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Archive for the ‘Car Insurance’ Category

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Selling your car

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Most people will at some point in their lives be in the situation of selling a car. Before you sell it there are a number of things you can do to make sure you get as good a price as possible for your old motor. It is relatively easy these days to find a website or even mobile phone text messaging service to find out the approximate value of the vehicle. This is worth doing if you are selling privately, negotiating with a used car showroom or if you are buying a new car from a manufacturer, knowing how much your car is worth will be a help if its being used as a trade-in

Give your car a good clean using cleaning products that give the car a good shine, and definitely consider spending a little cash on sprays that bring life back to plastic body parts and your tyres.  Remove all of your rubbish such as food papers, empty cans of soft drinks and cigarette packets and then give it a good vacuum either at home or at a petrol station. An Oil change does not cost too much and will look good when the buyer looks under the bonnet. When doing the oil change, check the brake fluid, and windscreen washer levels and fill if needed. They are only little things but could make a difference of a few hundred pounds when it comes to bartering, especially on a private sale.

When it comes to wording an advert, don’t try and save money by using abbreviations, a lot of buyers will not know what they mean, but if you have to use them, just stick to the most common one’s such as VGC, A/C, and try not to use phrases that are on every advert, like one careful lady owner. Do put whether
your car has a full service history, its colour, and number of owners, also list the car’s equipment, what features it has and most important its price. Do not forget to include a picture and your contact details.

When the advert is placed in newspapers and magazines or even shop windows, the people interested will soon by phoning you to come and look at the car. It a sad fact but thieves will pose as buyers, so never let the buyer go on a test drive on his/her own and don’t leave the buyer alone with the keys in the ignition. You can ask the prospective buyer for some form of identity and ensure they have adequate insurance cover before you allow them to test drive the car; they won’t have been included in your motor insurance quote so you don’t want to be left with a bill to pay for any damage. If you are paid in cash, it’s always best to get it put into your bank as soon as possible just in case you are paid with fake notes.

Tags: car selling advice, Motor insurance
Posted in Car Insurance, selling a car | No Comments »

What Car, What Noise?

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

The EU has been great in many ways for member countries. A common currency and free movement across borders have been a boon for trade. On the downside, though, are the many stupid regulations that hinder trade. At one stage 26 types of fruit and vegetables, including artichokes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, onions, peas, carrots, plums, and ribbed celery were under shape restrictions, and they also told us that bananas must not bend abnormally. Thankfully they have since relaxed this bizarre ruling but don’t think we are free from more strange rulings as we enter the new generation of zero-emission vehicles. Greener cars will get you a good motor insurance quote and possibly a car that sounds like a spacecraft.

In the not too distant future when more and more of us will have changed our cars over to a greener version, the perceived notion of roads being used by fuel efficient motors that also cut down on noise pollution due to their smaller engines may not be the route we are going down at all.  Thanks to a possible new EU ruling not only will you be thinking about the traffic ahead while driving but also what sound you want your car to make as you drive along. Each manufacturer may be allowed to provide its own sounds, with the regulation simply setting a minimum volume to prevent pedestrians, cyclists and especially blind people from stepping into the path of battery-powered cars. Some of the manufacturers are thought to be considering using the same noises used on the spacecraft in Star Wars; the noise will be projected in the direction in which the vehicle is travelling to cut down on unnecessary noise. The manufacturers think that a noise will only be needed when the car is travelling under 20mph as going any faster will create tyre noise which will warn the people who are most at risk.

Professor Paul Jennings at the university where the tests on different sounds are being carried out said: “We will have a week with music and weeks with natural sounds, engine noise and also with science-fiction sounds. “We need to find noises which alert people to the approaching vehicle without causing the annoyance people already feel when they hear the bleeping sounds of reversing trucks .It is possible that pedestrians will learn to look out for silent cars and that the warning sounds could become redundant but, he said, people were far more dependent on detecting noise than they realised when crossing the road. They think they are reacting to the sight of a vehicle but often it is the sound that is triggering their attention and sound also tells you whether the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating.” The tests are ongoing and the end results could prove very interesting.

Tags: Car Insurance, car noise, motoring
Posted in Car Insurance, Cheap Car Insurance | No Comments »

Motoring Abroad

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

With the winter behind us, we find ourselves on the cusp of summer and the thought of summer holidays enter the thoughts of many households. As with every other year many people will be taking the car with them to Europe and as with any other year many travel with the misconception that they’ve fully covered by their own car insurance. It is very important to get a motor insurance quote that will cover you for driving abroad, because if you think that your policy for driving in the UK will cover you while driving abroad, you will be in for a shock if you are involved in an accident.

If you are driving into Europe, an any driver car insurance policy would be one way to combat the main problems faced by many UK drivers, that of fatigue. Satellite navigation systems can be bought that cover europe’s roads, but the roads will still be very unfamiliar, the different traffic systems, strange road signs and different customs of the motorists all increase the risk of an accident It is vital that you check with your insurance company if you are covered, and if not most if not all insurance companies are more than happy to change your policy for the number of days that you will be driving abroad. Also check if you are covered should your vehicle be stolen, having your insurance papers with you when travelling overseas is essential and you should make sure you keep these with you in your car at all times when driving.

When driving abroad it’s also vital to check the legal requirements of the country/countries you will travel through. Laws about what equipment to have on board varies between different countries, so it’s a good idea to look them up before you leave. Depending on where you intend driving, you will need to make sure you have the right equipment in your car. Most EU countries require a warning triangle, a full set of spare light bulbs, headlight converters and some even require you to have a reflective jacket in the car, and it has to be within reach of the driver, so it will be no good having it in the boot. Something else to remember is that you will need to put a GB sticker on your car, without one a fine is inevitable in many countries. If you have a Euro-symbol on your number plate then you won’t need a GB sticker when driving in member states of the EU, but if you go outside the EU, and that includes Switzerland, you will need a GB sticker as well, so the best policy is to put the sticker on before leaving.  Take care not to overload your car as this can get you a fine in some European countries swell.

It is important to prepare for driving abroad. Research is very easy to do, as all the information will be available on the internet. It is very different to driving in the UK.

Tags: Car Insurance, motoring, motoring abroad
Posted in Car Insurance | No Comments »

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 »

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