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