Buying a second hand car is often cheaper than going to a dealer, but if you don’t know what to look for then it may cost you in the long run. Here is some advice for buying a used car:
For more advice click here: http://www.youtube.com/swiftcover
Add comment March 9th, 2010
Car insurance fronting is becoming a common problem with UK motorists, especially with parents wanting a cheaper motor insurance quote, but what many drivers are unaware of, is that they are actually breaking the law in doing so.
According to swiftcover.com one in four policy holders claim to accidently putting their son or daughter as a spouse or partner, instead of a named driver. In fact car insurance fronting has almost doubled in the last two years.
What is fronting?
Fronting is where an experienced motorist adds a young or new driver as a named driver to their policy. The main driver should be the one using the car most of the time and any additional drivers should be only driving occasionally. If the young or new driver uses the car more than the main driver, it is called fronting and is illegal as false information has been given to the car insurance company.
In some cases policy holders have often added a younger driver, normally a son or daughter, to their policy under the relation of ‘spouse’ or ‘partner’ therefore saving even more money on car insurance illegally.
Swiftcover says insurance companies share information between themselves and other agencies to help spot the tell-tale signs of attempted fraud.
Robin Reames, claims director for swiftcover.com, states that car insurance companies are “cracking down” on insurance fronting, as it eventually ends up costing other motorists more money.
Furthermore, anybody caught fronting – both the younger driver and the older driving committing the fraud – will face much higher insurance premiums in the future and may even be turned down by many insurers.
Add comment March 3rd, 2010
Toyota’s recent recall of vehicles has raised concerns amongst Toyota drivers about whether it is safe to drive their cars, and some are uncertain if their car insurance would cover them in the event of an accident.
Toyota recalled six models of vehicles because of problems with the accelerator pedals. The models affected are the IQ, Aygo, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Avensis and Verso. The Times Online reported that the recall has cost Toyota $2billion which includes cars in Europe, China and the US. They also reported that drivers will have to wait another week before the new parts arrive in the UK, and repairs are only due to start on the 10th February.
More than 10 000 people in the UK have phoned Toyota with concerns, and to find out whether they should continue driving their cars. If you are concerned about your car and whether you will be covered if you have an accident, then it’s probably best to contact your insurance company to check.
If you are a UK Toyota customer and unsure whether your car is affected, then click here for more information.
Add comment February 5th, 2010
After spending a fortune on a brand new car, it is frustrating knowing that as soon as you drive it away from the car dealership it loses value. You may be interested in a recent report from Parkers which named and shamed the cars which depreciate the most. Surprisingly the more luxurious cars such as a Rolls-Royce and Maybach were found to depreciate the most; you could lose up to £127,526 over a year- Is it really worth it?
If you are looking for a car that depreciates slowly then the Honda Jazz may be the car for you, as it topped the list for the top 10 performers of 2009, depreciating only £1379 over the year. Other good buys are the Fiat 500 (08 on) or the SEAT Ibiza. If you don’t want to lose so much money it seems the smaller cars are the ones to go for as they took up 35 of the 40 top places.
The figures were calculated by comparing the estimated market value of 10,000-mile car, which was bought new 12 months earlier, against its list price new. Here is a full list of the findings:
Top 10 performers:
1 Honda Jazz (08 on) - £1,379
2 Fiat 500 (08 on) - £1,460
3 SEAT Ibiza (08 on) - £1,552
4 Hyundai i10 (08 on) - £1,650
5 Mazda2 (07 on) - £1,702
6 Kia Picanto (04 on) - £1,760
7 VW Fox (06 on) - £1,781
8 Suzuki Swift (05 on) - £1,900
9 Toyota Aygo (05 on) - £2,148
10 Mitsubishi i (07 on) - £2,271
Bottom 10 performers:
1 Maybach 62 (03 on) - £127,526
2 Maybach 57 (03 on) - £115,253
3 Rolls-Royce Phantom (03 on) - £81,183
4 Bentley Arnage (98 on) - £66,040
5 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (05 on) - £51,627
6 Mercedes-Benz SL AMG (02 on) - £51,381
7 Bentley Continental Flying Spur (05 on) - £47,080
8 Aston Martin DBS (08 on) - £41,347
9 Bentley Continental GT Coupé - £40,110
10 Ferrari F430 (05 on) - £37,188
Add comment January 29th, 2010
If you know someone who is a car lover, you may want to buy an automotive gift for them this Christmas.
A personalised registration plate would make a great gift. Car insurance provider, swiftcover.com recently found that despite motoring costs increasing, people are still buying personalised number plates as they add to the enjoyment of motoring.
There are also many gadgets and accessories to choose from, such as a car torch or a car boot organiser, or how about a car magazine subscription or a driving experience? Have a look at www.meandmycar.co.uk and www.gifts.com for some more automotive gift ideas.
It’s probably best to avoid buying furry dice and car stickers, after swiftcover.com discovered that people who have these in their cars are more likely to have road rage.
Add comment December 7th, 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
Seatbelts are an important safety feature in every car, however some people can still suffer from bruising or even broken ribs when in an accident due to the force of a seatbelt. Most of the time these injuries are minimal compared to what could have been, but could these injuries be avoided as technology and safety improves?
Ford has launched an inflatable seatbelt which is based on airbag technology. In the event of an accident the seatbelt will inflate and expand in the space of only 40 milliseconds. It will stay inflated for a few seconds after the crash, and then it will slowly deflate as the air escapes out of the pores in the airbag.
The inflatable seatbelts will initially be introduced in the backseats of the latest Ford Explorer 4×4 model, which goes into production in the United States next year, and according to whatcar.com, Ford would like to use the seatbelt in more of their products in the future.
This could possibly be the future of the seatbelt, and if the trial works well, then we could see a decrease in the number of injuries caused by seatbelts.
Add comment November 12th, 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
Road Rage is a common part of everyday driving for some motorists, but identifying an angry driver is often impossible unless you hear a horn, or manage to get a glimpse of an angry stare.
However, US Academics have researched into these actions and came up with a somewhat interesting fact about motorists and their car stickers. Research has shown that drivers who display stickers on their cars, have the tendency to become more aggressive behind the wheel, due to car stickers acting as a territorial mark.
Research was conducted in the UK by car insurance company swiftcover.com. Thankfully only 3% of UK drivers displayed these ‘territorial marks’ in their vehicles, although 13% admitted to having an ornament hanging below their rear-view mirror. 2% of the focus group also admitted to displaying furry dice in their cars.
In the US, Colorado State University found that drivers who displayed stickers, were also prone to acting more territorial while driving on the roads, and were shown as aggressive drivers when other motorists invaded their space.
swiftcover.com took the information with a pinch of salt, and expressed that something like this would never provide enough proof for anyone’s Motor Insurance to increase.
Add comment November 5th, 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.
