There are more commercial vehicles on our roads than ever before, according to recent figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The growth is largely being driven by vans, with 4.6 million now traversing the highways of the UK and supporting businesses both large and small.
However, the SMMT also found that out of the 10,800 vans stopped at the roadside each year, 88.5% were overloaded, 63% had serious mechanical defects and 50% would have failed their MOTs. As these issues could land you with a hefty fine, a painful repair bill or worse, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look at how you can avoid them by making sure your van is safe and road-ready.
Ensure your tyres are legal
Tyres that are underinflated, have a tread depth that’s too low or are in a poor condition can be dangerous on the road (and could land you with points on your license). So it’s really important to make sure that yours are up-to-scratch.
First off, we’d recommend the Halfords Digital Tyre Pressure/Tread Gauge. It allows you to easily check both your pressure and tyre depth so that you know what you’re dealing with. Pocket-sized, it even comes with a chain so you could attach it to your keys and always have it with you.
If you find yourself in a need of a tyre pressure top-up then Halfords Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator will make short work of bringing your tyres back up to the right level (which can normally be found in your vehicle’s handbook). It takes just three minutes to do the job and has an automatic cut-off so there’s no risk of overinflation. It’s also nice and compact, so you can pop it in your glove boxes for tyre inflation support on the move.
If you’re looking for something with a bit more muscle, then the Michelin Programmable Rapid Tyre Inflator is designed to handle 4x4s, SUVs and vans. While you’ll probably have to store this one in the back of your van, it delivers powerful inflation in just two minutes so it’s well-worth having one onboard.
Finally, if you’d like a professional opinion on your tyres then drop into your local Halfords Autocentre for a Free Tyre Check. We also offer a range of replacement tyres at great prices and can fit them for you too either at the autocentre or on your drive thanks to Halfords Mobile Experts.
Get your brakes and steering checked
We probably don’t need to stress why this one’s essential when it comes to keeping yourself safe on the road. Thankfully, Halfords Autocentres have you covered here – and you don’t even have to shell out any of your hard-earned cash!
Our Free Brake Check covers six key areas and one of our experienced technicians will be able to advise if they spot any issues that need resolving. It’s a similar situation with our Free Steering Check, where a technician will check to make sure that everything’s working as it should be.
If any repairs are required, they’ll able to provide a no-obligation quote free of charge, so why not get your van booked in for an appointment today?
Know your loading limit
Overloading your van can will only make it more difficult to handle, but could also wear down your brakes and suspension, and land you with a hefty fine (at the very least). It’s clear to see why it’s definitely one to avoid.
Make sure you know your van’s maximum payload so that you can keep safely beneath it and also ensure that any goods inside are properly secured.
Illuminate the road
Driving at night already brings certain challenges so why create more for yourself? Ensuring your headlights are balanced (i.e., that they produce the same amount of light) and in good working order will help to keep you and other road users safe.
We’d recommend the H7 477 Car Headlight Bulbs twin pack. They won’t break the bank and they’ll provide up to 25% longer life than a basic bulb, with a more precise beam pattern. They’re developed to manufacturers’ standard for reliable performance and are suitable for 12V vehicles.
Just remember to double-check that they’re compatible with your particular make and model van before you buy by using our online vehicle registration number checker.
If you’d like a hand with fitting then we’ll be happy to help with our WeFit service. Simply select the fitting option during the checkout process.
Top up those essential fluids
Brake fluid, engine coolant, engine oil and power steering fluid are some of the key fluids that you need to keep an eye on. Having the correct fluid levels will help to ensure your van operates smoothly and you can check them pretty easily by just popping your bonnet and eyeballing the min/max lines.
If you find you need a top-up then the Halfords 5W30 Fully Synthetic Oil is a good pick for engine oil. You get a five-litre bottle with an easy-pour spout and an oil that’s suitable for BMW and Mercedes vehicles from 2004 onwards. (If you’re got a different make and model of van, then check out our full range of engine oils to find the right one for you.)
For brake fluid, why not go for the Comma DOT 5.1 Brake Fluid? It’ll help to protect and prolong the life of your braking system, can be safely mixed with DOT 3 and DOT 4 specification oils, and is ideal for all ABS systems for performance and safety.
Check your battery health
Your battery is the very heart of your van and its condition can be the difference between a successful journey and a painful false start. Don’t get caught out – book in for a free battery health check to get a professional opinion from one of our experienced technicians. It’s available at all Halfords stores and autocentres, as well as via our mobile service Halfords Mobile Experts (where we’ll come to you at home or work).
Where a new battery is needed, we’d recommend the Halfords 091AGM for the start/stop vans out there (just remember to double-check that’s it’s compatible with your van first by using our online vehicle registration number checker).
The Halfords 091AGM comes with a five-year guarantee, allows up to 360,000 engine starts and we’ll be happy to fit it for you at our stores, autocentres or via our Halfords Mobile Experts. You can choose the fitting option that suits you during the checkout process.
Non-stop/start vans have a whole host of other batteries to choose from – just enter your registration number to find suitable types for your van.
Keep your vision clear
The British weather is notoriously up and down, which means we can expect a whole heap of rain each year and sometimes when we least expect it. Worn out windscreen wipers and an empty screenwash reservoir can make driving in the wet more difficult than it has to be – and potentially more dangerous too.
Like with the fluids we mentioned earlier, you can check the level of your screenwash by simply popping open your bonnet. If your windscreen wipers have picked up that tell-tale squeak or they’re missing areas on your windscreen then that’s a clear indication they need some TLC.
Our favourite screenwash is the Halfords -10 Ready Mixed Screenwash as it has a clever formula that’ll clean your windscreen and prevent your washer jets from freezing in the winter months (as an added bonus, it has a fresh berry fragrance!). All you need to do is pour it straight into your screenwash reservoir and you’re sorted.
With wiper blades, it’s all about the Halfords Flat Wiper Blade Single FW30 or its brother the FW31. Both have an aerodynamic design, multiple windscreen pressure points for efficient wiping and a connector for easy fitting. We can also take all of the hassle out of fitting for you for a small fee if you choose a fitting option during the checkout process.
As always, just make sure you enter your registration number online first to check that the wiper blades are suitable for your van.
Plan your route
Car sat navs have always been a handy way to plan your route, navigate and avoid traffic jams, but these days there are specific models for vans, LGVs and HGVs that can do so much more. By entering the weight and height of your vehicle, these clever devices can recommend routes that only include suitable roads. There’s no more worrying about narrow country lanes or low bridges; all you need to do is choose your route, sit back and let the sat nav do the work while you concentrate on the road.
The Garmin Dezl 580 LMT-S HGV Sat Nav with Full Europe Maps is one of these new wave of sat navs and its features are impressive. It comes with full Europe maps (plus a lifetime of free map updates), easy break planning that can take driving hours and mandatory breaks into account, the aforementioned routing by vehicle weight and size, Bluetooth hands-free calling, a dispatch and track feature, voice-activated navigation and much, much more.
It’s a sat nav that’s been designed with van and HGV drivers in mind and you won’t regret adding it to your vehicle.
Join the Halfords Motoring Club
Don’t miss out! Join the Halfords Motoring Club today to access a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.
It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.
With so much to enjoy, this is too good an opportunity to miss!
Join the Halfords Motoring Club today at www.halfords.com/motoring-club.
And there you have it: our top tips for keeping you and your van safe while you’re out and about. Of course, one of the ultimate ways to ensure that your van is roadworthy is to get an MOT and we can help there, with our standard MOT (suitable for cars and vans) and our Class 7 MOT (for goods vehicles).
For all your motoring needs, you want Halfords.