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Marauder slips into Top Gear

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Fans of the Top Gear TV programme have had their appetites whetted for a new season of shows this week with news about the vehicles that will feature in the upcoming series and information about the Top Gear Live roadshow that will be somewhere near you in the winter months.

The star of the coming series (if you ignore the three presenters) appears to be the South African built Paramount Marauder. Renowned to be the toughest vehicle in the world, Richard Hammond flew out to South Africa to put it through its paces. Now the Marauder is not the type of vehicle that encourages thousands of people go out and get motor vehicle insurance, it is primarily, like the hummer, a military vehicle. It did though impress Hammond.

Typical Top Gear manoeuvre

The show features Hammond driving the armoured car through various areas of Johannesburg smashing through brick walls, squashing cars and crumbling various concrete objects as though they didn’t exist. After an impressive day of destruction Hammond then gives the Marauder its ultimate test. The armoured car is driven out to the South African bushlands to go head to head with the American Hummer. This was no test of manoeuvrability, speed or fuel efficiency, no, in true Top Gear style Hammond decided to try and blow them up!

The Top Gear team simulated explosions involving road side bombs, exactly the scenario armoured cars experience in conflicts all over the world. Two gigantic puffs of smoke later the Hummer was completely destroyed while the Marauder came through the explosion virtually unscathed. It was a truly impressive sight and one that viewers will get to see this autumn.

Live show opening in Birmingham

Meanwhile back in England, November will see Top Gear Live featuring Jeremy Clarkson, James May and of course Richard Hammond make its debut at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. The show will recreate facets of the TV show but will really be a fully functional motor show where visitors will be able to buy all manner of things allied to motoring including cheap car insurance. The NEC will build an indoor racing track for the event where head to head races will be staged. It promises to be something special that devotees of the TV programme cannot afford to miss.

Tags: Car Insurance, Jeremy Clarkson, Marauder, Richard Hammond, Top Gear Live roadshow
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Lack of warning on law change will catch out innocent motorists

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

The massive change in the law regarding car insurance in the UK that came about yesterday will be the subject of a huge campaign run by the DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau later this month. Why not last month!

Big change in the law

It is for certain that thousands of British motorists will be breaking the law today. The change in the law now makes it an offence to own a car that is uninsured whereas before the law was broken when an uninsured car was driven on the public highway.

Welcomed by all

It is a change in the law that will be welcomed by the great majority of motorists in the UK, but it will be a change in the law that many do not know about. Government figures put the number of cars uninsured at any one time in the UK at about 1.4 million. It is a national disgrace and the law abiding motorist is reckoned to pay around £50 a year on his motor vehicle insurance because of them. Road safety campaigners believe uninsured drivers kill in the region of 120 people a year and are involved in thousands of serious accidents.

Innocent motorists may be stigmatised

Uninsured drivers are despised by honest motorists who believe they should be stigmatised, but unfortunately the lack of publicity about the law change will incriminate honest drivers as well as criminals. There will be lots of people with an uninsured car in their driveway or garage believing they are doing nothing wrong and are waiting perhaps to accrue the money to put the car back on the road. These people are now breaking the law and the punishments are quite severe.

Stringent penalties for offenders

People with an uninsured car will now be handed a £100 fine and given a warning letter. If the car is still not insured then tougher action is taken, and takes place even if the original fine has been paid. Fines of up to £1000 will be imposed and as a last resort, those who still don’t comply can have their vehicle seized and destroyed.

SORN is the only exception

Motorists can still make a Statutory Off Road Declaration (SORN) as soon as their insurance runs out, but if they don’t then they will fall foul of the new law. It is just a pity that the DVLA have not forewarned motorists sufficiently because nearly all motorists will be delighted that action is being taken against the criminals who blight our roads.

Tags: Car Insurance, DVLA, Motor insurance, New law, Uninsured drivers
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Supermarket giants renew rivalry outside the food halls

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

As news of further inflationary pressure is about to fall upon the shoulders of most UK households through massive rises in energy charges, motorists must be wondering where the next bit of good news will come from. The answer could well be the supermarket!

Will Loyalty points impress motorists?

Although reports this week show that food prices are shooting up, although not in the same league as the energy price rises announced by Scottish Power yesterday, two big supermarket chains Tesco and Sainsbury’s promise to be fighting for customers not only in the food halls but in the highly competitive business of low cost car insurance. Tesco recently launched their used car dealership to add to their already burgeoning insurance portfolio which gives the intriguing prospect of some motorists driving around in a car with Tesco on the number plate, being driven on Sainsbury’s insurance cover, with bags of Morrison’s shopping in the back! Tesco launched their products some time ago but it is only this week that Sainsbury’s have announced they will be entering the market, using the Nectar point system as something of an enticement. In truth though, the Nectar card system will effectively only knock off one per cent of the cost and many motorists may well believe they can still get a better deal online.

Comparison sites may offer greater savings

Car insurance online quotes are becoming more popular by the day and really there is little wonder. It is now common knowledge that the average motor insurance quote is well over £800 and although even 1% off the total is better than nothing, online comparison sites hold the promise of more significant savings. It is not uncommon to hear of motorists who have for years just renewed their policy with the same insurer suddenly finding that loyalty to a brand has only been working in one direction and comparison quotes have saved them hundreds of pounds.

Loyalty the key

Of course loyalty to a brand is very much what supermarket chains are about and it is central to their policy in selling financial products. It remains to be seen though if motorists will prefer a few points on a loyalty card to the massive savings they can make from their own home using a comparison search engine.

Tags: Car Insurance, customer loyalty, insurance cover, morrisons, Motor insurance, sainsbury, supermarkets, tesco
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Motorists not sure which way to turn

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

A recent survey questioning motorists in the UK about their relationship with and dependence on their vehicles, revealed the true depth of the conundrum facing motorists on the roads of Britain today.

Muddled thinking?

While 9 out of 10 drivers said they could not imagine life without their car, 8 out of 10 said they were actually thinking of doing exactly that. Dramatic increases in fuel and motor insurance are making people question the need for the number of cars in their household. The necessity for cars in the UK’s modern society is obvious. On a basic level parents use their cars to travel to work, to take children to school and to do their shopping before any sort of superfluous journeys are even considered. Of course all of this could be done using an efficient public transport system but the time lost would still be considerable and today, time to fit family life and work into a busy schedule is more pressing than ever.

Big change in a short time

Two years ago the RAC, one of the UK’s most influential motoring organisations conducted a survey of its members and revealed the nation owned almost 30 million cars. The nuclear family of a generation ago was famously supposed to contain 2.4 children the RAC survey suggested the average family now owned 2.4 cars. In the space of two short years the cost of motoring has rocketed. Today’s survey shows that motorists will now find the cheapest car insurance quote they can find will be roughly double what it was two years ago. Car maintenance bills have rocketed also with the price of new tyres for instance approximately 80% up on two years ago with the same for other parts.

Used car prices plummet

Whether motorists will in fact turn away from their cars is highly doubtful. The transport system enables families in London to cope quite well without a car but the chances of the 40% of people who live in rural or semi rural locations’ carrying on a “normal” life without a car is most unlikely. However, some families may be getting rid of their second car. The used car market saw startling falls of over 4% last month with many experts suggesting that the flood of vehicles suddenly coming on to the market could well be people affected by the downturn trying to manage with one car.

Tags: car costs, Car Insurance, Motor insurance, RAC
Posted in Car Costs, Car Insurance | No Comments »

Road safety group call for more funding to stop the carnage on UK roads

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

The tragic loss of life statistics on the roads of the United Kingdom have long been a source of discomfort for those who plan our highway system, a tracking survey carried out by the Road Safety Foundation has shown what a tragic waste it really is.

The survey followed the accident statistics of just fifteen of the country’s major highways after simple road safety measures were put in place. By adopting plain ordinary safety procedures such as strategic signage, road layouts and central reservation barriers the incidence of fatal and serious injury accidents dropped by an amazing 62% in one year. The RSF say that is the equivalent of 300 lives saved.

The foundation believes that the money spent on the improvements was recouped in less than three months if the cost to emergency services, NHS departments, vehicle insurance, local business and of course families affected by the accident is all factored in. Actuaries for the safety group reckon £1 million a week would be saved if the measures were introduced on roads across the country.

An illustration of what can be done to make a dangerous road safe can be gleaned from the 11 km section of the A1428 from High Wycombe to Great Missenden, in the Home Counties. Three years ago the road was one of the most dangerous highways in the country, with 19 serious or fatal injuries. Local authorities, the police and road safety groups collectively worked at finding solutions to the problem. It worked! The last survey revealed the stretch of tarmac only played host to two serious injuries. Motor insurance claims from accidents on the road have dropped dramatically as well.

Unfortunately the A527 between Buxton and Macclesfield still has the dubious honour of being Britain’s most dangerous road. The 8 miles between the High Peak towns has been the scene for many serious and fatal accidents over the years and since 2007 they have increased by over 60%. The road is notorious for rapidly changeable weather conditions and the twists and turns of the road make it a favourite with motor cyclists. It is motor cyclists that have borne the brunt of the serious accidents and it seems lessons still have to be learned when it comes to road safety on two wheels.

Tags: Car Insurance, Car Safety, highway safety, Motor insurance, motorway
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Skoda Superb in all departments

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

About 25 years ago the thought of even getting a motor insurance quote, never mind buying a Skoda, was anathema to the average motorist in the UK. The mere thought of being ridiculed by ones neighbours for buying a car that was assembled by an Iron Curtain country was enough to put anyone off. For those that could even put up with insults from their neighbours, the reputation Skoda had for being nothing more than “rust buckets” was enough to finish the job.

Car for the “man in the street”

How things have changed! Skoda vehicles today are scooping awards left, right and centre and if they still don’t turn the heads of the pretty boys on TV motoring shows they certainly do it for the ordinary motorist in the UK.

Customer satisfaction the key

Time after time awards voted for by readers of motoring magazines go to Skoda models for their customer service, something that was obviously emphasised to the company when they became part of the Volkswagen Empire. Customer satisfaction, the overriding experience that incorporates the quality of the car, the sales team who persuade you to buy it and the after sales team who look after it from then on in, is something that Skoda owners just eulogise about all the time.

The price is right

The new cars are not only competitively priced, they are downright cheap, a factor helped by the fact that Skoda has been paying the VAT on new cars for customers for what seems an eternity now. They are attractive cars and they are powered by engines from the same company who produce the wonderful Audi and Volkswagen cars. What more can a customer ask for, quality at half the price.

Yeti leaves its footprint for all to see

Skoda models now regularly win best in class prizes at motor shows and in competitive classes as well. The Skoda Yeti put all other entrants in the shade when it came to the mini-MPV class and finished up voted the overall car of the year at the Auto Express car awards. The Skoda Superb also won best in class not only as a saloon but as an estate too.

Profit all round

Skoda have reported profit rises of over 80% recently and there is no wonder when car drivers can save so much money on a vehicle that chasing after cheap car insurance does not seem half as vital as it did before.

Tags: Car Insurance, motor insurance quote, Skoda
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Transport bill will radically change our highways

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Transport Minister Philip Hammond takes centre stage today as he introduces changes to the way the motorways and roads of the UK are policed. The bill will be made law sometime next year but the details will be announced for the first time in parliament today.

Motorists wait and see

The Department of Transport are billing the changes as the “End of the war on the motorist” but drivers across the country who are already paying record prices for fuel and car insurance cover will want to hear the changes first hand before they come to any conclusions.

Introduction of fixed penalties

It is widely expected that Mr Hammond will announce today that Police Officers will be allowed to implement on the spot fixed penalty fines for road traffic offences. The decision will mean that thousands of court cases will no longer be required regarding motor offences, which will dramatically lessen the burden on courtrooms all over the UK. This will be welcomed as the recent Government cuts in public funding have seen many courtrooms closed over the last few months. The fines are expected to be between £80 and £100 with the addition of three points on their licence. The three points part of the penalty will be a worry to anyone who has found their motor insurance quotes rocketing due to having points on their licence and although it is not clear yet what offences will be covered by the penalties, it is thought tailgating, undertaking and driving without due care and attention will all come under the new regulations.

Driver’s concerned wrong driver may be targeted

Undertaking will be particularly contentious because many experienced drivers maintain the offence is often committed because of the actions of bad drivers hogging the central lane of a motorway.

Road speed limits will feature

The bill is widely anticipated to also include a change to speed limits on the country’s highways. Many experts on the transport network expect motorways and other high volume roads to have their speed limits changed, with the view of economy and road safety both taken into account. A raising of the speed limit on motorways to 80 mph is expected, which will be a boost to the economy as it will mean shorter journey times, however, on roads where there is a limit of 50 and 60 mph and yet there are still incidences of serious accidents the limit may well be lowered.

Tags: Car Insurance, Motor insurance, The Department of Transport, transport bill
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EcoVelocity event planned for London

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

Ask most motorists what the Eden Project in Cornwall and Battersea Power station in London have in common and more than likely you will be met by a blank stare. However, ask a motorist who has already invested in the future and bought car insurance cover for a brand new eco car and he will probably know the answer.

Tomorrow’s world housed in today’s iconic buildings

The answer is of course both iconic buildings are champions of the new green technologies that are rapidly changing the face of motoring in the UK today. The Eden project has always been at the forefront of green technology and hosted the first two national events for green cars in the country. The “Sexy Green Car” shows of 2007/8 heralded the shape of things to come and this year Battersea Power Station is taking over the mantel and holding the EcoVelocity show.

Showcase event in the absence of convention

The show will represent all that is new and good in the pursuit of “cleaner” motoring and all the major manufacturers of clean cars for the 21st Century will be represented. Indeed with the absence of a conventional British motor show in 2011, the EcoVelocity event could be seen as the foremost motor show in Britain this year.

Supercars on show

The show dates have been announced this week and the event will take place between September 8th to September 10th. The event will feature electric zero emission models, hybrids and more conventional cars built to make the most of their petrol engines. The producers of the event plan to build a special circuit for prospective buyers of the eco cars to take a test run in them before they splash out on motor vehicle insurance, and the real drawing point of the show may be the Green Supercar Paddock where visitors to the show will get a glimpse of what manufacturers like Citroen, Ford, Honda, Fiat and Volkswagen can really get their engineers to produce when they put their minds to it.

Something for everyone

The show will have lots of other attractions including Honda backed tuition for young motor cyclists, the chance to buy motor accessories of any and every kind, plus the opportunity for members of the public to do a fair share of celebrity spotting as the rich and famous come out to show their green credentials.

Tags: Car Insurance, EcoVelocity, eden project, green technology, Motor insurance
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The driving test

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

The final step before a driver can get their first set of motor insurance quotes is passing the driving test. For all would be drivers, the driving test is the last hurdle to get over before acquiring that all important driving license.

Be prepared

The trepidation that many would be drivers feel when they settle down at the side of a Driving Standards Agency representative is well known, but if they are prepared correctly there is no reason to be nervous. All the learner driver has to do is show the instructor a clear understanding of the fundamental laws of driving. When preparing for the driving test, it is vital to understand the most common mistakes drivers make, which lead to the words “I’m sorry to have to tell you that on this occasion you have failed your driving test.”

Safety first and remember the Highway Code

An incorrect lane change is a very common error made during a driving test. To do this correctly, signal your intent, make sure no other vehicle is in the lane, and finally check the mirrors before actually moving over. You will have done it a thousand times while learning, it is not difficult, but a failure to do this can, and probably will result in an automatic failure as this is a safety measure.

Giving way involves the act of bringing your vehicle to a halt before proceeding; this is to make sure the car is not going out into moving traffic. An example of this is coming to a stop on a road when turning right. Prior to turning, the driver must make sure the road is free of traffic, and if the junction is controlled by traffic lights that the lights are on green. Failing to stop at a sign or a red light is another mistake that will result in failure. Always look both ways at a junction and make sure there are no other vehicles or pedestrians on the road before starting again. Always remember to check you are travelling at the required speed for the highway when taking a new direction.

Know your car

Basic operating of the vehicle should not be overlooked either. Simple tasks such as starting the vehicle, understanding where the hazard lights are, operating the turn signals, turning on the windscreen wipers and adjusting all of the mirrors are simple but essential tasks to pass the driving test.

Spare set of eyes would be handy

As a driver, always be aware of situations on the road ahead and around the car. Failure to keep your eyes on the road at all times while looking out for pedestrians as well as what other drivers are doing can also result in failing the driving test. Always check the rear, right and left mirrors often while driving, and do not allow yourself to be distracted by anything else. When a driver does pass their test, they can look forward to getting a quote for car insurance cover and have many happy and safe years on the road.

Tags: Car Insurance, driving test, Learner drivers, Motor insurance, motor insurance quote
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Benefits of Changing Engine Oil

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

There are a huge number of drivers who get car insurance quotes every day of the week. Not only is it compulsory to have car insurance but it is necessary for the driver to feel protected, his insurance company will look after him and his vehicle. But it is not just the insurance firm who can look after the vehicle, one job the driver can do is to look after the oil. The benefits of changing an engine’s oil far outweigh what could be an expensive mistake of failing to carry out this routine maintenance.

Know when to change

Motor or engine oil is a lubricant which both coats and cleans the moving parts inside an internal combustion engine and if changed regally it will extend the life of an engine. The frequency of oil changes will largely depend on the age of the vehicle because later models have been manufactured to run more efficiently and cleanly. How the vehicle is used will also be a factor; if it is a heavy goods vehicle it will require frequent changes to compensate for the amount of stress placed on the engine.

The lifeblood of an engine

The best reason for changing the engine oil regularly is to make sure that the engine is getting adequate lubrication. The oil will coat the moving parts inside the engine while also reducing friction. Too much friction will cause heat, wear and spark, all of these will quite significantly reduce the life of a vehicles engine. Oil also reduces oxidation and corrosion of internal parts, which are also reasons for the premature failure of the engine. A well lubricated engine will run much more efficiently. Oil will also clean the soot particles from each of the parts it coats and hold them in suspension. This will prevent a build up of sludge in the engine which is capable of clogging up openings, interfering with the engine’s operations and also reduce the fuel efficiency.

Modern oils perform better

If the oil appears dark when it is checked it does not mean it is dirty; it is a sign that it is doing its job. Over time the motor oil will begin to break down and not be as effective as the when it was first put in. It is always a good idea to replace the oil before it degrades too much and fails to lubricate and clean the motor engine. Today modern oil has additives that slow the degradation process, but even these will still break down quite a lot with use. The more a vehicle is used, the more frequently it will benefit from an oil change.

Many drivers take satisfaction from changing their own oil although these days it is usually drivers with over 50s car insurance that do it, old habits die hard! However, the average person can easily miss important signs that a professional mechanic would notice. It is always a good idea to let your local garage do the job now and again.

Tags: Car Insurance, Changing Engine Oil, over 50's car insurance
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