Car Insurance
The increasing number of car owners has increased the popularity of car insurance policies. To cope up with the increasing cost of premium, many people are opting for short-term cover. Insurance-guides.co.uk is completely focused on these short-term motor policies.
A relatively new concept, short term insurance covers your car on a temporary basis. It can extend from a day to a month at the most. The overall cost of the short-term policy is comparatively lower.
Such motor cover plans are good for people with limited resources. If you do not use your vehicle frequently then short term insurance is your best friend.
If you have short-term cover, you can decide to change the insurance providers if you like or wait until the duration runs out. This is however not always possible for annual insurance.
Car Cover Options
Car and Motor Insurance
You need auto cover to be legally allowed to drive on public roads.
Car insurance policies can vary wildly in price as it is dependant on many factors. Where the car is kept, the driver(s) occupation, the age of the driver(s), the annual expected mileage, the occupation of the driver and of course the type of car. All things being equal, a 50 year old married man who drives 5000 miles per year and stores his family saloon in a garage overnight will pay a much lower premium than a 19 year old man who drives a "hot hatch" and parks it on the public road.
Types of car insurance available
The two kinds of auto cover are Comprehensive Motor Insurance and Third Party Motor Insurance. Comprehensive motor insurance covers damage to the vehicles belonging to the policy holder and any third party where the policy holder is at fault. Third Party motor insurance only covers the third party.
Classic car cover & others
As well as standard Comprehensive and Third Party insurance there are other, more specialised policies that may be available. Classic car cover is available to people driving cars over a certain age (you may possibly have to agree to limited mileage too)
Motor Traders Insurance is available to businesses and individual in the motor trade. This type of policy will usually cover the insured to drive any car in their care. It will usually cover vehicles taken off the traders main trading site to their home over night. Car valeting businesses and car servicing garages should also be able to obtain this type of insurance so that vehicles in their car are covered.
I have exactly the same car as my neighbour, but my car insurance costs 50% more. Why?
Many factors affect the cost of an insurance policy. You may have exactly the same car as your neighbour, but that doesn't necessarily mean your policy will cost the same.
A few factors affecting the cost of your policy include, drivers age, age of any additional drivers, whether you are insured to use the vehicle in connection with your business (in addition to standard commuting to and from your normal place of business), the amount of miles you travel each year and your occupation.
How can I get cheap car cover?
There are various things that you can do to reduce your insurance premium. You can elect to increase your voluntary excess. Most motor insurance premiums have a compulsary excess, but if you agree to a voluntary excess as well it usually reduces your premium. If you only travel 5,000 miles per year, tell your insurance company. Informing the insurer that you travel limited miles within a year usually makes your motor insurance premium cheaper. Don't include your 19 year old brother who has just passed his test. It might seem like the brotherly thing to do, but having a young, inexperienced driver on your insurance is a sure way to increase the cost. Garage your car overnight. A car locked away in a garage overnight is less likely to be stolen or damaged. This should knock a few pounds off your premium.
But above all, be a safe driver. A full "no claims" discount can knock well over 50% off your premium.
What is a "no claims" discount?
As a reward for not making any claims against your motor insurance, insurance companies will give you a "no claims" discount. For example, if you have not made an insurance claim for 12 months, your insurance premium may be reduced by 15%. The percentage discount will continue to rise the longer you go without a claim up to a certain limit (usually 5 years). You will then have what is known as a maximum no claims discount.
If you do make a claim once you have built up a "no claims" discount, your discount will usually be reduced (unless you have a protected no claims discount).
The exact way that this works will depend on your particular policy, but as an example, if you have 5 years no claims discount and you then make a claim, your no claims discount may be reduced to 3 years.