No Laughing Matter For Women Drivers As Car Insurance Soars

If you are a single car household, with more than one driver, changes to the costs of car insurance for women may mean it's time to change your insurance arrangements. Gender stereotyping dictates that lots of men appear to think that their wives or girlfriends are terrible drivers anyway (and vice versa of course!), so taking 'her indoors' off the policy seems like a good idea! As for women, with insurance costs set to rise by December 2012 at the latest, letting 'him outdoors' think he is right on this point - or better still that it was his idea - could save you a penny or two.

The advantages of sexism

OK, I'm being sexist I know. However, the ruling from the European Courts of Justice hardly seems to be fair, even in the gift wrapping known as equality. Women drivers, despite being statistically safer, are set to see their car insurance costs rise significantly this year. There are various ways of combating this and one option is to take advantage of temporary car insurance. This type of car insurance was originally utilised by those working in the motor industry, but since 2005 has been available to every driver.

Road map to savings

This method of lowering your insurance costs isn't going to work for everyone. However, in households where there is only one car there may be some advantage in the ruling. The effect of the ruling could be a slight drop in the cost of car insurance for men - around 10% - and a bigger rise in costs for women of perhaps 25%. If your daily commute and use of the car allow for it, this could mean that insuring 'him outdoors' may make sound economic sense. It will have the added advantage of leaving him in charge of the driving while you indulge in a spot of drive-by window shopping! When it comes to holidays or long journeys where you might want to share the driving, temporary insurance can prove cost effective.

Finding a deal

There are specialist insurers who will offer temporary insurance for periods ranging from a single day to up to a month - for periods longer than this they'll probably insist on a full policy. As with any insurance it pays to shop around for a temporary car insurance quote. Costs vary, but the structure of these policies is usually similar. The first two or three days of a policy will be charged at a higher rate, then for subsequent days the rate drops, making it a very competitive type of car insurance for occasional drivers. For those whose lifestyles allow for this sort of arrangement, there is a good chance you will be able to save money on your car insurance costs.

Michigan No-Fault Auto Insurance Reforms

If passed, HB-4936 will reform the Michigan No-Fault auto insurance law that was first created in the 1970's. Under the current No-Fault law, all Michigan auto insurance policies contain a coverage called Personal Injury Protection, or PIP. PIP includes several provisions, including unlimited medical benefits and up to 85% of the insured's lost income from work, subject to a monthly maximum amount. Michigan is the only state that mandates unlimited medical coverage.

The crux of the issue is the rate at which the cost of catastrophic injury claims are increasing in combination with the way our No-Fault Law currently works. At present, PIP benefits within the auto insurance policy must pay medical providers the full amount of fees they deem to be "reasonable and customary". Other medical insurance sources are able to pay reduced fees because of PPO or HMO agreements or, in the case of workers compensation, a fee schedule that is part of Michigan's Workers Compensation Statute.

At present, there is no dollar limit on the amount of PIP benefits payable for an injury stemming from an automobile accident. There are two charges within a Michigan auto insurance policy that pay for this benefit: One is the premium paid for PIP coverage. This money is retained by the insurance company and is used to cover the first $500,000 of a claim for PIP benefits. Another charge is the MCCA assessment. The assessment, which will increase slightly to $145.00 per vehicle in 2012, is a fee the insurance companies are required to collect and pass on to the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA). The MCCA fully reimburses the insurance company for the portion of an injury claim that exceeds $500,000. According to the MCCA, the highest percentage of people whose PIP claim costs exceed $500,000 are between the age of 16-20 (12.4%).

According to a report presented by Sharon Tennyson Ph.D. as testimony before the Michigan House Insurance Committee on October 4, 2011, the average amount paid for a Michigan PIP claim during 2010 was $35,446. The report also states that only 1% to 2% of all PIP claims in Michigan exceed $500,000. The problem is that the few claims (1% to 2%) that exceed $500,000 account for 47% of all PIP claims costs. In other words, once the claim cost exceeds $500,000, chances are that it may be huge.

The goal of the proposed legislation is to help curb the rising cost of auto insurance in Michigan. According to a legislative analysis summary from the House Fiscal Agency, there are six key provisions to the proposed change in our No-Fault Law: 

• No-fault policies would no longer automatically cover unlimited lifetime medical and rehabilitation benefits. Instead, drivers could choose personal injury protection (PIP) coverage with (1) a maximum of $500,000; (2) a maximum of $1,000,000; or (3) a maximum of $5,000,000. The default amount would be $500,000.
• The current Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), which currently pays medical and rehabilitation claims once they exceed $500,000, would be divided into two accounts: (1) the MCCA Account, which would only apply to losses attributable to accidents before July 1, 2012; and (2) an Excess PIP Account, which would apply to losses attributable to accidents on or after July 1, 2012. Each account would be self-supporting and assets and liabilities could not be transferred between them.
• Under the bill, for loss occurrences attributable to accidents on or after July 1, 2012, each auto insurance company would pay for 100% of the ultimate loss under PIP coverage up to $500,000. The MCCA would reimburse the auto insurance company 90% of the ultimate loss from $500,000 and $1,000,000 and 100% of the loss in excess of $1,000,000.
• The fee schedule used in the Workers' Compensation system would be applied to payments made by auto insurers to physicians, hospitals, and other providers treating an injured person or providing rehabilitation. (The fee schedule would not apply to emergency medical services provided by ambulance operations.)
• Individuals injured on a motorcycle involved in an accident with a motor vehicle could claim PIP benefits only up to a maximum of $250,000.
• Specific limits would be placed in statue on attendant care or nursing services provided in an injured person's home, including limits on hourly payment for the provision of basic services and skilled services.

If passed, how would claim costs be covered if they exceeded the limit of insurance chosen on the auto insurance policy? Likely, they would become the responsibility of other insurance sources such as private medical insurance, VA Benefits or Medicaid.

The airwaves are alive with radio ads from both those who favor this change and those who oppose this change. Insurance companies and many consumers favor the change as it would help contain spiraling medical costs resulting from auto accidents and help to keep auto insurance premiums reasonable. Health care providers oppose the change.

Aflac Car Insurance

I have found that for car insurance, Aflac is the way to go! Not only are their rates far more reasonable than its competators, but the customer care that exists within the realms fo the company itself, is outstanding. I think it is a great option for anyone firstly who is a teenager with a new liscense, to look into. More likely than not, a better deal on insurance could be obtained through Aflac, especially when it comes to a new driver! I would also recommend Aflac to anyone who perhaps drives a sports car, or a car that would typically be higher to insurure because of a turbo engine, or syle and model. And of course, while saving money and getting better coverage, it never hurts to sponsor

a company who utilizes cute little ducks to market their services! I would imagine that if you are like me, and saving money by utilizing Aflac’s services, you are sure to have something to “quack” about!

Related reviews :Aflac Insurance
Aflac--When we hear "Aflac", we automatically think of the duck. While the duck is great, the insurance coverage with Aflac is absolutely the best in the industry. For those not familiar with Aflac, Aflac is supplemental insurance. They are not major medical nor automobile insurance. ...

AFLAC Health Savings Account
When my husband came home from work in November toting the paperwork for his health insurance there was no doubt in my mind that we would be enrolling in the coverage. Let's face it, everyone needs health insurance and since we had been without coverage since I had left ...

Ethias Insurance
We have the car insurance from this Ethias company when we lived in Belgium few years ago. A car insurance is a must if you have a car in Belgium ( I think this also count for other country in Europe ). SO we had to choose an insurance ...

ACA Travel Insurance
If you are living in Indonesia, and you plan to travel to another country for holiday, I suggest you to use the travel insurance from Bank Central Asia (BCA). The insurance company is called ACA, and they have several offer for you regarding your travel insurance. I used to buy ...

Geico Insurance
Many people have seen the funny commercials they have out now a days about insurance. They constantly knock the other competitors on their rates. I was curious about the rate of other competitors. I called and got a dozen rate quotes from other well known insurance agencies. None of ...

USAA Life Insurance
USAA provides a suite of excellent life insurance products at competitive prices. Unlike its auto insurance products, however, USAA life insurance products are open to the general public. Among the products provided by USAA are level term life insurance, whole life insurance and universal life insurance. Level term insurance probably ...

Travel Guard travel insurance
Are you looking for travel insurance that you can buy online from the Internet? The answer is Travel Guard Insurance from AIG. Try to visit their site to find what they offer for you. And if you need a quotation for your travel insurance, you can also get it ...

Progressive Insurance
Progressive Insurance has become one of the largest insurance companies. Their prices are lower that any other major insurance company and signing up for insurance with them is easy - you just dial the 800# and get everything setup over the phone. If you want to check rates, they will also ...

Geico insurance company
Geico was has remained my insurance company for a long time because of their fantastic insurance rates. I like the idea of the offering you a quote before you even purchase insurance from them and I also like that they offer you a quote from other insurance companies that ...

Beathard Insurance Conroe Texas
I currently have insurance with Beathard Insurance Company. It all started when I was taking quotes online to find the best deal on my auto insurance. It seemed that Safeco was the best one I could find. After getting all the quotes from several different companies I decided ...

45 Great Car Insurance Resources

The world of car insurance can be a complicated one. So I thought I’d share the best resources I’ve found to help you navigate the car insurance maze.

Whether you want to find a cheaper/better policy or simply want to better understand how your car insurance works these sites and tools can help.

Price Comparison Websites
Extremely useful for searching hundreds of car insurance quotes quickly and easily:

1. confused.com - Searches 97% of car insurance companies to find you quotes

2. moneysupermarket.com - Compares motor insurance quotes from 50 insurance providers

3. uswitch.com - Finds quotes from more than 40 insurers

4. tescocompare.com - Provides quotes from a pane of over 30 insurance companies

5. gocompare.com - Access quotes from over 50 leading insurance providers

6. comparethemarket.com - Searches over 400 policies from big name insurance companies

Female Drivers

These sites specialise in tailoring policies to meet the needs of female drivers:

7. sheilaswheels.com - Find cheap online insurance for female drivers, including handbag cover

8. diamond.co.uk - A girl's best friend with cheaper insurance for women drivers

9. girlmotor.com - Cheaper car insurance for women in three simple steps

Young Drivers
Quotes for young drivers are usually much higher than average, these sites understand that:

10. 4youngdrivers.co.uk - Excellent for drivers over 19 with one years no claims discount

11. 17to40.co.uk - Focuses on individual circumstances to help young drivers get cheaper cover

12. hootcarinsurance.co.uk - Provides young driver quotes from more than 30 insurance companies

Classic Cars

If ever a specialist motor insurance policy was required it is for a classic car and these insurers are experts in this particular field:

13. lancasterinsurance.co.uk - Get classic car insurance quotes from a panel of leading UK insurers

14. footmanjames.co.uk - Quotes for classic and vitange vehicles at competitive prices

15. peterbestinsurance.co.uk - Offers policies specifically designed for classic car owners

Performance Cars

For those who enjoy sports cars and modifications check out these sites that can help you lower your premium:

16. adrianflux.co.uk - Searches 40 insurance companies to find great quotes for modified cars

17. performancedirect.co.uk - Helping to bring down sports car insurance for more than 35 years

18. peart.co.uk - Specialise in offering competitive quotes on performance vehicles

Tips & Guides

Knowledge is power and these helpful sources offer some great ideas for lowering the cost of your insurance:

19. carinsuranceguide.org.uk - Detailed and impartial car insurance guides

20. moneysupermarket.com - Indepth 12 page guide covering a range of car insurance topics

21. uswitch.com - Four page car insurance guide from quote to claim

22. carinsurancemanual.co.uk - A useful list of car insurance providers and articles

23. msn.com - Covers the basics of car insurance

24. theaa.com - A guide to car insurance groups

25. moneysavingexpert.com - Great car insurance money saving guide

26. motorinsurance.co.uk - Useful guide to choosing the right type of policy

27. yahoo.com - Car insurance Q&A with Yahoo.com

28. find.co.uk - All-round car insurance guides with insightful tips

29. gocompare.com - A buyers guide to cheaper car insurance

Forums

Where better to discuss insurance providers and claims experiences, the information picked up can be of great use in selecting an insurer or making a claim:

30. moneysavingexpert.com - One of the busiest car insurance forums around

31. moneysupermarket.com - Hundreds of threads discussing quotes, claims and companies

32. usedcarmart.co.uk - Discussions including cheap quotes, young drivers and making claims

33. ukinsuranceforum.co.uk - A forum dedicated to discussing UK insurance

34. rac.co.uk - Nice forum from the RAC offering advice on accidents and claims

Reviews

Find out how other customers rate their insurance provider and share your opinion with others:

35. reviewcentre.com - Read hundreds of reviews on UK car insurance providers

36. ciao.co.uk - Detailed reviews of car insurance companies complete with ratings

37. uk-insurance-index.co.uk- Read dozens of online reviews and write your own

Glossaries

Confused by terminology? Check out these great A-Z car insurance glossaries:

38. abi.org.uk - Detailed car insurance glossary from The Association of British Insurers

39. gocompare.com - Useful jargon buster to help understand car insurance terminology

40. 17to40.co.uk - A great A-Z designed to help younger drivers

News

Keep up to date with all the latest car insurance developments with these great news services:

41. google.co.uk - Search Google for up-to-date car insurance news

42. yahoo.com - Read car insurance news articles on Yahoo

43. bbc.co.uk - Keep up to date with motor insurance news on the BBC

Last But Not Least

Two other free online tools that everyone should be using:

44. abi.org.uk - Find out the insurance group of any vehicle

45. mileagecalculator.co.uk - Calculate your mileage online

So there you go, 45 free online resources to help in your quest for cheaper and better car insurance, happy surfing!

The Ultimate Guide To Young Driver Car Insurance

In a recent post we explored reports that many insurance providers had started refusing quotes to young drivers. While many news articles focused on the negative side of this story we preferred to look at offering a solution to the problem.

And here it is; our ultimate guide to young driver car insurance. A look at why motor insurance is so expensive for younger drivers and 14 in-depth tips to securing a cheaper premium now and in the years to come…

So why is young driver car insurance more expensive in the first place?

The main reason many young drivers face having to more from their motor insurance is down to “perceived risk”. One of the main factors insurance companies consider when calculating the cost of your premium is how likely you are to actually make a claim. The more likely an insurer thinks you are to claim on your policy the higher your premium will be.

And how exactly do they calculate risk?

Every insurance company use slightly different criteria to calculate risk and will give different weightings to those criteria. Those differences aside, all insurance providers will consider a group of key factors:

• Age
• Driving experience and record
• Claims history
• The car you drive
• Post code
• Gender

What does this mean for younger drivers?

These factors having so much influence on the price of a car insurance quote spells bad news for younger drivers and the problem is made more frustrating by the fact many are out of your control. Let’s look at these areas in more detail and see just how much of a problem they can cause:

• Age – young drivers are just that, YOUNG, if insurance companies are going to hold that against you there’s little you can do.

• Driving experience and record – well if you’re YOUNG you won’t have much experience on the roads to help get a cheaper quote will you? Worse still, if you’ve managed to add a blemish or two to your record in this short time then your premium will be even higher.

• Claims history – again, if you’re YOUNG with LITTLE EXPERIENCE how can you have built up any no claims discount? And if you’ve already had to make a claim that will go against you as well.

• The car you drive – if you are lucky enough to be able to afford a nice new car expect to pay for that privilege with a higher premium, if you can only afford a cheap death trap expect to pay a higher premium, if you’re a motoring enthusiast who likes to modify their car, surprise, expect to pay a higher premium – anything out of the “middle of the road” norm and insurance companies will feel justified in increasing the cost of your policy.

• Post code – unsurprisingly some areas on the country are worse for accidents and thefts, usually these are big urban cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool. More accidents and thefts equal more claims which equal higher premiums. So if things weren’t looking bad enough already, if you live in such as area the outlook just got a whole lot worse.

• Gender – and just to round things off young male drivers are persecuted a little further with the “boy racer” tag which will raise the cost of your premium no matter how competent and safe a driver you really are, talk about prejudice!

To summarise this little section of the guide; the more of these factors you have going against you the harder it will be to find car insurance at a reasonable and affordable price.

How Can Insurance Companies Justify This?

In one word, STATISTICS!

Insurance companies love statistics and much of the research conducted goes a long way to supporting their approach of charging more to cover young drivers.

Many of these reports highlight the fact that younger drivers:

• Speed more
• Are involved in more accidents
• Injure and kill more people on the roads
• Are more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Suffer more thefts
• And as a result make more claims!

You can read more about these figures at www.abi.org.uk

All these stats and facts result in the “perceived risk” that leads to car insurance providers dishing out higher premiums to younger drivers. And it is the worsening of this situation that has resulted in several insurers turning young drivers away.

Is There Any Good News?

It’s fair to say that having read the guide to this point the picture looks very bleak indeed. Insurance companies take a dim view of younger drivers and the statistics back them up.

However, it is important that we understand the problems in order to combat them and find a solution, and this is exactly what we are going to do.

OK, Now For The Good Stuff!

14 Great Tips To Help Younger Drivers Lower Their Car Insurance Premiums

By combining as many of these tips as possible you can significantly lower the cost of your insurance.

• Take the PASS PLUS course – I wanted to get this one out of the way first as it’s only an option within 12 months of passing your test. Choosing to take this advanced driving course can help lower your insurance costs as some companies offer a discount to drivers who have passed the course. The discounts will vary from one provider to another. In addition to cheaper motor insurance the course also reduces the risk of having a crash by improving your skills and experience on the roads, in the long-term this can help build trust with insurers and lower your premium even further. Visit the PASS PLUS site to learn more

• Avoid modifications – adding “mods” to your car is a bad idea for younger drivers and helps promote the “boy racer” tag that insurers use to bump up your premium. By resisting the temptation to “soop up” you can help prevent your quote from going any higher. If you do decide to modify your motor make sure you let your insurer know as failure to do so could mean your policy is invalid when you make a claim. This scenario could make getting future car insurance an even harder prospect.

• Improve security – any money saved on modifications could be better spent improving the security of your vehicle. Fitting an approved alarm and immobiliser system reduces the chance of theft (which makes you less of a risk) and can help lower your quote. Parking more securely at night, such as on the drive or in a garage also improves security and lowers insurance costs. Make sure your insurance company is fully aware of the efforts to which you are going.

• A smaller engine – remember when we said the car you drive affects your premium? One of the main reasons younger drivers have more accidents (and pay higher premiums) is that they aren’t experienced in controlling powerful vehicles. Opting for a 1.0 or 1.2litre engine (in a low insurance group) will result in far cheaper insurance compared to a 4litre super charged turbo! Also you will benefit from cheaper road tax and petrol costs, the savings from which can offset the cost of your insurance and make it cheaper.

• Going on your own insurance and building up no claims bonus – I won’t lie, in the short-term this could sting a little but past that point the savings are huge. Typically one year’s no claims will result in a 30% discount on your premium and by building up four or more years the discount can be between 60-70%. With this in mind going on your parents insurance to lower the cost in the short-term makes little sense. Some insurance companies allow named drivers to build up no claims bonus but usually this is not transferable to another provider.

• Look for rapid bonus schemes – when taking the plunge of going on your own insurance keep an eye out for rapid bonus schemes. These deals allow you to build up one year’s no claims bonus within 9-10 months as apposed to the traditional 12. This is great way of accessing the discounts available by having a no claims bonus more quickly.

• Look for worthwhile cash back offers – as well as rapid bonus schemes look to take advantage of cash back deals offered by insurance companies. Insurance providers operate in a highly competitive market and frequently offer these incentives to attract customers. Cash back offers between £50-£75 are not uncommon and can act as a nice little saver on the cost of your policy.

• Shop around online – with so many companies and policies available using the internet to speed up the process is a good idea. Price comparison websites such as confused.com and moneysupermarket.com compare quotes from dozens of insurance companies and a search only a takes a few minutes. The results, (while not 100% accurate) provide a quick overview of the prices available and let you find the deals that are right for you at a reasonable price. A little bonus tip here, HAGGLE! Once you have these quotes to hand try to barter with the insurers and challenge them to beat your lowest quote. We’ve already discussed how competitive the industry is and this is where you can take advantage and lower your quote even further.

• Consider specialist insurance companies – as well as getting quotes from mainstream companies don’t forget to check out those who specialise in young driver car insurance. Companies such as 4youngdrivers and Adrian Flux provide cover for many young drivers and are well placed to offer competitive quotes. Again use your influence as a potential customer to drive the price down as far as possible.

• Offer a higher voluntary excess –this is a useful tool but one that should be used with caution. By volunteering to pay a higher excess the cost of your quote will fall as there is less liability for the insurer. The important point to remember is not to set your excess at a level you could not comfortably afford to pay in the event of a claim.

• Limit your mileage – reducing your perceived risk is a major weapon in your arsenal for lowering car insurance premiums and limiting your mileage does just that. If you are on the road for a shorter amount of time you are less likely to be involved in an accident. By working out how many miles you will drive over the year and agreeing to stick to that limit it is possible to negotiate a further reduction in your premium. Be sure to leave yourself a few miles in reserve just in case.

• Pay upfront rather than monthly – in theory paying in monthly installments sounds like a good idea. In reality it can be very costly. Most insurers charge interest on monthly payments which increase the overall cost of your premium. Paying upfront may put a dent in your budget for a while but it is usually the cheaper option. Occasionally some insurers offer monthly payments that don’t incur any fees, if you can find a deal like this then great, if not it is better to bite the bullet and pay upfront.

• Insure third party only – if your car is worth relatively little you may want to consider only insurance yourself for claims made against you rather than covering damage and theft to your own vehicle. In some cases the cost of replacing a cheap vehicle may be less than taking out a comprehensive insurance policy.

• Drive safely, carefully and responsibly – I thought we’d finish with a nice easy one and this harks back to those young driver statistics we mentioned earlier. Sadly all young drivers get tarred with the same brush so by proving yourself to be a competent and trustworthy driver your premiums will fall. Avoid speeding tickets and other driving penalties and the savings happen sooner than you might think. Combine this with building up your no claims and insurers will soon be queuing up to offer you car insurance at a discounted rate.

One point that has become apparent in this guide is young drivers still face a challenge to find affordable car insurance. The trick is to make this difficult period as short as possible. Hopefully, following the tips above will help you to find the best deals, gain the trust of insurance companies and get started on the road to cheaper premiums.

Lose The Mods For Cheaper Car Insurance

If you are looking for ways to make savings on the cost of your motor insurance, modifications (or “mods”) can be a great place to start.

Adding these extras to your vehicle can result in your car insurance premium increasing by hundreds of pounds.

While many motoring enthusiasts are willing to accept this added expense in order to indulge their passion it is always worth considering whether or not it is really necessary for you.

Many of the car insurance comparison sites now factor modifications into their quoting process. So if you are considering adding mods to your car why not play about with a few comparisons and see the difference they can make to your quote.

You may find that adding mods will make your car insurance unaffordable or that removing them could result in a nice saving. Either way it only costs ten minutes of your time to find out.

Finally don’t forget to keep your insurance provider informed. If you remove modifications let them know as it could lower your premium. Most importantly, if you add mods after taking out a policy tell your insurer immediately. Failure to do so could result in your policy being invalid in the event of making a claim.

So, rethink those mods and see what savings you could make!

Green Car Insurance – A Good Idea?

Green car insurance is a subject that is cropping up more regularly than ever in the UK.


As concerns over global warming continue to grow, companies in all sectors of business are looking at how they can reduce the damage they cause the environment.


The car insurance market is no exception; but is green car insurance a good idea?

This type of policy works by providing funds to environmental projects that offset the carbon emissions you produce when driving. At first glance taking out a green motor insurance policy seems to be an interesting proposition and will certainly appeal to the environmentally conscious.

As the wave of environmental anxiety continues to wash over the world a new range of green car insurance companies have sprung up offering motorists the opportunity to play their part in helping remedy the situation. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Green Car Insurance Companies

eGreen Insurance – when you take out a green car insurance policy with egreeninsurance they will take £25 from your premium and buy half an acre of rainforest. This prevents the land from being destroyed and helps combat climate change by offsetting the CO2 emissions produced by your car.

The Green Car Insurance Company – this environmentally friendly insurer runs a programme to offset 100% of your car’s carbon emissions with projects that include planting new forests in Scotland.

ibuyeco – their 100% carbon neutral insurance works with environmentally friendly projects to save 1kg of emissions for every 1kg of CO2 produced by your vehicle. To achieve this they work with renewable energy and landfill projects all over the world.

More Th>n – a slightly different take on green car insurance. The More Th>n Green Wheels policy helps its customers to develop a greener driving style. As a policy holder you are given access to information on your braking and accelerating rates, the number of short journeies made and more to help you become more environmentally aware when driving.

So if you are considering taking out a green car insurance policy there are certainly several options to choose from. However, we still need to answer the question of whether or not it’s a good idea.

The main plus point of green cover is clear, help combat global warming by offsetting your carbon emissions. In isolation this sounds great but there are several other factors to consider.

The most important factor is whether or not your policy offers the level of protection you need and for many people cost is a very close second.

In order for a green car insurance policy to be a viable option it has to meet these two main criteria; provide you with the right level of cover at an affordable price.

If green car insurance appeals to you it is well worth comparing the policies and premiums available against those of the more traditional insurers. While it’s great to help the environment it is still essential to get quality cover at a competitive price.

A final point to remember is that a green car insurance policy isn’t the only way motorists can help the environment. If you find cheaper cover while switching to a new insurance provider you could always consider donating the money saved directly to programmes designed to combat the effects of carbon emissions.

Norwich Union Car Insurance Boycotts Price Comparison Sites

Insurance giant Norwich Union has taken the decision to pull its motor insurance policies from car insurance comparison sites. This means you can only get a Norwich Union car insurance quote directly from norwichunion.com

In a move that mirrors the stance taken by Direct Line if you search for car insurance on one of the UK's many price comparison sites you won't be able to see quotes from Norwich Union and compare them against other insurance companies.

Director of Marketing at Norwich Union, David Tyers, said: "We think direct should mean direct. As a brand with 200 years behind it, we think that customers trust us."

Given the continued success of price comparison sites this is a bold move. Not being visible to people who use these services is not without risk. On the upside Norwich Union will avoid having to pay fees for customer referrals. In a time when the global credit crunch is biting any saving a company can make will be welcomed. Whether or not this turns out to be a good decision, only time will tell.

The move has, unsurprisingly, received criticism from some price comparison sites includingconfused.com, gocompare.com and insurancewide.com.

All this arguing aside the only point that really matters is how this affects car insurance customers. We all want a policy that offers a sensible level of cover but we don't want to pay over the odds.

If more insurance companies join Norwich Union and Direct Line in boycotting price comparison sites it means more time spent shopping around to find quotes, making it more difficult for customers to find the best deals.

How To Make A Car Insurance Claim

It’s all very well knowing how to get cheaper car insurance and how to find the right policy but what if the time comes when you actually need to use your motor insurance. Would you be confident in knowing what steps to take when making a car insurance claim?

Every year, insurance companies process thousands of car insurance claims and pay out millions of pounds to people whose cars have been the victim of theft or damage. Even more is paid out to motorists involved in accidents on the roads.

Whether its personal injury or the theft or damage of a vehicle the process of claiming on your motor insurance policy can be a stressful one. To make things easier here is our guide to making a car insurance claim.

• The first step is to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible after the event. Most insurers have a 24hr number you can call so use that to reach the right person more quickly.

• If your claim is crime related such as theft, damage or vandalism immediately report the crime to the police and take note of your incident number. Should a police investigation result in any prosecutions your insurer will need to know the incident number.

• Write down all the details concerning the incident and refer to these notes when making your written claim.

• Be sure that your version of events is accurate and consistent. Changing your story further down the line could arouse suspicions that jeopardise your claim.

• Get all the help and information you need from your car insurance company to support your claim. Don’t be afraid to ask your insurer questions as its essential to have all the correct documentation and evidence to back up your car insurance claim.

• Retain any documentation relating to your claim in a safe and secure place and ensure that your insurance company can contact you easily.

• Keep copies of any communication regarding your claim; be they letters, emails or telephone conversations and take the name of any person you speak with.

• Before going ahead with any repairs to your vehicle you need to get absolute verification on the status of your claim. Until your insurer confirms they will cover the price of repair you are accountable for all costs.

• If your car requires repair most insurers will recommend a garage where the repairs will be guaranteed for a specified period of time. If you take your vehicle in for repair yourself there is a good chance the cost will not be covered by your insurance company.

Having to claim on your motor insurance is never a pleasant experience but following these easy steps will help make the process run as smoothly as possible.

What To Do If Your Car Insurance Claim Is Rejected

Recently we covered how motorists can best deal with the situation of making a car insurance claim. But what if your insurer rejects the claim, what should you do then?

It is not uncommon for insurance companies to either reject a motor insurance claim or reduce the payments they make.

There are several factors that can trigger such as event:

• Your insurer may come to the conclusion that you were largely (or even entirely) at fault if your claim is related to a theft from the vehicle or of the vehicle itself

• Your car insurance policy may contain a clause witch invalidates the claim

• It is decided the claim should be settled under another policy such as your home contents insurance (particularly in the case of theft from the vehicle)

• You provided information that was untruthful or inaccurate

• You are unable to provide receipts to backup claims of theft of items from your vehicle

• The book price of the car is considerably less than the money you've invested in restoration or enhancements

With any insurance policy your insurer will expect you to disclose any information that could be of importance to them. You are obliged to do this even if the details are not requested; this is known as “utmost good faith”.

Insurance companies often use this extremely wooly approach to sharing information to justify rejecting or downscaling claims. Should this situation arise with your car insurance claim there are some important points to remember:

• The small print of your policy carries a lot of weight; study it thoroughly before, during and after your claim (and ideally before taking out a policy in the first place)

• Keeping accurate records of conversations and correspondence along with receipts can make a huge difference in backing up your claim as well as the eventual success of your claim

• The payout figure announced by your insurance company is not set in stone. Rather than just accept the amount on offer you are perfectly entitled to question the payout and put forward you case for why it should be increased

If after all that you still disagree with your insurers decision to reject your claim or the payout level awarded your next step should be to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service.

The FOS acts as an independent arbitrator to resolve conflicts between insurance companies and customers, they deal with thousands of complaints every year.

The first step in complaining to the FOS is to confirm your car insurance claim has been dealt with in full by your insurance company. You can raise your complaint with the FOS once your insurer has provided a letter or final response to your complaint or has failed to do so within eight weeks.

If you need the assistance of the Finance Ombudsman Service to help with your car insurance claim visit their website http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

Delays in resolving a car insurance claim can lead to massive disruption in people’s lives. Hopefully this post will help make your next claim run more smoothly. We all need help from time-to-time so please don’t be discouraged from contacting the FOS for support with your claim.

Car Insurence, Car Insureance, Car Insurace & Other Common Misspellings

Shopping for your car insurance online can be a great way to save time and money. However, if you decide to start the process by visiting a search engine take the time to enter your search query correctly.

Misspelling your search query can affect the quality of the sites returned in your results. Here are the top ten most common misspellings made by people searching for car insurance:

Car insurence

Car insureance

Car insurace

Car insurnace

Car insuranc

Car insurnce

Car insurane

Car isurance

Car incurance

Car insuarance

While Google and other search engines work to return the most relevant results following a misspelt entry they are not infallible. So if you want to look for your new policy via a search engine then type carefully, or just click this link car insurance.

Price Comparison or Direct Broker?

The recent advertising campaign by Direct Line, effectively denouncing the use of price comparison websites, has lit the fuse for a rather amusing slanging match between insurance brokers and aggregator websites.

The question that needs answering it seems is which is the better option; getting quotes direct from brokers or using a price comparison site?

While it’s true that comparison sites do not include all car insurance providers on their quoting systems there is no denying they do allow you to get an at-a-glance idea of how much you could save extremely quickly. Contacting that many insurance companies individually would take an age.

It’s also true that aggregator websites such as confused.com and moneysupermarket.com have to make some assumptions when calculating car insurance quotes. Every motor insurance company asks different questions after all. These assumptions can affect the accuracy of the quotes found in online comparison.

Going direct to a broker allows you to get a very accurate price. However, it is only one quote and it might not be competitive.

Comparison websites may still have some improving to do so; they openly admit this themselves. But they are still a valuable tool in helping people save both time and money. Some insurance companies it seems simply do not like comparison sites creating market transparency, forcing companies to offer better deals in order to attract customers.

In this blogger’s opinion comparison sites get the thumbs up because they champion the cause of the average person.

Five Top Tips for Cheaper Car Insurance

Improve your security – by fitting an alarm, immobiliser or tracker you reduce the likelihood of your car being stolen. As this lowers risk for the insurance companies they should be able to reward you with a lower premium. Before you install any security contact your current insurer to see how much of a saving you could make. And of course always make sure the security you use is approved by your insurer.

Limit your mileage – one of the factors that helps determine your car insurance quote is how much you drive. If you can limit your mileage you can lower the cost of your motor insurance. Always make such to leave yourself some extra miles in the bank. If you go over the limit you could face penalty charges.

Pay Annually – most car insurance companies will charge a fee (in the form of interest) if you want to pay you premiums monthly. The cost can add up to 29% on to a typical policy. If you can pay for your insurance up front then do so as it is much cheaper option. If you can’t afford this consider taking out a credit card that offers an interest free intro period.

Hold back on the mods – any modifications you make to your car such as lowering, adding a spoiler, new wheels or even a colour change are likely to see you motor insurance costs increase significantly. Try to limit the number of mods you add and check with your insurer before hand to see what the impact on your insurance will be. You must inform your insurer of any modifications you make otherwise your policy will be invalid if you make a claim.

Drive sensibly – sounds simple and that’s because it is. Having speeding tickets and other traffic offences against your name can make your car insurance much more expensive. Drive with care, build up your no claims bonus and the savings will soon follow.

Why You Have To Bin That Car Insurance Renewal

If, like me, you recently received your car insurance renewal you may have been a little shocked, or even angered, to see the price of your premium has actually gone up.

You’ve made no claims on your cover, kept a clean record and successfully added another year to your NCB, so why has your premium gone up.

The reality is you should not be surprised this has happened; in fact you should have expected it. 

Quite simply, car insurance companies increase premiums upon renewal in an attempt to increase profits. With the market being so competitive companies are forced to offer low quotes to attract new customers. They then bank on customer lethargy when renewal time cones around to cash in at your expense. 

There has never been such a wide choice when it comes to renewing you motor insurance policy but many people still don’t take advantage of this, instead allowing themselves to be exploited by increased renewal costs.

My advice is when your renewal comes through hit the comparison sites. A quick Google search will find some great sites to compare car insurance quotes. You’ll find the established sites such as confused.com and moneysupermarket.com as well as other you may not be familiar with.

These sites work incredibly quickly so run searches on several of them to find the cheapest car insurance quotes on offer. Then contact your existing provider and challenge them to beat you best price on a like-for-like quote.

If they can, and you’re happy with them that’s great. If not, announce their renewal letter is now in the trash and you will take your business to a more competitive provider.

If your loyalty is not rewarded do not give it. After all, there’s plenty more insurers in the sea.

Give Me Five Minutes and I’ll Give You Cheaper Car Insurance

Sounds like I’m promising the world on a stick doesn’t it? In reality I’m talking a couple of minutes to read this post and a couple more spent taking advantage of one of the easiest money saving opportunities available when it comes to car insurance.

All you have to do is SHOP AROUND! And better still you can search for car insurance quotes online almost instantly. I say almost because you will need to answer some questions but it beats answering the same questions over and over again.

Despite the ease of online comparison many people still ring round multiple insurers to find a quote or worse still accept their annual renewal which can be a big mistake. If you’ve got a classic of high performance car then fair enough you might need a specialist insurer but for the vast majority of us a price comparison of car insurance companies can be a great money saver.

Some you will have heard of, big names such as confused.com and moneysupermarket.com have been around for years. Now there is even more choice with sites such as gocompare.com and comparethemarket.com to mention but two.

A simple Google search for car insurance will open up a plethora of comparison services, some will be better than others but the four mentioned above would be a good place to start.

So how do these sites work? Simple, you fill in one form and their search multiple car insurance companies, again some are better than others but you should be looking to get between 30 and 50 quotes inside two minutes which you have to admit is one hell of a time saver.

Give it a go and see how far you can lower your motor insurance quote.

Limit Your Mileage For Cheaper Car Insurance

Just a very quick post to highlight a very quick money saving tip:

If you’ve applied for car insurance before you’ll know the insurer/broker/comparison site always ask you’re expected annual mileage.

The answer you give has a direct impact on the cost of your car insurance premium.

However, you can use this to your advantage. Before you next apply for a car insurance policy work out how many miles you expect to drive in the next 12 months and if it’s lower than you normally say make sure you let your insurer know.

Driving fewer miles means less chance of having an accident, less chance of making a claim and, in the eyes of insurers, makes you less of a risk.

The result can be a nice little reduction in your car insurance quote. I’ve just tested this myself on moneysupermarket.com and I was able to cut my potential quote from £411 to £390, a saving of just over 5%

This is a great little saving that’s so easy to do, give it a try!

Safty or Savings?

Looking back on a previous TCIB post urging people to bin their renewal to save money on car insurance it seems consumer lethargy is still a huge problem for UK motor insurance customers.

Research from Tesco Finance has found that just under one in three motorists moved their car insurance to a new provider in the last 12 months. 

Even more worrying was the statistic announcing that 10% of drivers had either never switched their car insurance premium or had stayed loyal to the same insurer for over 10 years.

Those who have switched put price as one of the most important factors when choosing a car insurance quote while those who had stayed with the same provider said price was less important compared to the features and level of cover offered by their policy.

These figures create a split market, those who are concerned with saving money and those who feel prepared to pay more for the safety of ‘knowing’ they have the right policy.

Both sides make very good points. After all a motor insurance policy is there to provide protection so obtaining the right cover is hugely important.

However with the huge range of insurers now offering policies the opportunity to make a saving on your premium should not be overlooked; especially in the current climate of rising mortgage repayments and utility bills.

In my opinion a mix of the two is the ideal mentality when shopping for car insurance.

Make sure your policy has all the features you need but don’t restrict yourself to one insurer and one quote.

Loyalty is rarely rewarded in today’s market and with comparison sites such as confused.com you can easily find motor insurance policies that match your needs on both policy features and price.

So, if you currently care more about price double check that your policy offers the protection you need; the consequences of not doing so could be potentially disastrous. AND, if you haven’t switched your car insurance for a while be sure to have a look at the options available, you can easily lower your premium without compromising on quality.