White Van Man stereotype parked
New research from Tesco Bank reveals that the outdated White Van Man stereotype has officially been parked.
The research, which has been released to coincide with the launch of Tesco Van Insurance, found that van drivers themselves reject the stereotype – 70% say they have never shouted at or had altercations with other drivers on the road and far from being careless drivers, nearly three-quarters (74%) said they took pride in their van’s appearance, boasting they have no dents or scratches.
The research also revealed the growing phenomenon of women who drive white vans, largely as a result of nearly half (47%) of van drivers being self-employed and more women starting their own business. Some 15% of female van drivers are florists and just under 10% are tradespeople.
Julie Hopes, Managing Director, Insurance at Tesco Bank, comments: “While white remains the colour of choice for commercial vans (30%), our research has firmly dispelled the outdated White Van Man stereotype. And with more and more women running their own business, an increasing number of female van drivers are taking to the roads.”
The findings come as Tesco Bank extends its insurance portfolio with the launch of Tesco Van Insurance in response to customer demand. With van drivers spending an average of 7.5 hours a day in their van, Tesco Van Insurance has been designed to give businesses a comprehensive insurance cover in one place - helping to keep them on the road, whatever happens.
The comprehensive cover includes mobile repairs, a courtesy van, lock and key cover, legal cover, foreign use cover and a lifetime guarantee on repairs, as standard. A payment holiday scheme has also been built into the cover for Tesco Clubcard customers, enabling a month’s payment holiday on insurance premium instalments up to twice a year. Customers can also add on Tesco Tradesman Insurance if they need public and employers’ liability insurance or cover for tools and equipment to further bolster their cover. Customers should go online at tescobank.com/van for a competitive quote and to view the full policy details.
Julie Hopes, continues: “We understand that commercial vans are an essential part of the smooth running of many businesses, particularly for those van drivers who are self-employed. We have listened to our customers and, in response, have introduced a product which offers comprehensive and competitive cover to ensure commercial van drivers stay on the road at all times.”
Among other findings, the research revealed a few surprises:
24% of van drivers are aspiring musicians, 25% are glued to documentaries on the TV, and 22% love going on long walks
20% say Greece is their preferred holiday destination, followed closely by the USA (18%)
28% have beach holidays, compared with 18% who typically go camping
56% are looking for love, and 14% believe that being a White Van Man has helped their ability to woo
79% admit they are not bothered by their traditional image, and even revel in their rebellious reputation.
Eighties hits ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Journey and ‘The Final Countdown’ by Europe were the joint favourite (12%) guilty pleasures to sing along to while driving
Tesco Van Insurance and Tesco Tradesman Insurance are sold, administered and underwritten by AXA Insurance UK plc.