Van drivers are lamenting the fact that their choice of vehicle may be causing an unnecessary strain on their finances as recent stories reveal the hardships currently on offer. Three recent reports have shown what it can be like to drive an expensive motor vehicle such as a van, especially in these credit tightened times and the rising cost of van insurance. Only last week it was revealed that many drivers could be, in effect adding up to £1.3 billion to their annual fuel bill because of under inflated tyres.

Kwik-Fit found that 46 per cent of vehicles in the UK are driven with at least one under-inflated tyre which does indeed affect the performance of a vehicle and increase carbon emissions, a particular pet peeve for van drivers. David White, customer services director at Kwik-Fit, said: "It's disappointing that despite the extra financial pressure on motorists, this year's spot check found that the number of under-inflated tyres more than doubled in the past year."

Following on from this is the news that penalty points and an insurance premium increase should be expected if found to be driving while talking on a mobile phone. AA Insurance have advised that since the offence has recently become a criminal matter and as such has been provided with its own offence code, insurers will probably take it into account when calculating premiums, renewal or otherwise.

Head of motor insurance at AA Insurance Janet Pell said: "There is a direct relationship between speed and accident claims; there is also an irrefutable link between the use of mobile telephones and claims so insurers will take this issue seriously."

She continued: "And don't even think about not telling your insurer. If your previous offence is discovered - as it will be in the event of even a no-fault accident - you could find your insurance invalidated and the company would be within its rights to withhold payment for your comprehensive cover if you are involved in an accident."

Further insurance strife continued as it was revealed this week that any motor vehicles that reside in an area deemed unsafe may be refused comprehensive insurance.  The research has shown that those that live in an area where accidents involving parked cars are rife, could face serious problems in securing insurance in the very near future or at best, insurance with extortionate premiums.

Steve Evans, chief executive of Accident Exchange, said: "The real fear is that one day soon we will have parking collision hot spots where nearby residents could be priced out of insuring their vehicles."

And finally on this day of gloom for van owners, a self -employed painter and decorator from Wales has been fined for smoking in his own private van. The blue Suzuki van belonging to Mr Williams had undergone a routine check by police when the incident occurred. Mr Williams had just begun smoking when a council official approached him and issued an on the spot fine on the basis that his van was classed as a workplace environment because of his perceived job.

"I was actually driving to Llanbadarn Fawr to get some tea bags from the garage, so how was I going to my place of work?" he said.

"I appreciate that a driver of a coach or a bus can't smoke at the wheel because, obviously, that is the law of the land but this is insured as a private vehicle and I only use it to drive to wherever I will be working on any given day.''

"Of course, there are tools and things in the van but a barrister would carry about documents in a briefcase in his own car, this is no different to my mind, British civil liberties are going up in smoke". He concluded.