When You See What Happens When A Vet Squeezes This Dog's Skin, You'll Be Sick
When You See What Happens When A Vet Squeezes This Dog's Skin, You'll Be Sick
How to Cut the Cost of Car Insurance
Convictions aren't cool
If you are an inner-city teenager then an ASBO may be a badge of honour.
Insurers are less impressed by convictions though, so it is best to
avoid them if you can. Minor speeding offences are certainly not in the
same category as serial killer though, so if you have a couple of points
it will not be the end of the world or have a major influence on your
premium depending on the insurer.
If you've got a garage, use it
What are garages for? If you ask the average person they'll probably say
for storing all the kids' toys, the home gym, bicycles, the freezer and
tumble-dryer. I have news for you all; the garage is designed to house
your vehicle when you are not using it. The fact that it puts a physical
barrier between any opportunist thieves and your car is a real good
thing and car insurance companies will recognise this and reduce your
premium if you park in a garage overnight. Using your garage will save
you money; it doesn't get any easier than that.
Anti-theft devices
Most modern cars come with immobiliser and alarms factory fitted and if
you notify your insurer it will check to make sure they are to approved
standards and will apply discounts if applicable. You can get other
devices that slosh around in the passenger footwell until you park and
then fix to generally your steering wheel or gear-stick. These are
mechanical devices and some do attract further discounts if used, just
do your homework before buying. Thatcham is the organisation which
grades security devices and generally a decent mechanical security
device will feature its Thatcham approval very prominently along with
any premium discounts you may expect, so choose carefully.
Use a reputable broker
Car insurance is very big business with around 30million+ vehicles on
the UK roads, so there is a wealth of car insurance companies to choose
from. Ironically, the big names you are familiar with are probably in
your head because of massive marketing campaigns on television, on-line
etc. Regardless of the message, those marketing campaigns need to be
paid for and that means they may not actually have the best rates,
although the sheer scale of some of these businesses means prices will
be keen due to buying or underwriting power. The best advice is to
compare a couple of different prices from different companies. Call the
insurer and then call a comparable competitor and then perhaps a small
car insurance broker. Each one will ask you if you have a price already
and you should tell them what it is. Generally if they want the business
they know what to beat. The moment you get a broker saying they can't
match the price then you are probably close to the best market price or
else speaking with a broker that is not a specialist in the area.
A word of caution on price comparison sites
There are plenty of price comparison sites around which promise to drive
the cost of your insurance policy down - Money Supermarket, Go Compare,
Confused etc. They certainly do help reduce the cost of insurance as
most of the major players are fighting for business on the same
platform. Where these price comparison sites do not perform so well is
actually advising you on the sort of policy that's best for you or your
car. Would comprehensive be cheaper and more suitable than third party
fire and theft? The point is you cannot ask the price comparison site
for any advice, that's where car specialist brokers have the edge.
Compare it to buying a new house, would you buy one without a survey?
You might and then when it subsides into the sea you'll be praying your
insurance will cover it...the point is you shouldn't buy insurance
without talking with an expert either.
Pick up the phone
The internet is a great shopping and selling tool, you know my feelings
on that from previous articles...but I suggest if you speak to a real
person at a brokerage then you have a much better chance of getting
cheaper car insurance. They can ask more questions, clarify your
requirements and if needed they can even delegate the rate (set the
price themselves) if they really want the business. There is no
substitute for human contact, just make sure you speak to at least three
different brokers to get a true comparison.
Got a nice postcode?
If you live in a postcode where there are few thefts and claims then
your insurance premium will be lower than living somewhere that is a
known crime hotspot. If you can afford it, move to a posh area and
you'll benefit from lower insurance premiums. Not the easiest way to
save on the cost of insurance for sure...
Mileage and use
The more miles you drive the more chance you have of being involved in a
claim. It's simple statistics. The fewer miles covered, the less your
insurance premium should cost. Don't tell lies though, if you exceed the
stated mileage by a distance then it could invalidate your insurance.
Married with kids?
Insurers like selling car insurance to married couples mortgaged and
with kids and jobs. You are very easy to credit check and generally
display responsible behaviour which hints at a lower risk for the
insurer. That can reduce your car insurance quote.
Don't modify your car
We all see the bling bling cars that haunt Supermarket car-parks late at
night and whether you like the tacky neon colours and loud exhausts is
neither here nor there - the fact is that any sort of modification is
likely to hike your car insurance premium. Modifications can draw
attention, invalidate warranties and in the case of loud exhausts, can
also be illegal (if above the noise limit). If illegal, then it could
invalidate your insurance as well. The fact is that car manufacturers
spend a lot of time developing their products so they work well and if
you modify them then it's all out the window and your insurer will be
scratching his head wondering what he should charge - and it will almost
always be more than a standard vehicle.
Maurice Gertski is an expert in car insurance and is dedicated to
helping people lower their insurance premiums. Call Westhill Insurance
to speak to specialists in car insuran
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