Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Car Insurance | Compare Cheap Car Insurance Quotes
In today’s world getting cheap car insurance is all about comparing. With so many sites offering to compare car insurance for you how do you choose?
My I suggest you choose the company with the best car insurance advert on TV, easy isn’t it? It has to be the Aleksandr the Meerkat of comparethemarket.com.
comparethemarket.com is an insurance price comparison site that searches over 400 insurance prices to find the best quote for you. In our opinion their system gives the broadest insurance comparison for Northern Ireland, so need to waste time phoning around, we search so you do not have to, just five minutes if your time returns your quotes in price rank order. Buy online.
The Problem of High UK Car Insurance Premiums
Anyone that’s tried to insure a car elsewhere in Europe is sure to have found a huge difference in prices. Invariably, UK car insurance always comes out more expensive. But why is that, and is there anything that can be done to get around it?
UK car insurance is often more expensive because of the different insurance rules involved in each country. Elsewhere in the EU you’re often able to insure the car alone, meaning that as long as you have the right papers and insurance in place anyone can drive it. In the UK, however, you insure the driver as well as the vehicle, but you’ll often be able to get much more comprehensive cover as well.
But, as is often the case between different countries, sometimes you simply have to pay more for a similar level of cover and there may not be any obvious reason behind it. So how can you avoid paying such high insurance premiums?
Unfortunately there’s not a lot you can do to get around it. The fact remains that if you want to drive a car legally in the UK you need to get adequate insurance, and that often means you’ll be paying more than in the rest of Europe. But, if you make sure to shop around, you should be able to drive down the prices to something more reasonable.
Every insurance company will be able to offer different policies at different prices, so always spend the time to check. You could do this on your own, or to save yourself the hassle you could always check price comparison sites to find even better deals.
This will be the best way to avoid the often incredibly high insurance premiums that you can be faced with in the UK, and by shopping around you’ll be able to get the best you can for your money. You might also want to consider increasing your excess or going for a more basic level of cover instead of a comprehensive policy, and as long as you’re getting everything you need you shouldn’t have a problem.
So, although UK car insurance policies can often be expensive, there are things that you can do to reduce those premiums. Insurance is an unfortunate fact of life and while we may begrudge paying for it now it could well help us out later on, and if you remember to always do your research and find the best deals you can avoid breaking the bank.
Student Insurance Comparison
Being a student can be a fantastic experience. For many it’s the first time they have some form of responsibility, and while the main purpose is studying it’s obviously all about having fun as well. But, it’s important to not get carried away. There are a lot of practicalities that need to be thought of with student insurance being just one of them, and with a lot of types of insurance to consider it’s important to be prepared.
Most p
eople initially think of contents insurance, and this is a fantastic place to start. Whether you’re in halls or in rented accommodation it’s important to protect your possessions, particularly as the number of expensive gadgets that you own could cost a small fortune. Laptops, TVs and iPods are common, and with the right insurance you won’t have to worry about leaving them unattended.
But, there are a lot of other policies you might want to consider investing in as well. If you own a car then you’ll want to get adequate insurance for this stage in your life, and many student insurers will offer student car insurance in addition to your current contents policy. If you opt for a specific student policy you’ll often be able to save money when compared to regular cover, and you can have plenty of added extras such as European extension and even the option of getting your no claims bonuses quicker. Of course, this all depends on the company that you go for, so do your research and see what you can find.
Gap year travel insurance is also a common request for students taking a break from their studies, and if you’re looking to head off into the wild then you’ll want to make sure you’re adequately protected. Many of these policies can be tailored to your individual requirements whether you’re backpacking or are looking for something slightly less intense, and you can even tailor it according to the specific activities you’ll be embarking on for total peace of mind.
All types of student insurance can be tailored to your precise needs, with many being extremely competitive so you don’t have to spend that student loan on your premiums. Having the necessary cover in place can let you enjoy your time at college or university without having to worry, so make sure to do you research and you can be confident that you’ll find the perfect policies to meet your needs.
UK Tradesman Insurance
Tradesman insurance is designed to protect those people who work in other people’s homes, or on customer’s premises, or commercial properties. The term ‘tradesman’ usually refers to plumbers, electricians, buildings, decorators, cleaners but can cover a wide range of trades. If you are unsure as to whether the insurance provider is able to offer you tradesman insurance, contact them to confirm first.
If you are looking for your first tradesman insurance policy, you might wonder what is able to offer you. There are usually a couple of core policies included into your insurance, with the option to add on extras if necessary. Two absolutely essential insurance policies which must be incorporated into the most basic of tradesman insurance are public liability insurance and employers’ liability.
Public liability insurance provides cover for tradesman in the event that any damage to a member of the public, or their property is caused by you or the business. You will be covered for any legal fees, other costs and expenses, and hospital treatment. Employers’ liability is required by law if you employ members of staff, as this covers you financially in the event that anyone is injured or becomes ill due to work.
Holding these two policies is extremely important, but it is also essential that you consider where else you might be at risk. More often than not a basic tradesman insurance policy is not enough to protect you or your business, and you might need to consider extras such as:
• Professional indemnity – form of insurance providing cover in the event of any professional negligence by breach of duty of care.
• Tools cover – as a tradesman the chances are you have a lot of money invested into tools, whether they are hand tools, power tools or any other equipment. Without the tools to do the job, you can’t do the job. Protect the lifeline of your business and ensure that you have adequate tool cover in the event of theft, loss or damage.
• Stock cover – if you have any stock on your business premises, or even in storage, it could get stolen. Protect yourself by ensuring that you include stock cover into your tradesman insurance.
• Revenue protection – this helps protect your business if you are forced to cease trading through no fault of your own. The insurance should offset your lost income, but it is also possible to see if you can get financial assistance to start up your business once again
Cheap Car Insurance - Trick Or Treat?
We all love a bargain whether we are in a recession or not. When it comes to cheap car insurance we particularly like to shop around. Up to a quarter of people change their insurer when the renewal date arrives. Changing utility companies is less common although getting more popular as prices rise - but you don't have a renewal date for your electric or gas so most of us avoid the paperwork and the hassle. Renewing your car insurance is easy, but there is a bit of work to do, which is probably what prompts us to shop around while we are at it. Added to this, saving some money on the car insurance may actually mean the difference between continuing to run a car or not as we all begin to feel the 'pinch' in our wallets.
Protect your assets
Finding cheap car insurance is pretty easy these days, the market is so competitive and insurers so keen to keep existing clients that they will offer discounts and bonuses galore. For new drivers finding young driver insurance is usually expensive and you may well be tempted by all kinds of offers, but for more established drivers, who posses valuable assets like their no claims bonuses, switching to an apparently cheaper policy may prove expensive in the future. Most companies will accept your no claims bonus when you purchase a new policy - but before clicking 'Yes' and switching, make sure that this is the case. The larger your no claims bonus is you have the more you will want to protect it! If your policy does not already protect your 'no claims bonus', consider when switching the inclusion of this option. Protecting your no claims bonus usually comes at a slight premium but one that may well be worth it.
Big points, small print
It's easy to think that all insurance companies and policies are the same. Many are, but there are specialist insurers out there. There are numerous factors to consider when you are searching for cheap car insurance. Age, gender, driving experience, penalty points, type and age of car are just some of these factors. For each category it is usually possible to find a specialist firm but always compare these with the mainstream providers and see if the terms and conditions are comparable as well as the costs. Finding cheap car insurance can be a real treat - or allow you to afford one - but make sure that there are no hidden surprises in the small print.
Bad Credit Auto Insurance - How to Get the Best Rate
Having bad credit doesn't make you a bad driver, but it will raise your auto insurance rates. Here's how to get a cheap rate on bad credit auto insurance.
Bad Credit Auto Insurance
As strange as it may sound, your credit rating directly affects your auto insurance rating with some companies. Auto insurance companies have figured out that people with bad credit file 40% more claims than people with good credit.
If you have bad credit your insurance could cost you 20% to 50% more in insurance premiums than someone with good credit.
The good news is not all insurance companies use your credit rating as a factor in determining your insurance rating, and some states won't allow insurance companies to use it. So if you've been labeled as a bad credit risk, or suspect you may be, you should shop around for auto insurance with other companies.
There are websites where you can get auto insurance rates from a number of A-rated companies, and also get advice from insurance professionals, absoluelty free of charge. All you do is fill out a simple questionnaire about the type of car you own and the type of insurance you want, wait for your quotes, then choose the best one. (See link below.)
Lowering Your Auto Insurance Rate
In addition to comparison shopping, here are some other ways to lower your insurance rate:
Raise your deductible - Raising your deductible can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your insurance premium. After a while the money you save on your insurance premium will more than make up for your deductible.
Drop your collision and comprehensive coverage - If you drive an older car - particularly if your car is worth less than the total of your insurance premium plus your deductible - consider dropping your collision and comprehensive coverage as repairs may cost more than your car is worth.
Consolidate your insurance policies - Purchasing your homeowners insurance (or renters insurance) and auto insurance through the same company can get you a 5% to 15% discount on your premium.
Daily Car Insurance - The Cost Effective Solution
It is getting harder for everyone to afford good car insurance but the fact remains that by law you have to have it on your vehicle. This means for some they cannot afford to buy insurance. Their cars have to sit in the drive collecting dust. This is unfortunate but that is the law. No one is allowed to drive on public roads and highways without insurance. So what are your choices?
You do have choices in the matter. Nowadays you can purchase auto insurance for a day. This type of cover is available for 28 days at a time. There is a limit on how many days a year you can purchase this however. This is something you will want to remember. If you do not drive often and can not afford yearly cover you may want to consider this type of cover. You will get comprehensive cover on whatever vehicle you insure. It does not even have to be your vehicle.
If you have to borrow the car of a friend for a day, you are going to want insurance on it. There is no way you want to risk an accident while driving a friend's vehicle and not be covered. This is when auto cover for a day makes the most sense. You can purchase one a day cover and protect your friend's car. Since it is comprehensive cover you will be protected for all eventualities. One a day makes more sense than getting an annual policy to cover while you borrow the vehicle.
One a day car insurance is also great for driving a brand new car home from the dealership. By getting one a day you can drive the vehicle home right away. You will not have to wait until you line up your annual policy on it. Taking holiday with a rented vehicle or to have someone else covered on your car is another good reason to carry auto insurance for a day. Sometimes you have to take a break from driving. You can let someone else drive if you have comprehensive cover that lasts a few days. It is a cheaper method of getting insurance on the car and the person driving the car.
When family or friends come to visit who come by train or plane, they will need a vehicle to drive while they are here. You can get one day car insurance on your vehicle to cover them while they are using it. It is perfect for a week or two. New drivers have a lot of trouble affording policies. Many of them have to let their car sit. Although it is only a temporary fix, using car insurance for a day is a good way to be able to get to an important meeting or to school.
Short term car insurance definitely has its benefits. This cover is easy to apply for with many companies offering it over the internet. Since it is temporary insurance there will be fewer questions to answer. There is the drawback of insurance companies being picky over whom they insure, however.
