By law, insurance coverage is required before driving. If you happen to have an accident while not covered, all the damages from an accident need to be paid for. With no insurance, the cost and headache you will cause yourself is not worth it. Shopping around for a car insurance policy is still easier than the aggravation caused by not having proper coverage.

Shopping around is easier than ever before. Between the phone and the internet, people do not need to drive to every office and speak to an insurer in person anymore. There are even websites that can give a quote for numerous companies all at the same time! The number one thing is to get the car insurance coverage that best fits your individual needs. Saving money on your premium is always an option, but not when it means having less coverage than you should. Never lie about anything including your age or past driving tickets. When the insurance company finds out you lied, they will drop your policy.

Third Party Only coverage is the least expensive of insurance policies. When you buy this, it will protect passengers and the other car driver. This is the basic form of car insurance that allows people to drive legally. Damages caused by other drivers are covered; damages to your own car by you are not covered. With the basic third party only insurance plan, theft and fire are NOT covered.

The option with third party coverage is fire and theft. A stolen car or a car that catches on fire are now insured, as this option covers the driver for replacement value of your car.

The last option is called Fully Comprehensive insurance. Many new vehicles require this coverage, especially if it is being leased or financed through a particular bank. This plan covers everything, no matter who caused the accident. Most insurance companies will pay for the costs of the repairs. For older car owners, this plan may not be worth the premium costs to insure.

Sometimes legal coverage is added onto plans as well. This allows the driver to go after any losses or additional damages they want to pursue from the other driver. If you opt for legal coverage, the insurance company will pay the legal counsel to fight for your compensation if you are hurt. Legal coverage does increase your policy’s premium and each individual driver has to decide if it is necessary to them.

Zipcar is sold as an alternative to owning a car for urban consumers. Instead of buying a car, you pay an annual membership fee, and then an amount per hour or day for how much you use the car. This fee includes gas and insurance and covers the first 180 miles you drive. Customers who use a car more can get the annual fee waived and a lower rate, in return for a commitment to spend at least a certain amount of month. Weekend rates are sometimes higher.

One of Zipcar’s biggest selling points is that it is cheaper than owning your own car. It is also sold as a no-hassle option as you don’t have to worry about maintenance, the car ending up in the shop or finding the right insurance plan. However, is it actually cheaper than owning a car?

Using Washington, D.C. as an example, a ZipCar member is charged a one-time $25 application fee and a $60 annual fee. The driver then pays $7.75 an hour, $73 a day Monday through Thursday or $82 a day on weekends. If they go beyond the 180 mile per day limit, they are charged 45 cents a mile. Of course, the company reserves the right to tweak those rates, and you may not know how much you are going to pay until you get the car. You also may not be able to get a car at a given time, or may have to travel halfway across the city to find one, as most Zipcar stations only have one or two cars. This mitigates part of the ‘no hassle’ aspects of the service.

Oh, and those rates are ‘starter’ rates. A larger vehicle will, of course, cost more. On the face of it, those rates don’t seem too bad. The 45 cents a mile is less than the current Federal government mileage (as of 2011) rate of 51 cents a mile…that’s what the IRS lets you deduct for mileage on your own vehicle. The rates are certainly cheaper than a taxi.

On the other hand, how much does it cost to own a car? In 2010, the average household spent $5,477 on gas and other car related expenses. To reach that amount, you would have to use a Zipcar for over 700 hours a year, or just under two hours a day, seven days a week. Assuming you work 5 days a week you would need about a 2 1/2 hour total commute time to make a Zipcar cost more than owning a car.

By the numbers, therefore, Zipcar is cheaper than owning your own car for the urban commuter. It is, of course, even cheaper if you live in the city and are able to commute by public transport, bicycle or, if you are really lucky, foot. Unless you are a very heavy vehicle user, then Zipcar is a cheaper option. However, if you are going out of town, the mileage cost may make traditional car rental a better option.

In other words, for the average urban consumer, it is worth considering getting a Zipcar account. Unless you use a car either excessively or extremely rarely, it is a cheap and relatively hassle-free option for personal transportation and for those times when you simply need a vehicle to carry all of your stuff.

Zipcar may be the cheapest alternative for your driving needs. If you are looking to cut down the amount you spend on your vehicle, do some comparison shopping at Kanetix to see which insurance providers offer the cheapest auto insurance quotes. In minutes, you can find out which provider can save you the most money.

The current plans pertain to exempting all cars built before 1960 from the legal requirement to a routine MoT test.

The thinking behind this proposal is that two-thirds of the vehicles in this category are driven less than 500 miles a year and are in the hands of owners who dedicate much of their spare time to maintaining and caring for the vehicle.

We’re not talking about youngsters with a freshly stamped license and an inherent desire to show off; the owners of these vehicles are careful and conservative motorists that are rarely involved in accidents.

In addition, many classic car enthusiasts believe that current MoT testing is simply not suitable for vehicles built 50 or more years ago, and that many MoT testers don’t have the knowledge or experience to carry out a comprehensive assessment.

Mike Penning, the UK road safety minister has stated that the proposal is designed to reduce the financial burden placed on motorists for obligations that reap minimal benefits.

Yet it is in fact not only the owners of a classic Land Rover, Fiat or Ford that may benefit from the potential plans; new cars will also be exempt from inspection until their fourth birthday (currently MoTs must begin when the car turns three).

However, not everyone is supportive of the new proposals.

Owner of the Classic Car Club, Nigel Case, described the plans as ‘ridiculous’.

In his opinion cars of this age need more attention than modern vehicles.  His thoughts are that it’s not uncommon for a car to appear in perfect condition while concealing a host of potentially dangerous problems.

So is this good news for classic car enthusiasts or simply a risky means by which our government is trying to demonstrate that it does cares about helping the general public cut costs?

In reality, those who choose not to book their classic Land Rover for a service could be putting themselves and other road users at risk. This proposal assumes that all classic car owners are experts in car mechanics and will be able to spot potentially dangerous problems for themselves; a dangerous assumption to make.

A requirement for owners of a classic Ford, Ferrari or Fiat to service their vehicle annually isn’t a huge financial burden and could be the difference between no accident and one resulting in a fatality – no amount of careful driving can compensate for failing breaks.

The fact is that when compared to insurance, petrol and the cost of the vehicle itself, the yearly MoT is one of the lowest costs car owners face.

It should also be safe to say that those which the proposal will affect (owners of both classic and brand new cars) may well have more disposable income than the owners of more modern yet used cars – those that will continue to be subjected to the yearly outgoing.

Surely a reduction on fuel tax would be more effective, while also benefiting motorists as a whole rather than a select few? Yet of course, this would hit the government where it hurts and a reduction would only be compensated for somewhere else by somebody else.

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Main Dealer Discount, who offer access to discounted Land Rover service, Fiat service and servicing for all other makes and models of vehicle.

As a driver in the United Kingdom, you may be looking for a new insurance policy for your vehicle, but you don’t want to pay too much for not so great coverage, which is completely understandable. If this is the case for you, then you’re likely to want to find easy and creative ways to reduce the cost of your car insurance policy, or to find a newer and lower insurance policy for your car. What are some tips that you can use to reduce these insurance costs? Let’s take a closer look to find out.
One thing that you need to do right away with your insurance policy is to look at the amount of your deductible. This deductible is the first amount that you must first pay out when you file a claim due to an incident in your vehicle. You’ll find that if you look closely, the cost of your insurance policy is linked to the amount that you’ll pay for this deductible. If you’re a safe driver with a good driving record, then you should consider potentially taking the risk of paying a higher deductible in the case of an incident, as this will save on your policy.
You also need to consider the type of car that you are driving, as this will impact the cost of your car insurance policy. If you drive a riskier or newer car, then you are far more likely to pay more in insurance costs because of this. If you’re at the stage where you’re buying a new or used car, then you need to make sure to consider this in the cost of your policy.
Are you a reckless driver? If so, then this can cost you serious money. If you’ve ever had a speeding ticket, or a fine for driving in a way that is dangerous to others, which has been reported and is on your record, then expect that your insurance company will know about this, and that they will charge you more. If you changes your ways and become a safer driver, then you can actually get a discount in the long run.
Make sure that you install safety devices and anti-theft mechanisms in your vehicle, as this can actually save you money on your insurance premiums. If insurance companies know that your car is equipped to be safer, and that there is less risk of there being theft involved with your car, then they will likely give you a discount and lower your premium rate.
Is your policy up for renewal or extension in the near future? If so – then try to negotiate a better rate! Things can always be variable in your insurance costs, and there are things that can be taken away or added to your policy that can make your money. You need to look critically at the details of your policy, as this will allow you to spot things in your policy that need to change.
Don’t be afraid to shop around and compare quotes, as depending on what your driving circumstances are, you may get a discount or lower rate with a different insurance company than the one you’re with. Look online or call some of your local companies, and ask them what the going rate is for a policy with them.
Looking online is always one of the best, and easiest, ways to find out about better deals before having to renew anything with your current company. It’s fast and easy to find quote pages online, and many of these quote sites will offer you several quotes by leading insurance companies who can meet your needs.

When you’re looking into getting a car insurance policy in the UK, you’ll be surrounded by different options that offer you different premiums and levels of coverage that will suit your current needs. The more the coverage covers, the more the premium will be. One of the most covered insurance policies is comprehensive car insurance policies. While these may be pricier than just basic coverage for your car insurance, it does provide you with a high level of protection that you may need. Still not convinced that getting comprehensive car insurance is the right way to go? Take a look at some reasons why comprehensive car insurance can be so valuable.
Did you know that many insurance policies may not cover the incidence of car theft? This can be a huge deal if your car is stolen, and if you have comprehensive car insurance, then you can be confident in knowing that your car is covered – even if it’s stolen. Newer and nicer cars are more likely candidates of theft, but it can happen to any car, and it’s a situation you definitely want to avoid. Much like the case with car theft, car vandalism is rarely covered in more traditional and basic car insurance policies. If your car is hit on the side of a road and the motorists vandalizes your car, and then drives away, you could be left in a very bad place if you don’t have comprehensive insurance to cover this financial burden.
Is your area stormy or prone to severe weather? Then this is another reason to get comprehensive car insurance for your vehicle. In the case of storms, trees or floods damaging your car, you’ll be covered when you have this kind of insurance – which is not the case with more traditional insurance policies for cars. The last thing you need to do is to deal with a natural disaster, while also having to deal with a damaged car that cannot be fixed under your traditional insurance policy.
If you’ve ever had to go down an unpaved road or path, then you know the peril of worrying about damage to your car down these types of roads. If you’ve ever had a chip from a rock in your window, then you can truly appreciate the difference that comprehensive insurance can make. While many insurance policies don’t cover these glass repairs, this is something that comprehensive car insurance does cover, and can save you hundreds of dollars.
Those who have a pet that needs to be transported at some point may be cause for anxiety, as animals have the ability to make a huge mass in your car. There is also the possibility that a deer can run into your car and destroy much of your car, and this is something that isn’t covered under most insurance policies. It can be majorly costly for you, and this is why you should consider comprehensive car insurance. All of these reasons just begin to scratch the surface of reasons why you should at least look into and consider comprehensive car insurance, versus a more basic car insurance plan.

More than 20 million people, around 1/3 of the population, are age 50 or over. These people will constitute over half the world’s population by 2020.

Average disposable income among adults with grown children is around £15,500 a year, and research shows that 50 to 69-year olds take an impressive four to six holidays in a year. Yet financial services companies have been a tad slow in providing products tailored to this sector.

Age Concern, Saga and insurer RIAS all offer specialist products to older people. But are they necessarily the best value?
Many of the older clients are not being offered the best choice from the companies who target the 50+ and retirees. They are not being offered the best deal and should not restrict themselves. If they shopped around, they could find better rates elsewhere.

INSURANCE

By going to insurance companies specializing with the 50+ age, does not guarantee cheaper premiums. The companies involved do not claim to be just competing on price.

Saga say they are aware they’re not the cheapest, but that they aim to compete with good service and support. They feel that older drivers know what good and bad service is, and that their customers in this age group are likely to be more demanding about it.

Research shows the Saga policy is tailored towards their Saga customers – a group of people who often travel to Europe. It therefore allows unlimited European travel. Most policies only cover the client for a set period (30 or 90 days for example) in Europe annually. Why pay extra for something you do not need?

David Douce is co-founder of www.oscaruk.co.uk, a website gateway to all types of concessions for the 50+ people. From his research he found shopping around for price and features is not easy and feels there is not one, cheapest supplier of car insurance for the 50+ crowd.

Why is age so important in premiums?

With petroleum prices shooting up, plus the increasing car prices, hardest hit will be the 50+ who represent 2/3rds of private car owners. Therefore it is even more important – vital in fact – to shop around for the best insurance deal.
Unlike younger travellers, the over-50s car-owners have a much greater choice. Motorists of 50-60 can often get much cheaper deals than motorists in other age groups. This is because they are usually more experienced drivers, and also they’re deemed to be more responsible than younger drivers. If retired, they use fewer miles.

Reach the late 60s and premiums do start rising. The late 60s group are most likely to be accident prone. In reality, each insurance policy will depend on each individual’s capability, rather than simply their age.

Contrary to popular stereotypes, statistical evidence shows that more mature drivers are actually the least likely of all types of driver to be involved in road accidents. But, even though some insurers regard older drivers as high risk, other insurers are targeting this age group with low premiums!

No upper age limit on policies

• Age Concern
• Help the Aged
• RIAS
• Cornhill Direct
• NatWest

No age limit for existing customers

• Churchill
• CIS
• Eagle Star
• Esure
• Halifax
• Liverpool Victoria
• More Than
• RAC Insure
• Sainsbury’s Bank
• Tesco

Cut-off age of 80

• Abbey National
• Direct Line
• Egg
• Hastings Direct

Place of residents and type of car driven will obviously influence the cost of the 50+ insurance policy. Also the driving record and prior points will help determine the premium cost. To obtain an exact quote for the 50+ person, contact several brokers or do your own research online.

According to some financial experts insurance companies are more likely to reject a life insurance claim if the claim is for a large amount. The claims are made by financial services support threesixty.

Research was recently carried out by threesixty into twelve UK life insurance providers. Analysis was carried out into the companies’ accepted claims and their rejected claims in order to see whether there was a trend with regards to how much the claims had actually been for.

According to the results of the study the average amount for claims that were being rejected over the last twelve month period up to March 2007 was just over seventy thousand pounds. The average amount for claims that had been paid out over the same period was just over sixty thousand pounds. According to officials from threesixty, the reasons for higher claims being rejected more often is not so much the fact that it is for more money, but because the potential financial losses to the insurance companies means that they are more likely to be investigated more thoroughly.

One official from the financial services support group stated: “Our figures demonstrate it is absolutely essential that IFAs advise their clients to disclose all medical information at the point of application. Any potential problems should be pointed out to them at outset as part of good business practice, reinforced by the treating customers fairly requirements.”

An analysis of critical illness claims was also carried out as part of the study, but this showed that there was less of a difference in terms of the amount of the claim between claims that were being rejected and those that were being paid, with the average difference being around four thousand pounds rather than ten thousand as with life insurance claims.

More resources on life insurance and critical illness cover:

Critical Illness Cover – On thisismoney.co.uk

Life Insurance Claims – On scottishwidows.co.uk

For a quote on life insurance coverage visit our page that compares several UK providers.

The rise in the death rate for younger drivers in the UK could result in them being priced out of the car insurance market according to one insurance company.

The Cooperative Insurance Services has warned that prices for car insurance for younger drivers could soon rise so high that many will be unable to afford to get insurance cover for their vehicle. For drivers aged between seventeen and twenty five there are around thirty five deaths or serious injuries every day in the UK according to figures from Co-op Insurance.

The insurance company also added that the rise in the cost of car insurance for those aged over 25 was just two percent, whereas for the younger age group the rise was a whopping twenty two percent.

According to officials from the Co-op the dramatic rise in insurance for younger drivers could result in a big jump in the number of people driving around without insurance cover, with younger drivers that are no longer able to afford cover deciding to continue driving without cover.

The insurance company has now worked in association with BRAKE and produced a DVD and education pack called ‘Too Young To Die’. This is aimed at drivers aged twenty one and under in a bid to try and educate them and make increase their safety on the roads, which could in turn stabilize the cost of insurance cover for them as death rates decrease.

One official from the Co-op Insurance Services said: “The impact of serious road traffic crashes not only affects peoples’ lives but also has a considerable affect on future premium levels. We have a duty to try and prevent future losses which in turn will make motor insurance more affordable, especially for young inexperienced drivers.”

Consumers in the UK can start enjoying the benefits of a new type of insurance cover from a new home insurance provider.

The home and contents insurance cover works by investing twenty percent of premiums paid by consumers, and then after three years returns the proceeds of the investment to the consumer, which could see some consumers really cashing in with their returns.

There are restrictions tied to the insurance cover, and it is aimed at those with more expensive properties or with multiple properties, who spend around £3,000 or more on their home and contents cover each year. The insurance has been launched by Private Insurance Portfolio and Sterling Insurance. The 20% of premiums will be invested by the insurance company in a range of UK money markets.

Also, for those do not make a claim within the three year investment period, the twenty percent plus any proceeds made from it will be returned to the consumer.

This is an insurance policy that is aimed at wealthier homeowners, which for some means that it is a way that can help the rich get richer. But for those that are lucky enough to be able to spend this sort of money on their home insurance cover each year, this could be a great way to cash in and make some money from your cover, as well as a great incentive from the insurer to deter consumers from making a claim.

The director of the insurance company stated that consumers that do not make a claim on their cover deserve a reward.

She stated: ‘For too long, people haven’t received enough reward for not claiming on their household insurance. Our clients will receive both a competitive premium and a return on that premium.’

Read more on this on: This Is Money

Less than a half of all motorbikes or scooters are fitted with security devices.

But they are an easy target for vehicle thieves, and security measures should be taken!
motorcycles

Must read before you buy your motorbike insurance or do a comparison of policies.
Most bikes or scooters are stolen to order, mainly for parts, and if they aren’t made secure they can easily be wheeled away or carried off in a van. To make sure your bike isn’t stolen, follow these basic rules. At night, always park in a well-lit area that is busy and full of people. Use special motorcycle parking areas and look for places with a “Secured Car Park” sign, and if possible, cover your bike when parked.

Engage the steering lock and use either a high-tension cable or chain with a good padlock, or a U-lock through a wheel or through the frame. And try to secure your machine to something solid, such as a security rail or a ground-anchor, and keep the lock high off the ground as this makes it harder to break. And most importantly, don’t leave your helmet, gloves, or any other possessions with your machine.

These are the just the basics when it comes to protecting your motorbike or scooter. But it’s worth investing in mechanical or electronic security devices as recommended by Sold Secure or Thatcham. Both these organisations test security devices for bikes as well as cars, but if in doubt, always check that they have the British Standard logo on them.

If you park your motorcycle or scooter in a shed or garage at home, make sure that it has secure locks and the structure can’t be broken into.

Marking your machine is also useful. Many new bikes are now marked as standard or you can buy kits to do the job yourself. Mark parts with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), your postcode and/or the vehicle registration number. You can also use an ultra-violet (UV) marker to invisibly mark non-metal parts of your bike. However, these will need to be renewed every few weeks. Warning stickers, available from your dealer, can be used to warn thieves that “all parts have been marked” – this will help put them off.

When buying a second hand bike follow the same advice as for buying a used car.

Finally, sign up to a bike watch scheme. Contact groups such as the Motorcycle Action Group or the British Motorcyclists Federation. And don’t forget to contact your local police who can provide you with plenty more helpful advice and information on preventing motorcycle theft.

Useful Links

Motorcycle Action Group
Campaigning for a reduction in motorcycle theft and an improvement in security.

Thatcham
Security testing and safety research on behalf of member insurance companies.

Government car crime Document (pdf)
Steer clear of motorbike crime with these tips from the government.

Sold Secure
Tests and advises the public on the effectivness of security products.

image:  Frank Kehren