How Where You Live Affects Your Car Insurance Premiums

If you want to save money on your car insurance, then the best thing to do may be...
To Move!

One of the most important rating factors used to calculate your car insurance premiums is your postcode, or risk address of where your vehicle is kept overnight. If you live a a 'bad' postcode area your premium will be hammered!

Endsleigh have just released their annual motor theft index, based on analysis of claims over the last three years from tens of thousands of policyholders.






The report, ranks towns and cities by comparing the frequency of claims against a National Average rather than the total number of incidents.



Click to enlarge


The report shows that Swindon is the safest place in the country for claims, with another West Country town Cheltenham coming in second. Incidently, Endsleigh just happens to be based in Cheltenham.

Hull fared the worst with 85% more claims than the UK National average.

A spokesman for Endsleigh said: "Recent Government statistics have shown a national reduction in car crime by almost a fifth over the past year, however, some towns and cities are riskier than others.

"Endsleigh's statistics show that eight out of the top 10 riskiest places for motor theft are in the Midlands and North of England, with four cities in Yorkshire making the list.

Only two cities in southern England, London and Reading, are named in the top 10."

The Coppers from Humberside have challenged the findings and produced other statistics to show vehicle crime was falling in Hull.

Det Chief Insp Scott Young said: "Vehicle crime is an area of success for Hull and it is difficult to gauge how Endsleigh Insurance captures its data.

"I am very pleased to say,however, that using official sources, Hull performs exceptionally well in the area of vehicle crime and I would gladly counter any other argument in relation to that.

"Hull is a safe place to live and work and Humberside Police works very hard to ensure that it stays that way."

Whether the Police feel they are doing their job in your area or not, is at the end of the day irrelevant, as the Association of British Insurers (ABI) produce the postcode tables from aggregated claims data, which is used by the major UK car insurance companies for rating.

If you are fortunate enough to live in Swindon, Cheltenham, Solihull, Southampton, Bangor, Norwich, Exeter, Maidstone, Preston or Lincoln we suggest you definitely check out Endsleigh for Cheaper car insurance.

If you are unfortunate enough to live in Hull, Nottingham, Manchester, Doncaster, London or any other place that has a high degree of joy-riders, we suggest you compare car insurance using one of the many excellent comparison websites you will find on Car Insurance Television.

How to avoid Accident and Car Insurance Claims This Winter

As winter approaches and the days get short it is sensible to think about additional driving requirements at this time of year, particularly if you live or drive in rural areas; taking just a few precautions can avoid accidents and car insurance claims and the possibility of being off the road at Christmas.

Make sure that you are carrying with you the following items, and if you are unlucky enough to be involved in accident miles from home, these little things might just save your life:

1. Additional Clothing: Fleeces, Hats, Gloves and Coats
2. Blankets in the car: If you are stuck after an accident in a blizzard, once your engine cools the car repidly turns into a fridge.
3. De-Icers and Scrapers
4. Something to drink: If you are stuck for a long time it would be useful to carry liquids to avoid dehydration, preferably hot in a flask.
5. A fully charged Mobile Phone
6. Car Breakdown Insurance and the number to call!
7. A Map: Even if you have Sat-Nav in your car, a map will help you fing the nearest property or town if you are stuck.
8. A high visibility vest of something to attract attention.
9. Money: make sure you do not travel without cash and a credit card

Following this accident and emergency for the winter checklist, will at the very least make your accident or breakdown less distressful.

You can also avoid accidents and disasters leading to car insurance claims if you ensure that your vehicle is fit for the trip in Winter conditions. Follow this checklist and avoid unnecessary and expensive claims.

1. Ensure your engine oil level is correct and top up if necessary.
2. Check the fluids paying particular attention to the vcar's radiator, brake fluids, engine coolants and screen wash.
3. Check your tyres! Ensure that they are of the minimum legal tread and are inflated to the manufacturers recommended pressures. You can usually find the correct pressures for your tyres on a plate on the edge of the drivers door!
4. Check your lights! You will need to ensure that all your lights are working correctly. Be aware that it is an offence to drive with insufficient lighting at certain hours of the day and if you are unfortunate to have an accident , this could invalidate your car insurance claim. Check Headlights, Sidelights, Rear Lights and Brake lights to see that they are all working.
If you are on your own, if you park the car close to a reflective surface you will not need assistance to see that they are working.
5. Check your Visibility! Ensure your windows are clean inside and out. If you have problems with heating and air blowers, get them fixed before the start of the very cold period

Drive safely this winter - It's deadly out there!

Compare Car Insurance Quotes & Schemes at the best Winter 2009 prices from the best quality policies.

Car Insurance Scammer Jailed - Rear End Shunter Shunted!

Car insurance scammer Mohammed Patel thought he was onto a winner when he was paid GBP500 per car for staging car accidents.
He earned himself GBP 46,000 staging 93 accidents in South Manchester UK, and bought luxury prestige cars with the proceeds for himself and his girlfriend.

It all went wrong for him yesterday when he was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment for fraud.

The court heard that Patel was photographed by suspicious workers in a office block which overlooked a roundabout where accidents were occuring on a daily basis. The workers filmed Patel staging rear end shunts by deliberately braking hard in front of other vehicles, sometimes up to three times in one day.
He would then exchange the details of the car owner for who he was employed with the unsuspecting motorist. The car would then be taken away to a garage where much more serious damage was inflicted on it before the claim was put in to the car insurance company.....

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Car-Insurance-Fraudster-Mohammed-Patel-Jailed/Video/200910315410521

The police are still hunting the other members of the gang who arranged the insurance frauds.

The UK Insurance Fraud bureau estimate that GBP 350 million pounds is stolen each year in fraudulent car insurance claims adding an estimated 40 to every car insurance policy sold in the UK.....

If you are involved in an accident use your mobile or cellphone to take some images of the vehicles and the Driver!
Visit Car-Insurance.TV for online Car Insurance advice and Cheap Car Insurance.

Policy and Voluntary Excess Explained

Our Resident expert car insurance specialist has written a great article on Understanding Car Insurance Excesses (US Deductibles)

For new drivers especially, the terms excess and deductibles can be very confusing.

In a typical car or motor insurance policy, the term deductible or excess (UK term) is often described as the portion of any claim that is not covered by the insurance provider.

In reality the excess is the amount you are always going to have to fork out regardless of what the insurer may pay out, in the event of any claim you make.

For that reason you may also see the term used with the expression - the first portion of the claim.

While true to a point this view of an excess is limited to a very strict definition of compulsory excesses applied to a policy to limit the insurance companies liability and moreover to discourage claims.

The logic behind this is simple.

If for example you were inclined to claim for some damage to your car that costs 500 to repair. If you make a claim, not only will you have to pay the excess of say 250 out of the total cost, but you will also lose a large proportion of your no claims discount or bonus when you come to renew the policy the following year. Therefore it is not always in your interests to claim, especially if the excess is high.

However a car insurance policy excess, when voluntary, is much more than a claims control mechanism. If used properly, it is effectively a useful tool that allows the prospective policyholder choice and control over how much of the risk he is willing to take upon himself.

Motor Insurance Excess and Deductible Types

Car Insurance Excesses and deductibles can be applied at either policy level, which means that the excess amount is applicable to all claims made on the policy, or at sectional, risk or premium class level.

For example, an additional risk of windscreen insurance cover would normally have its own excess amount payable in the event of any windscreen claim.

Car Insurance Excesses and deductibles are either fixed or variable by either the prospective policyholder or the motor insurance underwriter.

Policy level excess amounts are invariably of the fixed excess type while at risk and premium levels, excess amounts are set either automatically by the system in response to a rating factor such as the Proposal's age, or set by the user such as the voluntary excess level.

How To Set Your Voluntary Excess Level

Determining the level of voluntary excess that is right for you is best answered by yourself by honestly considering the following?

Are you looking to save money on car insurance premiums by taking on more or the risk yourself?

Do you have the money to cover the larger excess should you need to make a claim?

Does your style and history of driving make it more likely that you will have an accident or claim in the future?

Would the cost of repairs to your car in the event of a claim be so large that the highest voluntary excess would not make a lot of difference to the size of the payout, but would make a significant difference to the premium quoted?

Are you a risk seeker or risk averse?

It is possible to make huge saving on premiums quoted by adjusting your excess levels!

However, there are elements of gambling in all forms of insurance, in fact insurance could be rationally viewed as one large useful community casino.

Excesses and deductibles allow you to take on elements of risk. Think before you gamble!

Save money and compare cheap car insurance quotes by visiting a car insurance specialist online.



Car Insurance and Cheap Car Insurance

Association of British Insurers calls for tougher driving test changes

Be careful when you leave your front door today -it's a dangerous world out there!

Incredibly eight people die on Britains roads - Every day! Thats 3000 per year.

In the light of these figures the UK Government has announced plans to attempt to cut these figures from 3000 a year to a 'respectable' 2000 by 2019. The mildly controversial plans include:

More 20 mph speed restriction areas with traffic calming measures, particularly in urban areas.
A reduction of the national speed limit on rural single track roads, from 60 mph to 50 mph.
New cars are to be built to higher safety specifications, particularly with better protection for side impacts.
The Driving Test will be changed again, to include tougher theory and and practical testing.
An optional new driver 'plus' course will be offered for newly qualified drivers. This course will be designed to offer lower car insurance premiums for young drivers who succesfully complete it.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) welcomed the proposals for reducing the number of car accidents. A spokesman for the Association, which represents the interest of the major UK Insurance companies, Nick Starling said 'If you can reduce the number of claims made you will reduce the costs of car insurance'.
He also called for tougher changes to the driving test.
'Changes in driver testing and training will help, but must go further to reduce the high level of casualties and accidents involving young drivers. Nearly a third of deaths of 15 to 19 year olds occur on Britain's roads.
The ABI would like to see a minimum of 1 year 'learning period' for young drivers and restrictions on the number of passengers that a young driver would be legally entitled to carry.

Car Insurance Blogger welcomes any changes designed to make the UK's roads safer but must question the seriousness of such plans that are scheduled over a ten year period!

Cheap Young Driver Car Insurance

Car Insurance Legal Expenses Protection for Court costs

Car Insurance Legal Expenses Protection is Essential Coverage - See You in Court!

Most car insurance accident claims that cannot be resolved through negotiation between both parties insurance companies or their solicitors or lawyers, will end up in court. It is therefore, vitally important that your car insurance covers you for legal expenses protection.

Legal Expenses covers all your legal bills, damages and costs awarded against you should you have a car accident. Legal expenses is often sold as an add on, and if you haven't purchased this protection, it may cost you dear if an accident claim proceeds all the way to court, even if you win!

Car Insurance Claims

A car insurance policy is a legally binding contract between yourself and an insurance company to cover your liability, and in the United Kingdom claims for damages or liability disputes under an insurance policy contract, are resolved in the Civil or County Court as it is known. All cases are held before a District or County Circuit Judge.

Most disputes involving amounts fewer than five thousand pounds are known as small claims or fast track claims and can be dealt with quickly in a less informal setting. Claims on car insurance policies that include damages for personal injury for example, are likely to involve large amounts and perhaps legal costs of up to ten times the amount of the claim. These claims are allocated to a multi-track court system where cases are heard in full court.

If your claim, or the claim you are defending proceeds to court, both parties will be asked before the event to provide dates that they are unavailable to attend upon.

Each solicitor or lawyer will inform his party in adequate time of the date and venue of the court hearing. They will also keep their clients fully briefed as to the progress and developments in the case.

Many disputes that involve claims on car insurance policies are settled at the eleventh hour by the car insurance companies agreeing to settle, however whether a claimant or a defendant in the case you should be prepared for court. Both parties are required by law to attend the hearing and risk contempt of court charges if they fail to show.

Going To Court

The hearing will always be held in the County Court nearest to the home of the defendant. That is, the person who denies the claim against him. This can be costly if as a claimant you have to travel hundreds of miles to attend the court. UK Courts are notoriously mean with their expenses and if you drive a gas guzzler you will be lucky if you are awarded a fifth of your actual petrol costs as claimable travel expenses, if you win.

Furthermore you will not be able to claim for the inconvenience of the case, childcare costs or loss of earnings. Whether the original car accident was your fault or not, as soon as you become involved in an accident the largest damage is to your pocket.

Your Statement
You will have been asked on at least one occasion by your lawyer or solicitor, during prior negotiations, to provide a statement of fact of your version of the events that took place.

This statement will contain the facts that you will rely on when asked to speak in court. It will also contain the information that you will be cross-examined on by the other party's lawyers. It is important when you make a statement to stick to the facts, tell the truth of what happened and use documentary evidence such as photos or videos that you took at the time of the accident, to back up your version of events.

Stick to your version of events and do not be over flowery when creating your statement. The opposition will drill down into any inconsistencies that you may introduce into your account, by being over zealous. Their aim is to show you up to be either a liar or someone who cannot be trusted, whether you are telling the truth or not. The outcome of trials, the judgement, although totally unfair, is often decided by the manner of the parties involved and how they acted throughout the case, as the hammer has to come down on one side or the other.

Small Claims

Small claims cases rarely last more than a few hours and are held in much more informal settings than the main courtroom with its bench and stands and gallery. The hearings usually take place in a small room or chambers in the Court building.

Unlike in the main courtroom neither the Judge nor Barristers if present, are obliged to wear the wigs and gowns. There is usually no court recorder present and the protocol rules for addressing the bench are much more informal than in a main courtroom, although one should employ courtesy and respect at all times if you wish to succeed in your claim.

Large Claims

Large claims or multi-track claims as they are known are set when the amounts of damages in dispute and the legal costs on both sides exceed the limits for the small claims court.

In a full hearing, only barristers are allowed to address the bench, although witnesses are often called to speak and explain a point directly to the Judge. In doing so you are required to address the Judge as 'Your Honour'.

The Hearing

Court hearings can be daunting experiences even for the most outwardly going people. Courtrooms are very busy places. In a full court hearing there will be legal teams from both parties on separate sides of the room. They will be assisted by expert witnesses. There is always a public gallery and the Press may well be present, in particular hacks from local newspapers. There will be Court Reporters and a Stenographer recording the details of what is said and Ushers controlling the flow of witnesses. There will be a witness box where you are obliged to take the stand, give an oath on a religious document of your choice, and then be cross-examined on the contents of your statement.

The Procedure

Under Court Procedure Rules (CPR) in the United Kingdom the onus of any trial is on the claimant and any accident witnesses he may have, to take the stand first.

If you are the claimant be prepared to take the stand in the witness box on the first day of the trial. You will be cross-examined first by the other party's barrister and then by your own to give your story. Throughout the Judge will be making their own notes.

You are not allowed to give speeches of your version of events of the car accident. You are only allowed to speak in answer to a particular question that is put to you.

In a full hearing you will be cross-examined first by the other party's barrister who will try to destroy your evidence. Be prepared for personal attacks and dirty tricks to try to get you to say something different to what you claimed in your statement. Above all keep calm, stop and think about what you are going to say, and if necessary you are perfectly entitled to refer to your statement. Your Barrister will then cross-examine you to try to establish the points in your favour, and discredit any flack you may have suffered under the previous cross-examination.

Following your evidence the defence party will go through the same procedure. Expert witnesses may well then be called for both sides. Typically these may be motor engineers or claims assessors.

In a full hearing the events are drawn to a close by a summation from both parties barristers and a plea to the bench to find in their favour. The Judge then retires to consider the verdict or judgement as it is known in the UK civil proceedings. Quite often this may not be delivered until the next day.

Costs of a Car Insurance Accident

Immediately following the verdict it is quite common to have a costs assessment hearing, where costs are awarded. Costs in a multi track case in the UK that lasts a week, are on average for both parties in excess of one hundred thousand pounds.

Even if you win you the judge may only award a proportion of costs in your favour. There are rules governing behaviour of both parties throughout the case and offers known as 'part 36 offers' give some indemnity against full costs sometimes being awarded.

Accidents can cost a lot more than expected and it is important that you have adequate legal expenses protection included in your policy cover. If you don't, that cheap car insurance policy could very soon turn into fools gold.

If you are going to compare car insurance policies and you eventually opt for cheap car insurance, even if the cover levels for the policy seem reasonable, ask about unisured losses and make sure the car insurance policy includes at least one hundred thousand pounds worth of legal protection cover.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Healey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Car-Insurance-Legal-Expenses-Protection-is-Essential-Coverage----See-You-in-Court!&id=2157547

Sat Nav May Invalidate Your Car Insurance

The Association of British Insurers is warning that policyholders claiming for accidents that were a direct result of the use of in car Satellite Navigation systems, could find their car insurance invalidated in certain circumstances.

The statement comes following the most recent of a spate of accidents involving drivers of cars that were relying upon the use of directional in car sat-nav systems. The problem is quite often they either don't work to the programmed co-ordinates or they mistakenly take you off down some route or side track where your vehicle cannot possibly safely go.

In the latest incident last week, a man from North Yorkshire nearly drove of a cliff in the dark .....



and tragedy was only avoided by a small dry stone wall that stopped his BMW.



Robert Jones continued to follow the instructions when they told him the narrow, steep path he was driving on in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, was a road.
Mr Jones, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, only stopped when his BMW hit a fence above Gauxholme railway bridge on Sunday morning.
Police have charged Mr Jones with driving without due care and attention.
The 43-year-old, who works as a driver, said he relied on his sat nav for his job.

If you are arrested for driving without due care and attention your car insurance may well be invalid. Take particular care when following instructions from others while driving!

Car Insurance and Cheap Car Insurance

Swinton Car Insurance warns that ignorant UK public make unnecessary claims

Swinton Car Insurance have noted in a recent survey commissioned for their car insurance clients that a number of British drivers are making claims on their policies when there is nothing to claim for.

According to Swinton the UK driving public are knowledge deficient in the following areas, which effectively puts us all at risk and pushes up the cost of cheap car insurance:

1. understanding elementary parts of a motor car - 36% !
2. unable to change a tyre - 29% !
3. unaware that they regularly have to check their tyre pressures and are unable to do it - a staggering 20 % or one fith of the UK driving population!
4. Given the above it willl be no surprise to learn that 9% admitted to not knowing how to open the bonnet of their car.

Who'd be an AA serviceman!
Obviously the technical part of the current driving test does not appear to be working. Whether this is evidence that lack of technical knowledge of the operating systems of a modern car leads to an increase in car insurance claims - remains to be seen!

Steve Chelton of Swinton Car Insurance said-
"All drivers should have at least basic knowledge of their cars and should not rely on other people to carry out maintenance work such as checking tyres and topping up oil.


Click to use Swinton's excellent car insurance comparison system

"If drivers had a better understanding of their cars they probably wouldn't make so many unnecessary claims which can lead to an increase in car insurance premiums."

Call Swinton Car Insurance Direct on 0800 072 8719


Car Insurance and Cheap Car Insurance

Outraged Car insurance purchasers!

As part of the research we are carrying out for Obsydium Productions 'Car Insurance from Hell' we have been trawling various forums on the Internetto get a real feel of what the UK public actually, think of the car insurance that is offered to them, and what happpens to them when things go wrong.

We found this incredibly useful post surprisingly enough over on a gaming site at http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_posts.php?thread_id=112258

Warning the post contains some very strong language, but we feel it has merit in some of the advice given, particularly that from ex car insurance brokers, which is very useful! The post also shows just how inequitable the current system is. It appears that claiming on a car insurance poloicy is bit like trying to get a penalty from a ref after he's decided the opposite, even though the cameras showed it was a penalty.

Nobody ever said Car Insurance was a fair and equitable product - the public have always mistakenly assumed that it was, that is until something goes wrong with a claim!


Car Insurance and Cheap Car Insurance

Car Insurance From Hell

Have you had a horrific experience either trying to buy car insurance or trying to claim on the policy?

You are not alone!

Every year thousands of Britons experience difficulties with their car insurance companies, either when trying to arrange cover or more likely when trying to claim.

Have you had a horror time?

Comment on this post and tell us your stories.

We have been approached by a UK television production company to supply people who are angry about they way they have been treated by their Car Insurance Company, and would like to get revenge by telling their story on 'Car Insurance from Hell'.

Give us a brief outline of the major difficulties you've experienced and if you are chosen we will contact you.

CAR INSURANCE FROM HELL!

Car Insurance and Cheap Car Insurance

Car Insurance accidents will cost you even if not your fault

Car Insurance - No Fault No Blame Accidents Can Cost You Dearly

At some time during your driving life you are statistically likely to be involved in an accident, whether you are to blame for the incident or not. It doesn't matter how good a driver you consider yourself to be you may still fall victim to others misjudgments and driving errors.

Typical examples of these types of accidents which are assumed no fault to the driver on the end of it are; rear end shunts, being hit at a traffic crossing by a car that's jumped the lights, stationary vehicles being hit by passing drivers, hit and run scenarios, uninsured drivers failing to report a car accident or if you are really unlucky you may fall victim to one of the many organised criminal gangs that stage accidents to defraud car insurance companies.

If you are involved in an accident whether it is you fault or not, it is a condition of your car insurance policy that you do not admit liability of any kind, at the scene of the accident. This can be particularly frustrating if you are the victim, because even though the other driver may be obviously at fault, they are not allowed to admit it.

When making a claim to your car insurance company ensure that you detail all events at the incident of the accident including a sketch or photographs of the scene and the damage. If the police attended be sure to include the incident number. It will be the responsibility of the car insurance company to communicate with the other parties insurers and lawyers if necessary. Whilst this process is continuing you will be deemed to have had an accident and a claim against the policy. The details of the accident will be passed to the Car Insurance Claims Database which is updated daily and all car accidents are submitted to it by car insurers. The problems that arise are that even if an accident is obviously not your fault, if the other side contests this, the case may drag on for a year or two and unless your policy provides otherwise, you will have to foot the bill of any extraneous costs run up during this time, such as the provision of an alternative hire car.

If there is any doubt over fault, then the Insurance companies may decide that the case is a 'knock for knock' which means that each party covers their own costs and expenses. Both policies will be deemed to be a fault and no claims bonuses adjusted. If the parties are disagreed about what happened the case will proceed to court and it will be up to you, your insurance company and any expert witnesses they may employ such as motor engineers and claims assessors, to prove or establish who was at fault. . The circumstances of a car accident may show both drivers were partially at fault. In a court of law, fault is allocated to each driver based on prescribed accident scenarios. It will be up to a District Judge to determine fault according to the rules of negligence law and the Highway Code.

If your car insurance policy falls due for renewal during this period of determination of fault then it could cost you dear. Your policy record will be flagged as having had a claim and consequently, unless you can convince your Car Insurance Company otherwise, you will be charged additional premium, unless you have bought protected no claims bonus.

This can be as much as a sixty percent increase in the previous year's premium if you had a good driving history with no claims in the previous three to five years, depending upon which car insurance company you are covered with. You will also be responsible for the cost of any uninsured losses, which are not covered by your car insurance policy.

Car Insurance and Cheap Car Insurance