Popular van scrappage scheme to end next month

Time is running out for van owners to take advantage of the government funded scrappage scheme, which is set to run either until Government funding is exhausted, or until the end of March 2010 - whichever comes first.

The £400 million initiative has been deemed a success by the majority of those in the motor industry, helping boost sales at a difficult time for the sector. Due to the popularity of the scheme, Lord Mandleson has advised those interested in the programme to “place your order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, because the budget is strictly limited”.

The scrappage scheme allows you to receive a £2,000 discount on a new vehicle when you give the garage your old vehicle to scrap. Vehicles eligible for the scheme must have a registration predating the 28th February 2002 and weigh under 3500 kilograms. Your van must also have a current MOT and be registered at a UK address. The scheme has proved extremely popular with van owners, with many companies replacing their whole fleet.

If you are considering replacing your van, it is important that you take into account the cost of insuring your new vehicle. You need to find the cheapest van insurance available in order to ensure that you make maximum savings from being involved in the scheme.

The price of van insurance varies greatly between insurance providers and although your current insurer may have offered the cheapest cover for your existing van, they may charge a higher price when you change to a different or a newer vehicle. It is for this reason that you should use a van insurance comparison site, such as Van Compare, where multiple van insurance quotes can be sought, giving you full and up to date information on cheap van insurance.