Latest Car Insurance News
Welcome to Expert Car Insurance News. Here you will find all the latest information concerning the motor insurance industry.
Posted September 2006
Enhance your driving experience with Churchill’s new courtesy car option
Have you ever had an accident requiring a repair to your car only to find that the courtesy car you are offered is a 1 litre run-around? Well all that has changed with Churchill car insurance’s latest option of Enhanced Courtesy Car cover which brings to an end the problems caused by the replacement vehicle being inappropriate for your personal circumstances.
What the new cover provides is a replacement vehicle of the same engine capacity as your own up to a 2 litre estate car, even a mini multi-person vehicle if that’s what you drive. They will also provide a small van if your van is not available for an insurable purpose. As they are extending the normal standard courtesy range the provision of the vehicle may take a little longer and they recon to have you on the road with the commensurate car within 24 hours. Extras include: if you are unable to drive due to an injury they will provide up to £500 to reimburse for taxis and public transport and an emergency fund of £50 allowing you to complete your travel plans if your vehicle has to be removed at the time of the incident. The cover is available for a period of up to 28 days from the date your car insurance claim is first registered.
This option will cost an extra £25.20 per annum, but if you use your vehicle for the school run with several kids on board, or you tend to cover a lot of miles and need the comfort of the larger saloon car you are used to, or you have a van that you need to carry bulky items in, you may think that this is a small investment to ensure that your transport situation is as convenient as possible if you need recourse to a courtesy car.
Posted September 2006
All change at car insurer Norwich Union
Earlier this month the insurance giant Aviva which owns Norwich Union announced that they needed to slash £250 million from their NU cost base in order to remain competitive in today’s vigorous insurance market.
Their plan involves the increasingly common practice of moving call centre operations from the UK to India, outsourcing IT services and staff reduction. Norwich Union will loose in the region of 4,000 jobs in the UK by the end of 2007.
The number of us that are buying our car insurance online is escalating with over half of NU policies now bought over the web, demonstrating the increased access to and public confidence in technology. This use of the web means that car insurance companies need fewer costly staff to service the acquisition end of the sales and service process. And as the Indian call centres have proved for many companies, that if the training is adequate, their conversion rates and customer satisfaction scores are equivalent if not better than UK call centre results.
Not only are direct customers using the internet, but NU’s broker and IFA network are also utilizing the ‘self service’ availability of information and ability to purchase that technology now provides.
A spokesman for the insurer said that they had to respond to the lower requirement for people interaction, and that every effort would be made to reduce staff by natural means of normal turnover, not filling vacancies, redeployment and voluntary redundancies staff where practical, it is inevitable that compulsory redundancies will be needed to meet the staffing target.
Posted September 2006
The car insurance industry campaign to save young lives
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has begun a campaign in an attempt to cut the amount of young drivers that are involved in serious incidents resulting in death or severe injury. They plan to unveil the full details later in this month but the stark truth is despite attempts to raise awareness, more young drivers are dying on our roads.
They are planning to develop their links with road safety and motoring organisations to engage with younger motorists and change driving practices in an attempt to save lives.
A previous attempt to reduce the accident rate of of the young was the Pass Plus system which has been in existence since 1995 and its effect has been assessed by the ABI. Although there is a lower likelihood of a Pass Plus driver to have an accident, there is only a small difference from those who have not taken the course. Even though the overall number of road deaths has been reducing recently the number of road accident fatalities related to younger drivers is still increasing, from around 10% in 2000 to 12% in 2005.
The Director General of the ABI said that the number of young people that are being killed or seriously injured on UK roads remains too high and that his organization is calling for Government and other interested parties to get together and to create a coordinated strategy to reduce this waste of young lives. He said that the proposals to be announced later will develop the principle of the Pass Plus, hopefully change the attitudes of young motorists and in turn make them safer drivers.
Posted September 2006
Just when you need a man Sheila’s Wheels provides a Buddy
Driving alone has long been an issue causing great concern to women drivers, especially when travelling at night. The women only car insurance provider, Sheila’s Wheels, has developed and launched what they are calling a "Buddy on Demand".
"Buddy" is an inflatable man which can be inflated quickly to make it appear as if there are two people in the car. It isn’t designed for use during the day but its major benefit is to appear like a second masculine silhouette to following cars. In making it look like more than just the one woman driver it is believed that the "Buddy’s" use will reduce the likelihood of road rage and intimidation being perpetrated on lone female motorists.
This may sound a little fanciful, but it is a deadly serious problem with around 30% of women drivers claiming to have suffered either intimidation or road rage whilst alone at the wheel according to the insurance company's study. Over 65% reported concerns over safety as the reason for spending less than one hour a week behind the wheel after dark, some even claiming to totally avoid driving after 8 o’clock at night.
Lone women drivers feel most at risk when subjected to intimidating or threatening behaviour from male motorists, with 70% of respondents reporting this, so much so that 20% admitting to have changed to another route to get away from a perceived threat from another driver. Over 45% reported that driving at night was the most vulnerable time.
A spokesperson for the insurance company said that "Buddy on Demand" can be inflated only when required and can be stowed easily when not in use. Also, although the blow-up man isn’t the whole answer it may give women added confidence allowing them to feel a little safer on the road at night and returning a bit of freedom.
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