Car Insurance Gearing up to Drive Down Costs
For once finances seem to be going in favour of the UK motorist, with Esure announcing plans to double its share of the UK's car insurance market - a move which is likely to spark a price war, other internet-only direct insurers passing on to consumers savings based on their low overheads, and specialist insurers offering reduced rates for their particular target markets. A trial pay-as-you-go scheme from Norwich Union is also creating a lot of interest for money conscious motorists.
The pay-as-you-go scheme uses a small box costing an initial £199 which is fitted in the driver's boot, to record when and for how long a driver actually uses their car. The box stays in contact with a satellite which is sent regular updates of the journey data stored on the box, tracking the vehicle and then delivering the information to the insurer. The driver is then charged based upon how far at what time they used their vehicle.
"We got a statement", said one member of the trial, "which showed what mileage we had done, and on what days of the week, as well as if we had been driving in the evenings or peak hours."
For low mileage users, this system could present significant reductions in premiums, for higher mileage drivers searching about for the best deals at renewal time is an absolute must.
Unfortunately, last year five million motorists failed to shop around, missing out on an average premium saving of £180. Shopping around becomes especially important for anyone coming to the end of a free insurance offer on a dealership car and should not simply take the quote offered by the manufacturer's insurer, as significant savings can be made by shopping around. Comparisons sites such as Moneynet enable consumers to quickly look at hundreds of insurance providers in one go, making it easy to find the best deals that are available, and they often have their own extra discounts which are provided through their own sites.
While the government tries to work out new ways to extract more money from motorists, the competitiveness of the insurance industry is thankfully helping to drive down the cost of insurance premiums, making it one of the few rays of hope for UK drivers.
Richard works in Edinburgh for a media company, occasionally writing for the personal finance blog Cashzilla, and drinking too much coffee.
MORE RESOURCES:
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
I Was In An Accident, Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up?
You were on the phone, got distracted and before you knew it traffic had stopped, giving you no room to stop and you rear end the girl in front of you. Or, let's say you're driving along and a deer jumps out and rams into the side of your door.
UK House Insurance - The Risk of Under-insurance
For many years in the UK, motor insurance has been a competitive marketplace. Consumers have been used to shooping around at renewal time with a host of direct companies available.
Is Life Insurance Comparison Really Necessary?
When you want to purchase a life insurance policy, you really do need to do a life insurance comparison. This is to ensure that you get the best possible rates and the best possible life insurance for your needs.
How to Shop for Individual Health Insurance
If you find yourself in the position of shopping for an
individual health insurance policy, there are certain things
you'll want to keep in mind. Whether you are coming out of
a job that covered you before, or are at the end of your
COBRA benefits, or simply have never had coverage before
there are things you can do to get coverage on yourself and
your loved ones.
How Many Homeowner Insurance Quotes Do I Need To Save Money?
Homeowner insurance quotes can vary in the amount they cost you based on a variety of factors - many that you can control. There are of course some variables that are common among all house insurance policies.
Auto Owners Insurance - Do You Really Need It?
If you think you don't have any need for auto owners insurance, just consider the answer to this question. How would you manage to pay the medical bills of someone who gets hurt in an accident when you are at fault? If you do not have an unending supply of money, then you definitely need auto owners insurance.
Term Life Insurance on Your Business Partner
Life insurance is something we often take out to protect our family and our loved ones, but that's only one example of how life insurance can save us in unhappy circumstances. Businesses also need protection and those with partners realize that if a business partner were to pass away, the business itself could be jeopardized.
Term Life Insurance - Buy Term and Invest the Difference!
The phrase "BUY TERM AND INVEST THE DIFFERENCE" evolves around the concept of term life policy which is a basic protection policy and the endowment/ whole life policy which has protection and investment/saving features. To put it simply, the phrase means that instead of taking up the endowment/whole life policy, an individual should buy a term policy for protection and the difference between the premiums of the two policies is to be invested by the individual himself to earn some dividend on the investment.
Online Insurance Quotes California Auto
Finding insurance quotes for California auto is now pretty easy. There was a time where finding auto insurance at a price we were willing to pay took a lot of driving and calling around.
What Does Buildings Insurance Cover?
You will find that your lender will insist that you have this cover when you take out a mortgage. The lender, remember, owns your home until you have paid off the mortgage.
What is Car Insurance?
Car Insurance is compulsory in the UK. You are required by law to have a policy to cover your liability to other road users.
Why Buy Life Insurance?
Love. Yes, that's right.
All Auto Insurance is Not Created Equal!
Contrary to what you may have heard all auto insurance is not created equal. A quick search on the net will quickly reveal different rates, different policies, and different terms, so how is one to sort through all the clutter.
Vehicle Insurance Online is a Convenient Way to Get Insurance Cheap
Online comparison shopping is a convenient way to get cheap insurance for your auto. For the last few years, insurance companies have been dropping their premiums annually because of lower accident rates and increased competition.
What You Need to Know About Auto Insurance
Let's be realistic, everyone needs to have auto insurance. Aside from the fact that almost every state requires it, it is only logical for a driver to see that his vehicle is properly insured.
Are You Running the Risk of an Uninsured Business? Beware & Get Business Insurance
Human life is precarious and so are the activities they indulge in. So it is not just the human life that needs to be protected but the work that he does - his business etc.
How to Match the Right Insurance Policy to the 4 Stages of Life
As we go through life our needs change. A Young man or women with a family has very different insurance needs then the Empty Nester.
Useful Tips on Reducing Insurance Costs
Most people want lower insurance costs but are often too lazy to do anything about it. All it takes is a little time and effort and you could be looking at a reduced insurance premium.
Private Health Insurance: A Sense of Dissatisfaction
The three C's, customization, consumerization and customer-satisfaction, seem to be at the core of the business mantra for every service provider. The health insurance provider industry is no exception to this rule.
A Life Insurance Quote Became Reality
Life insurance quoteThank goodness John took his life insurance quote seriously. It didn't prevent our daughters from wishing he were still here but thanks to his foresight they and I still have the things he worked for because he turned that life insurance quote into a policy before his untimely death.
|