Posts filed under 'insurance'
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:
If you dont know much about cars then take along someone who does. You could ask a friend or get an independent car check from a provider such as the AA.
Get a credit check, which will tell you if a car has any outstanding finance on it, if it does you may find that you don’t actually own it.
Go for a test drive- this will give you a good feel of the car and will help you pick up any potential issues, but make sure you have adequate car insurance cover to drive it.
Check the V5 registration document and make sure the name and address match the sellers. If the car doesn’t have a V5 document then best not to buy it.
Look at the vehicle identification number; make sure it matches the number on the V5 registration document, if it doesn’t then give it a miss.
For more advice click here: http://www.youtube.com/swiftcover
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.
March 3rd, 2010
With half term coming up many families will jet off to ski resorts for fun packed holidays, and with the excellent snow conditions it’s bound to be a popular activity for the mid term break.
The Telegraph reported that half a metre of fresh snow is expected to fall in many resorts, across France, Austria, Switzerland and almost a metre in some US resorts which will make room for great skiing.
If you are more of a thrill seeker looking for a winter sport other than skiing then you may like to have a go at ice karting, similar to go-karting but with studded tyres. Alternatively you could try snowboarding or how about snowlerblading? Click here to have a look at some more adventurous activities, but make sure your travel insurance is in order before setting off on your trip.
February 12th, 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.

February 5th, 2010
Readers of lovemoney.com recently voted swiftcover.com as the best ‘Value for Money’ car insurer for 2010. The awards were voted for by actual insurance buyers, which gives a real-life reflection of what customers think about the insurer.
Marketing Director of swiftcover.com, Tina Shortle says:
To be named the best, ‘Value for Money’ car insurer shows that our commitment to low cost car insurance backed by a service customers expect, is working
So if you are looking for value for money then it might be worth getting a quote from swiftcover.com.
February 3rd, 2010
Legendary rocker Iggy Pop will once again feature in swiftcover.com’s TV adverts, but this year’s £30million advertising campaign comes with a twist as Iggy reveals ‘Little Iggy’, an impatient, trouble making Iggy Pop puppet.
Despite last years TV adverts being somewhat controversial, Marketing Director, Tina Shortle says:
Iggy loved the fact that last year’s campaign stirred up a lot of emotion, so this year we’ve played on the controversy with even more irreverent humour. The introduction of ‘Little Iggy’ allowed Iggy to play against type and become the chilled-out, golf-playing rock star whilst ‘Little Iggy’ causes havoc.
Iggy Pop also fronted swiftcover.com’s 2009 campaign which proved successful as sales increased by a third. This year’s campaign will continue to be about getting your insurance quickly so you can ‘get a life’. The Little Iggy car insurance advertising campaign will be seen on TV, radio, billboards, and online.
Keep an eye out for the new TV advert or you can view it on YouTube

January 19th, 2010
Over the past few weeks the snow and freezing weather conditions has resulted in flight disruptions, which affected flight arrivals and caused delays to departures.
Flights from Gatwick, Southampton, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol and Exeter airports and passengers at Cardiff, Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted were all affected. The daily mail reported that some passengers were told to leave terminal five without their luggage due to flight delays, and it had been recommended that passengers contact the airline before going to the airport.
If you are planning on travelling make sure you are prepared and have adequate travel insurance, you never know when you might need it. Click here for the latest travel news.
January 14th, 2010
With the wet weather conditions and increased traffic on the roads expected at Christmas, it is important to take extra care on the roads. Here are a few tips which will help make your journey safer:
Check your tyres are properly inflated and have sufficient tread depth.
Check your headlights are working and you have a full tank of petrol, so you can avoid getting stranded.
Take along an emergency kit, including a blanket, water, high energy snacks, a torch, basic tool kit, first aid kit, jump leads and a tow rope.
Make sure your windscreen is fully de-iced before you set off.
Drive safely this Christmas to avoid starting the New Year with a car insurance claim.
December 23rd, 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.
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
November 20th, 2009
Previous Posts