And seven in 10 say the worst part about owning a large vehicle, is friends and family frequently asking to borrow it, the research found
Over half of van owners (55%) say they have had to make a claim on their insurance – after their lending their vehicle out to a friend or relative, a study has found.
While it is certainly handy to know someone with a van, 70% of those who own a larger vehicle say the top drawback is others asking to borrow it frequently.
More than four in 10 have had such requests from neighbours (44%) and colleagues (43%) – while 24% have even been asked by a complete stranger.
And some of the most common reasons for lending their van include for moving house, moving large furniture, or visits to the tip.
But the survey of 500 van drivers found that one in four (24%) rarely, if ever, get offered money to cover the cost of using the vehicle – with 40% saying it is often returned in worse condition than it was loaned out in.
Despite this, 18% of those polled admit they feel uncomfortable saying no when asked to lend out their van – and as such, 58% feel their weekends often get wasted emptying and reloading their vehicle to help others.
Sten Saar, CEO for van insurance experts, Zego, which commissioned the research, said: “Vans definitely come in handy from time to time. For people who don’t own one, knowing someone who has got one can be incredibly useful – especially if they’re a close friend.
“But it’s sometimes worth thinking about the person on the other side of the transaction too, and how they might feel that sometimes they’re nothing more than four wheels and a massive boot.”
The study also found half of van drivers have felt pressure to lend their vehicle to family or friends – with 42% even cancelling their own plans to accommodate someone else’s request to use their van.
But 30% have wound up in a conflict with someone due to a disagreement over their van’s use, according to the OnePoll figures.
As a result, 52% have set boundaries regarding their vehicle’s usage – such as promising to give it back in the same condition it went out in (47%), or only giving it out on certain days (26%).
Sten Saar, from Zego, added: “Lending someone your van can be a really helpful thing to do. But it’s vital to ensure your insurance is all up to date, and your policy allows this kind of use for your vehicle.
“You could end up with issues a lot more serious than simply falling out with someone because they didn’t refuel it before handing it back.”
TOP 10 MOST COMMON REASONS VAN OWNERS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEND THEIR VAN:
- Moving large furniture
- Visits to the tip
- Moving house
- Collecting big items from homeware stores, like Ikea
- Transporting building materials and tools
- Transporting gardening equipment and plants
- For home improvement projects
- To use for staycations, so they can take items like bikes/kayaks/camping gear
- To sleep in the back of, for a night of camping
- Moving supplies for parties/events
