| Car Basics - Car insurance tips | | | | of an insurance claim. This is theamount that |
| | | | you will agree to pay in the event of an |
| Here are a few bits of insurance terminology | | | | accident i.e. an insurancepolicy with a |
| you should knowbefore buying your car | | | | £500 excess will be less than with a |
| insurance | | | | £100 excess, however if youhave an |
| | | | accident that is your fault then you will |
| | | | have to pay the first £500 ofthe |
| | | | claim. |
| View the fullarticle at - | | | | |
| | | | 6. If your vehicle is not fitted with |
| NCB - No claims bonus, you get one years no | | | | anapprovedalarm or immobiliser, compare |
| claims for everyyear that you do not claim | | | | carinsurance quotes with and without one |
| off your motor insurance. Also referred to as | | | | fitted. It may be cost-effective to |
| a 'No | | | | haveone installed. |
| | | | |
| Claims Discount', typically if you build up 5 | | | | Approved alarms and immobilisers that are |
| years NCB this can reduce yourinsurance | | | | recognised by the insuranceindustry are those |
| premium by 60-75% dependant on the insurance | | | | that have been tested to 'Thatcham' standards |
| company. | | | | are will besold as 'Thatcham Approved', |
| | | | typically category 1 (alarms) and category 2 |
| Many insurers offer 'protected' no claims | | | | |
| bonus, it will costyou a little extra but in | | | | (immobilisers). Having one of these fitted |
| the event of an accident your NCB will be | | | | will help reduce your insurancepremium. In |
| protected. | | | | addition, there are |
| | | | |
| So it can be worth the extra as the savings | | | | RAC Trackstar and |
| from your NCB can far outweigh thecost of the | | | | |
| extra on your premium. | | | | Tracker security devices that can be fitted |
| | | | to your vehicle. These will helpget your |
| Excess - This is the amountof money that you | | | | vehicle recovered quickly in the event of |
| will pay in the event of a claim. Voluntary | | | | theft and will help reduceyour premium too. |
| Excess allows youto top up this amount and | | | | |
| the higher thevoluntary excess the cheaper | | | | 7. Limiting the number of miles you drive |
| the insurance premium will be. | | | | each year will reduce your insurancepreium. |
| | | | They will ask you how many miles to expect to |
| Fully Comprehensive - Thisis the highest | | | | cover annually. Tell thetruth though and be |
| level of insurance cover. It includes what is | | | | as accurate as anyone can. Chances are that |
| covered under TPFT | | | | most peoplesmileage is to and from work, so |
| | | | if you live closer to work then this should |
| (see below), but in the event of an accident | | | | bereflected on your estimate. |
| which was your fault (even ifno-one else was | | | | |
| involved) the insurance company will pay to | | | | 8. If you commute to work or you take the |
| repair or replaceyour own car. | | | | company van home, then you will onlyneed |
| | | | insurance cover that is referred 'social, |
| TPO - Third Party only -The insurance policy | | | | domestic and pleasure', insteadof ;social, |
| will only pay out to repair the other persons | | | | domestic and pleasure and to and from work'. |
| car inthe event of an accident that was your | | | | This may help reduceyour premium. |
| fault. It will not pay out for repairingor | | | | |
| replacing your vehicle. This policy does not | | | | 9. Having just you as the named driver on |
| cover you for fire or theft ofthe car. This | | | | your policy will help keep costs down. |
| is the cheapest type of insurance policy | | | | |
| available. | | | | The number of other people on it will |
| | | | increase its cost, especially if they |
| TPFT- Third Party, Fire and | | | | areunder 25. |
| | | | |
| Theft - This is the same as TPO above, but | | | | 10. Start building and protecting a 'no |
| will cover your car for fire andtheft. | | | | claims' bonus as soon as possible. In thelong |
| | | | run, this will have a significant impact on |
| Here are some tips for helping keep your car | | | | your ability to get cheap carinsurance. |
| insurance down | | | | |
| | | | 11. Keep your car standard. Don't modify or |
| 1. Shop around (read more about this below), | | | | customise it as it may add to yourinsurance. |
| those companies with the biggestand flashiest | | | | If you can't resist having that newinduction |
| websites and adverts may not be the cheapest. | | | | kit, then ask aboutwhether it will be covered |
| | | | first and how much it will be. Be honest with |
| 2. Drive a cheap car with a small | | | | theinsurers, sometimes these small mods don't |
| engine. This is important especially | | | | cost much extra (if at all). But ifyou don't |
| ifyou are a young driver and perhaps it is | | | | tell them then your insurance will be |
| your first car. It is tempting tobuy a | | | | invalidated. Make sure thecar has not |
| nippy motor and stretch yourself to afford | | | | been modified before you buy it. If it has, |
| the insurance, but it is betterin the long | | | | then you will need todeclare all these |
| run if you get yourself a car with a small | | | | modifications and they could increase your |
| engine and has a lowinsurance group. The | | | | premuim. |
| insurance will be lower and you will be able | | | | |
| to build upyour no-claims bonus. | | | | 12. Consider just having 'third party, fire |
| | | | and theft' cover if your car was verycheap. |
| 3. If you have recently passed your driving | | | | The alternative is 'fully comprehensive' |
| test, look into whether it's worthgoing | | | | cover and then you are coveredfor repairs to |
| through the Pass Plus trainingprogramme to | | | | your own vehicle even if no-one else was |
| qualify for car insurance discounts. Not all | | | | involved. But hey, if itwas that cheap then |
| insurers givediscounts for Pass Plus drivers, | | | | it may be cheaper to buy another car than |
| but the number that do is increasing all | | | | loose yourno-claims bonus. You could even |
| thetime. | | | | consider just insuring the car 'third |
| | | | partyonly'. |
| 4. Consider using the internet to get quotes | | | | |
| and buy your insurance online. Mostcompanies | | | | 13. Where you park your car will affect your |
| offer a 10% discount for buying online | | | | insurance, it will be lower if youhave it |
| instead of over the telephone. | | | | locked in a garage at night instead of |
| | | | leaving it out in the road. Evenparking it on |
| 5. Choose to pay a higher excess in the event | | | | a driveway can reduce your premium. |