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Archive for the ‘Car Insurance Claims’ Category

Smart Box makes its debut

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

With the price of young person’s car insurance going through the roof, regardless of whether their car is a convertible or not, any method of bringing the cost down will be welcomed by those just embarking on their driving experience. Policies costing thousands of pounds are not at all out of the ordinary today and many young drivers simply can’t afford it.

Big brother helping young drivers

Under a scheme launched today, a so called smart box installed in a car driven by a 17-25 year old can bring down their motor insurance quotes by as much as £300. The box will keep a watchful eye on the motoring skills of the driver by monitoring such manoeuvres as cornering, braking, acceleration and reversing. The box will also monitor if the driver exceeds national speed limits.

The box is approximately the size of a mobile phone and can be fitted either in the car or under the bonnet. The box sends a signal back to the car insurer giving them a run down on how the car is being driven. The box uses satellites to assess the cars position and transmits the technical data such as speeds etc. back the same way.

Information helps insurers to rate the driver

The insurer can see if the driver is behaving in a manner that is conducive to good driving practice after downloading the information, and can then give the driver a discount if it’s felt the youngster behaves in a mature way when he/she is behind the wheel. The opposite can also happen. The information may reveal the driver is not conforming to the required standards and could actually be charged more for his insurance.

The likelihood of this happening however, is small. One can’t imagine irresponsible drivers volunteering to have their lack of skill exposed but it will mean that conscientious young drivers can put a distance between them and boy racers.

Safety record

It is no secret that the 17-25 year old age group have a horrendous record for death and serious injuries on the road, and that is the simple reason why insurance levels for this group are so high. The smart box will be a welcome addition to car technology for drivers, insurers and road safety campaigners.

Tags: road safety campaigners, Safety record, Young Drivers, young person’s car insurance
Posted in Car Insurance Claims, Car Insurance Cover Types | No Comments »

When a motor insurance quote leaves you sick as a parrot

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

http://www.motorquotedirect.co.uk/car-insurance-blog


What have politicians and professional footballers got in common? No, it’s not what you think! You may be forgiven for thinking the answer is that they both get an awful lot of money for doing very little, and you may well be right, but the answer according to a survey by a leading motor insurance provider is that they are two of the leading professions when it comes to committing motoring offences.


Top of the league

The insurance company reports that professional footballers are indeed top of the league when it comes to motoring offences with almost 1 in 3 having acquired points on their driving licences. Everyone knows the profession is a point’s led business but the points many of the players are accumulating in these circumstances may well leave them sick as a parrot.

Of course top professional footballers have a reputation for earning big money and driving big cars, well it seems for sure that a lot of them also get big car insurance quotes when their policy is up for renewal.

Hot air

Politicians also managed to get in the top ten, finishing in seventh position. Approximately 1 in 5 of our MPs and policy makers has points on their licence, which is about double the national average. In their profession it is probably not so much about accumulating points as making them. Obviously some of them or making more points on their travels than they do in the Houses of Parliament. Whether the hot air coming out of their cars exhaust is comparable to the amount they generate in Westminster is of course an entirely different matter.

Up there at the top of the table with the Footballers and MPs were media types in the guise of sound editors and cameramen and perhaps not surprisingly travelling salesmen who spend a lot of their working day in their vehicles.

Best behaved

The professions with the best behaved drivers are au pairs who are probably mindful of children in their vehicle, driving examiners who obviously practice what they preach and cardiographers who obviously put their heart into it!

Overall 1 in 10 drivers in the UK have points on their driving licence and all will discover they have to pay more for car insurance cover when the time comes.

Tags: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, motor insurance quote
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Claims | No Comments »

Potholes becoming a bigger problem

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

As motorists start their commute back to work, many are noticing quite a difference in the scenery as they travel along the roads of the UK, and they are not happy about it. After the coldest December for over 100 years the folly of many local authorities in neglecting to keep up their road maintenance schemes has hit home with a vengeance.

Potholes, which have been a thorn in the side for motorists for many years, have proliferated incredibly since the thaw set in over the New Year. It is no secret that once a road surface starts to deteriorate, ice and snow compacted into the broken surface will cause further damage. The awful weather in December has decimated many road surfaces and caused motorists all over the country to call for action. Motoring organisations such as the AA and RAC have joined with their members in calling for action. There is a the fear however, that because of the austerity measures imposed on local councils by the Government spending review in October 2010, many will not have the cash to instigate a road repair service.

It is estimated that in a normal year car drivers in the UK fork out almost £3 billion in repairs for axle and suspension damage to their vehicles. A big percentage of the damage is caused by potholes in the road surface. It is of course true to say that much of this cost is picked up by insurance companies, however, the poor motorist still suffers as his motor insurance quote the following year will go up as he has made a claim.

This year the damage to cars is expected to be greater than ever and motorists across the country should be aware that if their car is damaged due to a bad road surface then they are completely within their rights to pursue the local authority for compensation. It is estimated that motorists claim between £30 – £50 million back from councils in this way every year and there are even websites set up by disgruntled motorists which advise drivers just exactly how to go about getting cash to cover their repairs.

Tags: Car Insurance, Potholes
Posted in Advice, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Claims | No Comments »

Accidentally Driving Without Cover

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Each year people who think that they are fully insured discover that they have an invalid policy. There are a number of steps which you can take to ensure that your insurance remains valid.

It is always best to be realistic about the amount of miles that you are going to drive in the average year. An insurance policy will stipulate how many miles you are covered for. It is necessary to tell the insurer if you go over this set amount if you want your insurance to remain valid.

It is also a requirement that you inform your chosen insurer of any changes of address or occupation. Otherwise you may find yourself driving without insurance.

It is important to make sure that your vehicle has a valid MOT. Without one your car insurance will become invalid. It is a legal requirement that a vehicle has an MOT. The only times when you can drive without an one are when your driving your car to have its test or to obtain the necessary parts should it fail.

Drivers should never deliberately deceive an insurance company in an attempt to obtain a cheaper policy. All of the details on your insurance documents need to be 100% accurate. This means telling the insurer the exact location that your vehicle is being kept in. Do not try and fool your insurer into believing that your car is safer than it actually is.

One final piece of advice is to inform the insurance company of any modifications that have been made to a vehicle. It might be tempting not to tell them that you have added a new trim or exhaust to your motor as this can substantially raise the costs of insurance. However it’s much better to pay the costs of insurance premiums than to face the costs of having an accident, should you not have insurance.

Five percent of all drivers in Britain run the risk of driving without insurance. They incur a total of £500 million in accidents each year. They also add anywhere between £30 and £60 on to the cost of insurance for motorists.

According to research, uninsured drivers are also at greater risk of being in accidents. There is a chance that they may also be involved in other criminal activity. To avoid falling into this category it is necessary to fill out your insurance documents accurately and to tell the insurer if your circumstances change.

The potential costs of driving without insurance are substantial. The maximum fine currently stands at £5,000. Uninsured drivers may also have their licenses confiscated and face 6 to 8 penalty points. Nearly 3,000 drivers are convicted of the offence each year.

There are a variety of ways in which you can cut the costs of motor insurance. You may be surprised by how much money you can save.

Drivers who park their cars in garages or driveways are thought to be at less risk of potential damages than those who do not. By parking in more secure areas drivers can cut their insurance costs by anywhere between 3% and 7%.

It may also be worth considering your options before rushing off to purchase a new car. While you may want to splash the cash on a trendy vehicle, the insurance premiums that you will incur may mean that this isn’t a viable option. You should consider the engine type of any potential purchase.

If you want to reduce your motor insurance costs you should also avoid the temptation of making modifications to your vehicle. Adding additional features, apart from those designed to make your car safer, can result in a more expensive premium.

You may also like to consider reducing the amount that you use your vehicle. Short trips can often be made by foot. Reduced mileage will mean reduced motor insurance expenses.

Tags: Car Insurance
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Claims | No Comments »

Car Insurance Guide

Friday, June 5th, 2009

Our guide to car insurance contains all you need to know about finding the right type of motor insurance policy, how to lower the cost of your premium and what to do in the event of a claim.

If you want to go directly to another section of our guide to car insurance, you can click on one of the links below:

  • A Guide To Car Insurance
  • Car Insurance Terminology
  • What Is Your Car Insurance Quote Based On
  • Keeping Down The Cost Of Car Insurance
  • The Different Types Of Car Insurance
  • Where To Get Car Insurance
  • What You Need To Apply For Car Insurance
  • Making A Claim On Your Car Insurance
  • What Happens If Your Claim Is Rejected

Car insurance is almost certainly the financial product most commonly held by consumers in the UK, with the possible exception of a bank or savings account. This is hardly surprising: if you drive a vehicle, insurance is compulsory.

In theory, this ought to make everyone a car insurance expert, able to get the best deal on their motor cover.

Yet too many of us tend to stick with the same insurer for too long and end up paying hundreds of pounds more a year than we need to. We only change policies when premiums become very noticeably too dear.

Conversely, we pat ourselves on the back because we have found ultra-cheap car insurance – only to discover that when we make a claim, certain items were never covered under the terms of that policy.

Shopping around is the starting point for anyone who wants the best car insurance deal. Our car insurance comparison tool allows you to search for and compare quotes from more than 60 top insurers and brokers in the UK.

But knowing how motor and car insurance works can help you get an even better deal – not just on price but in terms of the service you may need from your insurer. This guide is designed to help you achieve that.

It tries to answer some of the most typical concerns of motorists: everything from explaining how your quote is set and tips on how to cut the cost of your cover, to the various steps involved in making a claim.


Tags: Car, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Car Insurance Policy, Insurance Cover Types
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Claims, Car Insurance Cover Types, Cheap Car Insurance | 3 Comments »

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 »

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.

  1. Inform your insurance company as soon as possible.
  2. Write down an account of what happened which you can later refer back to when writing up your claim.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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 »

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