Discrimination and car insurance

Previously the Government and the insurance industry agreed that insurers will ‘signpost’ customers who are turned down because of their age – by referring them on to an insurance broker or another provider who might be able to offer coverage.

However, according to the mystery shopping survey conducted, 15% of people aged 85 or above are not given phone or online quotes for motor insurance because of their age. A further 80% of those are not directed on.

People believe that these results prove the new agreement introduced in April 2012 by the Association of British Insurers does not seem to work effectively.

The findings suggest that a lot of older people are being denied the right to drive and deprived of their independence, purely on the basis of age rather than actual risk.

As a result, age discrimination in insurance and other financial services is legally permitted to continue.

 Our experience have taught us that it is feasible to provide successful insurance products to the market without upper age limits or any hidden charges.

Research involved 175 older people aged 60 and over shopping for phone or online quotes from 39 leading insurance companies.

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Driving with safety, keeping your insurance down.

Driving is an essential part of everyday life around the country and the world; however, such a task comes with a risk. Not every person is thoughtful and attentive when inside of a car. In the year 2010, over 208,000 road casualties took place in the UK. Though this is less than the year 2009, it is still something to take under consideration. If a person wishes to remain safe, it is crucial to drive defensively. 

Try not to drive when emotional

It is important for a driver to stay away from the wheel of a car when he or she is emotional. A person may be unable to focus on the road if he or she is angry. The driver poses a risk to other drivers and pedestrians. Sadness and frustration are also common emotions that lead to accidents. Another individual should handle the driving until the other person is calm and fully ready. If a person feels tired, he or she should set time aside to sleep. This is the safer alternative for everybody in the long run.

Leave early for your destination 

Some people experience an accident because they want to get to a destination quickly. A driver may be late for a doctor’s appointment; if this is not the case, the driver may simply wish to go home. It is an awful idea to leave late for a meeting or other event. When a person is late, he or she is likely to make hasty and dangerous mistakes. This is something which may affect both young and older drivers alike. If a person believes that it is not possible to leave early, a friend or family member may prove useful. 

Pay attention to Other Vehicles and rules

Reckless driving is a problem that many countries deal with; no matter where a person lives, chances are high that car accidents play a part of daily life. However, this does not mean that accidents cannot be prevented. The community benefits when a person takes on courteous driving habits. It is not difficult to take on defensive driving techniques with some practice. The information above can help a person take the right steps. If a person still has questions, he or she may wish to ask friends, family members, and trusted members of the community. Safety is not an issue to ignore.

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The name of your job could impact your insurance

Job titles are crucial to car insurance companies, as they assess how risky a proposition new clients are.

Small changes in the wording can make a big difference to the quotes that are offered.

A report by Rex who's convertible is his pride and joy, but he has two different job titles and they have very different effects on his premium.

So the same man, the same car and a saving of 40%. It's because insurance companies see people who work in the media and entertainment as risky. There's an idea that they're driving around trying to meet tight deadlines, are more likely to have famous passengers and to drink on the job. Insurance companies use facts about your work to decide how much to charge you. It's often common sense; plumbers are likely to drive a lot and have expensive tools in their cars so they pay high premiums. But teachers and office workers are seen as a safer bet.

But like Rex, you can tweak your job title whilst still telling the truth and save yourself some money.

If you are looking for new insurance, it's always worth checking how your job title can affect your policy and to make sure you're fully covered.

But the law on this is very clear: if you lie to insurers or give them false information it's fraud. If you've got any doubts at all, the best option is to check with the company.

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Car insurance news inside! I am now less busy so more news shall follow as usual.

Insurance premiums could fall

UK drivers overwhelmingly want to see the back of the personal injury (PI) ‘compensation culture’ that is now costing every motorist an extra £118 on their annual motor insurance premium, reveals the reporters in a new report issued today.

The report 'Road to Reform: Reducing Motor Premiums by Reforming the Personal Injury Claims Process’ is launched ahead of the Ministry of Justice Whiplash Consultation closing on the 8th March 2013. The report sets out that proposals to improve the motor insurance PI claims system and reduce excessive costs that have contributed to premiums rising by 80% since October 2008. The research has also found that if insurers handled claims directly, an estimated £1.5bn of excess cost could be stripped from UK motor insurance premiums.


Ridding the rubbish

Central to the proposals for reform is its call for a legal requirement on PI claimants to contact the ‘at fault’ insurer in the first instance rather than going to or being referred to intermediaries including claims management companies and PI lawyers. This will result in a halving of the cost per claim as third party legal fees (average current legal fee is £2500 for a ‘typical’ whiplash claim) are removed from low-value personal injury claims, a saving that will benefit all motorists in reduced premiums. 
The research shows that there is no difference in the compensation awarded to the injured party if handled directly or via third parties. However, the multiple third parties that can get involved in a claim add significant cost in fees. They estimates that handling claims directly will cut £1.5bn of excess cost, approximately 50% of the current cost of handling the 550,000 whiplash claims received by insurers every year. This cost reduction could lead to premium falls of around £60 a year for the average driver.

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