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BMW - the perfect mid-range manufacturer?

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

When I first passed my driving test I had very little money but a burning desire to get mobile , so I invested extremely unwisely in a Morris Marina of dubious legacy, and even more dubious reliability. This affair, as you may guess did not last long - the only good news being that when I did write it off I escaped unharmed.

There followed a sad succession of awful cars most of which bit the dust in one way or another  but at least the wrecks  that I could afford to  buy  were getting slightly  newer, and thus less prone to massively expensive repair bills. They also had features like working brakes(!), and silent exhausts.

Finally into my thirties I at last had an income with a modicum of disposability and I was in the market for a decent car and my heart was set on a BMW. After ages searching the press and trawling round local garages, these being the days before the internet could show hundreds of models at the touch of a button, I found a 3 series just 2 years old  in immaculate condition  with automatic transmission and  just within my price range.

It was love at first sight and for the first time in my life (apart from the occasional drive of someone else’s decent motor). I was driving something quiet, comfortable and reliable and I relished every moment. This was a car that did everything it promised and did it in style. At that period I was travelling a lot for work and as a motorway cruiser it is still the best car I have ever driven, we also drove it to the French Alps for a ski holiday after taking out any driver car insurance and even after completing a journey that included travelling through the night it still felt comfortable to be in.

The only drawback as I’m sure any BMW owner will confirm were the high motor insurance and  servicing costs - especially as at that time only authorised dealers could reset the annoying service warning indicators,  and other relatively minor jobs like cam belts required a special tool that, you guessed it, only the dealers had. Sadly then at around 120,000 miles the financial pains were starting to outweigh the pleasures so we had to part company. I was delighted and also a little saddened to be overtaken on the motorway a few years later by my old Beemer still looking good and obviously living up to the reputation of , in my opinion, the best car manufacturer in the world.

It’s just sad that I can’t afford another one

Tags: BMW, Cars, Motor insurance
Posted in BMW, Car Insurance, Car Types | No Comments »

How to be a bright spark

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

When you first think about getting a car, you will need to get a motor insurance quote. Will it be fully comprehensive? Third party, fire and theft? Or even any driver car insurance. Something you probably will not think about but may need doing in the future is changing/cleaning your spark plugs. Replacing the spark plugs on a car used to be a regular part of overall car care maintenance. It would be quite normal to see a man with his head under the bonnet of the car on a Sunday morning, hands, arms and face covered in grease and dirt carrying out basic car maintenance. Not so long ago cars would need to get a tune-up around every 30,000 miles. And the list of things needing doing would include spark plug replacement.

In 2010 cars are made to go longer, though not a lifetime, without a tune-up. And now we have the luxury of complicated on-board computers and diagnostic equipment to tell us something is wrong. Not everybody has this luxury yet and some will still need to change the spark plugs. Checking or even changing your spark plugs is an easy and quick job. Just by giving the spark plugs  a clean or changing them can help improve the performance of your car and also  and economy of the car. It will only take 20 minutes to do this small job and it can also save you money at the petrol pumps, it can also reduce your carbon emissions.

Not many tools are needed for this small job. A spark plug socket, ratchet wrench, spark plug gap gauge and a feeler gauge.

Open the bonnet of the car and remove whatever parts necessary in order to get at the spark plugs and HT leads. Identify the leads and disconnect them from the spark plugs by pulling on the connector, but not on the lead. Blow away or brush away any dirt from around the spark plugs. A wire brush was always used but now it’s recommended not to do this as it can cause more damage to the plug. Next unscrew them with the socket and remove them. Take a good look at the end of each plug. It should be a light brown or grey colour. A spark plug which is black, sooty, or oily, may be a warning of a problem developing. Use the feeler blades to check the electrode gap of the new plugs (see your car manufacturer manual to find out what the gap should be). If necessary you should adjust them by carefully bending the side electrode. Spark plugs don’t always have an adjustable gap; if this is the case you can skip this. Next you should put a smear of grease on the threads of each new plug and screw them back into their holes. Use a length of flexible hose to start them off - if you get a spark-plug cross-threaded, the hose will slip before you cause any damage.

Final tightening of the spark plugs should be done using a wrench, otherwise there’s a risk of doing them up either too lose or too tight. Reconnect the HT leads and you are ready to start the engine. If it won’t start, it’s likely you’ve connected the HT leads in the wrong order. So just replace them in the correct order.

Tags: Motor insurance, spark plug
Posted in Car Insurance | No Comments »

When an accident is not an accident

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Direct car insurance is vital on today’s roads; people on bikes, erratic drivers, children and animals not under supervision are just some of the everyday problems encountered by the ordinary motorist. Another problem you may not be aware of but is becoming more common is the “staged accident” and we are all paying around £40 on our insurance policies to pay for it. Car insurance fraud is on the increase as gangs of people are driving around in cars actively looking for an accident. A typical scenario would find a motorist on a roundabout, when suddenly the car in front of him slams on its brakes, but he can’t tell, because the brake lights don’t work. He hits the car and has become the latest victim of a scam.
In this scenario, a driver, normally in an old car, will disconnect his brake lights, so the motorist behind can’t tell when he’s braking. When being followed around a roundabout, he slams on his brakes for no obvious reason, and the driver behind then crashes into him, causing damage to the cars involved and usually an injury to the driver and passengers, most commonly whiplash, and because it’s a rear end collision, the second driver, who’s really the victim of this crime, is assumed to be at fault. The first driver, and the passengers in the car (if any, but there nearly always is) - will then claim on the victim’s insurance. Witnesses, part of the same gang as the driver, will come forward to verify what happened. The gangs in question are forcing insurance companies to pay out for illegal claims for what they describe as…staged accidents, induced road traffic accidents, phantom passengers claims, fraudulent injury and special damage claims. And it does not matter if you have cheap car insurance or comprehensive, you can still be a victim.

It is hard to avoid this scam, but some advice would be to follow the rules of the road, and not follow the vehicle in front too closely. On roundabouts, that is not always feasible, so remain very alert; keep an eye on the vehicle in front. The occupants may turn to look at you or may even make a gesture just before the trap is sprung. This is a large, organised crime ring, and usually very professionally executed. If you suspect that the accident you are involved in is not genuine, leave it to your insurance company to investigate - they are eager to crack down on this particular type of fraud.

Tags: Accidents, Car Insurance, Insurance fraud
Posted in Car Insurance | No Comments »

Expect More From Your Family Car

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

When buying a family car, there are a number of features you are bound to look for.  Excellent safety credentials, large boot space, seating flexibility and space for giving the whole school football team a lift home are all key considerations.

Manufacturers are now extremely familiar with these needs, and many respond to them with fantastic family cars.  As buyers, we can now expect even more from family cars.  So what are the family luxuries to look out for beyond the basics?

One of the most exciting additions to family cars - certainly for the kids - is the inclusion of entertainment systems within the car itself.  There are a wide range of DVD and video game systems available for in-car use, but manufacturers are now building similar systems into production-line cars.  Usually, screens are built into the back of the front seats, allowing those sitting in the back to relax with a film on long journeys.  Head-phone jacks are provided so that only those who want to have to listen to Iggle Piggle whilst sitting in a traffic jam.

Of course, entertainment systems aren’t just a bonus for the happy child, but also get rid of any parental requirement for endless games of eye-spy.  A plus all round!

Eyes in the back of your head can also be bought in some of the latest family cars.  With designs ranging from inbuilt mirrors to tiny cameras and screens, these devices allow the driver to see what is going on behind them without even turning their head.  Perhaps this could be the answer to many school-run arguments?

Adjustable seating is no new invention, but modern family cars can often go one step better than you may have seen before.  Inbuilt booster-seats could be extremely useful for you and your baby.  Rather than lugging around large and cumbersome plastic booster-seats, and finding somewhere to move them when the car gets full, these adjustable seats require only a small manual operation to raise children to a safe height.

On a more luxurious level, arm-rests are also becoming more than just a fold-out ledge.  They now come with all sorts of features like storage compartments, writing surfaces and power-points, perfect both for a spot of colouring and charging up the mobile phone.

Dealing with the hot weather is a constant summer consideration.  Cars full of sweaty children can become extremely unpleasant, but there are now more solutions than ever to minimise this pain.  You might have experienced seat-warmers, but now there is also the option of seat-coolers which use fans or even electric-cooling to help make summer journeys bearable (although admittedly this feature is only available right at the top of the price range.)

Another feature for the sunny weather is inbuilt sunshades which act like blinds for the back windows, shading children from the strong sun, but not impairing the driver’s view of the road. Remember, most of these special features will affect your insurance so make sure you have up to date car insurance.

If you are looking to replace your family saloon, don’t just look for the basics.  Manufacturers are out to impress you with their thoughtful family features, so it pays to expect more from them.

Tags: car features, family cars
Posted in Car Insurance, Car accessories | No Comments »

Easter Weekend Travel Tips

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

It is going to be a busy weekend on the roads.  The Easter holiday weekend is a time for family, for escaping the daily grind, or for making that first springtime daytrip out.

As a result, the AA are predicting that a huge 56% of UK motorists will hit the roads this weekend.  Last year, the figure stood far lower at 32%, so be prepared for even worse congestion if you were caught out then.

The survey polled more than 17,000 motorists on their plans for the Easter weekend.  They found that the most popular reason for getting in the car over the Easter weekend was day trips (44% of participants cited this), whilst 31% said they were planning a weekend away.

The findings were similar nationwide, although there were a few notable differences.  Northern Irish drivers are most likely to be heading off in their cars over the weekend, with 65% planning a break away, whilst Scottish drivers are the most likely to be making a weekend of it and going away for an overnight stay.

UK tourism has been on the increase due to financial strains reducing our holiday budgets, and the Eater weekend is set to follow this trend.  However, foreign travel will still peak this weekend, with 39% of those surveyed planning to head off to foreign shores.

All this holidaymaking, sadly, makes for tricky travelling conditions.  This year in particular, planned national rail strikes will pull travellers from the railways back onto the roads.

Steward Topp, a patrol driver for the AA, advises that “It’s very tempting just to jump in the car and head off but it really does pay to spend a few minutes checking your car and making sure you have everything you need for the journey.”

There are a number of preparations you can do which should help you get to your Easter destination in good time and without too much stress.

Before you head off, take the time to plan out your route and make sure you are fully covered with up to date car insurance.  Look out for hotspot areas, for example major airports or busy towns which are likely to be traffic-heavy.  Live travel updates are available on websites, local radio stations and television.  To make the most of this information plan out a few alternatives to your primary route and mark them down.  Make sure your passenger knows your plan too.

The heaviest period of travel is expected to be Thursday and Friday between 11am-3pm, and then the return on Tuesday as everyone heads back to work.  If at all possible, try to avoid driving at these times.  Setting off that slight bit earlier could save you lots of time and frustration.  If your journey is particularly long, why not add another destination to your weekend itinerary, and stop off somewhere en-route midday whilst the worst of the traffic clogs up the roads?

Occasionally despite all your best planning, and the advice of traffic watch services, busy roads are unavoidable.  This can be a real dampener on the start of your weekend break.  In order to minimise the pain, make sure you’ve allowed good time for your journey, and factored in contingency for hold-ups.  To keep everyone happy, stock up your car with refreshments, games, CDs and anything else you might need to get your holiday started early.

Have a great Easter weekend, and a safe and clear journey to wherever you are travelling.

Tags: easter travel, travel tips
Posted in Car Insurance, travel | No Comments »

Just how ‘much safer’ are women drivers?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

It has been statistically proven in recent years that women are considerably less likely to be in a driving accident than men. A leading Insurance company has just released figures showing that women are also 150% less likely to have a driving conviction.

It has also been revealed that 18% of all British motorists have incurred at least one driving conviction. 4% were found to have been hit with more than one. The proportion of drivers breaking the law has reportedly risen 4% over the last decade.

However, it is debatable whether British drivers have become more unsafe. CCTV has given the police significantly greater powers of surveillance and those law breaking drivers who may once have slipped through the net are now being caught. There are thought to be more of these cameras per person in Britain than in any other nation in the world.

85% of total convictions are for speeding offences. This is far in excess of the 9% that are for jumping traffic lights. Drink driving offences account for a further 2%. Men are twice as likely as women to take the risk of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Young drivers are the most likely group to act irresponsibly on Britain’s roads. Nearly 25% of men aged 25-34 have incurred at least one motoring conviction. Men in the 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 age brackets are equally likely to have two or more convictions.

There are significant regional differences in the likelihood of drivers incurring a conviction. Just 9% of men and 6% of women in Northern Ireland had a driving conviction against their name. Drivers in the Midlands are apparently far more likely to break the law. The figures are 31.5% of men and 16.6% of women in this area.

Women have, however, grown increasingly likely to have committed a motoring offence in recent years. 15% of all British women currently have a conviction against their name. This figure has risen 4% over the last decade. This still puts them 5% behind the total amount of men who have a conviction.

One potential reason that men are convicted more often than women is that men drive 20% further than their female counterparts, according to the latest Department for Transport statistics. It seems almost as likely that women will be found breaking the law as men.

The closing gap between men and women committing motoring offences is reflected in the costs of motor insurance premiums. Although young male drivers have to pay out about twice as much as young females, premiums are still becoming increasingly expensive for women.

Simon Douglas, Director of the insurance group, said, ‘in 2003, the point at which premiums for both sexes became similar was at about age 60, now it’s between 45 and 50. This is because more women are becoming car owners, they are driving more often and further and are thus more likely to be involved in accidents - as well as commit driving offences’.

‘But whatever your age or sex, insurers take notice of driving offences, especially multiple offenders and this is reflected in premiums. That’s because regular offenders are much more likely to make an insurance claim than those who have a clean license’. ‘Keeping the right side of the law is one of the best ways to keep your insurance premiums in check’.

Tags: Car Insurance
Posted in Car Insurance, Women's Car Insurance | 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 »

20% of Young Drivers Are Driving Illegally

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

According to a report from the BBC today, one in five young drivers in the UK do not have insurance, and are therefore driving illegally. This amounts to a massive 243,000 illegal young drivers on the road.

trafficThis really begs the question, why are so many drivers electing to drive without insurance?

Many simply state that the cost of car insurance is too high and that they simply cannot afford it. Whilst they know they really ought to have car insurance (and indeed it is a legal requirement), many believe that they are safe drivers and as such they don’t really need insurance. In reality, of course nothing could be further from the truth. As Ashton West, Chief executve of the Motor Insurers Bureau said:

“Young drivers statistically are a bad risk, they are. They are many times more likely to have an accident”.

What can the Police do?

Police do have the ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras which scan car’s number plates and automatically check that the car had a valid MoT, tax disc and whether or not the car is insured. They have the power to stop, question and in some instances even arrest those who are driving without insurance.

What are the Consequences of Driving Without Insurance?

The consequences of driving without insurance include fines, points on the offender’s license and in some instances their car could even be scrapped.

All in all, it’s really not worth the risk. Plus, as there are increasing calls for more severe penalties for those driving without insurance, in the future it could become even more so.

 

Image credit garryknight

Tags: Car Insurance, Driving Without Insurance, Young Drivers
Posted in Car Insurance, Young Drivers Car Insurance | No Comments »

Fury Grows As Young Sports Car Drivers Feel The Heat Of The New Insurance Premium Hike!

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

“Sports car owners under 25’s in an uproar about new insurance changes.”

June 10th 2009
Wimbledon, Greater London, United Kingdom.

Young sports car drivers are to feel the brunt of sweeping changes that were made across the car insurance industry in late May which see’s sports car owners that are under the age of 25 to receive higher premiums for their car insurance policies.

The impact of the changes see’s sports car owners under 25 now facing premiums upwards of £7000 a year, based on recent trends on sports car modifications.

In a claim from Uswitch.com, the speed modifications that were typically sought by the owners of sports vehicles increased the risk probability of claims against insurers. In an extract from the Insurance Times, it found that:

“

  • Go-fast extras add an average of £2,682
  • A spoiler hikes the premium by almost £700
  • A young driver’s car insurance could cost up to 223%of the value of the car
  • Adding GTI to a Peugeot 206 could push the cost of insurance up by £6,485
  • 17-21 year olds represent just 7% of all drivers but they pay 32% of UK annual car insurance bill
  • The average car insurance premium for a young driver is £1,730 - more than three times the national average premium of £512
  • Insurance premiums fall by an average of £4,002 between the ages of 17 and 27
    All drivers have seen their car insurance premiums rise by almost 10% in the last 12 months. ”

Insurance times

26th May 2009

In light of these claims, MotorQuoteDirect has reacted to attempt to curtail the new increase in expenses by providing online awareness and savings advice to young drivers with the launch of the MotorQuoteDirect Car insurance blog and offering free quote comparisons on sports car insurance at their website www.motorquotedirect.co.uk.

Source: http://www.insurancetimes.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=13&storycode=378568

Reference

MotorQuoteDirect are one of the UK’s leading insurance intermediaries based in Wimbledon. Established in 1965, we have over 40 years experience of providing quality car insurancecover at very competitive prices, covering all risks from young drivers to classic car owners and through our association with a large panel of UK leading insurers. To find out more information on their car insurance services, visit them today at http://www.motorquotedirect.co.uk.

©2009 Motor Quote Direct. All rights reserved. W E Bedford Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd, 267-269 Kingston Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 3FW is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Our FSA Register number is 305737

Tags: Car Insurance, Car Insurance Quote, Comparison, Cost Management, Insurance Cover Types, Insurance Premium, Insurance Quote, Press Release, Sports Car, Under 25, Young Drivers, Youth Drivers
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Press Release, Young Drivers Car Insurance | 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 | 2 Comments »

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