The definitive guide to car insurance

Collision damage waver

2008-04-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

I've written on the topic of car insurance abroad many times before and once on this blog but I've never really looked into the insurance on a hire car.

Most of us have experienced the hard sell from reps when we go to pick up our hire car after arriving at our destination. They tell you that you are not covered for various eventualities and try to sell you cover such as chassis/underside protection should you hit a particulary enormous bump in the road, well let's face it, you'd have to in order to cause that much damage.

Most of these extra insurance add ons are a con and a way for hire companies to make extra profit from you the holiday maker.

One thing you should be sure you've got is a collision damage waver policy.

A lot of companies will provide this one as standard but you need to make sure you have it, even if it means paying an extra £10-20.

If you are to have a bump, this will protect you for the cost of repair and loss of business from the car being in a garage.

Above all, make sure you find out exactly what you are covered for before you take the keys off the rep and should there be any damage or marks on the car report this to the rep before you leave (or take a picture for later use).

One last little trick they pull out of their sleeves is to charge you for filling up the fuel at exorbetant prices should you be even a fraction below the full mark.

Please don't let any of this put you off getting a hire car abroad, just be careful :)

Man Steals Police car

2008-04-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

I've not been on here for a while and whilst having a nose around for some insurance news I found this amusing title; "Charges over theft of police car".

Would you believe it, a man from Berwick (I'm afraid I have no idea where that is) actually managed to break into and steal a marked police car and then later crashed into 2 other vehicles. Luckily no one was injured but he is due to appear before magistrates who I imagine will give him a slapp on the wrists and a few hours of community service due to the lack of space in our prison systems at present.

What is the world coming too when a police station has to claim through their car insurance for vehicle theft and damage ;)

2008-03-31T06:34:00.000-07:00

Car Insurance - Golf R32 Review
By Liam Gerken

The latest addition to the Golf's MkV family is the R32, which is essentially a more refined and somewhat more expensive version of the GTi. With its tasteful body and subtle styling tweaks it has been hailed as the gentlemen's GTi.

With its 3.2-litre V6 engine, capable of achieving 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds, the R32 is the most powerful Golf. Its meaty engine sound, smooth acceleration and snappy response also make it the most pleasurable Golf to drive.

Even though there is a small debate on whether the GTi, which has a better in-gear pace and considerably lighter is the superior of two cars, the R32 levels out the playing field with its 4-wheel drive and optional DSG gearbox.

4-wheel drive is as standard, providing superb traction, allowing the R32 to breeze through bends while oozing confidence. The DSG semi-automatic gearbox has one clutch in gear and another with the next gear pre-selected, making shifts lighting fast.

The R32's near faultless interior is just as pleasing to the eye as its exterior. This is thanks to the incredible attention to detail, expensive materials and user-friendly layout. The driver and front passenger seats are supportive and highly adjustable, with the rear seats feeling very roomy - even on the 3 door models. Even though the rear transmission has meant a reduction in boot space, the Golf's renowned practibility hasn't been lost.

The R32 has a wealth of equipment crammed into it, which helps justify the cars steep price tag. Some notable examples include; dual-zone climate control; rain sensing wipers; 10-speaker stereo; blue brake callipers; bi-xenon headlamps; 18-inch alloy's and sports suspension.

To top it off, the R32 is incredibly safe, scoring 5-stars on the Euro NCAP crash tests. This is down to the highly sophisticated equipment that it has been fitted with such as ABS with brake assist, electronic stability and traction control. The R32 is also fitted with twin front, side and curtain air-bags.

With Golf's often resulting in high car insurance premiums, at group 18, the R32 is no exception. Cheap car insurance may be further hard to find with the R32's high CO2 emissions. Looking online for car insurance is the best way to get a competitive quote.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liam_Gerken
http://EzineArticles.com/?Car-Insurance---Golf-R32-Review&id=1053229

Antique Car Insurance

2008-03-31T06:22:00.000-07:00

Antique Car Insurance - How to Look Out For One
By Davion Wong

Owners of antique cars are usually very proud of their possession; nevertheless, not one owner would ever consider failing to insure their car. Fortunately there are antique car insurance companies who are able to provide the sort of cover an older car needs. This is obviously good for the person searching for the classic car insurance as they have plenty of companies to choose from.

Even commercial auto insurers are getting in on the act now with policies to protect antique cars they call them 'collector auto insurance'. A representative will take all of your information and discuss different policy options to ensure that you are obtaining the coverage you need. You can of course lower your premium by increasing your deductible above the standard limit your insurer sets.

One particular benefit of insuring your antique car through a large commercial insurer is the fact that they should be reliable and will provide a certain peace of mind to the car owner. If you purchase a car policy through one of these large commercial insurers then the chances are you will also be able to insure your regular car with them, sometimes on the same policy. The security of having an established company provide antique car insurance for an older car is well worth the premium that they will charge you to provide with peace of mind.

Independent specialist auto insurers might be able to provide a better service and conditions; possibly even a lower cost but are unlikely to insure any other type of car. With the number of classic cars still around you will not be surprised to learn that even the insurers have, in some areas, specialized even further to provide cover for only one type of car.

It is worth doing some research when choosing an independent antique car insurer to make sure they have a good reputation as you will have a great deal of money at stake. There is always an element of risk when using the smaller independent insurers as you do not know for certain how safe your money or their policy is.

Despite the often lengthy process of finding a reliable antique car insurance provider, you do not really have an option if you want to protect your investment. Many classic cars are considered as works of art that will never be repeated and cannot be replaced, but they are also a considerable financial investment on the part of the owners so must be insured.

Compare auto insurance quotes to grab the lowest rates.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Davion_Wong
http://EzineArticles.com/?Antique-Car-Insurance---How-to-Look-Out-For-One&id=1071655

Cheaper Car Insurance In 2008

2008-02-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

Cheaper Car Insurance In 2008
By Marcus Henry

As with many other areas of personal finance the cost of the average person's car insurance policy is likely to rise in 2008. This will affect young drivers, experienced drivers and everybody in between.

If you'd like to know how to beat car insurance cost hikes in 2008 then read on. The tips are not bind-blowing, amazing outside the box moments of genius but simply common sense tactics that when combined and applied can significantly reduce the cost of your car insurance policy.

The first step is to stop the rot. If you currently have car insurance from a UK insurer it is likely your renewal will include a price hike in 2008. Do not stand for this; if you feel the rise is unjustified then tell them. If you threaten to cancel your policy you'll be surprised how quickly that increase is replaced by a reduction in a desperate attempt to keep you on their books.

If you are unhappy with your current car insurance provider do not feel obliged to stay with them. There is an excellent chance you can find a better deal elsewhere if you only looked.

Price comparison websites are an excellent tool to use. These free services help you to compare UK car insurance quotes quickly and easily. In just a few minutes you can look at hundreds of quotes and pick which one is the best.

Before you switch your motor insurance to another provider look at other ways you can lower your quote. Limiting your mileage will help, after all the less you are on the roads the less you are likely to have an accident. Could you clear out that garage and park more securely inside? If so that should lead to another saving.

Finally make sure you protect your no claims bonus and see if increasing your voluntary excess can yield a worthwhile reduction in your car insurance quote.

On their own none of these ideas sound like much but combining them before shopping around with price comparison sites can lead to a huge overall saving on your policy.

Marcus Henry is a contributor to information website webcomparison.co.uk. To learn more about comparing car insurance quotes online visit webcomparison.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Henry
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cheaper-Car-Insurance-In-2008&id=991306

2008-02-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

Car insurance abroad

2008-02-20T10:02:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd add a quick post to talk about the topic of car insurance abroad.

I'd never really thought about it before but i read an article this afternoon urging people to check their policies to find out their level of coverage.

Apparently the majority of UK fully comp insurance should give a minimum of third party cover whilst driving in Europe. Some companies will extend your full coverage to these countries although i havent found anyone who offers this yet after having a nose around.

The rule is the same across all of Europe, third party coverage is the minimum required by law.

Car Insurance - how to make a claim

2008-02-13T06:44:00.000-08:00

Car Insurance - How To Make A Claim

Car Insurance - How To Make A Claim
By Nick Cox

There are over 31 million cars on Britain's roads. With such a vast amount of traffic, it's no surprise that everyday there are over 10 thousand accidents reported.

Over the course of your lifetime it's likely that you will be involved in at least one road traffic accident.

So, seeing as the chances are stacked in your favour of being involved in a car accident, here's a handy guide on making a claim.

• Inform your car insurance company as soon as possible after the accident has occurred. Obtain the name and car insurance details of all other parties involved and then pass those details on to your insurer. You insurers will deal with all communications with the other affected parties on your behalf.

• If your car has been stolen then report it immediately to the police. They will give you an incident number which you will need to pass to your insurers.

• Be consistent with you account of what happened, as any deviation in your story could potentially jeopardise the outcome of your claim.

• Your car insurance company will tell you where to take your car for repairs. Don't take your car to your local garage hoping that the insurers will cover the costs. Insurance companies normally have approved garages in your area that they use to carry out accident repair work.

• Keep copies of all correspondence linked with your car insurance claim. Try to keep a record of all forms of communications you receive as you may need to refer to these at a later date.

Compare car insurance quotes

One search to compare dozens of UK insurance companies

For car insurance quotes and cheap car insurance go to Moneysupermarket.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Cox
http://EzineArticles.com/?Car-Insurance---How-To-Make-A-Claim&id=982037