Michael Challiner
1293
Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, but one in twenty drivers persist in driving uninsured. The police are cracking down, and it’s not just an idle threat ?if you’re not insured, your car could be in a crusher near you very shortly!
The police now have the power to remove, impound and crush any car found to be uninsured on the road. Last Spring, in Durham, the scheme coined ‘Operation Takeaway?was piloted to great success. Over 1,200 cars have now been impounded ?50% of those have already made it to the crusher.
Operation Takeaway was such a big success that it’s being rolled out nationwide. A new national police database that’s supported by the insurance industry has given the police the ability to verify the insurance status of every car in the UK. They don’t even need to get out of the car to do it.
If you are caught on the road with a car that is not insured, you will have to give up your car keys there and then. It doesn’t matter if it’s an accidental mistake or you have been driving uninsured for years, the penalty is the same ?your car gets impounded.
What happens next? Well they give you two weeks to produce an insurance policy certificate and take your car away. There’s a few costs involved too ?you’ll have to pay around ?05 to cover the cost of the tow truck, and charges for keeping your car impounded often reach ?5 a day. Leave collecting your car to the last minute and you could be facing an overall bill of ?15.
If you can’t produce the insurance certificate and pay the charges, you can say goodbye to your car.
The pilot scheme in Durham was funded in part by Direct Line, who helped cover the costs of crushing the cars. According to them, up to 2,000 accidents were avoided thanks to Operation Takeaway. Since a large proportion of the cars found to be uninsured were in fact un-roadworthy, the roads were a considerably safer place without them.
As the police said, “Uninsured drivers are often guilty of many other offences such as not having a driving licence or an MOT certificate. We are doing everything in our power to get these dangerous and illegal drivers off our roads.?
It is a shocking fact that 5% of all drivers are uninsured, a criminal offence because it is a legal requirement. Extra research carried out by the Association of British Insurers has found that uninsured drivers are a dangerous presence on the roads, each uninsured driver causing an average of one accident every six months. They are also three times more likely to receive a conviction for driving without due care and attention.
Those of us who do have car insurance cover the costs of these uninsured accidents. On average, ?0 is added to every car insurance policy to cover the costs to the industry due to uninsured motorists. That means law-abiding motorists pay a whopping total of ?00 million each year for those who can’t be bothered to pay up.
There’s another bitter pill to swallow. If you have an accident that’s not your fault with an uninsured vehicle, it will still go down as a “fault claim?on your insurance. So you’ll have to pay the excess on your car repairs and you’ll lose your no-claims bonus unless you’ve got claims protection. Over a two-year period, you could pay an extra ?75 in premiums thanks to a reduction in your no-claims entitlement.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is in full support of this new scheme to rid the roads of uninsured cars. The ABI has been a critic of the way the British courts deal with uninsured drivers for many years now, but they still don’t think this scheme is enough. Offenders usually only get a fine of ?50-?00 and they don’t have to pay immediately ?which really doesn’t compare to the extra costs incurred by motorists who do have car insurance. We agree ?something needs to be done!
Kevin Schappell
70
Researching your new vehicle is a daunting task in today’s world. Once you have narrowed your next vehicle down to 2 or 3 choices it is time to research. Take out a sheet of paper for each vehicle and write down pros and cons for each one. Also on each sheet of paper list the attributes which are most important to you. This list might include:
MPG – if you put a lot of miles on your car this factor could make a big dent in your wallet if you pick the wrong car.
Engine power – HP is a big factor for many people out there.
Price – nothing needs to be said about this one.
Interior space
Repair costs – consider the average costs to repair a fender-bender.
Insurance costs – this is often overlooked by buyers and can catch you by surprise.
Standard options.
Anything else, which is a factor to you. The idea is to custom tailor your list to meet your needs. If you don’t care about engine power then leave it off your list.
Now how do you get the information which is on your list? Here is a list of excellent resources to use in your search.
Offline:
Consumer Reports Magazine
Auto Week magazine
Your local newspaper’s auto section
Local dealers
Online:
Consumer Reports – requires a subscription just like the magazine.
Edmunds.com
Kelly Blue Book
NADA guide book
Car.com
After your research is done you should have a clear picture of which car is right for you. What do you say? Clear as mud? Well take a step back and if you have 2 vehicles which are comparable you will then have to resort to one of the following.
Go with your gut feeling. You know the one which says get the Porsche not the Yugo. Ask your wife, husband or SO. (you might want to let them in on the decision a little earlier than this if they will be driving the car too.) Flip a coin. Ask your god for some divine intervention?
Good luck!
Andrew Bowen
92
In September 2001 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) introduced a new number plate registration system that was designed to last for 49 years. The new change was welcomed not only by the car dealers but also by the car insurance industry as the DVLA also decided to issue new car registrations twice a year instead of once a year.
In the past, new registrations were issued on 1st August every year. Inevitably this caused a major headache for insurance companies as so many people required insurance at this time. This once a year rush for insurance was compounded by the summer timing when most people, including insurance company employees, go on holiday. Today, the new registrations are issued in March and September. This eases the workload for insurance companies and allows them to more easily staff up for the increase in calls.
Of course, the old system ran for about 38 years and so there is still a large population of people who require insurance renewal on 1st August. So around July, August and September, Insurance companies are still especially busy and you can generally expect long call centre waits with a lot of direct companies.
Using the internet instead is a much easier and quicker way of getting your new car insurance quote. Accept Direct (http://www.acceptdirect.co.uk) have a very fast online quote system which eliminates call centre waiting times. The Accept Direct website is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will deliver you a competitive quote in minutes.
So next time you need car insurance, whether you’re looking for a cheap insurance quote for your brand new car or would like to get a low cost renewal, just go to the Accept Direct website at and save yourself some time and money.
Copyright (c) 2004 Accept Direct Limited http://www.acceptdirect.co.uk
Dan Baldyga
95
Handling a property damage and/or personal injury (motor vehicle) claim yourself is a simple and routine procedure for ordinary individuals to process on their own ! The vast majority of motor vehicle accident claims require no specialized expertise which allows one to successfully settle it.
There are five characteristics found which makes them easy for one to undertake without handing their case to a lawyer:
#1. The vast majority of them are “Ordinary?in character.
#2. By and large they don’t involve serious injuries.
#3. More often than not (in comparison to the 10 to 15 percent that do) their are relatively low financial stakes and also minor economic losses involved.
#4. They’re processed by the insurance company (who will ultimately be responsible for a payment to be made) in a highly routine, assembly-line format.
#5. Both parties are ordinary citizens (rather than institutions) and demand no specific expertise to undertake.
There are thousands of laypersons who are under the impression that when they gave their case to a lawyer that the large “Contingency Fee?which the attorney will eventually take is in exchange for a guarantee of SKILLED and PROFESSIONAL representation. Too often they suddenly learn differently (but by then it’s to late) because by the time that realization arrives they’ve already been taken to the cleaners!
Most of us believe that lawyers have passed rigorous examination, so we assume that when it comes to the proper execution of legal documents and knowledge of the law, that surely they know what they’re doing. But, “How To?properly handle and investigate a client’s motor vehicle accident case, is not a skill learned in law school. Most lawyers don’t have it – - nor do they take the time to develop them.
It’s not for his great knowledge of the law, or his great expertise in courtroom skills, that an attorney can be effective in securing for his client the best possible settlement in their motor vehicle accident cases. Rather it’s possessing the skills and ability to make patient, painstaking investigations, to gather information and document a claim. But, here’s the problem: The vast majority of lawyers lack those essential attributes so as to position themselves to correctly process a clients motor vehicle accident claim.
QUESTION: “How can Dan Baldyga be so sure about what he’s written regarding the above?? ANSWER: “Because Dan was an Insurance Claims Adjuster, Supervisor, Manager and Trial Assistant. He observed all of that come to pass – - for over 35 years!?
FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT OF LEGAL FEES: The Rand Corporation for Civil Justice in Santa Monica, California found that accident victims who filed claims in Federal and State courts in the United States were awarded $21 to $25 billion of the $29 to $36 billion in total national expenditure made on all tort lawsuits in 1985. (Just imagine how much that figure has increased , over the many years, since then!).
HOWEVER – - AND USING THOSE SAME STATISTICS – - THE FOLLOWING WAS ALSO TRUE: After deducting the lawyer’s fees on all tort lawsuits in that same year, the victims wound up going home with a “Net?compensation of approximately $14 to $15 billion. These figures proved that the injured party received 56% of that figure, while the “Litigation System?got the rest = 44%! (The combined lawyers fees alone constitute a whopping $11 to $13 billion dollars of the amount paid!)
So, you may ask: Does the average claimant need a lawyer (who more often than not knows little or nothing about “How To?settle a (motor vehicle ) accident claim)? The answer is: No, they don’t!
WHY? Because rather than resisting a payment the adjuster only wants the claim to be supported by documentation. Proof that will provide him and his superiors, in the Home Office (via the evidence of value received) which has been nailed down with Medical Bills, Lost Wage Letters, and similar documents. You don’t need a lawyer to obtain these for you because you can get these yourself. So, don’t believe the legal fraternity’s typical mumbo-jumbo con-job regarding, “My expertise when dealing with the Insurance Company?
And why not you may ask? The answer to that one is very simple: Because when presented with these the adjuster will become a willing buyer, whether your have a lawyer representing you or not!
DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article SETTLING YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CLAIM YOURSELF is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident process. Dan Baldyga, Peter Go, Nor ARTICLECITY.COM make any guarantee whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service, NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, claims consultant or the like. Whenever such help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain such services.
All of information necessary for you to deal with and handle the above issues are spelled out within the contents of Dan Baldyga’s third “How To” Insurance Claim Book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) found on the internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com OR http://www.autoacccidentclaims.com. This book also contains BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA will tell you exactly how many dollars the “Pain and Suffering” you endured – - because of your accident – - are worth
Copyright (c) 2004 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved
Katy Lassetter
1174
So you are a young driver and you have just got your first car but there are many extra costs which you may not have thought about. There are of course the essentials such as car tax, fuel and car insurance which can all mount up. But there are many companies that will offer discounts on young driver car insurance. There are also safety and security features that your car does not have that you may want to consider installing. Here are a few details on extra costs involved with car ownership.
Essential car costs:
Car insurance
Make sure that you purchase a good car insurance policy before you even consider driving out in your new car so that you are covered for any eventuality. There are many young driver car insurance policies out there designed especially for you. Shop around to make sure that you get an affordable policy, online car insurance is a good place to start.
Car Tax
The law in the UK states that it is essential for all vehicles kept or used on public roads to display a valid tax disc. This shows the police that vehicle tax has been paid, the vehicle has passed its MOT and is covered by at least third party motor insurance. Car tax for private vehicles costs between ?0 and ?70 per year depending on fuel type and CO2 emissions.
Car Fuel
Obviously you need fuel to run your car but there are various different types on the market, petrol, diesel, liquid petroleum gas and compressed natural gas to name a few. Often your engine will be designed for either petrol or diesel and filling the tank with the wrong fuel can cause serious damage to your car, so take care. You can save money on fuel by purchasing a car with good fuel-economy which is measured by miles per gallon. Ask your car dealer about fuel economy before purchasing.
Car safety features
Anti-lock brakes
This relatively new safety device is designed to bring a car to a halt more quickly than conventional brakes. ABS prevent the breaks from locking so that the car does not skid and in turn increase the driver’s control over the car. This is a great safety feature that could potentially prevent road accidents from happening or at least stop your car from being involved. It is well worth the extra cost of investing in a car with ABS.
Air bags
Frontal airbags are now installed in most cars in the steering wheel hub or dashboard. They can also be fitted in the sides of a car for extra protection in case of side impact crashes. Airbags inflate in an instant after a sudden impact to protect those involved in a car crash from serious personal injuries. Seatbelts should also be worn by law, even when an air bag is fitted. If an air bag does not come as standard with your car then having them installed by a retailer is advisable.
Child seat
If you have your own young child or will be ferrying around a younger sibling a child car seat is a must. Car seats for children under three years are required by law in the front seat and are recommended for the back seat as well. This is purely for the safety of the child who would be thrown about inside the car with the impact of a car accident, causing serious injuries or worse to themselves and other passengers.
Car security features
There are many security devices that have been recommended by the police and security experts across the UK to help you to keep your car from being stolen. Although the initial cost of some of these features may be fairly high they could save you a fortune in the long run. Having your car stolen will inevitably cost you a lot more money, time and inconvenience than a few security measures. Also, some car insurance companies will reduce your premium rates if you have extra security for your car since it will be at less risk of being a crime target. Here a few examples of security devices on the market:
Car alarm – to let every one know your car is at risk form thieves
Central locking – so you don’t forget to lock up
Deadlocks – double locks for extra security
Immobiliser – stops your car from going anywhere, mostly fitted as standard now
Locking wheel nuts – you don’t want those alloy wheels rolling off
Lockable fuel caps – so you don’t lose a full tank to thieves
Security etching – have your registration etched in so any parts stolen can be matched to your car
Removable panel/security coded car stereo equipment – some manufacturers fit stereos with components that will not fit into another model, you don’t want someone else playing your tunes
Remember that there are some costs that you must fork out for when you start driving but young drivers could save themselves a fortune with a few initial costs of installing safety systems which could help save lives and security systems that could reduce your car insurance rates.
Michael Challiner
813
Many factors influence the premium for your Motor insurance policy. Your insurer will have asked you many questions whilst producing your quote – some of which will affect your premium and some will not. Below we discuss the key variables that are within the policyholder’s control.
Consolidating policies
By insuring a number of vehicles with the same insurer, or by trying to take out home and life insurance through your car insurer, you may be able to secure a ‘bulk buy?discount.
Location
A big influence on the cost of your car insurance is where you live. The chance of your car being broken into or stolen is a key concern for the insurer. More urban areas traditionally facing greater risk of theft and therefore tend to be more expensive than countryside locations.
Excess
By agreeing to pay a greater excess on each claim you can reduce your car insurance premiums. This is because you are reducing the liability of the insurer and therefore in return they are able to offer you a lower premium.
Your Vehicle
The cheaper and slower your vehicle the lower your premiums are likely to be. If you are looking to buy a new vehicle make sure you fully consider the cost of insurance ?you may be able to buy the car but can you afford to run it?
Mileage
You can control your insurance premiums by restricting your annual mileage. However, be aware that if you exceed the restricted number of miles you’ll then become uninsured!
Parking
Where you park your vehicle overnight is also very important to the insurers. If it is kept in a locked garage, you should be offered a lower premium than if you leave it unattended in the street.
Security
Security devices that prevent or hinder theft may also reduce your premium. Common examples include alarms and immobilisers, however, be aware that as we improve the quality of our security devices the thieves just become better at bypassing them.
No Claims Discount
Save up your no claims discount by avoiding making small claims upon your policy. After a set number of years, 4 or 5 typically, you’ll often be offered the option to pay an additional small premium to protect your no claims bonus. This can prove very helpful if you subsequently end up having an accident.
Advanced driving skills
By taking an advanced driving course you may also be able to reduce your premiums. The Institute for Advanced Motorists and the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents each offer membership which provides you with discounts for both the cost of driving courses and your car insurance premiums. Two key variables NOT within the policyholder’s control.
Your Sex.
Women are statistically less likely to have an accident and, if they do, it’s less likely to be serious. Because of these statistics women benefit from lower premiums. It is also worth noting that if you represent one half of a couple you should consider having the female as the primary driver with the male as the second driver.
Your Age
The older you are, the less likely you are to make a claim. As a result insurance companies charge lower premiums for more mature drivers.
One final piece of advice.
A large percentage of car insurance is now sold on the Internet. That’s because it’s convenient and cheap. Many insurers now give a further 10%-15% discount if you buy online.
Erick Pace
117
You are ready to buy your first car. Researching the right vehicle can be a daunting task. You search for the right type of vehicle you need, the color you want, the type of interior. You have spent countless hours narrowing down the right vehicle for you. You find out what the MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) is by using the following services:
Offline:
Consumer Reports Magazine
Auto Week Magazine
Your local newspaper’s auto section
Local dealers
Online:
Consumer Reports
Edmunds.com – www.edmunds.com
Kelly Blue Book – www.kbb.com
NADA guide book – www.nadaguides.com
Now you have the right model in mind. You are ready to purchase a car. You now have a good idea of how much you should spend, how much you are willing to spend.
You go to the dealership and spend hours negotiating a price. After you have agreed to a price, the sales clerk asks do you have insurance. Because this is your first vehicle, the thought never crossed your mind. The sales clerk says you will not be able to drive the car off the lot until you have secured insurance. You get out a phone book and start calling around for insurance quotes. You get several prices and you are instructed that you must come to the insurance agency to fill out paperwork. You must then go back to the dealership and show them your insurance policy. This has been a long and stressful day.
Carinsurance.com is ready to help. How can you get the best deal on auto insurance?
Use carinsurance.com at the dealership and you will be able to purchase insurance and print your proof immediately (in available states). With carinsurance.com, you get to shop around and look for the best deal. Find out if you save with carinsurance.com when you get your auto insurance quote. In addition to great rates and reliable coverage, carinsurance.com offers tools and information to help you understand your auto insurance coverage better.
Whether you are a first time car buyer or a seasoned pro, carinsurance.com offers you the ability to shop for insurance in one easy website. Next time you are stuck at a car dealership, go to a computer, type in carinsurance.com and find the best rate without leaving the store.
Jason Tarasi
1227
Power, speed and performance ?those are the three major traits of a muscle car. When first produced, muscle cars were just pretty darn amazing because they combined the efficiency of a lightweight, mid-sized body with the performance of a high-power V8 engine and special design features that further increased the cars?acceleration capabilities. Because muscle cars topped all other vehicles in terms of power, speed and performance, they were ideal for racing.
Muscle cars were produced from the mid-1960s into the early 1970s, but the production of such beasts fell drastically due to a number of factors. First was the controversy over whether it was wise and responsible to make such powerful vehicles available to the general public, primarily due to road racing. Because muscle cars were often used irresponsibly, liability relating to them was pretty high which forced insurance companies to increase rates for insuring muscle cars. Emission control requirements intended to curb pollution also played into the picture making it near impossible for automakers to produce muscle cars that met the standards they had to adhere to.
Needless to say, the muscle car industry changed quickly due to these influences. Demand decreased because many “would-be?buyers of muscle cars couldn’t fathom paying the enormous insurance rates for a high-power vehicle and automakers had to meet the challenges presented by pollution control standards.
Since muscle cars were produced for a limited number of years, they are valuable items for collectors and are still highly desirable to those who enjoy racing or desire a quick, powerful, mid-sized car. Since the decline in the production of muscle cars, some automakers have attempted to bring the muscle car era back to life by producing powerful vehicles that resemble the legendary muscle cars, but in my opinion, they don’t hold a candle to classic muscle cars like the GTO, the Road Runner or the Chevelle SS.
It will be interesting to see how the history of muscle cars plays out. Will present day automakers renew production of true muscle cars that are fast and powerful? Will there be enough demand to make muscle car production worth it to them? Or, will muscle cars continue to be limited to those classic models that were produced in the 60s and 70s?
Classic muscle cars are pretty amazing pieces of machinery. One that is restored and in cherry condition is really worth a lot of money. As time goes on, there are fewer muscle cars available which makes them even more valuable to classic car collectors and muscle car enthusiasts.
Jon Butt
447
When purchasing home based business insurance, auto insurance should not be overlooked, nor should you assume your personal car insurance is sufficient as home based business auto insurance. Even if it is, it’s important to know how, when, and to what extent it applies to your home business.
Depending on your business activities, a commercial home based business auto insurance policy may be necessary, particularly if you have employees. For the most part, both personal and commercial car insurance are the same with regard to the main types of coverage, but finding the cheapest car insurance rates for either means pinning down your specific needs.
Personal Or Commercial Coverage?
For the home based business, home based business auto insurance may not be necessary, and a personal auto insurance policy might be sufficient. It is important, in that case, that the policyholder inform his or her auto insurance company that the personal auto is sometimes used in business, and, should the vehicle be in an accident or be damaged, it is essential that the claim state the vehicle was being used for business at that time.
The auto insurance provider may require commercial auto insurance, however, particularly if your home based business has employees that use owned or leased company vehicles or personal vehicles for business purposes.
Choose A Well Rated Vehicle To Keep Premiums Down
Car insurance for both commercial and personal vehicle use are affected by the choice of vehicle. If used more for business than for the family car, the owner of a home business should choose an auto that carries one of the cheapest car rates because, in the eyes of auto insurance companies, it is less expensive to buy or repair, is stolen less often, or has more standard safety and security equipment.
Listings of the cheapest car rates can be found at state insurance agency websites.
Michael Challiner
1027
The legal system in Britain currently means that all personal injury claims have to go through the courts individually. Many personal injury claims crawl through the courts at a snail’s pace. The result is lengthy and expensive court costs, and for every ? that is given in compensation, it has been estimated that the legal profession gets 40p. These costs have risen at such an exponential rate that the British legal profession gets around ? billion a year just from playing its part in personal injury claim court cases.
These costs have to be covered by the insurance companies, and such is the cost to them that it is estimated that ?00 of the average yearly car insurance premiums is to cover these legal costs.
It is because of this that the Association of British Insurers is proposing that personal injury claims should be taken from the courts, and instead into an independent arbitration system. This would set compensation payouts for different types of injuries, and would follow on from a similar system started in Ireland in 2004. There, legal costs resulting from personal injury claims have been decreased by 75%.
At the moment, personal injury claims go to court and are considered individually. If the arbitrator proposed by the ABI is set up, reference payments for each type of injury would make a huge difference to the time and effort involved in a court case. Using the Irish system as an example, a back injury that recovers within a year is allocated the equivalent of ?1,000 and a neck whiplash injury, also recovering within a year, would receive a compensation payout of the equivalent of ?,400.
Ian Crowder from the AA has pointed out that the new proposals will take the lawyers out of the loop altogether, resulting in a massive cut in costs. He added: “There’s no doubt that the soaring costs of personal injury claims has been a significant contributor to insurance premium inflation. If they could be brought under control, premiums could be cut,?something that would be welcome by all parties.
Well actually, there’s one party that wouldn’t be so pleased: the British Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. They have already lodged their objections, based on their belief that the injured would lose their right to an individual hearing and payout based on the particulars of the case. They referred to research they carried out which showed the initial offers by the insurers to be around 50% of the final compensation agreed. They also pointed out that 66% of defendants at first denied liability, which is what led to a court case in the first place.
The legal profession’s objections have not been found to be a problem in the case of the Irish experience since arbitration was introduced. Compensation values in Ireland are still at similar levels to payouts following court cases, with the added bonus of receiving the payout up to 3 times more quickly, and with legal costs slashed significantly to a quarter of the previous cost.
It could be an exciting time ?we have seen car insurance premiums rise and rise over recent years, it’s about time we saw a fall.
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