these vans is £20,000. But the average value of van and contents is £25,000, thanks to the specialist nature of these professionals.
Rather than power drills and stepladders, quotes are for top-end laptops, DAB car radios and high value 'tools of the trade'.
This is in sharp contrast to the £6000 average value for a second hand panel van, including contents, more commonly associated with 'white van man'.
Swinton says this new generation of entrepreneurs is shunning nine to five jobs and going into business for themselves.
The impetus behind such a move partly appears to be TV shows such as Master Chef and House Doctor, giving these people the confidence to go it alone in the more creative and artistic sectors.
The high value of contents being insured also reflects the specialised nature of their occupations.
A recent application for a professional 'home stager' listed £3000 worth of props: antique vases, modern artworks and Persian rugs were among the items that required cover.
Ben Edgell is typical of the new professional van driver. He turned his back on the advertising industry to set up Arcadia Landscapes, a landscape gardening business.
“I’m not surprised Swinton found an increase in self-employed people like me using more expensive vehicles,” commented Ben.
“When I’m driving in the suburbs I often see vans like mine belonging to interior designers, boutique florists, organic butchers and similar traders.”
