Christmas should be a relaxing and enjoyable time of year but often you can get caught up in all the rush and preparation and end up missing the good bits. To make sure you don’t miss out on the important things this Christmas, plan ahead and take some of this advice from online motor insurer ,swiftcover.com:
Add comment December 3rd, 2009
The countdown to Christmas has begun and with that comes the rush to buy Christmas presents. However, going to a shopping mall at this time of year can be a rather stressful experience, and the excitement of buying gifts often fades as you see the crowds.
With long queues, and pushing and shoving it’s no surprise that more people are deciding to buy their Christmas gifts online. With no hassle and less fuss it often proves the easier option, and you can buy them wherever and whenever you want to.
According to Sky News, it was predicted that yesterday would be the busiest day of the year for internet shopping. It was the first Monday before the start of December and many online stores saw a rise in sales as people started their Christmas shopping. They also said that this year 69% of consumers will do some of their Christmas shopping online.
Buying online can save you a lot of time and money. From buying your Christmas gifts through to buying your essential, but not as exciting, household and car insurance policies. Nowadays it’s easy to compare prices and find the best deals, and it is almost a stress free experience.
Add comment December 1st, 2009
Research was taken out by car insurance company swiftcover.com, to see how many motorists knew what their motor insurance policies included and what exactly they were covered for. The research returned provided some interesting results.
Facts showed that 17% of car insurance customers admitted to never reading their policies, and diving straight in at the deep end. Online car insurance provider swiftcover.com try to solve this issue by providing motorists with useful, broken down information on every little aspect or term that is involved in a policy document.
The first ever online car insurance jargon buster which helps people who are looking for a car insurance quote was produced by swiftcover.com, and helps motorists understand terms from car modifications to voluntary excess, in fact 23% of car owners had no idea what voluntary excess actually meant. Some other facts included; 51% do not know that ‘material fact’ is the information that you give to your insurer that could affect your insurance policy, such as having points on your licence.
Swiftcover’s car insurance jargon buster proved to have helped 46% of motorists, providing them with more detailed information, helping them understand what they are buying and how to receive cheaper car insurance quotes.
Read more information on what car insurance customers were puzzled about when it came to understanding car insurance.
Add comment November 27th, 2009
Flooding has caused chaos on the roads as torrential rain has hit some parts of the UK, and the rainy weather is set to continue over the weekend.
The environmental agency has put 27 flood warnings in place, and severe gales may also accompany the rain.
With these warnings in place it is important not to drive unless essential, as driving conditions are treacherous and many roads are closed. However if you do decide to drive in these conditions then keep this advice in mind:
• Lower your speed
• Leave a longer gap between yourself and other traffic
• Watch out for any shiny patches as they could be puddles of water
• Be alert and ready to slow down if needed
If you are planning a journey this weekend remember these tips and ensure you have adequate car insurance cover. Click on the article link below for more advice on flooding and for information about road closures.
Article: Flood rescue: what you need to know
Add comment November 20th, 2009
Many people use comparison sites to find the best deals, as they take the hassle out of shopping around, making the process much quicker and easier.
Research from Which? Money recently found that some consumers are disappointed with the standard of customer service they receive from these sites. They found that on average customers were 50% or less satisfied when it came to customer service.
However, in response to the survey moneysupermarket.com challenged the credibility of the research saying:
Our own customer satisfaction survey, which runs monthly, shows 83% of our customers are extremely satisfied or satisfied (sample size 20,488 since March 2009). What’s more we are making steady and continual improvements to our satisfaction score.
At the end of the day comparison sites save people a lot of time, and as comparison sites continue to improve and grow, they are becoming a more popular way of shopping around. If in doubt, in some cases it may be good to check the price directly before you buy.
So keep this in mind the next time your shopping for the best car insurance deals.
Add comment November 19th, 2009
Friday 13th is known as a day of good or bad luck. Some people will approach today with caution, whilst others will just carry on like it’s any other day.
According to BBC Online, research has found that people who consider themselves unlucky are more likely to believe in superstitions associated to bad luck; however people who consider themselves lucky tend to believe in superstitions related to good luck.
Friday 13th, nonetheless, could be unlucky for road users. Research from the AA and the Work Wise UK organisation found that Fridays are the worst day for road accidents, and the month of November has consistently been a bad month for road accidents, so a combination of the two may result in an unlucky day.
So whether you believe in luck or not, make sure you avoid a car insurance claim by adapting to the deteriorating road conditions, and take care on the road.
Add comment November 13th, 2009
It has been nearly six months since the scrappage scheme started and it seems to have been a success so far, after it was announced that there was a record increase in car sales in October.
According to BBC Online,168,942 new cars were registered last month, this is an increase of 31.6% compared to last years sales, and it is thought that over 20% of them resulted from the scrappage scheme.
The Times Online also revealed that the Ford Fiesta was the best selling model in the month, for the eighth time this year.
When the scheme was launched it looked likely for it to run out this month, but in September the government decided that it would be extended to early next year. So you still have a few months if you are thinking of making use of the scheme, and with the VAT increase planned for January it’s probably worth making the most of it before the end of the year.
Add comment November 6th, 2009
Thousands of car insurance shoppers around the UK are bound to worry about getting their motor insurance documents through the post with the postal strike coming up.
Swiftcover have been quick to point out that they offer 100% online car insurance, so there are no delays. This means that swiftcover.com customers who get a 60 second quote online and purchase can be covered within just a few clicks.
By logging in to Swiftcover’s innovative, personal and secure customer area ‘My Swift Space’, they can view and manage their car insurance every hour of every day! Customers are able to view and print all documents related to their policy straight away. So no delays and no strikes to worry about.
What’s more, at any time of the day or night, customers can:
• Get a quote
• Buy a policy
• Make and track a claim
• Make changes to their policy
• Check premium payments
• Read and print policy documents
• Renew a policy
Just a quick tip though … if you are going to be sending a birthday card, make sure you send it at least a week in advance or why not send an e-card this year to guarantee it gets there on time!
Add comment October 23rd, 2009
The cost of running a car seems to be ever increasing, and on a recent trip to the petrol station I couldn’t help but notice the increased costs. But it appears I’m not the only one who is feeling the pressure, as research done by swiftcover.com found that almost 7 out of 10 drivers say their motoring costs have increased in the last 12 months.
There are however a few tips which can help us save on our motoring costs:
• Don’t be a boy racer- driving fast increases your fuel consumption
• Travel light- hauling around a boot full of junk will increase your petrol costs
• Drive green- some insurance companies such as swiftcover.com give a 10% discount on insurance for hybrid cars
• Lose the roof rack- they cause drag and increase petrol costs
swiftcover.com are also doing their bit to help motorists save money. They have teamed up with Total UK, and are giving motorists a £30 off voucher on swiftcover.com car insurance, when you buy 30litres or more Excellium petrol or diesel at participating stations. For full details visit www.total.co.uk
Add comment October 23rd, 2009
Research by ‘You and Your Wedding Magazine’ shows that the average cost of a wedding is nearly £16,000 which can leave many couples starting their married life with little or no savings.
However, there is some good news. Online insurance company swiftcover.com says that
Adding a spouse to your car insurance policy can save you up to 20%
For example:
A man adding his female spouse to his insurance policy could see his premium cut from over £388 to under £345 - if both drivers are male and in a civil partnership, the new premium would be around £348 because male drivers are considered a higher risk.
However, if a woman driver put her male spouse on her policy, the premium would fall from just over £341 to little more than £303 - the cost for two women in a civil partnership would also be around £303.
It isn’t just those who are ‘officially hitched’ who benefit. Couples, whether hetrosexual or same-sex partners, will still see a saving with swiftcover.com, although it may not be as high as those in a legally recognised partnership.
Click on the article link below for more information about how you and your partner can save money on your motor insurance and what to do when shopping around.
Article: Marriage can Cut the Cost of Car Insurance
Add comment August 26th, 2009
Swiftcover car insurance has taken the pain out of getting cheaper motor insurance quotes. There are no queues, no unnecessary chat and no endless questions.
