Vehicle Insurance and How Britain is a Bargain Hunters

Recent research by the Fair Investment Company has come to the conclusion that most Brits are bargain hunters when it comes to choosing the right car insurance deal. 

The study found that over 57 per cent of those UK motorists quizzed named price as the most important element of securing cover on their vehicle. 

The level of cover was deemed much less important, with only 19 per cent viewing it as the crucial aspect of selecting a policy.

James Caldwell, Fairinvestment.co.uk's director, said: "Motorists should be careful choosing their car insurance by price alone, the cheapest car insurance is not always the best and there are other aspects to be taken into consideration.

"I would advise anybody shopping for car insurance to compare deals not just on price but also policy features, some of which may be outlined in the small print."

Some two per cent of participants in the survey named breakdown cover and a no claims bonus as the part of a deal most important to them.

So what can you do to join these money saving motorists?

The best advice is to shop around for your policy. Price comparison sites such as money extra and moneysupermarket.com are the first stop when looking for a new deal.

Moneysupermarket.com, for instance, found that the cheapest car insurers were Kwik Fit and Swiftcover with an average premium of £276.74.

Quinn-Direct and the RAC were named third and fourth best with average premiums of £282.80 and £289.59 respectively.

Peter Gerrard, head of insurance research at moneysupermarket.com, said that although cost should be a primary concern it is also imperative that motorists consider how appropriate the policy they opt for is for their specific needs. 

He said: "While cost is a major factor, motorists should make sure they get cover most suited to their needs. It is always worth looking at multiple-person cover, excess levels and breakdown cover within insurance deals.

"There is nothing stopping drivers from changing their insurer each year and always taking advantage of the most competitive premium. There is no substitute for spending a few minutes comparing quotes online and finding the best deal for your needs."
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11.11  1 comment

Car Insurance Quick Quote Via Your Mobile Phone

Danielle Fletcher 

Renewing car insurance can be a time consuming task. With the market saturated with a huge number of companies offering car insurance products, finding the best deal can mean lengthy searches and endless repeating of your personal information to the various brokers and insurers. 

This can be particularly frustrating if you only require a quick quote in anticipation of buying a car. Nowadays many people consider the cost of insurance before purchasing a new vehicle, as it can be significant proportion of the running costs. When out searching for a car, it might be helpful to get a quote as soon as possible in order to be able decide whether or not the car is going to be suitable. Now one company has come up with a solution to help car buyers get an instant quote. 

Swiftcover-insurance.blogspot.com, an internet insurance firm has launched a service which allows customers to get a car insurance quote via their mobile phone. In order to the use the service customers need to have a mobile phone with internet access. A link can be added to the phone provider’s website to make navigation easier, or a text message can be send which will direct the customer to the site. Once on the site a few questions need to be answered regarding the customer’s demographics and the car registration details. The site then will reply with a quote within one minute. This service means that customers can get an insurance quote at any time of day through their phones. This should make life a little easier when out car hunting, especially if deciding between two different vehicles. 

It is important to note that the quote provided via phone can only act as a guide, and further data will need to be inputted at a later date in order to get an exact quote. This is because the phone quote only relies on six pieces of data, whereas normally an insurance quote requires a lot more information. But it can act as a starting point for those who need a speedy indication of the insurance cost. 

However this service is not entirely new. Swiftcover-insurance.blogspot.com launched a text service similar to the mobile internet service back in 2006. With this service, customers were required to send a text message to the company which would then respond with a series of question. The quick quote would then be based on the answers to these questions. Swiftcover.com is moving with the modern day advances in technology and enabling customers to access quick quotes through a number of methods to suit them. Making life easier for the consumer is an important way of keeping their business. Once a customer has used the service to obtain a quick insurance quote, they might be more inclined to go back to the provider to obtain a full quote and ultimately purchase their insurance. In such a saturated market as the car insurance market is, any innovation which makes it easier for customers to choose the right product and car for them has the potential to be a hit.

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11.00  1 comment

When Driving Abroad will Sure You're Fully Insured

By Michael Challiner

Around three million British drivers head off abroad each summer to experience first hand the beautiful countries in Europe but regularly mistakenly assume that because they have fully comprehensive at home that they will outside the UK too.

Car insurance providers in the UK offer the minimal protection required by law in some EU countries, and that is road traffic accident cover. You may have fully comprehensive cover at home with top insurers like Admiral, Swiftcover, Direct Line, Barclays or Esure but your cover abroad is only third party, therefore any accidents costs will cover the third party not yours.

Head of insurance at Moneysupermarket.com, Peter Gerrard says that British motorists just presume they are covered. "Never assume you are covered abroad – always check your policy. It's very easy to think that because you have paid your premium, your insurance will be valid overseas."

All that is needed is a simple policy upgrade so that you have the same UK coverage whilst abroad. To cover a year, for all trips less than 90 days, Norwich Union charge £25, and Direct Line charge £19 for a 36 year old driving a Ford Fiesta. The RAC also charge £25 to increase cover per year.

Supermarket giant, Tesco, also do comprehensive add-on’s to UK insurance and also include legal advice and expenses, delivery of replacement parts, roadside assistance and recovery, a replacement vehicle while the car is off the road and help if the driver is ill. This costs £45 for up to 8 days, rising to £65 for up to 22 days. The larger insurers Barclays, Swiftcover, Direct Line and Esure will cover for up to 90 days for up to £23 and Admiral will do it for 30 days.

Other insurers, the AA, Churchill, Marks & Spencer, Endsleigh and the Post Office will all automatically upgrade your cover when you drive in Europe.

When you go on holiday you must always take your insurers details with you just in case you have an emergency and need to contact them.

You will need a green card from your insurer if your travels take you outside the EU. This is an internationally recognised document that proves that you are covered to comply with local legislation. There may be a nominal fee for issuing this card.

If you hire a car whilst abroad the cost will include fully comprehensive insurance cover but check the excess charge – it varies in all countries and can be as high as £1000. Insurance-4hire.com, specialists in this field, says that 4 out of 10 holidaymakers do not realise that they could be liable for these costs should they have an accident.

"If you rent a car you will automatically get insurance, but you should be wary of excesses. You might want to buy an excess waiver policy, where you pay a bit extra but then will not face an excess if you make a claim," says Mr Gerrard at Moneysupermarket.com.

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10.19  No comments

Marriage can Cut the Cost of Car Insurance

Author : Jennifer Scott 

With the average wedding now costing nearly £16,000*, tying the knot can lead to a big hole in your finances. However, getting married or entering into a civil partnership can actually save you money on your motor insurance!

According to online insurer swiftcover.com, adding your spouse to your car insurance policy can save you up to 20% compared to your singleton counterparts.

For example:

• A man adding his female spouse to his insurance policy could see his premium cut from over £388 to under £345 - if both drivers are male and in a civil partnership, the new premium would be around £348 because male drivers are considered a higher risk
• However, if a woman driver put her male spouse on her policy, the premium would fall from just over £341 to little more than £303 - the cost for two women in a civil partnership would also be around £303

Swiftcover says insurance premiums are cheaper because claims statistics show that married people are safer drivers. However, couples that aren't officially 'hitched' will also benefit from insurance savings, whether they are heterosexual or same-sex partners, although the savings won't be as high as drivers in a legally recognised partnership.

Tina Shortle, marketing director of swiftcover.com, says: "We're not suggesting that people say "I do" just to push down the cost of their car insurance, but many married couples may not realise that they can make significant savings by adding their spouses to their car insurance. It's also important to note that same sex couples in a civil partnership will also get lower insurance premiums and swiftcover.com's online quote system has been designed to enable drivers to add a spouse of either sex.

"The amount of savings will vary depending on individual circumstances such as the type of car, where you live, your job and your previous claims and motoring history. As long as your spouse is not particularly high risk you will see a saving - and although it may not help with the cost of the 'big day', over many years of wedded bliss it could amount to a substantial saving."

Shortle pointed out that insurance policies should always be in the name of the main driver - the person that drives the vehicle most often - with the spouse or partner as the named driver. Naming your spouse or partner, or indeed anyone else, as the main driver to bring the cost of premiums down further could invalidate your policy in the event of a claim if it is found that they are not actually the person that drives the vehicle most often. Likewise, incorrectly claiming that a named driver is your spouse could make your policy invalid if you need to claim.

As Swiftcover shows, adding your spouse as a named driver to your car insurance policy, whatever your gender or orientation can begin to save you money, with the following examples reducing annual premiums by an average of £38, which could add up to £380 over ten years.

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09.59  No comments

Insurance Evasion High Among Drivers

Recent studies have shown that a significant number of Brits are cutting back on vital financial products such as car insurance, a worrying trend which could leave many in a vulnerable position.

The report by American Express suggested that 48% of respondents are cutting back on spending when it comes to important services including health insurance in order to save money. But the situation has not been made any easier as fresh revelations suggested that UK drivers were unknowingly paying an annual sum of £500 million in excess to cover those driving without insurance.

Many motorists are now questioning why they should be forced to pay for those driving illegally although insurance providers have been quick to point out the relationship between additional cost and the risk factor involved with many insurers saying that there is a likelihood of more drivers having to claim off their own insurance if the other party is uninsured.

However, a significant number of motorists in urban areas are reportedly considering cancelling their car insurance while still driving on UK roads mainly because the maximum fine for drivers caught without insurance is £250. In recent months, insurance has been saturated with eco-friendly car insurance deals which many motorists believe to be cheaper, but according to findings by a consumer website, it costs 105% more than regular car insurance.

Green car drivers have been credited for being environmentally friendly because of their decision to go green and according to claims, they could be left with extra cash to spare. Industry sources however, say that going green may not necessarily offer the financial incentives you can enjoy if a motorist chooses to drive a more fuel efficient vehicle. A good example is the quotes for the Honda Civic Hybrid which starts from just £342 with Swiftcover, to £389 with CIS (the cheapest green car insurers in the market) and a whopping £701 from Green Insurance.

But according to the American Express study, 24% will skimp on travel insurance even when they are searching for a holiday while 5% said they would stop paying monthly installments for home or car insurance policies. The current economic turmoil also means that life is increasingly looking expensive but the concern among industry experts is that this style of budgeting will most certainly leave the 48% of Brits who are cutting back on the policies very vulnerable.

At the same time, statistics show that drivers are not spared higher premiums in high crime areas and according to figures, motorists in Wales are ranked sixth out of ten worst areas for insurance evasion. Perhaps what is even more alarming is the disclosure by Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) who claimed that over 350,000 uninsured vehicles have been taken off the road and 40% of them crushed or disposed of.

Additionally, the government and insurance industry will soon be announcing the timetable for the introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement in the coming months after a study showed that that there are currently around two million uninsured vehicles on the UK's roads.

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08.16  No comments

UK Motor Insurance First

For the first time in the UK, well certainly the first time I've heard this, there is a motor insurance company offering new customers the chance to cap their motor insurance premium for the next year so it's the same as they pay the first year.

Funny enough my car insurance is up for renewal in March and I've been sent an email from my current insurer. I've got 5 years no claims discount and I'm 31, I drive a 7 year old , 1.9 Diesel car and my renewal price Is £281.00, not bad I thought...

I decided to try a comparison web site and after completing my details I found a few quotes around £200, so I could in theory save around £80. The problem is can I really be bothered to go through the hassle of changing everything to a new insurer just to save myself less than £8 per month?! I suppose this is what insurers rely on; customer apathy...The thing for me is that I've got enough to do without having the hassle, and to be honest complete boredom, of changing car insurance!

With my current insurer everything renews automatically, I don't have to do anything, apart from read the emails they send me. On the other hand a friend has just said that he'd never deal with them again because they were awful when his car was written off...I guess we all just hoping that we never have to deal with that situation.

I think I'll get a few different quotes from other comparison sites, maybe a few insurance specialist sites. If I can't save a decent amount then I'll just leave my policy with Swiftcover, after all insurance can only get so cheap they're not going to give it away!

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04.12  No comments

Do Women Get Good Deal on Car Insurance?

Yet another car insurance provider has decided to offer exclusive policies for female drivers - but do these deals really offer better value?

More Than car insurance has launched women driver's insurance with special features designed for females including priority road assistance, a mobile phone locator, female friendly repairers, child car seat replacement and handbag cover. It is just the latest in a long line of car insurance providers that specifically target females with their policies including Diamond, Ladybird and Sheila's Wheels.

However, research from Swiftcover reveals that these specialist insurers do not necessarily offer females the best deals. Its research shows that 18.9 million women drivers in the UK face price differences on their insurance deals of as much as £600.

For example, a female aged 25 who lives in Milton Keynes and has a Ford Fiesta Style 1244cc with zero years no-claims could get a policy for as little as £273.60 with Swiftcover and yet would pay £512.90 with Diamond. Similarly, a 35-year-old in Birmingham driving a VW Passat would pay £331.76 through Swiftcover compared to £426.37 through Sheila's Wheels.

Women are generally offered more favourable car insurance quotes than men due to their superior driving record with Home Office statistics showing that men are involved in 97 per cent of dangerous driving convictions. However, just because an insurer claims it can offer cheaper quotes by dealing exclusively with females it does not mean that women drivers could not get a cheaper deal elsewhere.

The key is to do everything you can to save including taking advantage of online discounts, paying annually instead of monthly, parking a car in a garage overnight and enhancing security.

From there take a complete overview of the car insurance market and compare car insurance from as many providers as possible to find a competitive deal.

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04.12  1 comment

Are Women Missing Out on cheap Car Insurance?

Statistics have been released by car insurance provider Swiftcover, highlighting the need for female drivers to look beyond the policies that are advertised directly to them when shopping around for car insurance.
According to the provider's research, the UK's 18.9million women drivers could face car insurance premiums with differences of more than £600 a year. Its research found that a 35-year-old female living in Birmingham driving a Volkswagen Passat with one speeding conviction to their name could be charged as much as £944.45 a year through female car insurance specialist Diamond. The same driver however, could pick up a quote for just £331.76 through Swiftcover itself - a difference of £612.69.
This wasn't a one-off example either. The insurer quoted many similar differences including for a 55-year-old female in Southampton driving a Saab 9-5 who could pick up a premium for just £148.00 through Swiftcover and yet would be charged £246.94 through Sheila's Wheels and £589.55 with Diamond.
Cynics would argue that Swiftcover has hand-picked the examples to show off the savings made through its service. However, there is a clear message for female motorists to shop around - preferably by using a comparison service - to ensure they're getting the cheapest quote available.
It is important to look beyond price too and consider what you're getting for your money. To their credit, the likes of Diamond and Sheila's Wheels offer incentives such as handbag cover, female-friendly repairers and courtesy cars.
Once you've found a policy with the level of cover you need, look to save money where possible by enhancing the vehicle's security, parking in a garage overnight, driving at pre-agreed times and avoiding convictions.
You can also enjoy cheap car insurance by paying annually instead of monthly, as many companies charge interest on monthly car insurance installments.

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03.24  No comments

All About Swiftcover Insurance Tips & Guide

Swift related to speed. So, as the name suggests, Swiftcover insurance swear that you are going to get an insurance quote withinone minute of the investigation. Swiftcover is an online insurance company. They have a comprehensive Web site that gives all and any information about the company. The details are included in the Web site Swiftcover is the point. They also provide lots of flexibility in their policy that some other insurance companies may be able tomatch.

So, basically you can save your time, you just need to save your quotes and details, and then these companies will make an agreement to submit the insurance documents actually use a technology. You can get a printout then and there. Thus, at Swiftcover insurance system is a hassle-free. Their services and policies that cover is relatively cheap, allowing space for a big discount to its customers. This is because, they do not need to take advantage of their operational expenses at all. Also has a program where they are ready to offer your money back, if you happen to geta cheaper policy within a period of 14 days.

You might expect a lot of companies that maintain and manage, and have access to a variety of insurance market relationships, most of those who enter with the AXA Group. Similar to your expectations, Swiftcover also able to offer market access to travel insurance, pet insurance market and cover up distractions. A point to note here that all these services are offered at a competitive price. You may know a number of websites that get something set up and then start with a big spike. However, they disappear within months of launch. However, Swiftcover has been able to transfer their business model car insurance with some other areas and they have succeeded in their efforts. Today, there are cut-throat competition among the insurance companies. But, as markets become more and more competitive, Swiftcover has been able to go one step before the competition, in connection with their services and fees, those that have the highest.

This may look very strange to you, but Swiftcover has managed to stand upright for a very good comparison to the big or popular car company insurance such as AA, RAC and More Than. Although low-cost approach, they are also willing to pay big dividends.

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22.59  No comments