Does your car insurance cover petrol theft?

As the UK teeters on the brink of recession drivers are finding that , as well as facing the prospects of ever increasing motor costs, they are having to deal with the prevalence of petrol theft. The increase in this type of crime means motorists should pay special attention to the finer details of their car insurance policies in order to find out whether they are covered.

This criminal activity has come under the spotlight because thieves who find that they are unable to siphon of fuel from modern day vehicles via traditional methods, have decided to drill directly into petrol tanks to empty the contents. So drivers who are already under serious pressure from the credit crunch could find themselves faced with a bill that is likely to run into thousands of pounds.

Unfortunately for motorists thieves are not only concentrating their efforts on fuel, they are also turning their attention to catalytic converter theft. Norwich Union reported that this type of crime has increased by more than 500% over the last 12 months.

By using the Save On Bills comparison service users can find the best available insurance deals to suit their needs.

Police offer Drivers a chance to escape penalty points

In a move that could be replicated across the UK, Derbyshire police have teamed up with the Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership and the local Driving Service to offer speeding motorists an alternative to fines and penalty points. Under a new scheme drivers who have flouted speed laws for, the first time, will be able to enter into a one day driving rehabilitation course which is designed to teach them the error of their ways and heighten their awareness of the finer points of road safety.

To put it simply, first time offenders who attend this driver education course have the potential to retain a clean license. For those motorists who may scoff at the idea, it is important to remember that points on a license equals high car insurance premiums. The current economic situation which has resulted in higher motoring costs means that drivers should do all they can to avoid the double whammy of paying a fine and paying for very expensive insurance cover.

Of course the simplest, safest and cheapest solution to the problem is that every motorist should ensure that they observe UK speed limits

Monthly insurance payments could prove costly for Motorists

Over 13 million British motorists who choose to pay for their car insurance by monthly installments are paying more than those who select annual payment plans. It has been estimated that UK motorists who pay on a monthly basis are spending a total of £624 million more than those who choose to make a one off payment that covers a full year.

Currently UK drivers are facing considerable financial pressures which have been brought about by the steep increases in petrol and car insurance prices. Motorists should begin to take a serious look at how they pay for their insurance cover. The use of comparison websites can also assist drivers to find the best insurance prices.

The average cost of an annual car insurance package is approximately £460. However, those who select a monthly payment option will find they will have to fork out around £506 over the course of a year.

Drivers warned that modifications may invalidate insurance

Tesco Car Insurance has warned motorists, who want to make modifications to their vehicles, that they should inform their insurers. Those who choose not to tell their car insurance providers about such modifications are at risk of having their policies becoming void if they have to make a claim.

A company spokesperson said that insurance providers are not against motorists modifying their vehicles. However, it is essential that people inform their insurers about these alterations so that policies can be adjusted accordingly. Those who choose to ignore this advice could find that they are in for a shock if they find they do not have adequate cover simply because they didn’t provide their insurers with the correct information.

Research has found that those drivers who are aged between 16 and 24 are most likely to modify their vehicles. It has also been reported that the current economic downturn appears to have had no effect on the amount of motorists who are seeking to enhance their vehicle’s bodywork.

High Car insurance prices for city motorists

The British Insurance Brokers Association has reported that UK drivers who reside in the largest cities are reluctant to purchase car insurance products because of the high costs. The organization pointed out that those motorists who live in Birmingham and London can expect to pay some of the highest insurance rates in the country.

Cities are known to have a higher concentration of accident hotspots and higher crime rates than rural and other areas. Those who wish to find the most affordable deals ,that are best suited to their personal needs, are encouraged to shop around by using comparison websites or insurance brokers.

It has also been estimated that that approximately one fifth of all British motorists do not have adequate insurance for their vehicles. This means that there are over 1.5 million drivers who are travelling without the correct insurance cover. This may prove to be costly if they happen to be involved in an accident.

Those motorists who drive with no insurance cover whatsoever can expect to face a criminal conviction as well as a harsh financial penalty.

Sainsburys new car insurance offer

Sainsbury Car Insurance has announced that it will begin to offer its customers 12 months worth of car insurance policies for the price of ten. The retailer has launched the credit crunch busting offer after Sainsbury’s Bank discovered that the average price of insurance premiums for UK motorists had increased by nearly 6% in the twelve month period ending June 2008.

Sainsburys Car Insurance commented that British drivers are feeling the financial pressure of the soaring costs of insurance products. The fact that petrol costs have hit record prices in recent years also means that it will make good financial sense for motorists to compare and contrast the best insurance premiums on the market.

A spokesperson for the Association of British insurers stated that if motorists shop around for the best available deals they can significantly reduce the costs of their car insurance. This would benefit younger drivers who normally pay the most for their policies.

UK Motorists face pay-as-you-drive charges

British motorists may have to endure yet further financial hardship if the Government goes ahead with plans to introduce a new pay-as-you-drive policy. The proposed nationwide scheme will see motorists face peak-time charges of £1.30 per mile on busy roads as well as having to face additional motorway tolls.

It is expected that the scheme ,which will be piloted in 2010, will involve sophisticated satellite tracking technology to trace vehicle movements. If the proposed scheme proves to be successful, the satellites will be replaced by black boxes, which will be stationed on British roads to collect data. Motorists will then find themselves presented with a weekly bill based on their movements on the busiest roads.

The proposed introduction of pay-as-you-go driving will come as unwelcome news for British drivers who are struggling to cope with the credit crunch, increases in car insurance premiums and the soaring cost of road tax.

Cutting your car insurance bills

As a motorist you ,no doubt, wish you could avoid having to pay car insurance. Unfortunately, car insurance is one of those things that is essential for the protection of yourself and your fellow drivers. So here are some tips to help cut your insurance bills.

Firstly, you should use an online comparison website such as SaveOnBills.co.uk to find the best deals. Using this type of site can save you hundreds of pounds and prevent you from wasting precious time, especially when it comes to renewing your policy. You should also remember that insurers change their deals on a monthly basis, so you should revisit these sites regularly.

Secondly, if you are a young motorist you can add another driver to your insurance policy – preferably, someone who is older than you are. By doing this you could trim your costs by over 10%.

Finally, you will generally find that making an insurance claim for car damage can result in the loss of up to two-years from your no-claims bonus. If you have an accident ,that will cost no more than £500 in repairs, you should cover the cost yourself –if you can afford to. This will lead to huge savings on policy renewals.

There are plenty of other ways to save money when insuring your vehicle but those listed above, should help you on your way to obtaining cheaper car insurance.

Millions of people fail to take out life insurance

The Post Office has reported that millions of British consumers are failing to take out life insurance cover and this has resulted in their families facing unnecessary financial risk. The report revealed that around 36 million UK citizens have not sought to obtain life insurance cover. Nearly 30% of those surveyed stated that life insurance products were far too expensive.

A senior Post Office representative said that the fact that people don’t feel the need to take out this type of insurance, reflects a worrying trend in the market.

Unfortunately, people are not taking into account the fact that insurance cover will ensure that their loved ones will not have to suffer financial hardship if they pass away.

Brits warned to take out travel insurance cover

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office ( FCO ) is warning British travellers to check that they have enough travel insurance cover whilst holidaying abroad. FCO Research has shown that an increasing number of Brits are failing to take out comprehensive insurance policies that will cover them for any unforeseen eventualities.

The survey had also shown that there is an increase in the number of Brits being arrested in Spain and France whilst Thailand is the country where British people are most likely to be admitted to a hospital.

An FCO spokesperson said that holidaymakers are putting themselves at unnecessary risk for the sake of saving a few pounds on their insurance cover.

Travellers are also advised to conduct some kind of research on the customs and laws of the countries they are hoping to visit.

The SaveOnBills comparison service can help holidaymakers to find the best travel insurance packages

Next Page »