Car insurance industry gears up for its busiest month

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With the new “61” registration plate due out this month, September is always a busy time for the car insurance industry with 330,000 new cars being registered in the coming four weeks.

If you’re one of the lucky 330,000 to be taking possession of a brand new vehicle this month, the advice from insurance caparison website GoCompare.com is to shop around for a great deal on cover. The price comparison site is anticipating 1.5 million searches for car insurance through its site this September as savvy drivers attempt to sniff out a bargain.

Last year figures revealed that 70% of drivers in the UK used a price comparison website to compare the cost of quotes for car insurance renewal across a range of providers. Half of those motorists who did, were successful in finding a much cheaper deal on their annual insurance, with the average saving from GoCompare.com customer standing at £354.35.

However for some drivers, the savings have been even more impressive. GoCompare.com customer, a 23-year-old computer programmer was sent a renewal quote of £1,640 for his VW Golf, but after comparing quotes on the site, he found a policy which saved him £821

Despite the rewards and the huge savings available to drivers who shop around for car insurance deals, figures showed that 12% of drivers have never switched providers. Many believe their customer loyalty will be rewarded with favourable rates on their annual cover, however this simply isn’t the case for most.

3 out of 4 consumers choose the cheapest insurance quote

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When it comes to choosing an insurance policy, be it for travel, your home or car, 75% of us will opt for the cheapest quote, regardless of whether it offers adequate levels of cover for our needs.

Money talks, it would seem, and thrifty Britain would rather save a few quid than splash the cash on a more costly insurance policy, even if it does offer better levels of cover should you need to make a claim. However insurance experts warn that this is a dangerous business and could leave consumers open to problems as opting for a cheaper policy could leave them without sufficient cover should they run into trouble.

The use of price comparison websites to find the best deals on insurance has risen dramatically over the last few years and this may have something to do with the growing trend for choosing the cheapest insurance deal on the market. The recent survey found that 75% of people blindly opt for the cheapest offer flagged up on price comparison websites, without considering whether or not the policy covers their needs.

The same survey also found that 14% of people fail to make a claim on their insurance policy, 22% of which say that a high excess means it’s not worth them making a claim.

The advice from insurance experts is to not be seduced by low cost policies, as these will more often than not offer the lowest form of cover, which could lead to problems should you need to make a claim.

2010 was a record year for car insurance price hikes

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It’s official, the figures are out and they have revealed what we all suspected: 2010 was the worst year for car insurance price increases.

On average the figures showed that premiums rose by 38% which translates into an extra £200 being added to the cost of cover. However the situation was even worse for those with Third Party, Fire and Theft policies as these saw an increase of 56% on average.

While the age bracket 17-21 are typically worst hit by price hikes in car insurance, it appears that this was not the case during the last 12 months as the group which reported the biggest rise in car insurance rates was those aged between 51-55 years.

However it’s been suggested that parents adding their children on their car insurance policy were responsible for the majority of these increases, possibility as a knock on effect of the high rates of cover for drivers in the younger age bracket.

The rise in the cost of car insurance during 2010 was triple the increase reported during the previous year. The average cost of annual car insurance across the board of age brackets now stands at £695, which is up £200 on the average cost of car insurance in 2009.

Car insurance price comparison sites are now becoming increasingly popular as motorists are more inclined to shop around for cheaper deals on cover as they attempt to beat the rise in premiums.

Tips on getting your home insurance cover just right

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If you’re taking out your first home insurance policy, or lost out as a result of not having the proper cover in place in the past, here are a few sure fire tips to ensure you take out the correct home insurance policy to suit your needs.

It’s been calculated that home owners undervalue their possession by an average of £4,650 so it’s important you have take time to consider how mush cover you need. Remember to include items kept in the garage such as bikes and tools, plus the cost of your clothes; think about how much it would cost to replace all of your clothing and shoes should you lose it all.

Price comparison websites are great for finding the cheapest insurance options available to you, but remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the best. It’s vital you read through the policy agreement first to check the cover is suitable to your needs, otherwise you could be caught out should your need to make a claim.

Don’t forget to add personal items to your home insurance policy such as mobile phones and expensive jewellery such as your wedding rings. Add these to your home insurance and you’ll be covered should you lose, or have these items stolen, while outside of your home.

If you have a single item in your home which is worth more than £1,500, remember to specify this to your insurers as often this is the top end of what companies will pay out for a single item. Remember to include items such as musical instruments, electrical equipment and jewellery.

Motor insurance premiums have risen 14% in second quarter of this year

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Motor insurance premiums rose by 14% in the second quarter of this year according to research from confused.com

In the three months to June the average cost of comprehensive car insurance has increased by 14.2% bringing the average price of comprehensive cover to £599 which is an extra £74 increase.

It’s been suggested that insurers are hiking prices in an attempt to claw back profit after suffering as a result of the economic downturn, also increased claims costs, higher personal injury payouts and also more fraudulent cases.

The cost of uninsured drivers on the road is also reported to have had an impact on the rising cost of motor insurance premiums, with the Motor Insurance Bureau revealing that uninsured drivers cost insurers £400 million last year alone. This cost is then passed onto the customer which equates to an extra £30 on every motor insurance policy taken out.

The largest regional quarterly increases were reported in Manchester, Merseyside, inner London and Northern Ireland. The age group to notice the biggest leap in comprehensive car insurance rates were the 41-55-year-olds.

It’s yet another blow for motorists who’ve already been hit by the rising cost of fuel, and also insurance premium tax increases. According to one of the heads at confused.com, the cost of insurance looks likely to continue to rise as insurers struggle to make money as a result of increased fraudulent claims, uninsured drivers and hefty personal injury costs.

UK home owners collectively waste £937 million a year on home insurance

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A recent survey conducted by moneysupermarket.com found that the average home owner in the UK is losing £132 a year, which works out as £937 million collectively, by simply letting their home insurance renew without shopping around to get a cheaper deal.

29% of those who took part in the survey said they let their insurance policy renew automatically with 15% saying they didn’t believe they’d be able to find a better deal elsewhere. Another common reason for not searching out a better deal was that people didn’t have time, or couldn’t be bothered.

On average homeowners in the UK stay with the same insurance provider for 3 years with 48% revealing that they’ve not switched companies in the last 2 years. 1 in 10 homeowners however, have stayed with the same insurer for the last 10 years.

With the introduction of insurance comparison websites it’s never been easier to shop around and compare the cost of insurance with a range of different providers. If each homeowner in the country did this each year, they would have on average, an extra £132 in their pocket.

Although many people enjoy the ease of letting their home insurance policy renew automatically, insurance experts warn it’s a hefty price to pay for convenience.