Looking for classic car insurance

A couple of days back there was a story in the British press about a vintage Bugatti while had been found in a garage under piles of rubbish. Apparently the car is estimated to get about £100,000 in an auction. What is even more amazing is that the car is not even an authentic one but a good replica model Bugatti Type 51. This story shows the level of interest generated by some of these vintage models.

1931 Bugatti Type 51
Originally posted to Flickr by Brian Snelson

Some people collect really vintage models, spending time and money to maintain and keep them running. They even go to the extent of building new engines based on original plans as there are no one selling the replacement parts anymore.

However, the term "classic cars" can be very misleading. The AARP classic car insurance site defines these as those vehicles which are 10 or more years old and differentiates them from Antique auto which refer to autos more than 25 years old.

The great thing about driving cars more than five years old in the US is that you actually pay less car insurance as compared to newer cars.

So if you have 10 years or more old car, there are some great discounts out there and special offers which allows you to get even more affordable classic and antique Auto Insurance coverage.

Bad behaviour while driving is learnt from parents

According to a research by AXA car insurance, it was found that found that many young drivers will emulate the way their parents drive.

The study has found that young drivers who demonstrate bad behaviour while driving, such as hand gestures and swearing, and more dangerous cases including speeding and drink driving, have may actually have learnt these from their parents.

• 28% of those with parents who drink drive do so themselves.
• Young drivers with parents who drive aggressively are 50% more likely to swear, flash or beep aggressively at other drivers.
• Drivers whose parents have points on their licence or a ban are three times as likely to face the same penalties themselves.

Getting the best deal on your car insurance

Do you know how to get the best deal on your car insurance?

If you drive, you need insurance. That’s a simple fact of life that all motorists have to budget for every year. Thanks to Internet online comparison sites, it’s never been easier to compare car insurance quotes online and get the best deal. But do you know what to look for when you’re scanning through pages of suppliers and tempting new deals?

It’s not just about the price

While the temptation may be to go for the cheapest quote, before you click ‘OK’, have a good look at the fine print. That cheap quote may have hidden extras attached to it, like a hefty excess or additional charges for breakdown recovery. Does it include windscreen cover and insurance for your possessions? Before you sit down to compare car insurance quotes, decide what you want from your insurer, how much cover you actually need and how much excess you’re prepared to pay.

Sticking with the devil you know…

The easiest option may be to stay with your current insurance provider. After all, it’s just a simple matter of renewing your policy, and you’re bound to get a better deal after a year’s no claims, right? Well, not necessarily. While your current insurance provider may offer you a perfectly good policy, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get the same deal at a cheaper price if you shop around. And don’t be afraid to haggle with your current insurer. They don’t want to lose your business, so you’ll be surprised just how open they are to a little bit of gentle persuasion, especially if you’ve found the same deal for less by comparing car insurance prices online.

Won’t swapping affect my no claims bonus?

Many motorists are concerned that if they swap insurance providers, they’ll lose the benefit of their no claims bonus. However, some insurance companies will give you a discount on the cost of your policy if you have a history of careful driving. Check that they’ll add any no claims bonus you have to a new policy and avoid ‘starting all over again’.

By using online websites to compare car insurance, you can keep the cost of motoring down in what are increasingly expensive times

Breakdown Cover for Expensive Cars

All cars are not created equal – and when you’ve got a Lamborghini or an Aston Martin glittering in your garage, you’ll want to give it the best treatment you can. No doubt you’ll invest in regular servicing and give it a good wash and brush-up whenever it needs it, but there is an avenue that tends to be overlooked - breakdown cover.

The Best for the Best

Expensive and prestige cars are designed and manufactured with that extra attention to detail. High-end specifications and immaculate production standards are what set your car apart from the rest of the crowd. When it comes to the cost, you’re paying for something that delivers outstanding performance, as well as the satisfaction of knowing it turns heads as fast as it turns corners.

Because of the cost, these prestige cars are relatively rare on the roads and this sets them apart from the general traffic in both physical and financial terms. By paying for a high-end car, you’re going to find that your insurance premiums are higher, reflecting the increased risk that they represent to insurance companies. However, given that your pride and joy is also going to be subject to wear and tear and the unscrupulous designs of others, you’ll need to give yourself the best protection you can.

Breakdown without a Breakdown

Your general insurance is going to reflect the cost of your car as much as your driving history. However, there are some things that are completely beyond your control such as mechanical failure or the effects of the elements on certain components. Breakdown cover gives you the security of knowing that, if your car does break down, you’re not going to be stuck on the side of the road or have to pull out all the stops in hunting out a specialist garage.

Because your car is a specialist product, it will require specialist breakdown cover which, in turn, is going to cost more than the average policy. However, with the insurance market becoming ever more competitive, the Internet can help to yield surprisingly cost-effective rates. It’s also worth remembering that, just as your car stands out from the crowd, so too will the levels of service you can expect from your breakdown cover. By shopping around for breakdown cover that deals with top-of-the-range cars, you can also find policies that offer top-of-the-range provisions for premium customers. This might include accommodation in the event of a breakdown or much faster response times. Look at the perks and incentives offered by each company to find which suits you and your motor the best.

If the idea of trawling the Internet for policy details is too much to think about, bear in mind that online comparison sites are a quick and convenient way of finding out just what’s available. These sites are independent data-collators, which present all the information you need in an easy-to-read format, allowing you to quickly find out which is the best policy for you.

A luxury car is a major investment. Taking a little time to hunt down the best breakdown cover can prevent that investment from turning into a money pit.

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ECJ Ruling Set to Hit Young Female Drivers Hardest

A new ruling by the European Court of Justice could hit female young drivers in the pocket as car insurance companies will no longer be able to use gender as a factor in calculating risk.

The new ruling, passed on March 1, will come into force in December 2012 and from that time onwards, women will cease to benefit from cheap car insurance premiums, despite the fact that they are statistically less likely to have a crash than men.

Car insurance expert Steve Sweeney from MoneySupermarket, believes the new ruling will have long-lasting, wide ranging implications for the car insurance industry.

He said:

"The ruling will no doubt hit female drivers the hardest with premiums rising in line with male drivers. If your car insurance is due for renewal in the next couple of months then you should shop around and buy your new cover as soon as possible before any new rules come into force."

My wife and some of our lady friends are quite unhappy with the ruling. So what do you think?

UK Insurance tips

Talking about my driving experience in Malaysia to some friends. I was relating how much fun it is to drive in Malaysia even though I could only afford a Proton, the national car as imported cars had a tax of up to 300%. At that time petrol cost me less than RM1per litre (approx 20p), though I heard that it has now increased to around RM2 (approx 40p). Compare that with £1.20/ litre in the UK now.

Furthermore, the car insurance was pretty cheap  and if you didn't have any accidents, it becomes cheaper every year. Here in the UK, I have no idea why, but the insurance we pay seems to increase very year. It has gone up from around £300 to £700 now. We have had no accidents in the past 4 years and there is no logic but everyone I talked to told me the same thing and the amazing thing is that people grumble but just pay up in the end as they have no choice..

I recall that the insurance companies once increased the car insurance of everyone here in the UK across the board due to the fact that there had been floods the past year and a large number of cars had been damaged. In other words, they just transfer the costs to the customers.

I used to think that privatisation and lack of governmental control would lead to better customer services and a customer friendly industry but apparently this has not happened and probably the Government needs to come in with some customer friendly legislation and regulations.

Anyway, there are still some great insurance deals out there on the net. You just have to look for it. However, this is easier said than done. Click here for the cheapest auto insurance tips . These might help you lower your premium a bit. For example, it might be a good idea to look at the cars targeted the most by the thieves.

Medical professionals are the most accident prone in the UK

A recent press release by the online price comparison site, Confused.com, totally changed my perception of the motorist profiles I have had all my life. Apparently those in the medical profession appeared most frequently in the top ten (50%) car insurance claims in the past 12 months (18th October 2009 and 18th October 2010).

This is surprising because they are supposed to be most aware of all professions when it comes to accidents and injuries.

The results of the research showed that GPs are the most hazardous drivers in the UK with 33% of claims made by them. They were followed by psychologists (30%), district nurses (30%), hospital doctors (29%) and dentists (27%)making a claim.

In what seems to be bizarre findings, 20-20 vision doesn't help as well with opticians making up 27% of those claiming for an incident in the last 12 months. They were closely followed by law abiding policeman who made up 26% of the claimants.

It was not surprising that high earners such as solicitors and accountants are also the most likely to make a claim, contributing to 65% of the top 20.

The safest drivers were actually the low income earners with car valeters being the least likely to make a claim with only 8% putting in the paperwork in the last 12 months.

Here is the full list of the Top 20 occupations that have claimed in an accident:

1. Doctor GP
2. Psychologist
3. District Nurse
4. Hospital Doctor
5. Solicitor
6. Chartered Accountant
7. Head Teacher
8. Dentist
9. Personnel Officer
10. Chartered Surveyor
11. Quantity Surveyor
12. Optician
13. Systems Manager
14. Police Officer
15. Financial Advisor
16. Computer Services Manager
17. Accountant Chartered
18. Pharmacist
19. Probation Officer
20. Local Government Officer

Top 20 occupations least likely to be involved in an accident

1. Car Valeter
2. Labourer
3. Van / Lorry / Fork Lift Truck Driver
4. Farm Worker
5. Scaffolder / Roofer
6. Construction Worker
7. Decorator / Painter / Plasterer
8. Road Worker
9. Coach Driver
10. Security Guard
11. Builder
12. Groundsmen
13. Mechanic
14. Carpet Fitter
15. Warehouse Employee
16. Bar Staff
17. Cleaner
18. Bakery Worker
19. Double Glazing Fitter
20. Factory Worker

Finding the Best Car Insurance Deals Online

It is amazing how much of our lives are dependent on technology today. Just a little over a decade ago, we were only becoming slowly accustomed to the Internet, what was famously referred to as the Information Superhighway. Today, we don’t just have email accounts, we have social networking accounts, YouTube, Amazon, and Google Earth. You can just as effectively shop online as you would at the mall, and all it takes are a few clicks. You can employ the same method, whether your purchase is small or big, cheap or expensive. Shopping around for the best car insurance deals is no exception.

The Web is teeming with online car insurance companies offering their services and so many to choose from. The challenge, however, lies in sifting through all of them and finding the one which is ideal for you.

You should compare quotes from different vehicle insurers, and this can be done by filling out forms on their websites and/or using a comparison website. You might be asked to provide information about yourself, your vehicle, and your driving history, as these details will help determine the level of coverage you can be offered, hence determining the quote you will be given.

Apart from getting quotes from individual insurers, you should definitely research the companies that interest you. Geico, GMAC, Progressive, AIG, Liberty Mutial, and All State, are among the most reputable auto insurance companies in the US, but remember that bigger is not necessarily better, so an insurance giant might not necessarily be your perfect match. Browse through insurers’ websites and go through car insurance reviews and testimonials of insurance experts and other insurance coverage seekers like you. Find out what discounts they offer on their insurance policies because you might be eligible for the good driver, safe vehicle, good student, senior, low mileage, rural, occupational, auto club or professional organization membership discounts.

The great advantage to purchasing your car insurance online is not just the ease by which you can accomplish this, but also the fact that you may get a discount with your insurer just because you made your purchase online. You may get money off your yearly premium, no claims discounts, or free breakdown assistance. The web is indeed the best place to search for the best auto insurance deals.

Get auto insurance quotes

One of my friends was planning to buy a used car and asked me if I had some tips. He was so surprised when he learnt about the road tax, the MOT tests and of course the cost of insurance. If you are buying from a dealer, they will usually try to convince you to get the insurance from one of the companies they partner with. Naturally these are not necessarily the cheapest or the best.

In the US, if you are buying your first car, you need to buy the insurance even before you can drive away from the dealership with your new car. I think it's unethical for some dealers to force down their insurance policies on some unsuspecting customer. I mean not all customers will want a full coverage and would rather go for the legal minimum required. You have to note that different American states have different rules and most require you to have an insurance if you drive.

There are several sites where you can obtain and compare quotes and all you have to do is enter your Zip code. Getting a auto insurance code has never been easier. And of course you get to save some money.

Comparing car insurance

It's amazing how fast one year flies. The time has come for us to renew our car insurance. With all the different car insurance companies out there , it's quite a headache going through the individual sites and trying to get the cheapest quotes. It's amazing how much information we have to fill up. I wasted a lot of time, going through the individual sites one by one and having to fill up all the same information again and again.

I finally got to know about the Go Compare car insurance site, where I can compare insurance quotes from all of the leading insurers for free. This car insurance comparison service enables you to get a quote in four easy steps. You begin by entering your details. The best policy is indicated by their unique five star rating system. This process saves us time - we can at a glance see the best policies that best match our requirements.

Their site mentions that they are independent insurance comparison specialists, not insurance brokers, thus we get the same prices as if we go direct to the individual companies. They do not charge a commission.

Besides car insurance, you can also compare 'Breakdown Cover', 'Motorbike Insurance', 'Home Insurance', 'Van Insurance' as well as 'Travel Insurance'.

Searching for insurance on the net

Searching for the right car insurance can be really tough. You want to see whether other drivers would be insured, whether it has coverage for windscreen breakage, if the company would provide a courtesy car while your car is being repaired and so on. However, the most important factor that we have consider is the price.

Cheapest is not always the best choice but we have to see that we are getting thte value for our money.

The internet has made the process of searching for the right car insurance much easier. Find out how you can compare car insurance packages in the UK at insure121.com.

The great thing is that many of the insurance providers promoted by the company will offer you a discount of anything between 10% and 30% just for buying your insurance online, with no loss in cover too.

For your information, the company also lists several home insurance providers. So if you are looking for the best insurance quotes for your home on the site, you know where to go.

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