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Archive for May, 2009

BMW

Friday, May 29th, 2009

BMW

BMW is an independent German car manufacturer and was founded in 1913. BMW is one of the world’s leading manufacturers specialising in high-performance and luxury vehicles. They also produce motorcycles and are the parent company of MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands.
The current BMW cars are all set out in “series” such as the M series and the 3 Series etc.

Many people choose to purchase a BMW brand car because of the quality and style that is associated with them. BMW’s are beautiful cars and will continue to improve as each new “series” is unveiled. BMW are always a highly respected brand and people eagerly await the unveiling of their new models at car shows across the world.

BMW bought the British Rover Group in 1994 but because of the huge losses that Rover was making BMW decided to sell them and Rover then became MG Rover and Land Rover was taken by Ford. However, BMW kept the rights to build the new MINI which was launched in 2001 and was a huge success.

BMW Car Insurance Models

1 Series	3 Series	5 Series	6 Series	7 Series	8 Series	Alpine CSA	M Coupe	M Roadster	M3	M5	M6
X3	X5	Z1	Z3	Z4	Z8

Image credit: Luciano Meirelles

Tags: BMW, Car, Car Insurance
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Alfa Romeo

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Since 1986 Alfa Romeo – the Italian car manufacturer – has been a part of the Fiat Group and has always been involved in motor racing. In the 1920′s and 30′s Alfa Romeo scored wins at many of the most famous and prestigious races and events such as Targa Florio, Mille Miglia and Le Mans. They continue to have great success with their cars to this day with their Formula 1, Prototypes, Touring and Fast Touring.

Today they have current models such as the 147 which is a small family car that has been produced by Alfa Romeo since 2000. Alfa Romeo has many cars available at the moment and many choose their designs because of the comfort and high quality craftsmanship. Alfa Romeo is one of the leading car manufacturers and is extremely popular today as they continue to bring out new, innovative and chic designs.

Image credit: k3anan

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Car, Car Insurance
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What happens if my car insurance claim is rejected?

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Occasionally, insurance companies refuse to pay claims and can sometimes reduce the amount they are going to pay you. Usually, this is because of one or more reasons.

Clauses – You are not covered by a clause in the insurance policy and it would be better dealt with by another insurance policy i.e. home insurance.
In the event of a write-off – Your claim can also be reduced if your car has been written off and the value of the car is much less than what it would cost to restore it.
Supporting Information – If you do not have receipts for aspects of your claim for example theft of a laptop or iPod from your car then you are unable to make a claim.
Theft – Sometimes if an insurance company believes you were at fault for the theft of your vehicle or belongings inside your vehicle then you will not be able to make a claim.
Untruthful Information – If you have given inaccurate or untruthful information in relation to your claim then you are not able to make a claim.

What can you do?

Keep a record of all the conversations and correspondence in relation to your claim. This can really help with the success rate.
You don’t have to accept their offer. You can sometimes negotiate a better deal with your insurer in cases where you believe the sum they are willing to pay out is wrong. This can sometimes work well and you will get what you are owed.

If you are stuck and don’t know how to deal with something and you feel you are being treated unfairly by your insurance company then you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service who are there to help.

You can either call the FOS on 0845 080 1800 or write to:

The Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall

Or visit the website at: http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

Tags: Accidents, Car, Car Damage, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Claims, Insurance Cover Types
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Car Insurance Claims, Car Insurance Cover Types | 1 Comment »

A Guide To Women’s Car Insurance

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Until about 10 years ago, cheap car insurance for women drivers was not a priority for most insurers’. Today, women can get some excellent deals on their motor insurance, but as with most things, you have to shop around to find the best prices.

Below is a short guide to help women find the cheapest car insurance deals.
Car insurance prices seem to be considerably lower for women than they are for men and this is especially noticed up to the age of 45. When drivers hit this age the price of their car insurance begins to level itself out.

The Facts about Car Insurance for Women
Statistics in the UK show that women are safer drivers than men and insurance premiums are partly based on these statistics. Below are some of these figures:

Government figures show that over 92% of driving convictions in the UK are for men.
Male drivers are responsible for 98% of all dangerous driving convictions.
It is proven that women tend to drive more slowly, carefully and shorter distances than men.
Even though women have the same amount of accidents a year as men, the accident is less likely to be as severe. This means that women drivers overall claims experience are a lot better than that of male drivers.

Cheaper Car Insurance for Female Drivers
All the advice given in our main car insurance guide applies as equally to women as it does men; however here are a few more tips and tricks on how to get the best and cheapest car insurance deal if you are a female driver:

Purchase a car that has a small engine or is in a lower insurance group. To see what insurance group your car is in click here.
If you are a new driver you should definitely consider taking out your own policy rather than being a named driver on someone else’s. Yes it will be a bit more expensive, however in the long run your insurance will be cheaper because you can build up your no claims bonus. A 1 year no claims bonus will give you a 30% discount on your premium.
Try to avoid modifying your car. These modifications include alloy wheels, body kits, sport exhausts, engine modifications, etc. These modifications, even if really small, can increase your premium drastically.
Adding additional security features to your car can lower your premium. Security features such as immobilisers, central locking, car alarms, etc can really help save you money.
If you only use your car for short journeys then try and estimate what your annual mileage is because putting a cap on your mileage can get you a further discount on your premium.
Some insurers specialise in offering car insurance for female drivers so look out for these insurers to save even more on your car insurance.
Older drivers should avoid putting young drivers on their policy as named drivers as this will increase your premium drastically.

Tags: Budgeting, Car, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Car Insurance Claims, Cheap
Posted in Car Insurance, Women's Car Insurance | No Comments »

How to make a car insurance claim.

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

If you need to make a claim then this simple guide can help you. Millions of pounds are paid out each year for drivers in accidents or who have had their car damaged or stolen.

Inform your insurance company as soon as possible.
Write down an account of what happened which you can later refer back to when writing up your claim.
If your claim is in relation to a crime such as theft or arson, inform the police as well. Your car insurance company will need to know an incident number if you are reporting a crime as well.
Make sure you ask your insurer what you need to do next so you can provide evidence about your claim. Make sure your story is consistent – you don’t want to risk the insurance company thinking you’re lying.
Keep all your documents relevant to the claim in a safe place and make sure you are available to be contacted by your insurance company.
Keep copies of receipts for damages and any correspondence which affects your claim. When you speak to someone on the phone make sure you get their name and telephone extension for your records.
Don’t take your car in for repairs until you have sorted everything out. Your car insurance company is likely to recommend a garage to you and it is safer for you if you take it there. Don’t make any repairs to your car until your car insurance company has agreed to pay for it.

Tags: Accidents, Car Damage, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Car Insurance Claims, Cost Management, Fully Comp, Fully Comprehensive, Legal
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Car Insurance Claims | No Comments »

What do I need to apply for car insurance?

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

In order to get an accurate quote for your car insurance please ensure you have the following information:

Car Registration number, plus make and model
Post Code
Number of years of no claims discount
The details of any other drivers who you wish to include on your policy
Estimated annual mileage
Full details of claims or convictions in the last three years

Liability and legal requirements

You are obliged to disclose any detail which may be considered of importance to your insurer. Failure to do so may affect your ability to make a claim.

Therefore, if your circumstances change in any of the following ways you must inform your insurance company in order to ensure you are still covered:

If you move home
If the named drivers on your policy change
If you modify your vehicle
If you change your vehicle
If you exceed your limited mileage

Tags: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Insurance Cover Types, Legal, Quote, Third Party
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Which type of car insurance do you require?

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

There are three levels of car insurance cover – third party; third party, fire and theft; and fully comprehensive. When purchasing car insurance it’s important to choose the option which will afford you the cover that you need.

The three levels of insurance cover are described below – take the time to read and understand the difference between them to make sure you select the right type of car insurance cover.

Third Party

This option offers only minimum coverage.
It covers you for:

Injury to other people
Damage to another person’s property or car
Accidents caused by passengers

It does not cover you:

If your car is stolen
If your car is damaged in a fire
If you damage your own car
For medical expenses
Loss or damage to personal possessions (which are in the car)

As this type of insurance offers only very limited cover, it is really only suitable for people who cannot afford more comprehensive cover.

Third Party, Fire & Theft
This offers the same coverage as third party, plus you are also covered in the event of a fire, or if your vehicle is stolen.

However it does not cover you :

If you damage your own car
For medical expenses
Loss or damage to personal possessions (which are in the car)

This type of cover offers a happy medium for those who cannot afford fully comprehensive cover.

Fully Comprehensive (‘Fully Comp’)
As the name suggests this type of insurance offers the same cover as third party, fire & theft; plus you are also covered if you damage your own car.

In addition to this you will also be covered for medical expenses, and loss or damage to personal possessions which are in your car. Please note, not all fully comp insurance policies offer precisely the same benefits. For example, in addition to the coverage outlined above, some insurers also offer fully comp customers additional benefits like courtesy cars in the event of an accident or theft. Many also offer protected no-claims bonuses.

Before taking out any policy it’s really important to thoroughly check that the policy offers exactly the cover which you require.

Summary of Cover

	Third Party	Third Party, Fire & Theft	Fully Comprehensive
Injury to others	Yes	Yes	Yes
Damage to other’s property or car	Yes	Yes	Yes
Accidents caused by passengers	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fire	No	Yes	Yes
Theft	No	Yes	Yes
Damage to your own car	No	No	Yes
Medical expenses	No	No	Yes
Loss or damage to personal possessions	No	No	Yes

Tags: Accidents, Car Damage, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Summary, Personal Possessions, Third Party, Third Party Fire and Theft
Posted in Car Insurance, Women's Car Insurance, Young Drivers Car Insurance | No Comments »

How to get cheap car insurance.

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Obviously one of the best ways to save money is to shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal. But the factors below can make a big difference in the premium you pay:

Mileage

Yearly mileage is usually a key factor in deciding the cost of your motor insurance premium. If you travel a lot then you will pay more. Keep your insurer up to date on your annual mileage.

Learner Drivers

Pass Plus is a great way to lower your insurance premiums. Insurers want to see you are a competent driver so passing your test can be added to by taking extra advances lessons. Your premium can be cut by up to 35% if you have an advanced driving certificate.

Alarms and Immobilisers

If you have alarm systems and / or an immobilizer fitted then you are less likely to have your car stolen which reduces your premium. There are some alarms and immobilisers which cut your premium more than others so check with your insurer before you have one installed.

Car Modifications

Modifying your car can add costs to your premiums.

Paying Monthly

If you pay monthly, you will be paying more because you will be using a credit service to pay for your insurance. Some companies charge fees of up to 29% APR for this service so consider paying your premium annually.

Main Drivers

Who you have as the main driver will affect your policy. If you share a car with someone and they have a cleaner driving license then put them as the main driver to save yourself money.

With insurance you get what you pay for, so make sure you’re not paying for ‘benefits’ that you don’t really need:

Courtesy Cars

You will be paying for this privilege (via your premium) so consider whether or not you really need it.

Legal Protection

It is a good idea to be covered in the event that you have an accident which wasn’t your fault and want the chance to claim back any uninsured losses. However, remember legal support is only granted if you have a good enough case.

Roadside assistance and breakdown cover

Do you need this? You may find that you can get cheaper breakdown cover from elsewhere.

Policy Excess

If you are willing to pay a larger excess then your insurance premium will be lower. Voluntary excess is different to compulsory excess to make sure you read the fine print.

Personal Injury / Belongings

Does your cover include personal injury claims and claims on personal belongings? If so, you may need to consider the costs.

Legal Advice

Does your insurance offer legal advice and medical counselling telephone lines? This may also cost a little more.

No Claims Bonuses

You will need to find out if your no claims bonus will be affected if the accident wasn’t your fault. You can also look into whether you can transfer a no claims bonus which was built up while driving on somebody else’s insurance.

You may also want to look into the no claims bonus scheme and how many claims you are allowed before your no claims bonus is affected.

Tags: Budgeting, Car, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Car Insurance Claims, Cheap, Cheap Car Insurance, Comparison, Cost Management, Quote
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Cheap Car Insurance, Savings | No Comments »

Car insurance terminology.

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

ABI Group – Based on the level of risk involved with your car make and model, your car will be given a ranking.
Approved Repairer – Your car insurers will have a list of pre-approved repairers; it’s best to use an approved repairer as some insurance companies will refuse to pay out on claims if the repairs are not undertaken by someone from their list.
DOC Cover – This is Driving Other Cars cover and is sometimes listed in a motor insurance policy.
Fault/No Fault Claims - A no fault claim is where the insurer can recover the costs from someone else and a fault claim is where the insurer cannot do this.
IPT – A government tax which is charged as a percentage of car insurance premiums.
Loss Adjuster – This investigates the legitimacy of a claim.
Material Fact – Failure to show proof or to disclose material could invalidate a policy.
S, D & P - Social, Domestic and Pleasure is a type of descriptive use of a car.
Settlement – This is when an insurer pays a claim.
TPO - Third Party Only
Under-insurance - This is, for example, where you insure a car which is worth £12,000 at a value of £10,000.
ULR Cover – Uninsured loss recovery is better known as legal expenses cover, which you can add on to your motor insurance policy.
Uninsured losses - Elements not covered by your policy such as hire charges.
Underwriter – This is the person who decides whether to accept a risk and calculates the premium.

Tags: Car, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Glossary, Car Insurance Terminology, Vocabulary
Posted in Car Insurance | No Comments »

Archive for May, 2009

BMW

BMW Car Insurance Models

Alfa Romeo

What happens if my car insurance claim is rejected?

A Guide To Women’s Car Insurance

How to make a car insurance claim.

What do I need to apply for car insurance?

Which type of car insurance do you require?

How to get cheap car insurance.

Car insurance terminology.

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