Getting a great deal on insurance

In the UK there are many different types of insurance cover available, and this is designed to provide us with protection and peace of mind against a myriad of possible situations and eventualities. You can get insurance to cover everything from your car and your home to your pets and your life, and there are many different companies offering insurance deals to suit a wide range of needs and circumstances. Read more

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RIAS: Get covered if you’re driving abroad this summer

People thinking about going on a road trip round the continent in their cars this summer need to make sure they have the right kind of cover, insurance specialist RIAS has warned.

The company has advised drivers hopping across the channel during the holidays for a scenic tour of Europe to make sure they have their paperwork in order before they go and to take their UK driving licences, vehicle registration documents and certificates of motor insurance with them.

Managing director Janet Connor said: “Getting the correct insurance in place should be as essential a part of a pre-holiday to-do list as remembering to pack your toothbrush.”

Forgetting about insurance can prove costly – getting towed home can cost more than £1,000, according to RIAS.

The news comes just after AA Ireland advised people driving to the Emerald Isle this summer to check their insurance covers them to the same level as in the UK.

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Car modifications can increase insurance by 139%

Modifications to cars can increase insurance premiums by as much as 139 per cent, according to new research.

Findings from Confused.com revealed that for a 20 year-old male driving a VW Golf GTI 1.5 litre with no claims or convictions, a quote could differ by up to £1026.42 – or 182 per cent – depending on whether the vehicle was modified or not.

Among the most common modifications are spoilers, alloy wheels, tinted windows, lower suspension and strip under-lighting.

Will Thomas, head of car insurance at Confused.com, said that as modifications become more popular with young drivers, it is important that they are made aware of the ensuing cost of car insurance.

“Adding spoilers and tinted windows, for example, can not only dramatically increase car insurance premiums, but they can render car insurance void in some instances, especially when the driver fails to inform the insurer of any changes,” he continued.

Meanwhile, research from swiftcover.com shows that 96 per cent of British motorists leave gadgets on display in their vehicles, making their cars targets for thieves.

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Parents ‘running risks’ when insuring cars

Parents are risking getting in trouble with the law by insuring their offspring in their name in order to save money.

Research carried out by Gocompare found that more than 66 per cent of parents would consider ‘fronting’ – insuring the car with themselves as the ‘main driver’ when their child will really be doing most of the driving.

“With car insurance premiums reaching their highest ever levels, it’s only natural that parents would want to help their children get on the road,” said Hayley Parsons from the comparison site.

“Parents shouldn’t be tempted to hide a young motorist as a named driver on a policy,” she added. “As well as being illegal, fronting is a false economy. Insurers are wise to the practice and many now set the price according to the age of the youngest driver on the policy.”

A spokesperson from Direct Line said recently that one in three male drivers writes off a car in their first year on the road. “Young drivers present a greater risk than experienced drivers, and, as insurance is based on risk, they will pay a higher premium,” she added.

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Car insurance savings through shopping around

Motorists ought to be “shopping around” to get the best deal, an insurance company said today.

Sainsbury’s Car Insurance said that those drivers who are “not bothering” to check out and compare several different insurance providers were missing out on savings.

According to research released by the company, one-in-five of poll respondents obtained just one quote for the last time they took out cover.

Correspondingly, 37 per cent of those who had been with their insurance provider for three years or more claimed that their premiums had gone up, with ten per cent claiming that their premiums had gone up by over one-tenth.

Car insurance manager at Sainsbury’s Lucy Hunter said: “Only obtaining one or two quotes won’t give you a clear view of the varying price comparisons out there. We recommend getting at least four quotes so that you can compare against price and level of cover and make an informed decision on what you’re prepared to spend.

“These days you can get online quotes in minutes, so it doesn’t have to be an arduous exercise.”

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Car keys still being left on display

Many of us are running the risk of having our car stolen because we leave the keys on display in our homes.

Research by Saga Motor Insurance shows that one in ten are still not heeding the advice of insurers and police by failing to properly conceal our keys.

The majority keep them on a key rack which can be seen from outside the property, meaning the chances of becoming the victim of an opportunistic thief are greatly enhanced.

People aged over 50 are more diligent than those younger than them, says Saga, with 19 per cent ensuring that their keys are well hidden, compared to just 13 per cent of under 50s.

It means that people aged 49 and under are more likely to have their car stolen and be forced to make a claim on their car insurance.

“It might not be the first thing on your mind when you come home, but drivers should get into the habit of putting their keys somewhere out of sight, leaving them on display makes them an easy target for the opportunistic thief,” commented Andrew Goodsell, chief executive at Saga.

House keys are another issue, although people appear to be improving their safety procedures when it comes to this.

Saga found that nobody leaves the spare key under the doormat anymore, with 29 per cent leaving it with a friend or relative and 19 per cent keeping them locked away inside the house.

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How To Reduce Your Family Car Insurance Premiums

If you are a family with children in their late teens (i.e. 17,18,19) or early twenties (20-25), then a dilemma you no doubt have already had to face if how to reduce your family car insurance premiums. The following are a few tips on how you may achieve this: Read more

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No Claims Bonuses: how they work

Car insurance companies in the UK incorporated a program called a No Claims Bonus or No Claims Discount. The meaning behind these programs is for the consumer to help lower their car insurance premiums. Read more

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Advice On Choosing Car Insurance

Price? Well there are many more important features to remember when choosing your next policy. Here are a few of the main points. Read more

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