Young Marmalade helps promote road safety
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Young Marmalade helps promote road safety
Young Marmalade, specialist insurer for young drivers, is doing its bit to cut the number of deaths on roads, which total some 1.2 million every year.
August is National Road Victim Month, and this year the event’s prime focus is to cut the number of young deaths.
A third of the victims are under 25, and Young [...]
Insurers expose 2,300 fraudulent claims a week
by Gill Montia
Story link: Insurers expose 2,300 fraudulent claims a week
Insurers are currently exposing over 2,300 fraudulent claims every week, according to new data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
The figure has risen from a weekly total of 2,000 dishonest claims in 2009, worth over £16 million.
Last year, 122,000 fraudulent insurance claims were uncovered, up 14% on a year earlier.
By value, 4% of all [...]
MIB reveals uninsured driver hotspots
by Gill Montia
Story link: MIB reveals uninsured driver hotspots
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) has identified the UK’s uninsured driving hotspots and placed Barkerend in Bradford (BD3) at the top of the list.
The West Yorkshire location is followed by West Gorton, Manchester (M12).
With half of the worst-offending postcodes in the West Midlands, the Birmingham suburbs of Small Heath (B10), Handsworth (B21) and Saltley (B8) [...]
Car insurance shake-out overdue
by Gill Montia
Story link: Car insurance shake-out overdue
Recent surveys illustrating the extent to which car insurance premiums have risen this year have prompted comment from 1 Answer Network spokesman, Trevor Cutts.
According to the Confused.com/EMB Car Insurance Price Index, the average cost of a comprehensive policy jumped 14.2% in the second quarter of 2010, a revelation that comes as no surprise to Mr [...]
Swiftcover gives away free car insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Swiftcover gives away free car insurance
Online insurer swiftcover.com is celebrating its fifth birthday by giving a septet of gifts to its customers.
Seven lucky customers will be given free car insurance, one for every day of the week, beginning at the end of July.
To qualify, motorists need only visit the insurer’s website, take out insurance and see if they are one [...]
Increasing fraud leads to rising car premiums
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Increasing fraud leads to rising car premiums
The AA British Insurance Premium Index has discovered that fraud is fuelling a surge in car insurance premiums, which are now rising faster than ever before.
In the second quarter of 2010 premiums increased by 11%, the largest rise in the Index’s 16 year history.
The average Shoparound premium hit the £704 mark for an annual comprehensive [...]
AA index shows £197 saving with comparison sites
by Richard Kilner
Story link: AA index shows £197 saving with comparison sites
Gocompare.com’s Business Development Director Lee Griffin has stated that the AA’s premium index highlights the importance of browsing when it comes to car insurance.
According to the AA index, the average premium for comprehensive car insurance now stands at £980, whilst the average cost on a comparison website is £197 lower at £783.
Griffin went on to [...]
Car insurance a must for festival-goers
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Car insurance a must for festival-goers
Motorists have been advised by Post Office Car Insurance to ensure that their coverage protects them against theft or damage to contents.
With festival season upon us, Post Office Car Insurance suggest travellers should check their insurance arrangements prior to travelling.
Should present coverage prove inadequate, the policyholder ought to contact their provider to enhance or amend [...]
Comprehensive car insurance costs up 14%
by Gill Montia
Story link: Comprehensive car insurance costs up 14%
The average cost of comprehensive car insurance rose by 14.2% in the second quarter of 2010, compared with increases of 4.3% and 6.3% in the two previous quarters.
According to the Confused.com/EMB Car Insurance Price Index, £74 was added to the average premium in the three months to the end of June, with an annual increase [...]
Caravan Guard extends “new for old” limit
by Gill Montia
Story link: Caravan Guard extends “new for old” limit
Caravan Guard reckons caravan owners are holding on to their vans for longer and has extended its “new for old” cover limit from five to 15 years in response.
According to the specialist insurer, changes of caravans have been down 47% in the last year, compared with the previous 12 months, probably as a result of [...]
Halfords and Provisional Marmalade offer innovative insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Halfords and Provisional Marmalade offer innovative insurance
Halfords and Provisional Marmalade are collaborating to offer a new, innovative car insurance product to provisional drivers.
Provisional drivers will be able to take out fully comprehensive insurance on a friend or family member’s car, for just £3 per day.
Insurance can be a major obstacle for learner drivers, with premiums as high as £3,000 and some [...]
Canopius acquires KGM Underwriting Agencies
by Gill Montia
Story link: Canopius acquires KGM Underwriting Agencies
Canopius Group has completed its acquisition of KGM Underwriting Agencies, which manages one of only two Lloyd’s syndicates dedicated to writing motor business.
Syndicate 260 will write approximately £50 million of premiums for the 2010 year of account and the transaction gives Canopius approximately 60% of capacity.
The KGM name will remain and the syndicate will [...]
Courtesy cars standard with only 23% of car insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Courtesy cars standard with only 23% of car insurance
Financial research company Defaqto has conducted research which reveals huge variability between the numerous comprehensive car insurance policies available in the UK.
The research indicated that less than a quarter (23%) of insurance policies include a courtesy car as standard, with less than half (49%) not providing a courtesy car at all.
Twenty-eight percent of insurance policies [...]
Men likelier to have comprehensive car insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Men likelier to have comprehensive car insurance
Recent research commissioned by Post Office Car Insurance has revealed that when it comes to comprehensive car insurance it’s men who are in the fast lane, with 58% possessing such a policy compared to 44% of women.
Post Office Car Insurance strongly advocates taking out a comprehensive insurance policy to protect against accidents, theft or breakdowns.
The [...]
Over 55s most concerned about road rage
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Over 55s most concerned about road rage
Independent financial research company Defaqto has commissioned research surveying 5,000 consumers and finding that the over 55s are far more concerned than younger motorists about the traumatic effects of road rage and car jacking.
However, this is not typically covered by 90% of insurance policies available.
Road rage is not covered by 91% of comprehensive motor insurance [...]
Over-65s get “raw deal” on travel and car insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: Over-65s get “raw deal” on travel and car insurance
Many insurers are hitting the over-65s with significantly higher premiums for car and travel cover, according to new research from Which? Money.
The consumer watchdog found a “huge range” in premiums for travel insurance, with steep increases when passing from one age group to another.
According to the study, a 74-year-old currently paying £383 for an annual [...]
Co-operative Insurance discover widespread fronting
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Co-operative Insurance discover widespread fronting
The Co-operative Insurance has commissioned research which shows that more than two out of five parents are illegally fronting their children’s car insurance, in the knowledge that it is against the law.
Fronting is defined as a higher risk driver (in this case a young driver) being added as a named driver to the policy of [...]
Locks are key cover for women drivers
by Gill Montia
Story link: Locks are key cover for women drivers
New research from Defaqto suggests that women motorists are more concerned than men that their insurance policy covers the cost of replacing car locks in the event of keys being lost or stolen.
The study also reveals that 24% of policies do not include cover for locks under such circumstances.
Furthermore, where cover is provided 39% of [...]
Parents could face six figure bills for fronting
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Parents could face six figure bills for fronting
Parents are risking huge financial penalties by falsely claiming that they are the main drivers of their children’s car.
Research commissioned by Young Marmalade and First Car Magazine found that the practice was widespread, with 41.79% of parents engaging in it.
The practice, known as ‘fronting’, greatly reduces the insurance costs but is also illegal, and many [...]
AXA warns of overseas motoring mistakes
by Richard Kilner
Story link: AXA warns of overseas motoring mistakes
AXA Insurance has commissioned research which shows that numerous British motorists are likely to fall foul of the law in Europe this summer.
With the volcanic ash cloud and industrial strife affecting flights, many Britons are opting to drive into Europe for their holidays.
Unfortunately, there is a widespread lack of knowledge about the rules and regulations [...]
