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Choose Powerseeker for Cheap Car Insurance, Motorbike, Van and Taxi Insurance
January 23rd, 2012
For most young drivers it is pretty common knowledge nowadays that insurers simply don’t want you. Insurance companies are trying to charge young drivers an extortionate amount of money which no normal person can afford as it seems they do not want the hassle which is associated with young drivers.
Apparently, young drivers are more likely to be distracted at the wheel of a car thus causing more accidents to them and surrounding vehicles which sends the cost of young driver policies rocketing through the roof. Therefore, some insurance companies find no problem in quoting young drivers an excess of £10,000 to ensure they cannot insure with their Insurance Company.
A survey conducted by young driver insurance specialist ‘Young Marmalade’ and the House of Commons Transport Select Committee which polled 1,127 younger drivers showed that an incredible 96% of young motorists feel ‘priced off the road’.
A shocking 30% of young drivers have considered altering their personal or vehicle information to lower their insurance quote. Also, 21% of them have thought about driving without insurance, which is a criminal offence.
In addition, many parents choose to insure their children’s car for them in their name and then add their offspring as a second driver. This practice known as “fronting” and although many do not realise, it is illegal.
It’s a fact that uninsured drivers cause insurance premiums to rise, however when insurance companies effectively block all routes of insurance to a young driver, many of them are likely to seek illegal routes.
It’s understandable that insurance companies need to charge larger amounts of money that will cover young drivers due to them being more of a liability. However, I am sure we would all agree that it would be better all-round if young drivers could afford to insure; legally as none of us want to be hit by an uninsured driver.
Here are some top tips to enable young drivers to get a fair price for car insurance:
1. Choose the car carefully
A car make, model and age can make a huge difference to insurance premiums. It is best to choose a modest vehicle without any modifications.
2. Cut down the amount of cover
Young motorists should consider dropping down to third party fire and theft or third party-only cover as limited cover is better than the illegal route of driving without insurance.
3. Keep your licence clean for at least a year
Drive ultra-cautiously in your first year as young drivers are most likely to have an accident. A clean, full driving licence for more than a year will help to lower your insurance premium.
4. Make sure you shop around
Shopping around for car insurance could find you a deal to help slash your premium. It’s a proven fact that getting quotes online could reduce your premium by more than a third.
Compare car insurance quotes with Powerseeker here.
5. Share a car and become a ‘named driver’
Your own personal policy may cost a small fortune but it would cost a lot less if you were named on the insurance of your parent’s car.
However, it is not an option for parents to insure their children’s car for them in their name and then add the child as a second driver as this practice known as “fronting” and it is illegal.
6. Become a safer driver
Taking an Advanced Driving Test could help you to become a safer driver. After passing this test many insurers will lower your premium.
7. Look after your car
Look after your car as by keeping it safe will reduce the risk of an accident or theft claim which will help to build up your No Claims Bonus discount which will help to save you money the next time you renew your car insurance.
Finally, the very best way to keep your insurance premiums affordable is to drive carefully, so go easy on that accelerator pedal!
8. Ask for a discount
You can reduce an insurance premium using a range of security and safety discounts. For example, an insurer-approved car alarm or tracker will lower your premium. Also, adding a second named driver to your policy could cost you less on the overall cost.
9. Increase the voluntary excess
A standard policy excesses is usually between £100 to £250, which is the amount that you would have to pay for each claim. However, you could increase the voluntary excess by choosing to pay more which would lower the cost of the voluntary excess.
10. Pay annually where possible
If you can afford to then pay for your insurance with a one off payment.
If you do have to pay for your car insurance via monthly premiums you could pay extra of up to 30% APR.
On a final note, keep it legal by taking out adequate car insurance. It is law in the UK for every every person who uses a vehicle on the road to have at least third party insurance.
Tags: Affordable, Car, Drivers, Insurance, Young
Posted in Young Drivers | Comments Off
January 21st, 2012
Black cabs are famous the world over and they have truly become a British icon. Black cabs are a symbol of the UK itself and there are not many streets where you won’t come across black cabs. For their drivers, black cabs are not only a British icon but also their main source of income.
Just like any other vehicle on the road, the black cab also needs to be insured. Black cabs require insurance to comply with UK law but because it is such a unique vehicle, the black cab taxi insurance also needs to give the driver peace of mind they have the relevant level of insurance cover. It needs to protect both you and your passengers in case of any accidents. The insurance also needs to cover the taxi for any repair work, medical and legal expenses which could be incurred. You will almost certainly be interested in breakdown cover and the opportunity for a replacement vehicle and windscreen should these be required. After all, if you’re a black cab taxi driver then time is money!
There are an increasing number of insurance brokers in UK that deal only in black cabs and it’s a good idea to go with a specialist black cab taxi insurance company as they have all the experience necessary to help you with your insurance decisions.
Black cab insurers will offer insurance policies to enable you to operate your black cab business effectively. The first thing you should look for is that the insurance covers against all likely risks to your vehicle and your business. Some black cab risks include:
- Risk of damage by customers that is covered by third party insurance
- Risk of fire and theft, coverage of which is usually included in all black cab insurance policies.
Choice Quote Insurance Services have been providing specialist black cab insurance since 1995. They offer cab drivers excellent taxi insurance cover and professional services.
MCE insurance is another black cab insurer famous for their cheapest quotes obtained by comparing insurance prices with more than a dozen leading companies.
Another company to consider is Taxi Protection who also compares the rate of UKs top specialist taxi insurers. They provide cabbies with choices of three level of cover: comprehensive, third party fire and theft and third party only
As you can appreciate, there are many things to consider when looking for black cab insurance. By searching online you can compare different black cab insurance policies to make sure that you’re getting the right cover for your black cab, letting you get on the road with complete confidence.
Tags: Black, British, Cab, Insurance, Specialist, Taxi
Posted in Taxi Insurance | Comments Off
January 18th, 2012
It’s that time of year again where the cold snap encourages people to leave their vehicles un-attended whilst it defrosts and warms up ready for our on-ward journey.
According to previous surveys at least 47% of us in the UK are guilty of this. It’s important to make you aware at this stage that your Insurance Company may refuse to payout if your vehicle is stolen as a result of this negligence.
Be warned as opportunist thieves are on the lookout for an easy target. Around 2000 car thefts occur each year because motorists leave their vehicles to warm up during winter mornings. This equates to vehicle thieves getting away with around £12.7m worth of vehicles every year.
Claims director at swiftcover.com, Robin Reames said, “Leaving a car with keys in the ignition provides a perfect opportunity for thieves, and we as motorists are especially likely to do this at this time of year.
“People have an ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude. However in reality, it can and does happen anywhere in the UK.”
For some, this is not just an occurrence during winter months as many motorists will leave their engine running whilst they just pop in the house to get something they forgot; or just pop in the local newsagent to pick up a paper
It doesn’t matter what reason the vehicle has been left; many insurance companies will in these circumstances nullify an insurance claim where a vehicle has been stolen with its keys left inside.
At present, it is a criminal offence to leave your car engine running when you are not in the vehicle. The offence is called ‘quitting’; t comes from the Road Traffic Act 1986.
The Road Vehicles (Constriction and Use) Regulation 1986 (SI 1986/1078) deals with the actual offence of “quitting”. It states “… that no person shall cause or permit to be on any road any motor vehicle which is not attended by a person duly licensed to drive it unless the engine is stopped and the parking brake is effectively set. Exemptions to the requirements of this Regulation as to the stopping of the engine include a fire brigade vehicle.”
Tags: Insurance, Motorists, Null, Theft, Un-attended, Vehicles, Void, Warning, Winter
Posted in Cheap Car Insurance, Performance Car Insurance, Taxi Insurance, Van Insurance, Womens Car Insurance | Comments Off
January 16th, 2012
Although caravan insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK, caravan theft is becoming more common and therefore may be the biggest reason to insure your caravan.
Whilst you are towing your caravan you are covered by your motor insurance policy and so you may wonder whether caravan insurance is worth the cost, but as soon as the caravan is un-coupled this is no longer the case and not really worth the risk.
It is estimated that around 3,000 touring caravans a year are the target of crime. This includes anything from the actual caravan being stolen through to personal items being stolen from within the caravan itself. Therefore, when taking out caravan insurance you need to ensure you have the adequate level of insurance.
If you have a new caravan then you may wish to take out a new for old insurance policy; this means that if your caravan is stolen your insurers will pay out the cost of buying a new caravan. However, if you own an older caravan then you may wish to restrict the policy to market value only which will keep the cost of the insurance premium to a minimum.
A couple of additional things you need to check when taking out an insurance policy for a caravan is that unattended personal items are covered when these are left in the caravan. Also check that emergency accommodation is included in the policy just in case the caravan gets badly damaged or stolen whilst on holiday; at least then you would have somewhere to stay the night. Finally safeguard against storm and flood damage as the past few years in the UK this has become a much more common issue with some of the unusual weather patterns we have experienced.
We know that insuring your caravan can become an expensive task but there are some things you can do to save yourself some money. Here are a few of our best tips when it comes to taking out caravan insurance.
• Parking Location
The location where you park your caravan is very important when purchasing insurance as insurance companies calculate the premium based on the location. As with all insurance, areas are assessed according to crime rates so if the area where your keep the caravan has implemented security features such as a neighborhood watch then inform the insurance company to see if you are eligible for any discount.
• Safety features are an important part in reducing the cost of your policy
Adding inexpensive safety accessories to your caravan can significantly lower your insurance premium. Some safety features include hitch locks, alarms and wheel clamps; all of which could save you up to 10% on your policy. If you can afford a few more expensive items then some of the industry-approved security gadgets could save you up to 30% every year on your insurance.
• No previous insurance claims
If you’ve never made a claim on your insurance policy in the past then you could be eligible for a discount when purchasing an insurance policy for your caravan; that similar to no claims discount on car insurance. Simply ask the insurance company about any bonuses they have for caravan owners with no past claims.
• Caravan clubs could help reduce the cost of insurance
If you are a member of a caravanning club then mention this to the insurance company. You could also ask the organising body of the caravanning club about whether they are aware of any specialist companies that may be able to provide you with fair costs for caravan insurance.
• Increase your Voluntary Excess
Increasing the amount of the voluntary excess on your policy is one of the best ways to obtain cheap caravan insurance. The voluntary excess is the amount you agree to pay the insurance company prior to the insurance group takes over by paying for any damages or claims.
Tags: Caravan, Cheap, Insurance, Money, Save, Tips
Posted in Caravan Insurance | No Comments »
January 14th, 2012
It is an offence for you or others to use your car without a level of car insurance that satisfies the Road Traffic Act whilst driving on the public highway. However, no such law applies whilst driving on private land.
The UK government introduced the original law back in 1930 which requires every person who uses a vehicle on the road to have at least third party vehicle insurance.
Third party only insurance is the lowest level car insurance cover available and is therefore often the most low cost. Third Party Insurance will only cover you for causing accidental damage to other people’s property and causing injury or death to other people. However, please keep in mind that this level of insurance will not cover the cost of any damage to your vehicle or your personal belongings in the event of any accident.
Some road users refuse to purchase car insurance as they think they can get away without adhering to this law. This is often because they think car insurance is far too expensive, or maybe they think because they are good drivers they don’t need insurance as they are not likely to have an accident or it could simply be because they have forgotten to renew their insurance policy.
Whatever their reason for driving without insurance, unfortunately it means these people are pushing up the cost of insurance premiums for the law abiding motorists amongst us.
According to the AA, uninsured drivers are responsible for around 160 deaths on the road every year and an additional 23,000 injuries.
Knowing these figures, you may be shocked to learn that the average fine for driving without the adequate level of insurance cover is just £200, even though judges in the UK have the power to impose a fine up to £5000.
Mr Douglas from the AA remarked, “We’re failing honest motorists by such lenient fines. In my view, it’s vital to get the message over to this motoring underclass and, importantly, to their friends and families, that driving without insurance is socially unacceptable.
“People need to be stopped before they get behind the wheel of an uninsured car and go on to risk killing or injuring others.”
Apparently the UK motorists are around the worst in Europe for driving without car insurance. Around one in twenty-five people are driving on public roads in the UK without insurance.
This statistic may reduce considerably if these people knew where to look for cheap car insurance.
Tags: Car, Driving, Illegal, Insurance, Mororists, Public Roads, UK
Posted in Cheap Car Insurance, Performance Car Insurance, Womens Car Insurance | Comments Off
January 12th, 2012
The storms is the UK may have passed over for this week but insurance provider, the AA has reported a dramatic 200% increase in the last week in the number of calls it has received in its Call Centre’s.
Overall, the calls being made to the AA are considerably up compared to the usual number of calls which have been received at this same time of year in previous years.
The majority of calls regarding insurance, so far, are in regard to claims following the damage caused to property and vehicles as a result of the storms which were battering the UK over previous days.
The most common problems from Car and Home owners being reported to AA insurance included things from damaged roofs caused by fallen tiles through to broken windows to cars caused by loose debris flying through the sky.
It was only last winter that insurance companies in the UK saw a massive rise in the number of claims being made on home and car insurance policies due to the icy and snowy weather conditions. But, this winter the increase in insurance calls are the high winds and storms hitting the headlines. As British
people continue to bear the brunt of this extreme weather it only goes to show just how important it is to have an adequate level of insurance cover for your home and vehicle.
Stormy weather conditions mean that house roofs and cars are coming out as the two areas in which most of the AA insurance calls are being received.
There has been an increase of 12 times the normal ratio to report damage relating to these two problematic areas.
The stormy weather has also had a bad effect on repair work which is needed. The high winds in many Northern regions of the UK have made it far too dangerous for maintenance work to take place on roofs to repair any tile damage.
Home insurance companies are mostly recommending policy holders to get in touch with their provider prior to carrying out any repair work to see if they may be able to arrange temporary repair work. This is just a short term fix to tide the property over until the issue can be resolved properly.
Whilst the effects of the storms vary throughout the country the same warnings can be applied to all. For example, do not drive in severe weather conditions unless you need too and wherever possible keep your
car in the garage to protect it from flying debris, make sure you clear loose objects from around the house and keep up repairs on the house when it becomes safe to do so.
Finally, if something does happen to your car or home then notify your insurer as soon as possible.
Tags: Car, Claims, Damage, Home, Insurance, Storms, UK
Posted in Cheap Car Insurance, Home Insurance | Comments Off
August 20th, 2011
Did you know that 20% of all home insurance claims, buildings and contents alike, refer to the same thing – water! Water damage is the bane of the home insurance provider’s life because the claims are made with the same problems behind them time and again. Whereas very little can be done to prevent theft, fire or natural problems such as wind or flooding, domestic water claims can be prevented if the right steps are taken in advance. Of course, it is not always the homeowner or tenant’s fault. In many cases, the problem occurs outside the home and has an impact within it.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has asserted that water damage to buildings and their contents costs the home insurance industry around £2 million per day. This is a huge amount of money that is drained out of the coffers for no good reason. For example, every year water is lost as a result of underground leaks, most of which can be detected and plugged. The water lost would fill approximately 3,880 Olympic swimming pools, which is simply staggering. Not only does this cause a major headache in terms of cost but it also causes untold environmental damage.
Having said that, there are some water home insurance claims that are at the heart of a major DIY problem. That is to say that homeowners are trying to do their own DIY and plumbing and doing more harm than good with 9.7 billion litres lost this way. Of course, this can cost more than a external leak. There was an example of this last year, with two flat owners claiming for one incident. A DIY related leak cost £20,000 for the flat in which it occurred thanks to a bit of inexpert drilling but cost the home insurance company covering the person living below £150,000 in damages. It really does defy belief.
So what can you do as far as your home insurance is concerned? Well, the first point is to make sure that you have enough cover because many people do not and water damage is amongst the most expensive types of damage out there. You should also make sure that your pipes are solid and that you know where they are in the walls so that you can avoid them when drilling holes. Finally, never undertake plumbing yourself. Always call in an expert. Unless you want a major bill of course…
Posted in Home Insurance | Comments Off
August 18th, 2011
A few days after I wrote about young drivers insurance potentially going down, there is yet more good news for young drivers all over the UK. This news is only good directly for some but there are plenty of others that may well like to know of the actions of one particular insurance company to let hem know that there is a little relief available for them. One of the major car insurers has recently announced that they will be rewarding young drivers with excellent records with cash going directly into their bank accounts when they prove that they are responsible on the road. How cool is that?
The news just seems to be getting better and better for young drivers and it is about time really when you consider just how much their premiums have gone up for their young drivers car insurance in recent years. They have suffered more than most when it comes to their costs and, in some cases, their inability to afford premiums to be on the road. However, insurers are now starting to recognise the fact that there is a gap in the market for them to exploit, which can only be good news for those who are looking for young drivers insurance that they can afford.
This particular provider offers young drivers car insurance that requires drivers to fit a black box on their car. If they stay within the speed limit, avoid excessive breaking and acceleration, and take corners well then they will be rewarded via cash straight into their bank account. As such, they have to pay full premiums but get some of their money back if they drive carefully. Of course, the better you drive the more money you get back and they have reported giving nine out of ten young drivers money back. This is no mean feat and far more generous than most providers are, but it is also thought to be a precedent that other young drivers insurance companies will follow.
Although young drivers insurance is coming down in some quarters, premiums are still quite high in others so it is important to get a range of quotes, compare them and then choose the best one for you. It may be difficult to choose substance over cost but it is important to do so if you want the best cover for you. After all, cashback is all well and good but it is no substitute for confirmed peace of mind.
Posted in Young Drivers | Comments Off
August 16th, 2011
You may read the title of this post and be a little confused right now because most cars are safe, aren’t they? They all have safety features these days because families look for such features before they buy a certain car. However, there is more than one way in which a car can be deemed safe and your womens car insurance will certainly point to that fact. For example, some cars are considered safe in terms of being rather undesirable to thieves whereas others are at risk of being targeted for stealing. A recent look at data from last year has revealed exactly which cars your womens car insurance provider will consider safe this year and so which will save you money on your premiums.
The recent report stated that, between 2004 and 2011, the Ford Ka was the most appealing car to motorists that did not want to deal with its theft. Thefts were less than 1 in 5000 because it apparently has “no street cred” with criminals. As such, if you have a Ka, your car insurance company is likely to go easy on your premiums in the coming year. There are other cars that will join it as well, such as the Hyundai Amica. However, there are certain cars that will have absolutely no benefits for your womens car insurance premiums at all.
The Toyota Yaris was revealed as the most stolen car, with 1 in 244 being stolen every year, although the Volkswagen Touareg, Volvo XC90, Porche 911 and Seat Altea right behind. Some of those may not be expected to be on the most stolen list because of the level of credibility, style, fashion and so on are not really that high. Of course, the Porsche 911 is different but the Seat Altea? It is certainly worth looking at the associated data when you realise that this is the case because it will impact upon your womens car insurance premiums.
Calculating womens car insurance is not an exact science because insurers do not reveal how they do it. However, it is certainly worth considering all the information at your disposal when it comes to choosing a new car. Asking yourself whether you can afford it or not will definitely give you a good idea of how much being on the road will cost you. In some vehicles it will cost you a little and in others a lot so choose wisely and take full advantage of data at your disposal!
Posted in Womens Car Insurance | Comments Off
August 14th, 2011
There is a little bit of excellent news for drivers today, and for young drivers in particular. In a world where car insurance premiums are going up left, right and centre, one of the leading young drivers car insurance providers in the country has announced that all drivers below the age of 25 are to have their premiums reduced by 17%… providing that they deserve it. Now you may be scratching your head and asking what deserving it means. Does it mean that you have a clean license, because that does not necessarily make you a good driver? Does it mean that you drive within the speed limit, because that can be difficult to prove to insurance companies? Well, in this case it means both and young drivers insurance companies can prove both.
One of the main provisions of the offer of a car insurance policy from this particular company is that a black box be installed into the car in question (obviously by a professional mechanic who is vetted and approved by the company) and then the young drivers car insurance is granted. The black box will keep an eye on your driving, letting the company know how fast you are going, whether you are abiding by the rules of the road and also taking data to help them offer you a policy that suits you, like where you go, what time of day you drive and so on.
It is not only thought that this trial of reduced young drivers car insurance premiums will encourage more to seek insurance and so abide by the rules of the road in the first instance but also that the black box will encourage young people to think about their driving and exactly how far they are abiding by the laws of the road. If it encourages them to become better drivers and cuts down the number of accidents then it is no bad thing. After all, anything that makes the roads that little bit safer is worth the effort.
You can, of course, refuse the black box being fitted but doing so may well cost you a cheaper car insurance policy. For young drivers, they can be hard to come across so it is definitely worth looking into and having one fitted onto your car. You will rarely find a fairer deal so join the young drivers car insurance revolution today and start comparing!
Posted in Young Drivers | Comments Off
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