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GAP insurance sales grow

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

With the motoring world anticipating the new 60 plate that will be on show with new registrations from September 1^st. Motoring insurance companies will not only be anticipating a rush of motor insurance quotes for new cars, but also GAP insurance companies will expect a bonanza of business as well. However, how many people know what GAP insurance is?

GAP insurance, is a product now routinely offered to purchasers of brand new cars. Everyone knows that the value of a new car starts depreciating the minute it is driven out of a showroom. GAP insurance is intended to cover purchasers of new cars for any loss of revenue they may incur during the first four years of ownership.

For instance, if a vehicle is stolen from the owner when it is two years old and never recovered. The insurer of the vehicle will make a payment based on the value of the car the day it was stolen. This payment will certainly be far less than the sum the owner paid for the car in the first place, and in many circumstances can be less than the outstanding finance left on the car. Remember most cars are bought with either bank loans or manufacturer finance. In both cases there will almost certainly be several thousand pounds on finance above the value of the loan. An accident or theft can leave an innocent motorist thousands of pounds out of pocket.

GAP insurance is designed to pay the motorist the amount of money he actually spent in the showroom. There are two possibilities for the car owner to consider. He can take a policy out for the price of the car plus the interest on the loan or choose a return to invoice policy which means the policy will pay the actual value of the car when purchased.

There is no doubt that GAP insurance is getting more popular and more competitive. Dealers will always mention GAP insurance on new car purchases, but it does appear that it is worthwhile getting an independent quote as this can save a few pounds. Whichever way the owner goes, he can expect to pay a one off sum somewhere in the region of between £300- £600.

Tags: Car Insurance, Motor insurance
Posted in Car Insurance Cover Types, Cheap Car Insurance, Savings, selling a car | No Comments »

Over 100 years of experience

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Any driver car insurance was not even invented when the Fiat Company was born. Fiat is an acronym for ‘Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino’ and translated to English, reads ‘Italian Automobile Factory of Turin’. F.I.A.T. was founded on July 12, 1899, in the Italian city of Turin, at the time the city was enjoying a good period of industrial growth.

The first Fiat plant started in 1900, had 35 employees and made 24 cars. The Chairman was Mr Ludovico Scarfiotti, with Emanuele Cacherano di Bricherasio having the job as Vice Chairman. It was Giovanni Agnelli, however, whose strategic vision and determination paved the way for FIAT to become a household name. A former cavalry officer in the army, he managed to gain an important position with the original investors and he was made Managing Director in 1902. He came up with the idea of a promotional tour of Italy by car and this was successfully done with the finish line at the Milan Fair. The Fiat oval logo on a blue background was designed by Carlo Biscaretti and this was adopted in 1904, the first car to have the Fiat brand was a Model 4 HP. The Fiat Company focused on a two-pronged strategy for the company to grow. These were 1- diversification of production and 2- concentrate on the most promising markets. This has been the strategy for Fiat throughout over 100 years of history.

A decade after it was founded, Fiat had seen its capital stock increase to a massive 12 million Lire, it now had 2,500 employees and had manufactured a total of 1,215 cars. Even the First World War did not hamper them, as this meant a conversion to military production of army trucks, ambulances and engines for submarines, to name just a few. During this time, Giovanni Agnelli still had a vision of a bright future for Fiat based on car manufacturing. Following fact finding missions to the USA, Fiat then started to plan a new factory based on what they learned from the states. Fiat’s aim was to match the technology of America.

By 1948, mainly thanks to money received from the Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, it was the primary program during 1947-51, of the US for rebuilding and creating a stronger economy for Europe) factories had been rebuilt. The number of workers employed by Fiat increased by ten thousand. In 1946 Fiat recorded a loss. But the upward trend resumed two years later. As manufacturing output recovered in the years after the war, Fiat introduced the Fiat 500B, which was available to customers as a sedan or as a station wagon. When the 500C was released it offered for the first time, heating and ventilation installed as standard equipment. The first vehicles that were equipped with a diesel engine were driven off the assembly line in 1953.

Almost 60 years on from that first diesel engine FIAT is still going strong even though it has had its ups and downs.

Tags: Car Insurance, Cheap Car Insurance, FIAT, Italy, Motor, motoring
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Safety, Cheap Car Insurance, Savings | No Comments »

Young Driver Car Insurance Guide

Friday, June 5th, 2009

If you’re a young driver and/or inexperienced, looking for car insurance can be a rather frustrating experience. Some insurers will quote very high premiums; others may not even insure you on a particular vehicle, it can sometimes feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall.

What can you do?

Motor Quote Direct has put together some helpful tips on how you can lower your insurance premiums if you’re any of the following:

A new driver.
A young driver.
A driver in their early 20’s.

Why are premiums so high for new drivers?

Firstly it’s important to understand why insurance companies are quoting you high premiums.

New or younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident.
Around 30% of deaths on UK roads are caused by young drivers in the 17 – 25 age bracket.
Young drivers are likelier to have their cars broken into or to be victims of vandalism.

How can younger drivers get cheaper car insurance?

Your insurance premium is based on your risk. So if you are less likely to be involved in an accident, be the victim of theft or vandalism then you’ll find your insurance premiums will naturally be lower. As a new young driver there’s nothing you can do about being in the risky age bracket nor can you do anything about being less experienced.

The only bits you can focus on to reduce your premiums are things like:

Pass plus scheme. Some insurers offer discounts to young or new drivers that have achieved the pass plus certificate.
The type of car you drive. Cars with large size engine, turbo charged or sports cars, modified cars are all going to make your premiums go through the roof. It’s important to think conservative, 1.1 litre 3 door hatchbacks with no modifications, that’s more like it!
Where you park your car. If you park your car on the street it’s more likely to be broken into than a car parked in a drive or a locked garage.
When you use your car. Think about when you need to use your car, some insurers offer lower premiums to young drivers who agree to use their cars during the day and not between the hours of say 8pm and 5am.
How you drive. Remember to drive carefully and try not to get any points on your license as this will cause your premiums to increase whatever your age.
Getting insured under your own policy – In the long run it’s best to get your car insurance in your own name rather than be added to your parent’s. This means you will start to build up your own no claims bonus and in the future your premiums should be a lot cheaper.

Tags: Budgeting, Car, Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Car Insurance Quote, Young Drivers
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Application, Cheap Car Insurance, Savings, 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 »

Archive for the ‘Savings’ Category

GAP insurance sales grow

Over 100 years of experience

Young Driver Car Insurance Guide

How to get cheap car insurance.

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