Car insurance for women drivers likely to rise by £360 after EU ruling

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The cost of car insurance for women drivers after the new EU ruling comes into play at the end of the year will see the cost of premiums rise by £360 on average, recent treasury analysis has suggested. From the end of 2012 it will become illegal for insurance companies to take gender into account when calculating car insurance premiums.

Until now, female drivers have generally benefitted from lower premiums compared to their male counterparts as statistically, women are involved in fewer accidents on the road and even when they are involved in an incident, the cost of the claim is generally lower than those made by male drivers.

Because females pose less of a risk to insurers, they have enjoyed cheaper insurance costs, however that will all change following the EU ruling shake up. The recent treasury analysis suggests that the cost of car insurance will rise by £362 on average for every female driver as a result, while the worst hit will be young women drivers who are likely to see an even bigger increase.

The treasury predicts that car insurance premiums for women will rise by 24% following the EU ruling, however the cost of cover won’t decline hugely for male drivers as they’re likely to only see a reduction of around 9% after the EU legislation comes into play.

Safety group have warned that the slight reduction in the cost of premiums for young male drivers could lead to more accidents on the roads as these motorists take advantage of the decrease in the rate of their premiums by buying more powerful cars.

High insurance costs potentially deterring young people from taking jobs

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The high cost of insurance for young drivers is potentially putting some off taking a job, one eminent MP suggested recently. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Nigel Evans, said that many young people may face a real dilemma between whether to take up a job opportunity, or not doing so as the cost of travel to their work place would be so high.

People in rural areas are more likely to be affected as there is less access to regular public transport links, meaning that they would have to rely on their own means of transport to get back and forth from work. However with the cost of an annual car insurance premium for a new or young driver at a record high, many are left wondering whether it’s worth their while taking the job due to the huge amount they’d have to fork out to afford to cover their premiums.

Recent figures released by AA Insurance found that the cost of car insurance for young people has risen by 90% in the space of the last 2 years, pricing many people off the road. As a result of the often unaffordable cost of car insurance, research has found that 1 in 5 youngsters have considered driving without insurance, while 1 in 3 would potentially modify details on their policy in order to obtain cheaper cover.

Due to the fears MP Nigel Evans has over young peoples’ possible reluctance to take job offers due to cost and worry over how to afford travel to their new place of employment, the MP has called upon the insurance industry to become more creative in order to combat the inflated car insurance rates offered to young drivers. Ideas put forward include offering a rebate on part of the premium to a driver if after a year they’ve made no claims, or offering a premium calculated on the basis on the driver’s driving test score.

Car insurance study finds drivers switch off after 11 minutes behind the wheel

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Car insurance provider, Esure, conducted a study into the driving habits and attention span of drivers in the UK and discovered that on average, drivers switch off and go into autopilot mode just 11 minutes into a long journey.

1003 motorists took part in the survey which was conducted by the motor insurance provider Esure. Boredom seems to be a problem for drivers during car journeys, with 22% saying they find themselves falling into autopilot easily, with 34% admitted to arriving at a destination with no memory of the journey they undertook to get there.

A number of the drivers who took part in the survey revealed they’d driven to their place of work instead of their intended destination after going into autopilot mode. The main reasons for falling into autopilot according to the results of the study were feeling tired, or thinking about work.

25% of motorists admitted they got bored easily when undertaking long car journeys, with 32% revealing they attempt to relieve the boredom by switching radio stations and music at regular intervals and checking their phone.

Drivers in the North East of England were found to be the most likely to switch off behind the wheel, while motorists in the East Midlands were found to have the best levels of concentration.

When it comes to the gender divide, 16% of male drivers said they mentally switch off when their partner starts talking during a car journey, compared to just 10% of female drivers.

Safety and insurance experts recommend staying focused on the road, however long or short the journey you’re undertaking, to ensure you stay safe while behind the wheel.

Fewer car insurance claims by Aussie women compared to men

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A recent survey undertaken by a leading car insurance provider in Australia found that male drivers are more likely to make a claim and be involved in an accident on the road than their female counterpart.

The figures released by RAA Insurance in Australia showed that out of the 33,400 accidents on Aussie roads in the last two years, men were accountable for 53% of the incidents, meaning that women are less likely to be involved in a road traffic accident on roads in Australia compared to male drivers.

The details of each accident and insurance claim showed that male drivers are more likely to hit another car with changing lanes while motorway driving, reversing and crossing intersections all named as the most common causes for accidents involving male drivers on Australia roads.

While the figures used for this research were compiled from details using drivers in Australia, the male female divide in terms of more claims being made and accidents being caused by male drivers is a trend seen in the UK as well which is why women are generally rewarded with cheaper car insurance premiums. However from the end of 2012, gender discrimination in the way car insurance is calculated will become illegal in the UK following a ruling by the European Court.

AA launches new policy using black box technology

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The AA has introduced a brand new car insurance policy using the latest black box technology. The insurance provider is the latest company to experiment with this new style policy as more and more insurers seek to offer options for younger drivers who are currently worst hit by the rising cost of car insurance.

The new policy known as AA Drive Safe, will require drivers to have a black box installed in their vehicle which uses satellite technology to monitor the car and the way it’s being driven

Data including the times of the day the car is on the road, also the driver’s behaviour behind the wheel including average speed and how frequently they accelerate, will all be collected via the black box which is then transmitted via the satellite to the AA who will monitor this information, using it to calculate the cost of that particular driver’s insurance. The safer you drive, the cheaper your insurance will become.

At the start of the policy, the driver is given an average quote for their insurance premium, which will also include the cost of having the tracking device installed. By paying for the insurance by monthly direct debit, the cost of insurance will be altered month by month in line with the results of the data collected via the black box.

This new style of car insurance is being championed as the best means by which young and inexperienced drivers can obtain affordable car insurance as those who are responsible behind the wheel will have the chance to prove their driving ability and will then be rewarded with cheaper insurance.

Gender discrimination in car insurance most evident in under 20′s

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Gender discrimination in car insurance is still very much evident, especially amongst drivers under 20 years of age, new research has suggested. While the new European court ruling which will prevent insurers from using gender as a determining factor in the cost of car insurance premium comes into force at the end of the year, the recent study shows that at the moment, the gap between the cost of insurance for males and females under 20 is wider than ever.

A new study undertaken by the price comparison website, Confused.com, looked into 4 million car insurance quotes to compile their results. They discovered that claims by young male drivers tend to be more costly to the insurer with the average cost of a car insurance claim for a male driver under the age of 20 standing at £4,400, while the average cost of a claim for a female driver under 20-years of age is just £2,770.

Statistically, male drivers have always been more likely to be involved in an accident which has caused death or serious bodily harm, and so the cost of car insurance for males has typically been higher in order to reflect this risk. However from December, the insurers will not be able to use gender as a means to calculate risk.   

When the new ruling comes into force making it illegal for insurers to discriminate on the basis of gender, insurance experts predict that the cost of cover will remain the same for male drivers, while females will be left out of pocket as their premium is likely to increase in line with the cost of a male driver’s policy.

Benefits for customers taking out car insurance with Sainsbury’s

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If your car insurance policy is up for renewal in the next few weeks, then you could take advantage of a generous offer from Sainsbury’s car insurance. The insurance provider is offering Nectar cardholders the chance to receive up to £293 in rewards and benefits if they take out a car insurance policy before April 9th. Compared to the industry average for UK car insurance policies, the amount of savings available is the equivalent to 30% off the cost of an annual premium – a discount not to be sniffed at.

As part of the Sainsbury’s offer, customers who take up a policy before the deadline will save up to 15% off the cost of their annual cover, and will also receive double Nectar points on all shopping and petrol over the next two years.

In addition, Sainsbury’s are also offering free breakdown cover for 12 months, including free labour on roadside repairs and free recovery service to a garage within 10 miles of the breakdown.

An extra 5% discount is also available to any customer who purchases an insurance policy with Sainsbury’s before February 8th, bringing the total value of potential customer savings up to £341.

While many insurers are offering incentives at this time of year to attract new customers, Sainsbury’s believe their latest offer and extensive benefits package will appeal to a wide range of consumers and will prove difficult for other insurers to beat.

Beat the rising cost of car insurance with our helpful tips

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With recent statistics from the AA estimating that car insurance premiums have risen by 15% in the last year, pushing the average cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy up by £128.71 a year to £971.40 for an annual policy, here are our top tips to help you get the very best quote for car insurance to help beat the rising cost of cover.

At the top of the list for tips for cheaper car insurance is, shopping around. Comparing quotes from a range of providers, as opposed to just letting your current policy renew automatically, is the first piece of advice an insurance expert will give you. Head to an insurance price comparison website to compare a range of quotes in one go.

If you know your premium is coming up for renewal, try to save up so you can pay it off in one lump sum as paying off your premium month by month through a direct debit can add approximately 11% to the overall cost of your cover compared to paying outright at the start.

Increasing your voluntary excess is another way to help lower your insurance quote, however don’t be tempted to set your excess at too high a rate as if you are involved in an accident, this is the amount you will have to pay before your insurance covers the cost.

If you’re a young driver, consider adding an older driver to your policy as a named driver if they also use your car, or look into taking out a telematics insurance policy. These policies work by placing a box in the car which records data that is then used to calculate the cost of the driver’s policy. If you’re a careful driver and you don’t use your car at peak hours and rack up high mileage, you could benefit from lower premiums with these types of policies.

Follow our top tips to find the very best rates on annual car insurance.

Claims for whiplash pushing up the cost of car insurance

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The thousands of claims for whiplash following a road traffic accident are pushing up the cost of car insurance, according to a recent report by MPs, who are calling for a ban of insurance companies selling customer information to private injury lawyers, and also raising the threshold for payments for neck injury cases in a bid to curb this growing problem.

Often claims for whiplash injuries are not being contested by the insurance company as diagnosis of this type of injury can be subjective, the recent study by the MPs found, which deters insurers from fighting the claim as it is hard to defend this type of case.

While the MPs behind the study say they support justice, and those who have been seriously affected as a result of an accident that wasn’t their fault should not be put off seeking compensation. However there was concern that victims who are not seriously hurt or have suffered lasting injury, are being railroaded into making claims from cold calling personal injury companies who persuade them to pursue a claim.

The report from the transport select committee found that the spiralling number of uncontested whiplash claims in the UK is having a negative impact on the cost of car insurance, with premiums rising at a staggering rate in order to fund the claims for compensation. Curbing the number of whiplash claims, would help bring the cost of insurance back under control, it recommends.

Warning on invalid insurance policies sold through Aston Midshires

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A warning has been issued to any drivers who have car insurance policies with Aston Midshires after it was announced that the company is under investigation for selling invalid insurance policies.

Aston Midshires targeted young drivers in particular, offering competitive prices on insurance policies for new drivers and learner drivers. However there are fears that thousands of drivers on UK road could be driving without any form of insurance as the policies sold by Aston Midshires have been brought into question after 30 complaints were received from drivers who’d discovered their policies were not legitimate.

The Financial Services Authority, the police and Trading Standards are all reported to be carrying out investigations into the insurance provider. So far, the authorities have discovered that the company is linked to a foreign address, however Aston Midshires have most recently pulled down their website and also stopped answering phone calls.

When the authorities visited the building listed as the UK address for the insurance company in Leicestershire, the owners of the building said they had no record of the company ever operating from the address.

The consequences for drivers who have invalid policies with Aston Midshires is far reaching as not only are they not covered should they have an accident in their vehicle, but the consequences will affect the other drivers if they have the misfortune to be involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have valid insurance.