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Written by Anna Bennett
Buy your car insurance online from companies such as Direct Line Car,
Asda, Saga, Churchill, Swinton or Aviva. Buy car insurance and look at the news articles below to check that you don't
fall foul of any car insurance legislation when you buy your car insurance.
When buying a used car,
always check that it has not been modified beyond the manufacturer’s original specifications warns popular car insurance
comparison website Tiger.co.uk. If you are in an accident or your car is stolen and the insurer finds that your car has modifications
that were not declared when the car was insured, there is a possibility that they will not pay out even if you were unaware
of the modification. So it is always worth getting the vehicle properly checked before you buy it.
With the ever
increasing lists of optional extras offered by car manufacturers it is often difficult to know what has been added by the
manufacturer and what has been added by a previous owner or professional tuning company. Sometimes modifications will be under
the bonnet where a novice buyer might not think to look; other times a buyer might overlook something glaring like alloy wheels.
When buying a used car, modifications are usually advertised as being part of the car but this is not always the
case. The seller ought to disclose whether the car has been modified but a buyer should always ask. It is advisable for prospective
customers to do a thorough check over the car looking for things that do not look standard, for example exhausts, alloy wheels,
or additions to the car’s bodywork. Other things for drivers to check are service records and MOT certificates which
may mention that the car has been altered.
If a driver discovers that their car has been modified mid-way through
a period of insurance they need to inform the car insurance company immediately or, if the modifications are unwanted, look
into having them restored to normal as soon as possible. It is not unusual for a small extra charge to be levied by the insurer,
as modified car insurance is often more expensive than a standard car’s insurance premium.
Research carried
out by Tiger.co.uk in March 2011 showed that adding just one modification (to a to a 5 year old VW Golf GTi, driven by a 29
year old with a clean driving licence) such as a body kit or a non-standard exhaust system can add as much 18% to a car insurance
premium. Adding multiple modifications including various engine alterations could put insurance premiums up by 55% this was
even more noticeable in younger drivers who could see their insurance premium go up by 80%.
Sometimes an insurer
will invalidate the policy as some insurers will not cover a car with the modifications that have been notified. However,
both of these options are preferable to having a claim declined as a result of undeclared modifications.
If a
car has modifications that were not declared to the insurer and the driver needs to make a claim, there is a possibility that
the insurer may not pay out and if an insurer refuses to pay out it may make it more difficult to get insurance in the future.
A spokesman for Tiger.co.uk commented, “Any driver who buys a used car ought to do their research into the
car they are buying and should try to buy their cars from trusted dealers. They should certainly check for any modifications
that may have been made to the car. Having insurance claims refused can cause serious headaches for drivers and so we would
always advise people to be careful and, if necessary, take expert advice. It is vital that any modifications are declared
to your insurer as failure to do so may invalidate your policy in the event of a claim.”
Original Source
It is easy to take out a modification on your car when buying from new or added that extra something to personalise
your car when buying second hand, but when you buy car insurance and you don't tell the insurer about these modifications
you could actually end up being unable to make a claim following an accident. It is a loop hole that you should look into
and close as even just purchasing a spoiler on your car could make your policy null and void. latest car insurance deals
With Direct Line Car Insurance you are also covered for vandalism.
Take out the Co-operative car insurance and you could be one of the many people that save as much as £85
per year as well as insuring with an ethical car insurance company who are committed to reducing carbon emissions. As well
as providing cover for less the Co-operative give you a courtesy car in an accident as standard and you can get 11% off your
premium if you buy online.
Children's car seat insurance cover
Now around 47% of
car insurance companies provide car seat protection in their car insurance policies compared to just 3% back in 2004. The
increase has come about due to taking into account the change in law which required children under 12 to be placed in a car
seat or booster seat whilst in a car.
Hidden Charges, beware...
Car insurance has increased by as much as 40% over
the last 12 months according to the AA. Car insurers are now charging if you wish to change features of your car insurance
such as you new married name or a change of address.
There can now be renewal fees or start us fees. Most car insurance
firms now charge for a direct debit and this can be over 25% of your policy. It is cheaper to pay all in one and not to use
direct debit.
If you are going to cancel your car insurance before your renewal most car insurance firms now charge you.
In can be over £70 too.
Beware too of requesting duplicate copies of your car insurance policy. The charges here
can be around £30.
Check your excess. If you are comparing quotes one company may offer you much cheaper car insurance
but the excess could be £500 compared to just £100 with another. Read the document carefully. You have a 14 day
cooling off period when you take out car insurance and if you cancel before 14 days, then you are entitled to a FULL refund.
An EU ruling out shortly could mean that car insurance companies can no longer offer cheaper premiums based upon your
gender. In reality this means the premiums for car insurance for both women and men are likely to be increased in 2011.
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