Rumpy Pumpy Increases Car Insurance Premiums

An interesting article appeared in last weeks Sun Newspaper regarding the increase in sexual activity that occurs in cars throughtout Britain. The number of people that agreed they’d done ‘the nasty’ in their car was around 11 Million, with the South West being the main culprits.

The article goes on to suggest that should couples continue this trend, that car insurance premiums could rise as a consequence – as tehy’d be spending less time concentrating on the road.

See the full article here.

Swiftcover moves to insure musicians!

Swiftcover have moved like lightening to announce they are to begin to insure musicians after ASA ruling that their advert featuring Iggy Pop is misleading!

What you really want to say to your car insurer…

Have you ever felt like mocking your insurance company? This guy has it down to a fine art…

Pay as you drive / Mileage Policies

Someone asked me recently about Norwich Unions pay as you drive car insurance scheme, they were not aware that the system had been scrapped.

NU ditched the entire system in the middle of 2008 because of under usage, which seems a shame.  It was one of the only truly different models for pricing insurance and seemed to be have a fair basis.

For many years discounts have been available for drivers who declare a low mileage but the NU scheme was genuinely different.  Many people were saving money insuring through it but at the end of the day NU were simply unable to get enough people signed up.

Temporary Car Insurance Cover

Short term motor insurance….

International Drivers Licences

Many foreign nationals who want to drive in the UK are confused by the laws regarding whether they can drive under their existing licence.

The laws are different for EU nationals and those from outside of the EU. Typically people can drive on a foreign licence for a year (or 3 if EU) and then have to take a UK test to continuse. However there are exceptions.

Insurance companies tend to only quote those who fit the legal criteria. If a driver has a foreign licence but has been resident in the UK for many years, they are unable to get a quote.

Innovation for Younger Drivers

With younger driver car insurance premiums so high, particularly for 17 year olds, there seems to be a lack on innovation in creating insurance solutions for them.

Insurers are wary of touching a market where the claim cost and frequency is so high but equally seem unable to create new products allowing younger drivers to get insurance.

The pass plus course as an example gave newly qualified drivers an opportunity to gain a substantial discount on their policy and is still in good use.  However, beyond that, and the usual advice of small engines, third party cover etc etc, there is little new to help younger motorists.

Surely an insurer could look at shorter term cover with accelerated bonusses, showing younger drivers how whilst premiums are high in the short term, if they drive without claiming for say 6 months, they can be guaranteed a much lower monthly rate for a further 12 months. 

There must be underwriters out there with some vision and ideas for helping keep 17 year olds driving!