Motoring News » car insurance

Is it illegal to drive with no shoes on?

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:21:33 +0000

You’ve passed your test and are ready to (figuratively) tear up the roads in your mum and dad’s Fiesta. You’re going to push the boundaries of your independence, go where no teenager has gone before. But how far is that, within the bounds of the law?

Below, we attempt to answer some of the most pressing questions that face new drivers – the ones that weren’t necessarily covered in your theory test. Our list is by no means comprehensive so our overwhelming advice is: if you suspect it’s illegal, don’t do it. Ignorance is no defence against a hefty fine or a driving ban – if you ignore your instincts you might find you’re using your bare feet to kick yourself all the way to the bus stop.

Can you drive with bare feet?

There’s no law against it. Some might argue that your naked soles don’t have enough grip to be effective on pedals, and their slipping might make you leaden-footed; others argue it’s possible for your toes to get stuck.

However, if the choice is between driving in your new stilettos and going foot-commando, driving with bare feet may be the safer option. Likewise, sandals and flip-flops are arguably more dangerous than bare feet because it’s possible for the pedals to get caught between their sole and your foot.

If you’re wearing inappropriate footwear, or none at all, a particularly strict policeman might fine you for driving recklessly. Why not keep a pair of cheap plimsolls in the car, just in case?

Is it illegal to hang stuff off your rear-view mirror?

By law, it’s illegal to have anything that might obstruct your vision or distract you while you’re driving, and on balance, it’s not logical to tie something dangly at eye-level when you’re trying to concentrate. This doesn’t stop people with smelly cars hanging air fresheners up or people with strong religious beliefs tying symbols of their faith where they can see them.

Chances are you won’t be stopped for having your bog standard rosary or cardboard evergreen tree if it’s tied at a sensible length. If you are, the police officer will probably let you off if you take it down. Still, it’s best to err on the side of caution: if you were to get in an accident, even if it was nothing to do with your trinket, it could be cited as a sign that you are an irresponsible driver.

Can I use my mobile?

No, if you’re under 18: not in any way shape or form. If you’re over 18 you can use a hands-free device, like a headset or speakerphone, but texting or holding your phone to your head to talk is completely out of the question. Even if you’re within the law, it’s best not to make a habit of taking calls while you’re driving. Listening to the little voice in your ear rather than the traffic around you might mean you don’t notice a potential hazard.

Do I have to be insured to drive?

Yes. Car insurance is an essential expense for any driver, and is a fact of your life from now on. If you’re the primary driver of a vehicle, you must take out your own policy – pretending you only use the car occasionally while insuring it in someone else’s name can mean that you lose your right to a pay out if things do go wrong.

If you get caught without insurance, you can face a heavy fine; if you have an accident without insurance, you face a whole lot of cost and a whole lot of bother.

Can my dog put its head out of the window?

There’s no real law against it but it’s extremely unadvisable. Dog’s eyes and noses are very sensitive and at risk of damage if they’re struck by grit or dust. And in the worst case scenario Rover might end up being beheaded by a Stop sign.

If your dog is calm in the car, think about using a doggie seatbelt to restrain them – open the window and they’ll still be able to smell the exciting outdoor smells and see what’s going on without being at risk. Don’t feel too bad about putting your pet in a cage in your boot– the enclosed space can help keep them calm as you whizz along. There’s the treat of a walk at the end, too.

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A good credit score helps to get cheaper car insurance

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:32:09 +0000

How do I get cheaper car insurance is a question that has been asked by every motorist out on the roads. It is one of the largest annual bills of the year, so why wouldn’t we want to reduce it if we could.

There are ways of getting cheaper car insurance that are not that obvious and might come as a bit of a surprise for some people. What you have thought your credit rating would influence what premium you could be offered?

The majority of insurers will use a customer’s credit history or credit rating to determine the rate they are prepared to offer. There is research to suggest that drivers with a good credit history or high credit score are more responsible behind the wheel and less likely to be involved in an accident, therefore, less likely to make a claim. Motorists with a poor credit history or low credit rating will be seen by insurance companies as a bigger danger as they are under financial stress and so more likely to take risks.

One of the worst things that any driver can do is to stop paying their insurance, no matter how hard up they are or if they are preparing to switch to a different provider. For more information click here. By missing a payment or allowing it to lapse, not only are people putting themselves at risk if they have an accident or of facing criminal charges, it can also lower there credit score and make it far more expensive to get car insurance in the future.

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Car insurance is at the front of motoring concerns

Alan — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 05:12:36 +0000

According to the motoring website honestjohn.com.uk the most important matter on the mind’s of drivers was car insurance, during the fourth quarter of last year from a survey on the site where visitors were asked as vehicle motorists and buyers, what were their major issues with the second most important being cheaper and smaller cars with tyres and wheels in third. And because of the incredible amounts of snowfall at the end of the year, winter tyre concerns was the fourth most important issues on motorists minds.

The interaction we have with motorists, says Daniel Harrison, editor of Honestjohn.com because we are the only motoring website tracking concerns gives us a unique why to see the issues of most concern to users and buyers of motorcars.

The one question asked the most in about motoring costs and this is not surprising for the times and these concerns were borne from the wider economic issues of the day and other issues that were on motorists minds at the end of 2010 included fuel economy, small family cars, dealers, warranties and snow.

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The Craziest Car Insurance Claims

admin — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:13 +0000

When it comes to car insurance claims, there are a number of accidents/collisions that insurance companies regularly have to deal with. These ‘standard’ car insurance claims involve things such as people failing to stop in time and hitting the car in front of them, people reversing their car and colliding with a static car/object or people losing control whilst driving, causing damage to their car and other surrounding cars/objects .

However, not all car insurance claims are that straight forward. There are plenty of claims made that verge on comical. Whilst the drivers of the vehicles may not find their claim particularly funny, those not involved in the collision often do see the funny side. Money Supermarket looks at some of the wackiest and weirdest car insurance claims that motorists have made.

Worryingly, these claims are all genuine! Click on the graphic below to read about some of the craziest.

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Know Exactly What You Want From Your Car Insurance Policy

admin — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:15:54 +0000

Every year you are presented with the task of renewing your car insurance policy, but do you know what is actually included in your insurance? All you may be concerned about is getting the cheapest policy available, which might leave you with inadequate cover. By making use of price comparison websites, though, you can ensure you get the perfect car insurance policy for you and save money so that you’re not left out of pocket.

In the past, arranging car insurance quotes may have been a balancing act between getting the cover you required and paying as little as you could. You may not have been fully aware of what cover was included in your policy and what you’d be covered for if you were involved in an accident. However, the ability to compare car insurance quotes online has completely changed this, as now you can see exactly what is included within each policy and research any terms you’re not sure of before deciding which policy to go for.

Choosing a Level of Cover

There are three basic levels of car insurance that will form the basis of your policy. These vary in how comprehensive they are and depending on your claim, whether you’ll be covered or not. The most basic level of cover is third party car insurance, which will cover your liability for injuries to other people and damage to their car. This level of cover is probably ideal if you do not drive all that often or have a vehicle that is worth little, but if neither of these criteria applies to you then you should look at different cover.

The next step up is third party, fire and theft car insurance, which will give you cover against the theft of your vehicle or damage caused to it by fire, in addition to the cover included in basic third party car insurance. However, if you’re at fault for the accident and in turn the cost of damage to your car then you will have to pay for the repairs, something you won’t have to do if you take out fully comprehensive cover.

Fully comprehensive car insurance is the most complete cover you can get for your vehicle and will truly give you peace of mind. Under this policy you’ll be covered against accidental damage to your vehicle, so you can rest assured you’re covered in the event of an accident, regardless of whose fault it is. If you’re a motorcycle owner these levels of cover apply to you as well, as bike insurance is divided between the same three broad options.

Selecting Additional Extras

Once you’ve chosen your broad level of car insurance cover, there are additional extras that you may also want included in your policy if they’re not already. These will push the price of your policy up, but may provide you with added benefits that you feel are essential. Which extras you select will depend entirely upon how often you drive your car and how vital it is that you’re never left without a vehicle.

This will determine whether or not you want access to a courtesy car if your vehicle is off the road for a period of time. If you need access to personal transport for work you’ll want this included in your policy. Roadside breakdown assistance may also be an optional extra, which will be essential for drivers who cannot afford to have their vehicle off the road for any time at all. Your work may also require you to travel abroad, for which overseas cover is a must and is generally included as standard, but it is well worth checking that it is.

A further feature you may want included as part of your car insurance policy is legal protection. Each policy is likely to include some level of legal cover, but if your vehicle is particularly valuable, it may be worth trying to get this increased. Even if no cover for legal fees is included, there should be the availability to access legal advice over the phone, which could prove to be invaluable if an accident were to occur.

Making Use of the Tools Available
By making use of price comparison websites, though, you can ensure you get the perfect car insurance policy – whether an insurance policy for men, or car insurance for women – for you and save money so that you’re not left out of pocket.

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AA see huge rise in car insurance weather claims

Alan — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:05:49 +0000

The AA found that the snow and ice storms that brushed across Britain last week also brought with it an additional rise in car insurance claims.

On Friday AA car insurance had about 100 claims for accidents by lunch time due to the icy and snowy conditions.

The most common claim for the day was a rear end accident, in which one car ran into the other due to ice on the roads. Second most common for the day was sliding into moving vehicles at junctions, roundabouts, and bends.

However, even staying off the roads did not assure that Brits made it through the day undamaged as some claims were caused by drivers losing control and hitting stationary parked cars on the side of the road.

In fact, one AA customer filed a claim for an accident that occurred in his driveway when his vehicle was struck and pushed through the garage door.

The AA warned also that failing to clean off the snow and ice from a car before taking off also places others at risk due to the fact that it can fall off while the car is moving hitting others on the road and pedestrians.

In one accident snow and ice flew off of a lorry causing a seven car pileup.

Other roadside items such as bollards, phone boxes, and lamp posts can also become obstacles since drivers can lose control on icy roads and slide into them resulting in damage to their vehicles.

Additionally, AA often sees claims from drivers that have slide into skips, ridden up on a kerb, or fell into a ditch.

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Ignoring repairs will cost drivers dearly this winter

Alan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:32:24 +0000

A new report from the Post Office states that car owners who have avoided making minor repairs this year will have to spend their savings on higher car insurance premiums if they have an accident.

The study conducted by the Post Office discovered that almost half of all car owners have tightened their budget when it came to their car choosing to ignore cosmetic repairs, and even 13% admitting to letting their tyres get past acceptable wear.

Another 7% admitted they ignore the warning lights on their dashboard, 12% ignore any rattling or squeaking noises, and 8% are using poor windshield wipers instead of replacing them.

Head of car insurance at the Post Office, Richard Pennant-Jones, warned that ignoring these warning signs of problems may create awkward driving in the winter season, and may create more costly problems.

Pennant-Jones went on to say that with the UK predicted to experience heavy snow fall and many car owners that have ignored small service tasks will be placing themselves and others at risk.

He advised car owners that they should add on breakdown coverage this winter due to the high potential for problems during the coming season.

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Sainsbury’s say motoring costs up 11%

Alan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:05:15 +0000

The cost of owning a vehicle that runs has risen by about 11% or about £250 in the past two years according to new data compiled by Sainsbury’s Finance.

The company estimates that that it now costs about £2,339 per year to run a car including insurance, servicing, tax, MOT, and fuel compared to the 2007 figure of £2,101. It is estimate that the price has increased about 3% in the last year.

Most of the increase cost is because of the rise in car insurance premiums, which has increased 15% since last year and approximately 24% in 2007.

After car insurance, the second largest increase in car ownership was tax, which has increased by about 7.5% over the last year.

Car insurance manager of Sainsbury, Bet Tyte, stated that although some costs of running a car have decreased over the past year when compared with figures from 2007, the cost of motoring still increased overall due to the rise in insurance premiums and road taxes.

Tyte recommended that the best way to find a car that fits into a tight budget is by shopping around and paying close attention to the average price of car servicing and insurance for a particular model before making a final purchase.

Interestingly enough, the data from the finance department at Sainsbury’s suggests that fuel has decreased in cost by about 1%. However, this good news is overcast by the fact that drivers are expected to have to pay up to five pounds per gallon this Christmas.

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