BIBA Origins

BIBA Origins In 1977 BIBA was created with the sole purpose of representing independent insurance brokers. Once the Financial Services Act was passed in 1988, Independent Financial Advisors joined BIBA and as a result the name “BIBA” was altered to British Insurance and Investment Brokers Association (BIIBA). In 1994, BIBA helped establish the Independent Financial Advisors Association because the independent financial advisors desperately needed an association to represent them.

After the formation of the IFA Association in September 1999, “BIIBA” reverted back to “BIBA”, dropping the “Investment” part. Today, BIBA represents the insurance industry and advises consumer bodies, members, the regulator and other stakeholders on crucial insurance issues. It offers the following facilities and services to its members : Press Office and Marketing Support Member Support Team Publications Consumer Advice Internet Schemes and Facilities for brokers to offer to consumers and businesses. IT Support Insurance Training Services Technical Services

The training sessions include short course assessments. These assessments consist of approximately 10 - 15 multiple choice questions to test the trainees understanding of the main aims and objectives of the course. Companies can send their employees to attend training programs in London or other locations such as locations such as Birmingham, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newmarket, Norwich, Romford, Bristol and Cardiff. If you feel that a training session should be held in your area, contact the Training Coordinator at BIBA (020 7397 0243). Check the ‘Schedules London’ page on the BIBA website for courses held in London and the ‘Schedules Regions’ page for courses held across the UK. BIBA offers both Open Training and In-house Training. In open training, the session is held at your office or any other location you select, but local members will be permitted to join the sessions if you have fewer than 14 members of staff attending the session. You can use this type of training if you want to get just a few members of your staff trained in one subject. In-house training is customized training provided at your office or any other location you select. BIBA will send a trainer to the location to train a maximum of 14 members of staff per training session. Discounts are available and BIBA provides all the training materials.

CHUBB AIG AXA CAPITA The St Paul GROUPAMA Insurances TOWERGATE STERLING ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE ZURICH HISCOX NORWICH UNION CUNNINGHAM LINDSAY ECCLESIASTICAL FORTIS Premium Credit The Underwriter Allianz Cornhill CNA

BIBA offers members a Schemes Collection and a Broker Business Portfolio. The Schemes collection consists of competitively priced insurance products that are high quality and easy to sell such as the unique payment protection insurance (PPI) scheme that is only offered by British Insurance to BIBA members. PPI provides consumers with a financial safety net against the risks of unemployment, sickness and accidents (ASU).The Broker Business Portfolio offers members special services such as training, IT Support, internet, marketing support and technical services etc. The following committees report to the board On the BIBA website, there is a search tool available that helps you find brokers across the UK. These brokers help you find the insurance policy that most closely matches your needs. They will make sure you find a good insurance policy with low premium payments.

UK Insurance & Consumer Protection 'ACT'

UK Insurance & Consumer Protection 'ACT'

In the UK, the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the EC Directive on Product Liability require that manufacturers or suppliers of goods carry some form of product liability insurance that is usually part of a combined liability policy. In public liability insurance, premiums depend on the type of business, turnover and number of employees. It is a good idea to compare the quotes given by your broker with the quotes being offered by other brokers. When you apply for an insurance policy, you fill out a proposal form which is your offer to the insurance company where you state the premium amount you are willing to pay.

Sometimes, they will agree to accept your offer if you make certain changes to the terms you have proposed. In this case, get advice from several brokers about whether the amount the insurance company has quoted is reasonable or not. Get advice from more than one broker about this that you do not offer to pay more than is necessary. The insurance company will either accept or reject your offer. Obviously, you should apply to several well reputed, reliable and licensed insurance companies to be able to choose the best possible quote. In an indemnity contract, the insurance company will pay you no more than the actual loss suffered. This will ensure that you remain in the same financial position that you were in immediately prior to the accident which led to the insurance claim. Most personal accident insurance contracts and all life insurance contracts are non-indemnity contracts. You need to watch out for under-insurance and excess clauses issues in your contract. Do not under insure your property in order to pay lower premiums. This is not a wise decision because if you under-insure a car worth 20,000 at 10,000, if there is partial damage to your car your insurer will pay only a percentage of the 10,000, which means you will have to bear the remaining amount of loss yourself.

Commercial insurance brokers deal with commercial fleet, product liability, public liability and employer’s liability (workers compensation), among other things. An example of a major UK commercial insurance broker is Marsh & McLennan Companies.

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Car Insurance News

Most motorbikes covered - including supersport and touring bikes

New EU rules on car insurance explained It could be worth shopping around to find the cheapest car insurance policy available The European Court of Justice announced plans last year to scrap gender as a contributing factor towards car insurance. This will affect nearly all drivers as it could push up the cost of car insurance even further. It is felt by many that the decision that gender should not be used to calculate risk could also cross over into other insurance policies in time. The EU has decided that it was discriminatory to use gender as a deciphering factor in determining car insurance prices.

Women, who typically are seen as lower risk drivers compared to men, may now see their policies bumped up to match that of men. Insurers are unlikely to reduce the rates of men to match women and, therefore, young female drivers in particular may feel the impact of the EU ruling worse than any other group. In contrast, men might see their car insurance premiums reduced slightly. This means that anyone who has purchased car insurance since the end of December 2011 will be affected by the ruling on their next renewal. The ruling will be enforced on 21st December 2012 and until then gender is still to be used as a contributing factor. Losers and Winners The Association of British Insurers suggests that the gender ban will increase premiums for women by up to 20%. Men, however, could see their premiums reduced by up to 10%. The current system operates on the risk assessment of the driver. Statistically, female drivers are at a lower risk compared to men. The British Insurance Brokers’ Association have suggested that the average 18 year old male will claim £4,400 on their car insurance. This is in comparison to the average 18 year old female claim of £2,700 The AA British Insurance Premium Index shows that insurance has increased by 15% in the last three months of 2012. Young drivers experienced the highest average increase.

It could be worth shopping around to find the cheapest car insurance policy available before the ban comes into force at the end of the year.

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Direct Line Car Insurance

Direct Line Car Insurance Direct Line, now a multi product insurer was started in 1985 with a single product offering – car insurance. Today Direct Line is one of the most well known insurers in the UK with over five million customers. Direct Line prides themselves on their competitive pricing and outstanding customer service. If you wish to speak to Direct Line about a new or existing UK car insurance policy you can expect a quick response from a UK based call centre.

The Benefits of a Direct Line Motor Insurance Policy Direct Line vandalism cover Direct Lines vandalism cover, included with all comprehensive car insurance policies preserves your no claims discount in the event that a claim needs to be made for vandalism. Named Driver No Claims Discount Named Drivers on a Direct Line motor insurance policy receive their own no claims discount for when they take out their own policy with Direct Line. Direct Line car insurance policies also offer: • No excess and protection of your no claims bonus if you are hit by an uninsured driver • Up to 70% No Claims Discount Option benefits for Direct Line car insurance policies in the UK include guaranteed car hire in the event your vehicle is damaged in an accident and legal protection cover. Direct Line is a popular and competitive insurer and enjoy a strong position in UK car insurance market. LV= Car Insurance lv content Liverpool Victoria LV car insuranceLV are the UK’s largest friendly society, established in 1843 as Liverpool Victoria. They have built an enviable reputation for the quality of their car insurance products. Independent financial services research body, Defaqto, have awarded LV= Car Insurance five stars for the fifth year in a row. LV= currently have a strong foothold in the UK market for cheap car insurance.

‘Seriously good car insurance’ is the Elephant strapline, and they do include some useful benefits as standard across all policies. For example, 90 days European cover is standard with both third party and comprehensive Elephant motor insurance, whilst flexible payment options are also available to help manage the cost of your car insurance policy. Elephant Car Insurance elephant content Elephant Car InsuranceElephant.co.uk is one of the best known names in car insurance. Having started life in 2000, they offer motor insurance quotes online, usually at highly competitive rates. They are certainly a popular choice, having insured over 350,000 drivers, and claim to offer both great value, and strong customer service. Car Insurance Review

What would you expect to be included with a Temporary Car Insurance policy?

What would you expect to be included with a Temporary Car Insurance policy? What’s included with a temporary car insurance policy will depend on the insurer providing the cover, and so you should always check that you understand the policy terms before purchasing cover. Generally speaking, most temporary policies include the following:

• Comprehensive cover for damage to the vehicle in question including loss from fire, theft or vandalism • Cover for liability to 3rd parties including injury and damage to property • Compulsory EU cover Other policies may also include the features above but offer additional benefits such as: • Uninsured loss recovery • Temporary breakdown cover

It’s important to note that not everyone will be eligible for temporary car insurance. The majority of temporary policies are available only to drivers aged 21 or over, and in many cases you must be at least 25 to qualify. You should also remember that you cannot use a temporary policy to build up a no claims bonus.

Get temporary motor insurance from 1 – 28 days

Get temporary motor insurance from 1 – 28 days When would you use Temporary Car Insurance? Temporary car insurance was originally designed for businesses involved in the motor trade but has since been made available to the general public. It has become more and more popular in recent years as a convenient way of getting insured on someone else’s car for a brief period, such as a long journey where you want to share the driving with a friend.

Temporary motor insurance policies are usually available for periods of between 1 and 28 days and can be used to insure a car, van or motorbike. Most providers offer online quotes, enabling you to avoid lengthy conversations with call centres, and your certificate of insurance can often be emailed to you instantly.

There are a number of situations where temporary car insurance may be useful, including: • Times when you wish to use a friend or relative’s vehicle • Times when a friend or relative needs to borrow your car, and you don’t want to risk your no-claims bonus • Driving home a newly purchased car before an annual policy is decided on • Test driving a vehicle • When using a courtesy car whilst your own car is in for repair • Where you require an insurance cover note to tax your vehicle • When you are selling a vehicle and need to ensure that it remains insured until sold • In an emergency where you must drive someone else’s vehicle

10 major car insurance comparison

Quotes will generally be displayed from the cheapest to most expensive – there may be some companies who cannot quote for your particular circumstances. No quote will be returned in this instance. If you are happy with one of the quotes provided you will be able to click a link which will take you to the insurer’s website where you can complete your application. Comparing Car Insurance Comparison Sites There are now more than 10 major car insurance comparison sites operating in the UK, each with a slightly different panel of insurers. While it may not be worth comparing quotes from all 10. While car insurance comparison sites provide real time car insurance quotes this does not necessarily mean that quotes from one comparison site will be the same as quotes from another, nor does it mean that the cheapest quote is the best policy.

You should also compare the details of the policy quotes. While it may be from the same insurer the cover could be very different from one quote to the next. Important things you should remember to check are: The excess – having a higher excess will reduce the value of the policy The extras – windscreen cover, courtesy cars and vandalism cover are just a few extras that can be removed to reduce the cost of the policy It is also important to remember that you are still under a duty of full disclosure of any facts that should reasonably be disclosed to the insurer, even if you use a car insurance comparison site which doesn’t ask you about the particular fact in question. Not doing so could void you insurance policy.

Temporary car insurance is designed to cover you when you need to drive another car for a short period of time. It can be a far better alternative than taking out an annual policy, or going through the hassle of being added to someone else’s policy for a short period. You can normally arrange cover online within a matter of minutes. If for any reason you need to drive a car which is not your own, don’t risk driving without temporary insurance cover. By the same token, if someone else needs to use your car, you might not want to risk your no-claims bonus by adding someone else to your annual policy.

Third Party Insurance

Car Insurance Laws

The first UK car insurance law dates back to 1930 which stipulated that any person who drives a car needed to possess at least third party personal injury insurance. Subsequently, the car insurance law came to be known as the Road Traffic Act (RTA), which asserts that :

Car owners are completely responsible for their car (even when someone else drives their car and is involved in an accident or injury).
The policy holder cannot allow any other person to drive the car unless they do not have a car insurance policy.
It is compulsory for vehicle owners to have at least third party insurance against liabilities.

Third Party Insurance, according to RTA, is a policy that car owners need to be insured for liabilities such as possible injuries to others. They also require the driver to be insured for possible damage to another person’s residence due to the use of a car on a public road or in other public places like parks, residential areas and private properties.

The terms and conditions documented in your car insurance policy holds a legal value in the court of law. According to the motoring laws of UK, the authorities such as the traffic police can request a driver to show car insurance coverage when needed. It should be noted that not producing the insurance policy is a legal offence.
It provides legal proof that your car has been insured and that you are wholly responsible for it.

What Are The Legal Requirements Of Car Insurance

What Are The Legal Requirements Of Car Insurance ? (The Legal Requirements of Car Insurance)

Like every other insurance policy, car insurance has certain legal requirements and stipulations. The transport department of the UK government enforces strict motoring laws. Consequently, it is vital for all vehicle owners to be aware of the legalities of car insurance laws.

First and foremost, the car must be registered. It is illegal to drive a car that has not been registered with the DVLA which makes it a prerequisite of car insurance also.
Secondly, it is obligatory on the policyholder to keep the insured car roadworthy. In the UK, this means producing an MOT certificate when applying for or renewing your insurance policy. MOT is required on a car that is over 3 years old.
Thirdly, road tax on any insured car must be up-to-date. Insurance companies will not issue insurance without proof of payment of the road tax.

The most basic legal requirement of any existing insurance policy is that the details given by the policyholder are correct.
By law, within the UK, it is a legal requirement for every car to have at least a ‘third-party’ insurance policy; it is illegal to drive without it. This ensures that the driver is insured against any injuries to other people, or damage to property.
If they change during the existence of the policy, the insurance company must be informed. Without this, the contract becomes null and void and any claim will not be upheld.

If traveling abroad, it is necessary in some countries to carry a ‘green card’. This is an internationally recognized document which states that your insurance covers at least the minimum requirements of the country which you are visiting. Within Europe, most countries have the same requirements as the UK, so the green card is not needed. However, do always carry your certificate of insurance and always check that you have the right insurance before you leave.

How Can You Look to Calculate the Cheapest Car Insurance

How Can You Look to Calculate the Cheapest Car Insurance ? (Calculating the Cheapest Car Insurance)

Driving a car has become an expensive luxury. Combine the cost of the car and gas with your car insurance policy and it becomes a pricey proposition. It is interesting to know that UK car insurance for young drivers is on the high side. Nevertheless, there are definitely ways to calculate the cheapest car insurance possible.

Many leading car insurance providers such as Direct Link, AA Car Insurance and Admiral Car Insurance provide online calculators where you can estimate your policy and premium expenses. Most of them even offer online discounts.
Cheap Car Insurance Excludes…

Always remember that if it sounds too good to be true it should raise your suspicions. If the quotation offered is really cheap, find out what exactly they are covering and not covering in the policy. The price of a premium is dependent on the level of coverage offered. The level of coverage can range from the minimum required third party insurance to comprehensive coverage.

Some car insurance firms may not offer substitute car in case your car has an accident or may not provide you with an approved car repairer network.

Calculate your mileage

Calculate your mileage correctly to get the best budget car insurance : Calculating your mileage accurately can help you can obtain budget car insurance. The basis on which your premium is calculated is the mileage of your vehicle. If you are not using your car for commuting to work and instead using the public transport, your mileage will be lower. Mention this important piece of information to your car insurance company. This will enable you to negotiate a lower premium price.
Add an older person to lower your car insurance premium : An option for a cost effective car policy for younger drivers (17-25 years) is to include an older driver to their insurance policy. Premiums are lower for older drivers thus saving a young driver approximately ?45 on an insurance premium.
Buy third party cover car insurance : If you are on a tight budget, you can save money with third party coverage. As compared to comprehensive car coverage, third party cover is substantially lower and cheaper. This type of coverage is ideal for second hand cars, although third party coverage will not cover any kind of damage to your car or for any personal injury.

Purchase car insurance online : Obtaining car insurance online can get you 5%-25% in discounts on your policy. Buying car insurance the conventional way may mean that you are paying more because you have to compensate for a broker’s services. With online insurance you do not have to reimburse the broker, as it is a direct purchasing relationship between you and your car insurance company.

Avail budgets from car insurance companies : Whether you are opting for car insurance for the first time or renewing it annually, remember to inquire for discounts from your intermediary or car insurance firm. Most people forget to ask about discounts, consequently paying a higher premium.

Select niche car insurers : If you happen to own a classic car, it is best that you get its insurance from a niche car insurer. They have expertise in this field and will offer you a cost effective, tailor-made car insurance policy. Most of them even offer substantial discounts.
Install anti-theft devices : You can purchase economical car insurance policy by installing anti-theft devices. You can install simple devices like locks and alarms or get sophisticated anti-theft systems. Insurance providers are receptive to safety conscious drivers and offer lower premiums.

UK Insurance Categories

UK Insurance Categories
‘Third Party Car Insurance’ covers any damage to a car other than your own and injuries to any person other than yourself.
‘Fire and Theft Car Insurance’ covers any situations where fire damages your car or it is stolen.
‘Comprehensive Car Insurance’ covers third party and fir and theft requirements, and any damage to the vehicle of the policyholder regardless of whose fault the accident was.

It is a legal requirement in the UK to have at least Third Party Insurance before taking your vehicle onto a public road.

Types of Commercial Insurance Brokers ?
A commercial insurance broker deals in different varieties of commercial insurance and sells them to commercial customers including small businesses, home businesses, mid size offices and large corporations. Brokers work in small agencies that are licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
What Are The Options For Budget Car Insurance ? (Options for Budget Car Insurance)
Several options are available for acquiring a car insurance policy within your budget. This is a list of seven practical options to lower your insurance premium.

AA Car Insurance

AA Car Insurance

AA Car Insurance is the Automobile Association’s division of car insurance that was established in 1967. It is UK’s biggest home and car insurance brokering service company.
Advantages
AA Claims Assistance Service which includes the company’s own panel of insurance experts that investigates claims and ensures complete claim payment on valid claims.
Tries to recover uninsured losses such as compensation for injury, damage, excess and loss of money.

Offers up to 12.5% discount on its standard rate.
AA Car Insurance provides the facility of classic car insurance for cars more than 15 years old.
Customers can obtain ?50,000 legal cover with up to 65% No Claims Discount.
Claims to save its members up to 40% on car insurance.

Admiral Car Insurance: Admiral Car Insurance specializes in budget car insurance for people less than 25 years old, metropolitan population and high performance cars.
Advantages
?5,000 personal accident insurance.
Complimentary windscreen insurance for comprehensive car insurance.
Up to ?750 of audio/visual system coverage.
Equivalent to ?100 cover for personal items.
Toll free hotline.
10% discount offered for getting car insurance policies online.
Offers multiple auto insurance with a 23% discount.
Replacement car is available, while your car is being repaired.
No Claims Bonus facility.
?100,000 legal expenses.

Norwich Union, Admiral Car Insurance and AA Car Insurance are some of the most popular car insurance companies in UK. For more details on the insurance companies and their services, you can check out their websites or call their representatives for a one on one meeting.

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The Top Car Insurance Companies in the UK

The Top Car Insurance Companies in the UK


Searching for best car insurance quotes can turn into a cumbersome and tedious process. You might come across some car insurance providers that offer fantastic discounts but they may not provide flexible payment plans. You may encounter insurance companies that include cheap and flexible payment plans but do not provide the facility of a replacement car. You should look at the top UK car insurers to get some of the best car insurance quotes currently available in the market.

A word of caution: Do not entirely depend on recommendations from this list only, as these might not be what you are seeking.

It is prudent that you conduct your own research and request for reliable opinions as well as talk to people you know about their policies and experiences.
Norwich Union

Norwich Union is a subsidiary of AVIVA, the world’s fifth largest and the UK’s biggest insurance group. Norwich Union’s insurance activities are monitored by the Financial Services Authority.
Advantages

Cost-effective quotes for comprehensive cover, third party, fire & theft car insurance.
No Claims Discount for 3 years.
Concessions available for a second car.
Access to recommended auto repairer network.
Three years guaranteed repairs.

Roadside breakdown assistance is arranged throughout the UK.
25% discount for new car insurance customers.
Break down coverage from ?28, depending on customer’s situation.
Round the clock claims support.
Substitute car is provided if your car is being repaired.
Provisional car insurance, especially suitable for short-term drivers or temporary car.
Specialist car insurance offered for vintage and classic cars(more than 12 years old, with a mileage less than 5,000 miles per year).

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How much will my car insurance cost

How much will my car insurance cost
Insurance is essential in the UK in all its forms. There are thousands of commercial insurance companies that offer different types of insurance in the UK.

These policies vary from car insurance to health insurance and direct insurance to group insurance. There is one drawback to the variety of insurance offered, the average UK citizen is hard pressed to understand the difference between the various insurance categories and is unable to assess the insurance policy best suited to their individual needs.

There are numerous insurance companies in the UK vying for customers and stating that they offer the 'best insurance quotes' or the 'cheapest insurance' in the UK. However, in the general furor of information, individuals become victims when they sign insurance policies without reading the fine print. The 'cheapest insurance' policy promised by some insurance company may turn out to be ‘not so cheap’ when you file a claim.

The best way to deal with the tricks of the insurance companies and insurance brokers is to be equipped with the key terms and information needed before signing the insurance forms. Learn to handle the suaveness of insurance brokers by knowing the UK insurance market. Insurance brokers and insurance companies are not in the business to protect you; they are in it for the money. Make sure you get the best deal by turning the tables, learn all about the insurance you need and to get the best insurance deals.

If you are struggling financially and need to save every penny on your car insurance premiums, then you may be able to get away with the most basic collision and state-required liability coverage. However, if you have a newer car, it is unwise not to get comprehensive car insurance, even if you don’t live in an area known for natural disasters. IF you still are in debt on your vehicle, then you also must have comprehensive car insurance coverage.

Does my car insurance cover a rental car

Does my car insurance cover a rental car- How Computer Technology Affects Your Car Insurance

Since the inception of car insurance, things have changed quite a bit. The services and packages were a lot more personalized.

The insurance house would build a relationship with their client and would base the premium on their specialized needs. As is still the case, males under the age of 25 would get a higher premium than anyone else. Females were awarded the lowest premiums, if their driving records were good.

But now that computers have come into play in the modern world, things are changing in the insurance business. Nowadays, it does not matter what you say to your insurance broker, or how wonderful your relationship is with him, as your premium will be determined by the insurance company’s computer system and what information they can find out about you on it. In this day and age, using computers and the internet, insurance companies can find out whether or not you have a bad driving history, what your credit report is like and also if you have any traffic offences or a criminal record. These factors, in addition to your age and address, will affect your insurance premium.

The key here is to ensure that you have a clean record for them to check up on. If you obtain any driving tickets, make sure they are always paid up to date. If you have a motor vehicle accident, take an advanced driving course, which will also go on your record, to prove that you are improving your skills. Keeping your credit score clean is important too, not only for your car insurance purposes, but for the health of your finances too.

It is not common for insurers to claim “act of God” in situations where there is someone driving the vehicle. These cases can be contested in court and you are very likely to win. However, you will first have to go through the ordeal of filing your case and a significant amount of your awarded damages may end up going to legal fees.

Сompare autos- insurance groups

Сompare autos- insurance groups


All About Car Tracker Systems

No one wants their car to be stolen, especially since it is invaluable for transportation and is worth a decent amount of money. Having a motor vehicle stolen can be one of the most traumatic things to happen. Luckily, there are some measures to prevent this from being a probability.

Before we continue to explain car tracker systems, you need to understand just how valuable a good security system on your vehicle is. The more security you have for your vehicle, and the better it is, the lower your premium will be. This is because all insurance is based on risk, and if you have a low risk vehicle, then your premium will thus be lower.

A car tracker system is an excellent method of car security, because with a tracker system, you have a good chance of your vehicle being recovered once it has been stolen. A car tracker system works with GPS tracking systems. When your vehicle is stolen, a signal is activated that is picked up by your tracking company, who then track your vehicle. Even if your vehicle has been stripped of some valuable parts whilst it was in the hands of the thieves, you will at least have your car back!

Many people install tracker systems on their vehicles for pay as you drive car insurance. This is an effective way of them monitoring how far you have travelled each month. Furthermore, your premium will be lower because the theft risk of your vehicle will be reduced. Some companies like to use tracking systems on their business vehicles, to track how far is being travelled each month by employees. This assists them in rationing petrol allowances.

Teaming a good tracker system with an alarm, gear lock and immobilizer will lower your premium substantially. Regardless of the initial cost of the installation of your tracker, it will be worth the money you are saving on your premium each month.

Car insurance isn’t just to cover you while you are driving. With comprehensive car insurance coverage, you likely have coverage against “acts of God.” This coverage is for natural disasters, freak accidents, and the many other events in which no one party is at blame. Most commonly, acts of God are related to whether, like when the wind blows a tree onto your car and crushes it completely.

Money car insurance

Claiming on your insurance will invalidate any NCD you have built up
Get the car insurance cover you need

The first step when buying car insurance for the first time is to consider the type of cover you want. There are three types to choose from:
Third party car insurance

This is the lowest level of cover. It insures against damage and injuries that you, or your passenger, cause to another person or their property in an accident. It doesn't pay for any damage or injury to you or your car.
Third party, fire and theft car insurance

This is like third party cover but it will also pay to repair or replace your car if it's stolen, damaged or destroyed by fire.
Comprehensive car insurance

Comprehensive cover extends third party, fire and theft insurance to cover damage to your own car in the event of an accident.

Even if you're thinking about third party, fire and theft, it's also worth getting quotes for comprehensive cover. You may find that comprehensive cover doesn't cost any more than third party, fire and theft these days, especially if you have a few years' no claims bonuses behind you.
No-claims discount

The no-claims discount (NCD) is one of the most important features of your car insurance policy. The amount of NCD you can expect varies widely between insurers. One year's claim-free motoring could give you a discount of as much as 57.5% or as little as 27%, depending on which company you're with.

Typically, you can reach a maximum NCD of 60% to 70% if you have four years of claim-free motoring. Some insurers offer a higher maximum NCD for older drivers.

Claiming on your insurance will invariably invalidate any NCD you've built up (see protected no-claims, below).

Your NCD will be cut if you make a claim, but the size of the cut varies between insurers. Check with your insurer what happens if you have to make further claims within a three or five-year period – as it may mean a further cut in your NCD.
Protected no-claims

You can limit the impact of a claim on your NCD by paying extra for NCD protection. You'll typically have to pay 10% to 15% to protect your NCD – and it's usually available only after four years with the same insurer. However, this protection can make a huge difference to the premiums you pay for your car insurance.

If you protect your NCD, making one claim in a year will have no effect. Making two claims in a year won't affect your NCD with some companies, but with others your NCD could be reduced to as little as 45% if you make two claims in the same year.
Courtesy car

A replacement car is a useful benefit if your car is off the road after an accident. Most insurers will provide a courtesy car – but only if your car is repaired by an approved repairer. If you don't choose one of the insurer's approved repairers, you won't get a courtesy car.

Some insurers offer a courtesy car only if your car is damaged in an accident, not if it's stolen. Others charge an extra premium for providing a courtesy car after theft. All of our car insurance Recommended Providers offer a courtesy car after both accident and theft.

Compare nationwide average auto insurance premiums for all types of cars, trucks and SUVs. After selecting the make and model of the vehicle you want insured, you can receive auto insurance quotes from leading insurance companies through internet. The auto insurance comparison tool allows for you to see how much insuring your vehicle may cost by state.

Car insurance policy limits

Things To Consider Before Choosing A Car Insurance Company Everyone needs car insurance, but choosing which car insurance company to insure your vehicle with can be quite an exhausting task. There are many auto insurance companies out there for you to choose from, and knowing which one will be the right company for you can be difficult. One person’s opinion of a fantastic insurance company could be another person’s idea of the worst possible one. It depends completely on your individual insurance needs. We will outline some things to keep in mind so that you make an informed and good decision based on your own specialized vehicle insurance needs.

Why Won't the Minimum State Insurance Requirements Cover Me?

This is a good question. It seems funny that each state legislature would set a minimum insurance requirement and then your insurance agent tells you that the minimum is not enough. But it is true and sometimes the changes it takes to put into law what is the best coverage for car insurance is a lengthy process and is often behind the economy changes. Let us look at an example:

Wyoming's state minimum insurance requirements are 25/50/20. The first two numbers refer to bodily injury liability limits and the third number refers to the property damage liability limit. The first two numbers in 25/50/20 would mean in an accident each person injured would receive a maximum of up to 25,000 with only 50,000 allowed per accident (ex. 2 people needing 25,000, if the need is more such as 3 people needing 25,000 then whoever files first gets first access to the 50,000 limit and you may be sued for the rest if the accident was your fault!). The last number refers to the total coverage per accident for property damage which in this case would be 20,000.

It is easy to see how these limits may not cover all the the liability and property damage needs. Now that you understand what the numbers mean, below is a listing of each state's minimum insurance requirements. Look up the state you live in and do the math to see if you feel comfortable with the minimum numbers. It does not cost much more to raise your car insurance limits and I would encourage you to contact your insurance agent to do just that if you find that you only have the minimum car insurance required by your state. The first thing you need to do is to carefully think about what you want from your insurer. Consider what your insurance needs are and what sort of cover you are looking for. Research the assorted kinds of insurance cover that you can take out, and then look into insurance companies which offer that kind of cover. Remember the cheapest deal is not necessarily the best. It’s all about the value for your money you will be getting. What you need to do is to compile as many quotes as possible from as many different car insurance companies as possible. Once you have some good quotes in front of you, you have to take some time to consider the attributes of each company so you know who would be a good choice. Firstly, take into account the insurance company’s ways of handling clients. Are they always polite on the phone? How seriously do they take your questions and is their customer service efficient and professional. The way they handle you when you are only a potential customer goes a long way in telling how they will handle you as a client. Check up if they have a portfolio of client reviews on their service that is legitimate with signatures. In relation to this, you can also talk to trusted family members and friends and find out who they are insured with. Ask them for their honest opinion on the car insurance companies they know of, and what they like or dislike about their insurance company. The next thing you need to do is to research the auto insurance companies you are interested in. Find out how long they have been in business for. You will want to go with a good, established company that has a few years behind them. That way you will also know they are financially stable. You will want the company to be financially stable, as it goes without saying that if the company does not have money, you could find yourself without any payout when you need to claim! Researching the insurance company you are interested in will help you make an informed decision. You can find a lot of information online and through the media.

Multiple car insurance policies

Thousands of people own 3 vehicles or more. They might be a mix of cars, vans, HGVs, horseboxes, caravanettes and motorcycles, but the fact is the owner can only drive one of them at a time.

Family Fleet is a driver-based policy whereby all vehicles are covered under an umbrella policy; the more vehicles with the least number of drivers, the bigger the savings.

Multi-car cover allows you to use a single policy to cover multiple vehicles. Some providers will cover up to five vehicles under a single multi-car policy provided they are all registered to the same address - which means that an entire family could be covered under the same policy, provided they all live at the same address.

A multi-car policy is a lot like buying your insurance in bulk - because multiple people are protected by the same policy, your insurer can reward you with lower prices for that cover in the same way that energy companies will often offer you discounts on dual fuel energy bills. You are making their administration process simpler and also bringing more business to the company.

However, buying a multi-car policy does not always work out cheaper, and as such it's always worth exploring both options before you make a decision.