During the winter months, dark evenings and wet, windy weather can make driving very dangerous. Following these seven steps should help ensure your stay safe on the roads this season.
According to the MET Office Britain has a wintry week of weather ahead. Temperatures are predicted to drop well below freezing and some parts of the country may even experience a light sprinkling of snow.
These types of weather conditions can cause havoc on the roads for motorists. And with the Christmas period just around the corner, many people will be travelling longer distances than usual to visit friends and family.
As a result the number of car insurance claims made tend to increase around this time of year.
To help ensure both you and your car stay out of harm’s way this winter, here are seven safety steps you should carry out before you set off.
1. Get your car serviced
The peace of mind a professional check could offer is well worth paying for.
Therefore before the winter weather gets any worse, it’s a good idea to book your car into a garage and have it looked over by a mechanic.
Fixing any mechanical problems now will hopefully reduce the risk you will break down at a later date.
2. Pump up your tyres
At this time of year, heavy rain, snow and ice can make the roads lethal for motorists.
To help lower the risk of skidding, check both your car's tyre condition and pressure are correct before you drive. The current legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, but during the winter months it is a sensible idea to ensure your tyres have at least 3mm of tread depth.
This should also help increase your car's fuel efficiency and lower your petrol costs as you won’t have to put your foot down as hard on the accelerator.
3. Look after your lights
Dark mornings and dark evenings can make driving extremely dangerous. It is therefore crucial to ensure all your lights are clean and working properly. Always replace any broken bulbs immediately.
If you don't, you will not only find it difficult to see the road clearly, you run the risk of not being seen by other drivers. Make sure you know where your front and back fog lights are.
4. Fill up your fuel
Before you hit the road, make sure you have sufficient fuel in the tank. The last thing you want in the cold weather is to run out of petrol and be stuck on the side of the road somewhere.
It is also important to check you have the right level of oil in your car, and top it up if it gets too low.
5. Ensure you can see
Winter weather can make it more difficult to see clearly when you are driving.
To help lower the risk of having an accident always make sure the windscreen is clean and clear, you have plenty of screenwash and your wiper blades are in good condition.
If your windows are covered in frost, make sure you de-ice them before driving and don’t forget to clear your mirrors too.
When you're warming up your car, never leave your car unattended with the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked. You only need to turn your back for a second and an opportunist thief could jump in and drive off.
6. Be prepared
It is a sensible idea to put together an emergency winter survival kit so that you are prepared should you break down or have an accident. Remember to include a torch, warm clothes, blankets, food, ice scraper and a first aid kit.
It's also important to always carry a fully charged mobile phone and the number of your car breakdown service with you so that you can call for help should you need it.
7. Drive safely
Finally, make sure you take extra care on the roads.
Allow more time for journeys and try to avoid rushing. Keep a safe distance from the car in front, and leave more time to brake and accelerate in wet or icy conditions.
If there is snow and ice on the roads, use high gears to reduce the need for sudden deceleration or acceleration. And in the fog watch your speed as fog can give the impression of slow motion in oncoming traffic.
If you can it's a good idea to avoid driving in the dark and bad weather altogether as the number of accidents increase during these conditions. Wherever possible try to use major routes which have been gritted or salted.
Be aware that not everyone on the road will be experienced in driving in these types of conditions so remain alert at all times.
Source
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Insurance premiums to rise under new draft legislation
Insurance premiums could rise to pay for a change in the law that would see insurers pay out millions more to customers.An update in the law, which has not changed for more than 100 years, is being suggested by the Law Commission and its Scottish counterpart.
Under the draft legislation, claims would be less likely to be rejected because a customer had failed to tell an insurer about information that might subsequently be important.It could see insurers paying out £4.4 million more for life claims, and between £5 million and £20 million for other insurance policies.
The report said: “This may be seen as a cost to insurers and a benefit to those consumer policyholders who receive a full or partial payment of their claims.
“We anticipate, however, that the cost of additional claims would be passed on to consumers. This would add around 0.08 per cent to the cost of life and critical illness insurance and 0.025 per cent to 0.1 per cent to general insurance.”
It equates to an extra 2.5p to 10p for every £100 of premium currently paid for non-life policies.
However, if consumers had deliberately misled the insurer the company could completely refuse their claim.
If they had not taken enough care in making sure the information was correct, they could be asked to pay a higher premium for future cover or receive a lower part as part of a claim.
The legal bodies said that the current situation had led to “unacceptable confusion”.
Phil Jones, of consumer campaign group Which? said: “This law is out of date and can leave people without cover when they need it most.
“We don’t think insurers should be able to reject claims because customers haven’t disclosed information they were never asked for and is unrelated to their claim.”
The Association of British Insures said it does not oppose the proposals as they recognize industry best practice.
Nick Starling, the ABI’s director of general insurance and health, said: “We share the Law Commission’s desire that customers should be treated fairly. The insurance industry is committed to ensuring that customers understand their rights and obligations, and have their genuine claims paid quickly.”
Source
Under the draft legislation, claims would be less likely to be rejected because a customer had failed to tell an insurer about information that might subsequently be important.It could see insurers paying out £4.4 million more for life claims, and between £5 million and £20 million for other insurance policies.
The report said: “This may be seen as a cost to insurers and a benefit to those consumer policyholders who receive a full or partial payment of their claims.
“We anticipate, however, that the cost of additional claims would be passed on to consumers. This would add around 0.08 per cent to the cost of life and critical illness insurance and 0.025 per cent to 0.1 per cent to general insurance.”
It equates to an extra 2.5p to 10p for every £100 of premium currently paid for non-life policies.
However, if consumers had deliberately misled the insurer the company could completely refuse their claim.
If they had not taken enough care in making sure the information was correct, they could be asked to pay a higher premium for future cover or receive a lower part as part of a claim.
The legal bodies said that the current situation had led to “unacceptable confusion”.
Phil Jones, of consumer campaign group Which? said: “This law is out of date and can leave people without cover when they need it most.
“We don’t think insurers should be able to reject claims because customers haven’t disclosed information they were never asked for and is unrelated to their claim.”
The Association of British Insures said it does not oppose the proposals as they recognize industry best practice.
Nick Starling, the ABI’s director of general insurance and health, said: “We share the Law Commission’s desire that customers should be treated fairly. The insurance industry is committed to ensuring that customers understand their rights and obligations, and have their genuine claims paid quickly.”
Source
Thursday, January 28, 2010
How our insurance broker got me a great deal on my car insurance
I’m sorting out my car insurance and just like everyone should, I’ve been scouting around for the best deal. It actually came from our insurance broker and here is how.
Lets start out with my quote from Direct Line. We all know that they offer low cost quotes, as long as your requirements are pretty standard. My quote from them was £332.
I then used a car insurance price comparison site and quotes started at £310. There are obviously some good deals to be had there so why didn’t I buy the insurance through GoCompare?
The answer lies in what the cheap policies don’t provide and this is very important when it comes to actually needing to claim on the insurance, which we all hope we won’t have to do.
Here is the list of benefits that Direct Line and the other policies were not covering that the car insurance I bought via the insurance broker does:
£100 excess – Direct Line and the others had £250 excess
Includes full roadside breakdown cover for both our cars
Replacement car
Note that these are all benefits that you hope you don’t need, but are invaluable if you do have a problem. For example, what happens if you rely on your car yet it is off the road being repaired for two weeks after an accident? A hire car for two weeks will cost hundreds of pounds.
The same applies to the breakdown cover. RAC roadside assistance starts at £28 per year for one car, but increases to £61 to cover two cars.
So how much did I pay for my car insurance via our broker? I paid £399. Yes that costs more than the other quotes but add RAC cover for two cars to Direct Line’s quote and you get a total of £393, but you don’t get a replacement car and have a higher excess all for a £6 a year saving. Not good if you need them.
Source
Lets start out with my quote from Direct Line. We all know that they offer low cost quotes, as long as your requirements are pretty standard. My quote from them was £332.
I then used a car insurance price comparison site and quotes started at £310. There are obviously some good deals to be had there so why didn’t I buy the insurance through GoCompare?
The answer lies in what the cheap policies don’t provide and this is very important when it comes to actually needing to claim on the insurance, which we all hope we won’t have to do.
Here is the list of benefits that Direct Line and the other policies were not covering that the car insurance I bought via the insurance broker does:
£100 excess – Direct Line and the others had £250 excess
Includes full roadside breakdown cover for both our cars
Replacement car
Note that these are all benefits that you hope you don’t need, but are invaluable if you do have a problem. For example, what happens if you rely on your car yet it is off the road being repaired for two weeks after an accident? A hire car for two weeks will cost hundreds of pounds.
The same applies to the breakdown cover. RAC roadside assistance starts at £28 per year for one car, but increases to £61 to cover two cars.
So how much did I pay for my car insurance via our broker? I paid £399. Yes that costs more than the other quotes but add RAC cover for two cars to Direct Line’s quote and you get a total of £393, but you don’t get a replacement car and have a higher excess all for a £6 a year saving. Not good if you need them.
Source
Friday, January 15, 2010
Cheaper insurance tips revealed
Drivers of used cars who are hoping to cut back on their insurance spending will be interested to see a list of insider tips for bringing down the cost of premiums.
A number of quick and easy ways to make savings on car insurance policies has been published by moneysupermarket.com.
Younger drivers of used cars will be interested to note the tip that they can bring down the cost of their insurance by adding an older driver on to their policy.
While a more general piece of advice from the website is to shop around for your car insurance policy, whatever your age and circumstances.
Other top tips include adding a partner to your insurance or halving your mileage by car-sharing with a work colleague.
Earlier this month, moneysupermarket.com released research which showed that seven of the ten cheapest locations in the UK for car insurance are in Scotland.
A number of quick and easy ways to make savings on car insurance policies has been published by moneysupermarket.com.
Younger drivers of used cars will be interested to note the tip that they can bring down the cost of their insurance by adding an older driver on to their policy.
While a more general piece of advice from the website is to shop around for your car insurance policy, whatever your age and circumstances.
Other top tips include adding a partner to your insurance or halving your mileage by car-sharing with a work colleague.
Earlier this month, moneysupermarket.com released research which showed that seven of the ten cheapest locations in the UK for car insurance are in Scotland.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Staying Insured In States With High Car Insurance Rates
There are many states where the cost of auto insurance can be quite expensive and sometimes unaffordable, but there can be ways to locate a policy that is within an individual’s budget even in the states with high costs for automobile coverage. Driving uninsured is never a good idea and shopping wisely and comparing effectively can help motorists stay on the road legally at a price they can afford.
Unfortunately for individuals who reside in states such as New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida and Louisiana usually end up paying the highest car insurance rates by state according to the NAIC and the motorists who live in the District of Columbia also suffer from inflated premiums. There are many factors that come into play that can affect the amount of policies such as traffic congestion, high amounts of coverage required by the state and crime rates.
In recent years, specific cities have also been hit by high rate increases. According to a press release from the state of Michigan regarding an auto insurance study and report it states, “The report compares 2006 auto premiums in Kalamazoo versus South Central Detroit from six Michigan auto insurers. Detroit's premiums ranged from 241% to 365% higher.”
Source
Unfortunately for individuals who reside in states such as New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida and Louisiana usually end up paying the highest car insurance rates by state according to the NAIC and the motorists who live in the District of Columbia also suffer from inflated premiums. There are many factors that come into play that can affect the amount of policies such as traffic congestion, high amounts of coverage required by the state and crime rates.
In recent years, specific cities have also been hit by high rate increases. According to a press release from the state of Michigan regarding an auto insurance study and report it states, “The report compares 2006 auto premiums in Kalamazoo versus South Central Detroit from six Michigan auto insurers. Detroit's premiums ranged from 241% to 365% higher.”
Source
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Getting the Best Auto Insurance Rates
You need car insurance coverage to protect yourself and your family from injury. You also need auto insurance coverage to protect yourself financially from having to pay for any property damage if you have an accident. Almost all states will not allow you to register your car until have insurance. The State of California has a low cost auto insurance program.
Deciding on out how much auto insurance coverage you need will be based on the minimum amount of auto insurance you can have in your state, how much insurance coverage you feel comfortable having, and how much you can afford.
When you compare types of insurance coverage, be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. The two main types of car insurance coverage are liability insurance and collision insurance. You can also have auto insurance coverage to pay for a rental car when your vehicle is being repaired.
Source
Deciding on out how much auto insurance coverage you need will be based on the minimum amount of auto insurance you can have in your state, how much insurance coverage you feel comfortable having, and how much you can afford.
When you compare types of insurance coverage, be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. The two main types of car insurance coverage are liability insurance and collision insurance. You can also have auto insurance coverage to pay for a rental car when your vehicle is being repaired.
Source
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Cheap Car Insurance ý Heaven or Hell!
Cheap car insurance can be hell, not heaven. Yes, you read that right ý cheap car insurance can be hell. Okay, not always. But if you donýt do your research correctly you could end up paying less for your car insurance to start with, but end up with inadequate cover, huge excess payments or heavy penalties in the long run. Itýs when this happens that cheap car insurance can become hell.
The cheapest car insurance may not offer all the extras you want, and you could end up paying more if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident. For example, extra items like legal cover and the provision of a courtesy car should your vehicle need time for repair, are sometimes optional extras. Often these items are removed to make the car insurance policy cheaper. If you need a vehicle for work and you donýt have courtesy car provision, you could end up losing money should your car need repairing for a week or so.
If you are happy with your current insurer, it is worth getting quotes to renew your policy with them. If you can find a price online that beats the one you are offered, tell them. They might then try to match, or even beat the price you have found online, therefore saving you even more money on your car insurance but meaning you keep the same benefits that served you well over the past year.
Everyone wants to find the best deals available to them. It seems silly to waste money on one product when you can get exactly the same, but for less money. The reason cheap car insurance can become hell though, is because many people make the mistake of not getting the same for the best money. Instead they get less for less money, and it is only when something happens that they realise it. For example, you may find a great car insurance deal that saves you loads on what you were paying last year. Only, when your window gets smashed, you realise your new policy charges you ý150 excess, whereas the last one only charged ý50. Suddenly you are even more out of pocket when you thought you were actually saving money.
Things that will make your car insurance cheaper include things like where the car is kept overnight. If it is kept in a garage, your insurance is likely to be less than if you keep your car in a public car park. Donýt make the mistake of saying your car is kept in a garage when it isnýt, to make the policy cheaper. You may find that when you come to claim for something that happened overnight, you have problems because the car was not in the garage.
Source
The cheapest car insurance may not offer all the extras you want, and you could end up paying more if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident. For example, extra items like legal cover and the provision of a courtesy car should your vehicle need time for repair, are sometimes optional extras. Often these items are removed to make the car insurance policy cheaper. If you need a vehicle for work and you donýt have courtesy car provision, you could end up losing money should your car need repairing for a week or so.
If you are happy with your current insurer, it is worth getting quotes to renew your policy with them. If you can find a price online that beats the one you are offered, tell them. They might then try to match, or even beat the price you have found online, therefore saving you even more money on your car insurance but meaning you keep the same benefits that served you well over the past year.
Everyone wants to find the best deals available to them. It seems silly to waste money on one product when you can get exactly the same, but for less money. The reason cheap car insurance can become hell though, is because many people make the mistake of not getting the same for the best money. Instead they get less for less money, and it is only when something happens that they realise it. For example, you may find a great car insurance deal that saves you loads on what you were paying last year. Only, when your window gets smashed, you realise your new policy charges you ý150 excess, whereas the last one only charged ý50. Suddenly you are even more out of pocket when you thought you were actually saving money.
Things that will make your car insurance cheaper include things like where the car is kept overnight. If it is kept in a garage, your insurance is likely to be less than if you keep your car in a public car park. Donýt make the mistake of saying your car is kept in a garage when it isnýt, to make the policy cheaper. You may find that when you come to claim for something that happened overnight, you have problems because the car was not in the garage.
Source
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