UK Car Insurance Explained What It All Means (Part 1)

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Friday 26 February 2010 12:58 pm

With so many new car insurers popping up in the UK, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to know which one is right for you. Is it always best to go with whichever company can offer the lowest price? Do all the companies offer the same services as each other?

With this in mind, it seems important to have a good understanding of just what all the insurance terms and jargon really mean. After that, you can make a more informed decision on which company can offer the best car insurance at a price you want to pay.

In this first part we will be looking at the conditions of the cover given and also its boundaries for what is and what isn’t covered.

VEHICLE USE
The vehicle use section of your policy outlines what you are entitled to use your vehicle for. It is generally broken down into the following categories.

Social, Domestic & Pleasure Excluding Commuting – As the title implies, this allows driving your car for social purposes (visiting family, meeting friends), Domestic purposes (driving to the shops, dropping kids at school) and for pleasure (travelling, going out). It implicitly excludes commuting and therefore is not suitable if you plan to use your car to drive to and from work.

Social, Domestic & Pleasure Including Commuting – As you might have guessed this is identical to the above use but includes using your car for driving to a single, fixed place of work. This is the type of cover that suits most people and you should choose this even if you plan to only drive to work occasionally.

Business Use – For business users and those that commute to various places of work (different offices, regular meetings etc). This type of cover includes everything stated above but allows use of the vehicle for commuting to more than once place of work, and journeys such as visiting clients/associates. There are 3 different classes of business use:
Class 1
Business Class 1 only permits the regular driver and their spouse use of the vehicle. Any other named drivers may only use the vehicle for Social, Domestic & Pleasure.

Class 2
Business Class 2 permits any named driver to use the vehicle in connection with the business of the main driver.

Class 3
Business Class 3 permits the transportation of light goods which have already been purchased, for example flowers or pizzas.
Commercial Use – This covers use of your vehicle for the transportation of goods or passengers for reward, or if you hire out the vehicle or use it for paid driving instruction. It also includes details set out as for Social, Domestic & Pleasure.

Generally, SD&P excluding commuting is the cheapest, rising to Commercial Use as the most expensive, as each increase of use increases the risk of making a claim. However, you must make sure you choose the category that suits your needs best; if you use your vehicle for any purpose other than that for which you are insured, you may find yourself in trouble!

Level Of Cover
There are three levels of cover available when buying car insurance, which should be fairly familiar to you.

Third Party Only Cover – This is the minimum cover you can purchase to be allowed on the roads. It provides cover for third parties in the event of an accident, for example other drivers, pedestrians, owners of property that might be damaged etc. This type of cover will NOT pay for any damage to yourself or your vehicle. This type of cover is most suitable for low value vehicles.

Third Party Fire & Theft – Includes all cover mentioned above, with the inclusion of cover against fire and theft. In the event of a fire, not related to a motoring accident, or if your vehicle was stolen, you would be covered by your policy. It is worth noting that theft by deception is usually not covered by your insurer. This would include being mislead into selling your car without receiving any payment.

Comprehensive Cover – This, unsurprisingly is the most comprehensive cover available. Comprehensive cover is compulsory for vehicles worth over ?1000. It includes everything mentioned above, but also covers damage to your own car. If you are involved in an accident for example, your policy would cover damage to third parties and any damage to your own vehicle. It DOES NOT however cover any personal injuries suffered or medical expenses incurred, which is why it can sometimes be misleading to refer to it as fully comprehensive.

Insured Drivers
Your policy can cover provide cover for one of the following:

  • only yourself;
  • yourself and a set of named drivers;
  • in some cases, any qualified driver possibly over a certain age.

When buying your insurance you will need to let your insurers know the details of anyone who is likely to drive the car. In particular they will want to know their age, occupation, experience and any claims or convictions they may have had.

Many policies will offer driving other cars cover for driving a vehicle that is owned by someone else. However, when driving other cars, cover will be limited to Third Party Only, even if your policy provides comprehensive cover.

The next part of this article will look at excesses and extras that can be added on to your premium.

For further information and detailed advice about Car Insurance visit QuoteA.Co.Uk.

Auto Insurance Information Online Compulsory Auto Insurance

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Wednesday 24 February 2010 8:58 pm

In 47 of the 50 United States, it is illegal to take a car onto the road without auto insurance. Compulsory insurance laws protect the public from the expenses of injuries and property damage resulting from a car accident. The states that require auto insurance set minimum amounts of coverage that guarantee that medical costs and property damage caused by the insured in case an accident is judged to be the fault of the insured. Another name for compulsory insurance is liability insurance.

If you carry compulsory insurance and are judged to be at fault in an auto accident, your car insurance company will pay the medical bills and lost work time and other damages for the other driver and passengers in both his car and yours that are not immediate blood relatives. The minimum compulsory insurance varies from state to state, but your insurance agent will be able to tell you what minimum amount you must carry in order to drive you car on the public roads.

Besides personal injury insurance, you are also required in most states to carry property damage policies to repair or replace any damage caused by your car. Again, the amount varies from one state to another.

There are good reasons for carrying more than the minimum amount of compulsory insurance. If the damages exceed your coverage, for instance, you’ll be liable for anything that your insurance company doesn’t pay. More importantly, there are many gaps in compulsory insurance company.

1. You aren’t covered for theft or a fire that’s not related to an auto accident.

2. You won’t recover the entire amount of the cost to repair damage to your car caused by an uninsured vehicle.

3. If you were judged to be at fault in the auto accident, there is no coverage for your injuries or damages.

4. Even if you’re not at fault, there’s no coverage for other expenses related to your auto accident like towing.

Most insurance agents recommend that you carry a greater amount of insurance and coverage other than what’s strictly required by your state. Often referred to as ‘comprehensive’ coverage, it will include:

Personal Injury Protection, which will pay medical expenses and reasonable work and living expenses for lost job time due to an accident, no matter who was at fault.

Travel, towing and glass replacement that results from causes other than an auto accident.

Usually, if you take out a loan to purchase your car, the bank will require that you purchase and maintain comprehensive insurance on your vehicle until your loan is paid off.

To view our list of recommended companies for auto insurance, visit: Recommended Auto Insurance Companies.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of eZerk, an informational website, with articles and the latest news about various topics.

Female Car Insurance Can There Really Be A Difference?

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Wednesday 24 February 2010 8:58 am

Female auto insurance is almost similar to other normal auto insurances except for few distinguishing features. It is necessary for all vehicle drivers to have sufficient insurance coverage irrespective of differences in gender, etc. Besides, women also need to be fully aware of special provisions and discounts on female auto insurance.

What is special about this auto insurance?

Insurance companies offer separate female auto insurance for women drivers. Premiums on such insurance are lower and it is most often easier to get. Insurance companies argue that although the number of accidents by men and women drivers could be the same, the intensity of accidents is by far less severe with women drivers. This is because women are safer drivers and less rash while at the wheel. Hence, insurance coverage in cases of accidents involving women drivers does not amount to huge amounts.

Where can I get my auto insurance?

It is simple and easy to shop for female auto insurance. You can talk to different insurance agents, financial professionals, and brokers before taking any final decision about your insurance. The best place to shop for this insurance is to look through different web sites of insurance companies. You can study all different offers of insurance companies and clear all your doubts through available different internet tools. You receive many quotes to pick the most suitable one.

While shopping for your female auto insurance do not opt for the cheapest available insurance. It is best to look into all possibilities and opt for the insurance offering best coverage. This will relieve you of many worries at occurrence of any eventuality. You then receive immediate medical care and attention while you can repair or replace your vehicle within very short time.

What is the available coverage?

Coverage under female auto insurance is almost similar to other insurances. Available coverage includes Property Damage Liability, Bodily Injury Liability, Personal Injury Protection, Collision, Comprehensive, Uninsured Motorist, etc. Such coverage helps you meet various expenses like medical, repair, replacement, property damages, etc. in the event of any accident.

Usually, women are less aware of different offers of female auto insurance. You rather stay away from acquiring details regarding discounts and special privileges for women and understanding nitty-gritty of things. Hence, it is necessary for you as driver and the owner of your vehicle to understand and be prepared to meet any eventuality by having sound and sufficient insurance backing.

Helping our female visitors get better rates on Female Auto Insurance stop by our site and get a no obligation Discount Car Insurance quote today. the Cheapest Car Insurance anywhere.

Lower Car Insurance Rates For Students

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Monday 22 February 2010 12:57 pm

Usually, the best way to get lower rates for a student is to add their name to an existing car insurance policy. If they own the car themselves or are obviously the primary driver simply adding their name isn?t possible. There are, however some more tips specific to students for lowering car insurance rates. Have a look.

Outrageously high student car insurance rates

A recent survey showed that the average student can expect to shell out anywhere between four and ten thousand dollars a year. Car insurance companies charge these outrageous rates because, of course, new drivers are a much higher risk.

Thinking back to when I was in high-school it?s a wonder any of us were insurable at all. There were however some among us that certainly deserved much lower rates than others. Most of those safer drivers fell into an easy to spot pattern. With a bit of searching you should be able to find a car insurance company that looks for this pattern as well.

Criteria car insurance companies use to determine lower student rates:

This is by no means a complete list of criteria car insurance companies look at to determine rates. These are simply common signs that a student isn?t a hormone enraged psychopath behind the wheel of a death machine.

Lower rates for Grade ?A? Students

The majority of insurance companies consider honor roll students to be safer drivers. Perhaps it?s because they have more to live for, or maybe it?s because they?re so busy studying that they don?t have much time for driving dangerously. Whatever the case submitting a report card with a ?B average could bee all you need to lower your rates.

Extracurricular activities equals safer driver

College students in the Golden Key National Honor Society receive lowered rates from most car insurance companies. Also students that are involved in or are members of fraternities, and student associations like student congress are more likely to receive a discount on their overall premium.

Proximity to school and work Insurance companies figure that any student that owns their own vehicle must have a job. If said job is within a certain distance from home and school you may qualify for a low-mileage discount. This can also include university students that live on campus and therefore don?t need to drive back and forth to school on a regular basis.

Jacob Wren is assistant editor of Are You Covered? – a resource site that offers advice on lower student car insurance rates and several other insurance topics.

Car Insurance Online: Cashing In On The Huge Advantages

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Monday 22 February 2010 4:57 am

The ability to purchase many things online has revolutionized the way we shop for a lot of stuff these days, including car insurance.

The biggest advantage of online shopping is the ability of a customer to get the best price in the market in a split second. In the days before the World Wide Web, it would usually take a lot of research in terms of phone calls, faxes and in some cases even physical visits to arrive at the cheapest quote for anything. Now with special software, widely available online, you can search for the best price in the market for virtually anything.

Admittedly there is a lot more to car insurance quotes than just the price. Even more important are the benefits and features of the insurance policy. Still the online shopping experience caters for this with websites able to give car insurance quotes within minutes with the longest possible time duration being a day.

What all this means is that the insurer is at a great advantage in terms of being able to ask for and get the best possible quote for their auto insurance.

But probably the biggest advantage is in the fact that it is now easy to find a car insurance company that is focused on meeting your exact needs. Before it was virtually impossible. But today with the stiff competition and numerous insurers, the situation has forced many of them to narrowly focus and target on certain tiny niches in the market. Because the web breaks down geographical barriers, it means that it is a lot more viable to focus on tiny small niches, that it was previously because he market is a lot bigger.

In fact trends in the market seem to suggest that there will soon be hardly any other way of obtaining car insurance quotes.

More red hot tips on how to fully benefit from online car insurance resources at the writer’s online car insurance tips blog.

What You Need To Know About Car Insurance

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Sunday 21 February 2010 8:57 am

Car insurance or auto insurance is insurance against losses incurred due to thefts or accidents. If you are a car driver you need car insurance. In most of the states, having car insurance is mandatory by law but even if it is not so it is always best to get car insurance to protect oneself against the high costs of accidents. If you live in a state that requires car insurance, then you need to buy the minimum amount of coverage specified by law.

You can buy a car insurance policy based on the type of coverage you require. There are different types of car insurance coverage but primarily it can be grouped under three broad categories of liability coverage, physical damage coverage and uninsured motorist coverage.

Liability coverage pays for bodily injuries or death, and property damages caused to others by accidents. It is the primary part of most car insurance policies. Bodily injury coverage includes expenses involving medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. Property damage covers you for damages caused to other people?s cars and property in an accident. The liability coverage also covers litigation costs for lawsuits filed against the insurance holder.

The second type of car insurance coverage is the physical damage coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage covers damages caused to your car by collision with another vehicle or object. Collision coverage is normally determined by the value of your car. The comprehensive coverage is for losses that are not related to car accidents. Damages caused by unforeseen disasters like floods, fire, earthquakes, theft and vandalism are covered by comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage covers for bodily injuries and property damages caused by uninsured motorists. The insured person?s policy will cover medical expenses sustained in accidents where the other driver is at fault but has no insurance.

Besides these three broad types of car insurance coverage, there are other insurance coverage too that are included in a car insurance policy.

Medical coverage pays for medical expenses for injuries caused to the insured driver and the passengers by car accidents, regardless of fault.

Personal injury protection coverage available in some states pays for medical expenses for the insured driver no matter who is at fault.

Rental reimbursement covers the cost of renting a car if your own car is being repaired as a result of accident or other insured damages.

Insurance policies usually combine various types of coverage. Knowing the laws of your state will help you in determining the minimum car insurance coverage you require. You can also opt for additional coverage based on how much money you can afford to lose in case of an accident.

Stephen Mcbride is the webmaster of a site dedicated to information on low cost car insurance.

How Do I Lower My Auto Insurance Rates?

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Saturday 20 February 2010 4:57 am

Since there are many factors that go into determining your auto insurance rates, there are many chances to lower your rates.

If you change jobs and your drive to work changes or you stop working or you work from home, you should contact your insurance company.

If you have a teen driver and they go to school over 100 miles away without a car then you should be able to get a discount.

If you get married and are in your teens or twenties call your insurance company and see about combining your policies.

Take defensive driving if your state allows it for a discount.

See if increasing your comprehsive and collision deductibles will save you a lot of money. You need to compare what you’re saving and how much more you will have to pay if you file a claim. For example, if you go from $500 to a $1000 deductible and it lowers your insurance $50 per 6 months then it saves you $100 a year.

It will take you 5 years to break even from what you are saving compared to how much more you have to pay.

Now, if it saves you $250 every six months then it would be more worth your while.

See if combining your auto and home insurance polices will qualify for a multi policy discount with your current company. This could be a substantial discount.

One of the biggest ways you could save $200-$500 or more a year is shopping around for insurance. The auto insurance industry is very competitive and this is great news for smart consumers like yourself. Shop for auto insurance quotes here and see how much you can save.

A. Chris Tijerina has over 3 years of experience in the auto insurance industry and has seen many different people deal with auto insurance related problems. http://www.insurance-for-cars.com answers many of the questions facing drivers today.

Collision Car Insurance

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Sunday 9 August 2009 9:59 pm

I wanted to break down the main parts of car insurance for you to understand what each are and why you have to pay so much for each part. The three main parts are liability, collision, and comprehension. This article is about collision car insurance.

This portion of you insurance covers repairs to your vehicle if you are at fault in an accident. If the other driver is at fault, then their insurance pays for the repairs to your car in full.

Now when I said ?in full?, I mean that the other company pays all of it and sometimes rents you a car while your car is being repaired. If you were at fault, then your insurance company will pay for the repairs ? minus the deductible. Most deductibles are $250 but can vary from $500 up to $1000. A deductible is the amount you have to pay out of your pocket for the repairs.

Let?s say you crash your car. The repairs on your car are going to be $3000. Your insurance company will use an adjuster to estimate the repairs or send you to a body shop for an estimate. Then, the insurance company pays you $3000 minus the deductible ($500) or $2500. Some insurance companies require YOU to pay the $500 up front before they cut their portion of the check.

Let?s talk deductibles for a moment. If you have a $250 deductible, then your premium is going to be much higher than if you have a $500 deductible. In most cases, you can raise your deductible and save the additional money you were paying and have $500 sitting in the bank just in case you have an accident. Its usually that significant of an increase in premium.

Again, if you finance the car, then you will have to purchase collision insurance. If you have an older vehicle, you could probably save the money you spend on collision insurance and have enough money to buy another used vehicle as good as the one you wrecked. Make sense?

In summary, collision insurance covers repairs to your vehicle after you are at fault in an accident, less your deductible. If you car is paid off, then you need to look at whether you really need this coverage or not, depending on age and condition of you car.

Stuart Simpson http://www.car-insurance-denver.com/collisioncarinsurance.php

Used Car Insurance

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Saturday 8 August 2009 5:59 pm

Every state requires that drivers carry liability insurance. The liability coverage section of an auto insurance policy provides financial protection from liability claims against you when you (or certain other people) cause an accident that results in bodily injuries to other people and/or damage to their property. Every state has mandatory minimum levels of coverage in this area. The rationale behind such laws is that at-fault drivers should be able to compensate victims who suffer accident-related losses. But the required minimums in most states don’t even come close to covering the costs of a serious accident. Consequently, if you wish to be adequately protected from liability claims, your liability coverage should probably exceed your state’s requirements.

Other coverages are required in some states and optional in others. Medical payments coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are two such coverages. Medical payments coverage covers medical expenses incurred by you, your family members, and your non-family passengers. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage covers losses you and others suffer as a result of an accident caused by a driver who either has no insurance or insufficient insurance. If buying these coverages is optional in your state, base your decision on your needs, circumstances, and other factors. Consult your insurance agent for more information.

Collision and comprehensive insurance is optional in virtually every state. The collision and comprehensive section of your policy covers physical damage to your own vehicle resulting from collisions and a variety of other causes (e.g., fire, falling objects). It may also cover losses associated with theft. However, your car’s value plays a big part in assessing your need for this type of coverage. It may not be cost-effective if your vehicle is worth less than $1,000 because you’ll have to satisfy a deductible, and the most you’ll receive (even if your car is totaled) will be its actual value (i.e., after depreciation). That’s not much, especially taking into account the premiums you would have been paying for coverage.

Mary works in US for a media company, occasionally writing for the biggest car insurance news portal, and drinking too much coffee.

Getting The Best Deal On Auto Insurance

Posted by How To Choose Insurance | How to choose insurance | Thursday 6 August 2009 1:59 pm

Let your fingers do the walking… Remember that Yellow Pages Ad Campaign? Excellent advice if you?re shopping for auto insurance. Shop around and do it yearly. Don?t just keep paying the invoice over and over without comparison shopping. Below are a few suggestions to help you get the best deal available on your automobile insurance policy.

Insurance agents really have a lot of leeway. They can price match and they can offer many discounts. There are also many decisions you can make about your policy that will save you a bundle. For example, if you change your deductible on your collision from a $50 deductible to a $1000 deductible, you?re inline for a huge premium savings. If you don?t think you could come up with $1000 out of pocket, then change it to a $500 deductible; you?ll still save a sizable amount on your annual premium payment.

You can also get more of a savings if you change your comprehensive deductible. Many people needlessly carry full coverage on their older vehicle. They originally purchased the vehicle new, paid for full coverage and to this day, continue to pay the same high rate. Their ten year old vehicle may be worth $1000 or less, yet they continue to pay $250-$450 every six months (total $500 to $900 dollars a year) to keep full coverage on their old vehicle.

However, if they have an accident and totaled their vehicle, the insurance company will only pay them the wholesale value of the vehicle. The amount they would receive could be $1000 or less. A vehicle that old just needs the insurance that protects the other person in case of an accident.

Another method to save more on your insurance is by combining your vehicles and other insurance together to get you additional savings. All insurance companies offer a multi-car discount (if yours doesn?t, it?s time to switch companies). Further, many will discount more if you have your homeowners or renters policy with them.

There are a few other discounts that you may not be taking advantage of. It seems obvious, but make sure you are getting the correct rate for your age. There are discounts for various ages than can save you lots of money. Check with your agent on this one. Also alarm systems on your vehicle are usually good for a discount. Additionally, anti-lock brakes and air bags can also help lower your premiums.

Don?t just keep paying the invoice when it comes in. Your insurance bill should be an automatic trigger for you to make a few phone calls to see if you can save even more money on your auto insurance premiums.

Author: John Edwards

Find more information about car, auto insurance rates at: http://www.insuranceautocar.com