Car hire claims adding £20 to premiums

Increases in claims made by credit hire companies are adding £20 to car insurance premiums, on average, reports Zurich Insurance.

These companies provide vehicles on loan to drivers whose cars have been damaged, and then recoup the cost from the insurer of the driver “at fault” in the incident.

Some insurers are now claiming that the amounts they are being billed are unreasonable, and refusing to pay – which means that more of these cases are ending up in court.

Credit hire firms say that they are charging according to a formula that has been agreed, and that insurance firms end up incurring costs through late payment penalties.

An Essex woman, Beverley Hope-Smith, was advised to contact a credit hire company when her car was damaged in an accident, in which she was not at fault.

Being the innocent party, the credit hire firm informed her that she would not be responsible for paying the cost of the replacement vehicle.

She was told that costs would be claimed from the insurer of the driver at fault in the accident. Although her car was worth only £4,000 at the time of the accident, it took more than three months to complete the repairs – and the final car hire bill amounted to £16,000, or an average of £200 per day.

Hope-smith told the BBC’s Money Box programme that she was amazed that this had been allowed to occur: “I was absolutely speechless. It seemed to me that either the accident management company or the other insurer at some point must have said ‘does it really take three and a half months to repair a vehicle?’”

Thanks to news.bbc.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.zurich.co.uk

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Car insurance - cover not cost

The average car insurance premium is now a whopping £724.28, according to the AA British Insurance Premium Index. But don't be tempted to cut corners on your cover, as you can get the right policy at the right price - as long as you know how.

If you are involved in an accident and you don't have the right motor insurance - and there were nearly 30,000 road accidents in the UK last year alone that resulted in injury, according to the Department of Transport - you could be left short-changed.

The answer is to tailor a deal to suit your circumstances, so you get the best price based on the level of cover you require.

Construct your own policy

At moneysupermarket.com our brand new car insurance comparison tool compares quotes from more than 88 brands. The prices you receive through the tool are the same as through the providers direct but you have the added advantage of comparing them like-for-like in further detail with other policies from different insurers.

In addition, our recently revamped tool now includes a host of new features to help you accurately design your own policy. When you reach the results page you can now make use of a new "policy wizard" allowing you to add and remove features and see how the insurance quotes change in real time. You can now choose to change the vehicle you are insuring (ideal if you're shopping around for a new car); whether or not you require a courtesy car; how high you want the excess to be; and whether you need features such as personal accident cover or windscreen cover.

Altering a policy to suit your needs can make a significant difference to the price you receive. For example, a 26-year-old male driver in a 1998 Ford Fiesta Zetec with five years' no-claims could pick up a policy for as little as £272.55 a year with a £250 voluntary excess. However, if the same driver decided he couldn't afford an excess the price would leap to £296.07 a year - an increase of nearly £25.

If the same motorist chose to add no-claims discount protection, their cheapest premium would rise to £322.17.

The key is to think about the options you need and also to ensure you are honest with your insurer. There is no point in claiming you park your car in a garage overnight for example, as if it is then stolen off the street your claim will be invalid. However, if you do legitimately reduce your risk level to the insurer you could make significant savings.

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Who takes 'Poll' Position When it Comes to Car Insurance?

The dichotomous debate over which sex is better behind the wheel has raged throughout history. And, whilst men vehemently claim they are the more competent drivers, women equally believe it is themselves who hold poll position.

There have been various studies hoping to conclusively end the men versus women argument, but the results often reveal a mixed picture. According to the car insurance industry, however, it seems that women are in fact ‘superior’ drivers, with many insurance companies offering women cheaper deals.

Indeed, the cost you are quoted for your car insurance is calculated based on the risk you pose. As a result, companies take into account such factors as age, the make and model of your car, your annual mileage, as well as your gender. And, based on these features, women are seen as less of a risk than men.

This can be attributed to the fact that, statistically, women make fewer and less expensive claims than men. For instance, it was found in a recent study that for women drivers aged between 17 and 19 years old, the average cost of an insurance claim is £2,734, whilst claims for males of the same age amounted to £4,473. And, for women aged between 30 and 50 years, they make an average claim of £1,200, whereas the men’s average comes in at £1,450.

Additionally, figures indicate that women tend to be safer on the roads than their male counterparts. In fact, research has shown that, on average, women are inclined to drive more slowly and with more consideration than men, which results in less serious accidents and only minor damage to their cars. Not only that, but of all the speeding convictions in 2007, 82 per cent were committed by men; they also accounted for 86 per cent of all careless driving offences.

For these reasons, women’s car insurance, is generally lower in cost than men’s. Simply put, this is because car insurance companies have to pay out less money for lady drivers, which in turn means they can pass on these savings in the form of lower insurance premiums.

However, even if you are a woman, and as such are open to cheaper car insurance deals, there are still a few things you can do to make sure you get even better quotes. For example, parking your car in a locked garage at night can help you to find a lower priced package, as can improving your car’s security: such things as tracking devices or immobilisers are believed to be the best gadgets for attracting discounts.

It is also important, when looking for car insurance to find a comprehensive policy covering you for a range of different circumstances. And these should include a replacement car if yours needs to be repaired, adequate breakdown cover and a 24 hour claims line. Therefore, there are many benefits to be received from obtaining the right car insurance deal; suitable for your needs.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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Classic Car insurance tips and comparison sites

When you buy your car, one of the first things you need to do is to take out some sort of cover for the vehicle. It is a legal obligation which has to be obeyed by every single driver in the UK; no cover means hefty fines, possibly losing your licence or in some circumstances you can face prosecution.

Insurance is expensive when you start driving, premiums sometimes cost more than the actually car itself so the entire UK should be experts when it comes to obtaining the correct cover for the cheapest price.

As with a lot of things people will just pay for the cover that someone recommends and will not think twice about shopping around or comparing prices. The majority of providers reward new customers better than they would existing customers.

The number of drivers currently driving around with the wrong insurance is increasing; many without knowing. If they are involved in an accident, they will not be covered and could end up paying the legal and medical bills along with any damage caused. So you need to ensure you have the right cover before stepping into the driving seat.

There are three main types of cover in the UK and can cater for most situations.

Third party – this is the minimal cover you must have on any vehicle and covers any third parties in the event of an accident, this will not cover yourself or your vehicle. With this in mind it is only recommended for vehicles of little value.

Third party fire and theft – this cover is the same as third party but covers your vehicle if it is stolen or damaged whilst being stolen or is damaged in the event of a fire or explosion. This cost a little more than standard third party insurance.

Fully comprehensive – this is the most common type of insurance and the most expensive cover. It insures your vehicle in pretty much every situation whether it is stolen, accidentally damaged, set alight or damaged in the event of an accident regardless of who is to blame. Fully comprehensive insurance also covers any legal and medical bills which could be charged to yourself if you were to blame. This cover is recommended for most vehicles.

--> You can save money on your insurance by making your vehicle less likely to be stolen or involved in an accident, if the insurance provider recognises this, they will reduce premium costs.

By parking your vehicle in a garage or on a drive will reduce the amount you pay, as will installing alarms if your car does not already have so.

Pay annually, you will save money by paying your policy off in one go as opposed to monthly payments.

Renew every year, as mentioned earlier new customers are rewarded more than new customers so it pays to switch insurers every year.

Add an experienced named driver if you have recently passed as it is good to be associated with mature drivers, even if they do not actually drive the car.

Finally, try shopping around for your cover. Use online comparison sites to compare a number of quotes against each other so you can find the perfect car insurance quote for you.

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Car insurance quotes: Our Many Auto Insurance Discounts

Our Many Auto Insurance Discounts
Can Add Up to Serious Savings

Everyone loves a discount, which is why we’ve created all kinds of discounts and bonuses to help save you money on auto insurance. The summary below is a basic rundown of what we offer. Depending on the kind of car you drive, the state you live in, and the kind of policy you carry, you could be eligible for one or more of these benefits. (Just make sure you read the disclaimer at the bottom of this page for all of the necessary details and restrictions.)

Discounts For Safe Drivers*
Premier Discount
If you’ve been safe on the road and accident-free for the past three years, and you’re also clear of any moving violations, you might qualify for our auto insurance Premier Discount. (To be eligible, you and all additional drivers also need to have carried continuous, standard automobile Liability insurance during those same three years.) If you’re a new driver and received your license within the past three years, you, too, could be eligible. Just make sure you meet the above qualifications from the date your license was issued.

Premier Plus Discount
Our best auto insurance discount yet, the Premier Plus could be yours if you’re a safe driver with no moving violations, who’s been accident-free for the past five years. To qualify, you and all additional drivers also need to have carried continuous, standard automobile Liability insurance during the past three years. New drivers are also eligible: if you received your license within the past three years, and you meet the above qualifications from the date your license was issued, you too could qualify.

Defensive Driver Discount
If you’re 55 or older, and you’re the principal driver of your insured car, you could save on your premiums by taking an approved defensive-driving class. (Not available in every state. Check with your Allstate agent for details, as age and class requirements can vary from state to state.)

Discounts For Safe Cars*
Passive Restraint Systems
If your car came equipped with airbags, or factory-installed motorized seatbelts, you could receive a Passive Restraint Discount on your auto insurance.

Anti-Lock Brakes
Alternately, if your car has factory-installed ABS (all-wheel, anti-lock braking system), this discount can bring your premiums down.

Anti-Theft Devices
This discount applies in certain states, and can save you money if your car came equipped with approved anti-theft devices.

Discounts For Drivers With Multiple Allstate Policies*
Multiple Policy Discount
If you have property insurance with Allstate, you may qualify for Allstate’s Multiple Policy Discount to lower your auto insurance premiums by as much as 10%.

Discounts For Students, Seniors, and More*
Good Student
If you’re 25 or younger, unmarried, and a full-time student who meets our GPA requirements, you could save on your auto insurance premiums with this valuable discount. (In some states, the qualifying age is 21.)

Senior Adult
If you’re 65 or older, and you drive more than a quarter of your car's total mileage, this discount can reduce the cost of your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. (Check with your Allstate agent, as this discount isn’t available in all states.)

55 and Retired
If you’re 55 or older, and not employed full-time, this discount can help keep your auto insurance costs down.

New Car
Depending on your state and the model-year of your vehicle, that brand new, never-been-titled car you just bought might save you money.

Economy Car
If you already own an economy car, your savings might just keep coming.

Utility Vehicle
If you drive a specific type of pick-up truck, this discount could apply to your auto insurance.

Resident Student
If you carry coverage for a student who’s under 21 and lives at a school that’s more than 100 miles away, you could save valuable cash on your premiums.

Farm or Ranch Vehicle
If you’re a full-time farmer or rancher, and you’re insuring a farm or ranch vehicle used exclusively for work on your property, this bonus could help keep your costs down.

At Allstate, we value every customer. We're also focused on delivering the highest-quality insurance products with the best service available. Which is why our policy holders enjoy reliability, dependability, and personalized coverage that fits their lives — plus a host of auto insurance discounts to choose from.

With so many ways to save, you’re bound to find a discount that fits.

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Chicago Auto Insurance Rate Quote - Now Goes Nationwide

AutoQuoter.com is committed to help all of the drivers relieve economic crises by getting lowest car insurance rate quote.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 08, 2008 – AutoQuoter.com is committed to help all of the drivers relieve economic crises by getting lowest car insurance rate quote. In addition to its position as a number one insurance resource, individuals looking for budget automobile insurance quote can also use the site to assist them in their search. The extensive database of insurers in the ( http://www.autoquoter.com ) AutoQuoter.com network gives consumers access to hundreds of companies nationwide so they have a wide selection of car insurance quotes to choose from.

Saving money on your car insurance does not take all day anymore. With the new technology utilized by the website, people can now receive up to 5 different car insurance quotes in less than 2 minutes.

Car insurance quotes obtained through ( http://www.autoquoter.com ) AutoQuoter.com takes only a two minutes and the results are very competitive. Get multiple ( http://www.autoquoter.com ) auto insurance rate quote with one fast and easy form. Visit AutoQuoter.com for rapid, free auto insurance quotes.

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Chicago Based Auto Insurance Company. http://www.AutoQuoter.com is committed to help all of the drivers relieve economic crises by getting lowest car insurance rate quote.

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Launch of New Compare.com Insurance Comparison Website

November 2008 marks the launch of the all new Compare Com website offering its visitors the ability to compare bike, van, travel and of course car insurance quotes from a wide range of insurers online.

London (PRWEB) November 17, 2008 -- Searching over 300 insurers and schemes, Compare.Com is one of the UK's largest insurance comparison websites offering cheap car insurance, van insurance, bike insurance and even travel insurance to the masses!

With the credit crunch closing in on consumers, it's more important than ever to get the best prices possible when scouring the internet for that yearly insurance renewal quotation. That's where Compare.Com steps in, you simply enter your personal and vehicle information into our fast online quote form and we compare prices from hundreds of insurance companies and provide the consumer with the lowest quote from a database of a massive 317 insurance policies.

Compare Com offers specialist car insurance schemes for most type of vehicles, from the typical family car to high performance cars such as Ferrari and Porsche. This benefits the consumer by providing a quote from an insurer who specialises in their type of car, just like lady driver only insurers can offer ladies lower insurance quotes.

On average the higher your insurance premium, the more you stand to save when comparing quotes online and especially for those in a statistically higher risk driver group such as convicted drivers or young drivers and with car insurance premiums rising each year there really has never been a better time to save money online with Compare Com.

Compare Com Car Insurance searches most of the UK's high street insurers and many of the internet only insurers, so you are ensured total peace of mind. The service is also fully transparrent so you are kept in the loop about which insurer is providing your policy and also provided with the full policy information and key facts document before you purchase.

With so many websites all competing for your insurance renewal these days, it can often be a hard choice to make when choosing a possible replacement as your insurer. Why not try the UK's fastest growing insurance comparison website - http://www.comparecom.co.uk.

Compare Com also has its own blog where you can find tips and useful information on saving money when applying for car insurance online.

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Car Insurance - Car theft spots in UK - 20/11/2008

It has been revealed that motorists in East Sussex are more likely to file a theft claim on their car insurance. This included goods stolen from the car as well as their vehicle being stolen.

A study based from 10 million insurance quotes made over the past 10 years showed that drivers in the East Sussex village of Winchelsea are more likely to make a claim for theft in the past five years than any other postcode.

Andy Leadbetter, head of an insurance company stated: “It is quite a shock to see smaller rural villages snatching the top spots for car theft, whether its theft from the vehicle or the vehicle itself.”

Leadbetter continued by saying that people can do more to keep their vehicle safe from theft: “It goes without saying that valuable items, be it mobile phones, sat navs or stereo equipment should not be left on display. Improving security of your vehicle may also be an option – fitting an alarm or using a steering wheel lock are cost efficient means to safeguard your car.”

Saltburn-by-the-sea took second place whilst Godstone in Surrey took third place for most car thefts.

Last month the AA’s benchmark British Insurance Premium Index revealed that the cost of car insurance premiums rose by 7.5% to an average of £724.28. In 1994, when the AA began collating premiums the average cost was just £328 a year.

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Car insurance quotes: Personal Injury Protection Coverage

Accidents are always inconvenient, sometimes expensive, and never what you planned. Which is why planning ahead can make a huge difference in the weeks and months following an accident where you're injured.

Personal Injury Protection coverage (or PIP) not only covers reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses, it can also help you with income continuation, loss of services, funeral expenses, even child-care expenses while you’re healing.

(If you’re interested in adding this option to your policy, keep in mind that the types of expenses PIP covers can vary from state to state.)

Other Coverages

Choose any of the following options that might suit your individual circumstances best and build an auto insurance policy that helps fit your needs.

Liability Coverage — If you’re at fault in an accident that's covered by your policy, and other people (or property) are injured or damaged, Liability coverage helps protect you from the cost of these damages.

Collision Coverage — helps pay for repairs or replacement to your car if you’re in a covered accident that involves other vehicles or stationary objects.

Comprehensive Coverage — helps pay for covered losses caused by natural disasters, theft, vandalism, or other similar events.

Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage — helps protect you if the covered accident was another driver’s fault and s/he either has no auto insurance, or not enough insurance to cover the expenses.

Medical Payments Coverage — helps pay medical bills if you or your passengers are hurt in a covered accident. This option may also cover other members of your family when they’re driving the insured car.

Limits and Deductibles — will apply to certain types of coverage. Your Limits and Deductibles determine how much your insurance company will pay and how much you’ll have to pay when you make a claim for a covered accident.

Additional Coverage Options — can boost convenience and peace of mind, whether it’s with our Towing and Labor-Cost Coverage*, Rental Car Reimbursement* Coverage, Sound System Coverage*, or Tape/CD Coverage*. The choice is yours.

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Car Insurance - Car Accidents can inflate car insurance price - 06/11/2008

It has been revealed that car drivers who have an at-fault car accident could result in having their car insurance premiums hiked up by more than 60%.

This statistic was taken from a website which showed 10 million quotes from users, looking at the effects of having made an at-fault claim on their car insurance.

The study also found some surprising results. For example, the research found that bus conductors and GPs were the professionals that were most likely to have a road accident, but less than 1.5% of driving examiners were to blame for an accident.

In contrast to this, au pairs and magistrates were the least likely professions to be involved in a collision, thus they presented a low risk.

Peter Gerrard, head of insurance research stated: “When an insurer risk assesses a driver, any history of accidents will no doubt mean motorists pay more.”

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Car insurance quotes: Liability Coverage Offers Serious

Liability Coverage Offers Serious
Protection for Serious Peace of Mind

If you’re at fault in an accident, you could be held legally responsible for all medical and repair costs for everyone involved. Liability Coverage can shield you from these potentially devastating expenses.

Protection for People, Property, and the Unexpected

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

If people are injured in an accident that’s your fault, Bodily Injury Liability coverage helps protect you from bills that can include:

• Emergency aid at the scene
• Medical expenses for bodily injury
• Medical services for sickness or disease
• Compensation for loss of income
• Funeral expenses
• Legal defense fees and/or bail bonds for anyone listed on your policy
• Other expenses not listed here

If you’re interested in carrying this coverage, but aren’t quite sure how much coverage is right for you, you might want to consider purchasing the highest limit you can comfortably afford.

Property Damage Liability Coverage

If another driver's property is damaged in an accident that’s your fault, Property Damage can help pay for their:

• Structural damage to homes, storefronts, etc.
• Repair or replacement costs for other stationary objects
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs

It can also help keep your assets safe in the event of a lawsuit resulting from a covered accident.

If you’re interested in carrying Property Damage Liability protection, you might want to consider purchasing the highest limit you can comfortably afford.

Property Protection Coverage (PPC)

PPC is a unique option available only in Michigan.

This coverage will pay up to $1 million for very specific kinds of property damage you’ve caused in an accident, such as:

• Damage to buildings
• Fences
• Properly parked cars

Other Coverages

Choose any of the following options that might suit your individual circumstances best and build an auto insurance policy that helps fit your needs.

Collision Coverage — helps pay for repairs or replacement to your car if you’re in a covered accident that involves other vehicles or stationary objects.

Comprehensive Coverage — helps pay for covered losses caused by natural disasters, theft, vandalism, or other similar events.

Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage — helps protect you if the covered accident was another driver’s fault and s/he either has no auto insurance, or not enough insurance to cover the expenses.

Medical Payments Coverage — helps pay medical bills if you or your passengers are hurt in a covered accident. This option may also cover other members of your family when they’re driving the insured car.

Personal Injury Protection — typically helps reimburse you for lost income, child care expenses, medical expenses, and other similar things if you’re hurt in a covered accident. (Personal Injury protection is not available in some states)

Limits and Deductibles — will apply to certain types of coverage. Your Limits and Deductibles determine how much your insurance company will pay and how much you’ll have to pay when you make a claim for a covered accident.

Additional Coverage Options — can boost convenience and peace of mind, whether it’s with our Towing and Labor-Cost Coverage*, Rental Car Reimbursement* Coverage, Sound System Coverage*, or Tape/CD Coverage*. The choice is yours.

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Car insurance quotes: Helping Teen Drivers Become Safe Drivers

Young drivers are the most vulnerable drivers on the road. Which is why we’re committed to keeping them safe — with special product points for parents of teen drivers, and ways to start that all-important conversation about teen driver safety.

To start the conversation now, check out Allstate's exclusive Interactive Parent-Teen Driving Contract.

Safety First

We all want the best for our kids, but statistics show that young drivers are the most likely to be involved in an accident. So if you’re buying a car for your teen, make sure it has a high safety rating. (It can help keep your auto insurance premiums down, and increase your child's safety on the road.)

Graduated Drivers Licensing laws are designed to limit teen driving privileges until your new driver gains experience on the road. (These laws can vary from state to state.) Some common restrictions include:

• Learner’s permit or intermediate license requirements
• Nighttime driving restrictions
• Required hours of adult supervision while driving
• Suspension of driving privileges with a crash
• Additional training requirements after a crash or ticket
• Seat belt requirements for drivers and passengers
• Restrictions on the number of passengers allowed in a car
• Mandatory driver education
• Tougher drunk-driving penalties

Helping Your Young Driver Succeed

Some new drivers need extra learning time. Only you can decide whether or not your teen is ready to drive without adult supervision. Keep your new driver safe by setting, and regularly communicating consistent rules about when, where, how, and with whom your teen is allowed to drive.

• Limit the number of passengers in the car. Laughter, music, and cell phones can create serious distractions — which increase with every additional passenger.
• Establish and enforce a curfew.
• Insist that your driver (and all passengers) wear seat belts at all times. They may not be “cool,” but seatbelts save lives. (And, in some states, they’re law.)
• Create a no-cell zone. Talking on the phone is a dangerous distraction on the road for drivers of any age. Know the applicable laws in your county or state, as these are changing rapidly and fines can be significant.
• Consider limiting or supervising your teen’s driving privileges during accident high-risk times (such as Friday and Saturday nights).
• Set driving-area limits. If your teen wants to travel outside your town or city, require that he or she request your special permission.
• Prohibit driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Prohibit riding as a passenger with a driver who’s unfit to drive. Encourage your teen to call for a ride home if needed.

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