If you are driving a van for the first time or perhaps drive a van infrequently there are many differences to driving a car which you should be aware of and remember. The following safety tips provide practical van driving advice to ensure your journey is safe for yourself, others passengers and pedestrians.

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Before you start your journey

• When you pick up your van from the rental station listen carefully to the advice and explanations regarding general operation. Ensure you know where all controls are and how to use them, if you are unsure ask.
• Wear sensible footwear that allows the correct use the pedal controls.
• Adjust the rear view and exterior wing mirrors to provide maximum vision.
• Adjust head restraints and seats for both comfort and safety.
• You MUST wear a seat belt if one is available, unless you are exempt.
• Before driving on the road, make sure the rear or side cargo doors are locked securely.
• Become familiar and comfortable with the size and responsiveness of the van by initially driving in an area with little traffic.

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Van driving advice

• Be in complete control of your vehicle at all times, losing control means not being able to stop or move your van in a safe manner.
• Be aware of the size of the van you are driving, particularly the height. Take extra caution when approaching bridges and canopies and when driving under overhanging trees. Some petrol stations may not cater for the size of your vehicle.
• Large vehicles need extra room to turn, take this into consideration when approaching a tight corner. Also bear in mind the length of the van and the position of the rear of the vehicle when manoeuvring.
• Make use of the increased visibility from a higher driving position and remember to use your exterior mirrors more often.
• Take tight bends slowly as tall vans can tip more easily due to their height and increased centre of gravity.
• Control your speed and never follow other vehicles too closely, vans require a much longer braking distance especially when travelling at speed, carrying a heavy load or in wet or icy weather conditions.
• Pay extra attention when reversing or parking and only attempt to do so if you are confident or when it’s necessary. Ask for another person to guide you if your van has blind spots.
• Be extra careful when changing lanes, the van you are driving may have blind spots. Pay particular attention for motor cyclists.
• Take a little extra time and care when driving an unfamiliar vehicle.

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General driving advice

• Plan your route and allowed sufficient time to complete your journey.
• In winter listen to weather forecasts and take extra care in windy or wet conditions.
• Ensure the vehicle has sufficient fuel before commencing your journey, if you need to refill check in advance where the petrol cap is located and which type of fuel is required.
• Remember to lock your vehicle when it is not attended.

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Useful resources
The Highway Code - is essential reading for everyone. Its rules apply to all road users: drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians as well as horse riders.www.highwaycode.gov.uk

Renting a car or van in the UK doesn’t have to be as expensive as you’d imagine and sometimes you can a great deal, especially online. Follow these simple tips and use as many of them as you can while still getting the rental you need and you should be able to save money on your next car or van rental:

Book the most popular car or van group

Car rental companies operate complex fleet management systems to ensure they have the right vehicles in the right places at the right time. The more popular the vehicle group, the more difficult it is for them to guarantee its availability. Usually, if they do not have the car or van you booked they will give you a free upgrade. This is because the larger, more expensive vehicles don’t get booked as much as the smaller cheaper ones. If you book the smallest vehicle that is acceptable to you, there is always a good chance of getting a free upgrade if you’re picking it up at a busy time.

Book well in advance

Since it is much easier to forecast how many cars they need if they’ve got all their bookings in advance, the car rental companies will very often have their cheapest rates loaded for rates well in advance, so book your vehicle as soon as you know your travel dates and save more.

Watch your collection and return times

Another trick to watch out for is that most car rental companies have daily charge rates. This means if you pick up a vehicle at 10am and take it back at 11am the next day you’ll get charged for 2 days rental. Wherever possible try to ensure that your return time is always the same, or preferably just before your collection time. This way you’ll never get charged the extra day.

Book when they have got too many vehicles

If your travel plans are reasonably open and where possible, try to book when they’ve got too many cars and you could land yourself an absolute bargain. Renting just after the Christmas period will probably be very cheap. In car rental terms, a car sat in their car park is a huge cost and they would rather let you have it very cheaply than just have it sitting there.

Always get a discount code

Apart from during peak periods (Christmas, Easter and the height of Summer), you should be always able to get some kind of discount code, although you might have to hunt around a little to find it. Always check the terms of the offers as often, even though an offer might say it’s for a weekend rental, you could still use the offer for other times. It’s worth searching a little to find one.

Book online for discounts

Car rental companies are able to reduce their overheads when customers book online. These discounts can range from 5% to 20%, so where possible, always book online.