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Sunday, September 7, 2008
Caravan Tyres Causing Insurance Claims
You may think wear and tear on caravan tyres only occurs when they are being used frequently. However, most damage occurs when the caravan is not in use. For example, caravans that are stood for long periods may cause their tyres to become misshapen with the weight of the 'van, not to mention damage to the rubber caused by exposure to sunlight.
This kind of tyre damage can make the tyres more at risk of punctures and in the worst cases 'blowouts'. Even a slightly deflated tyre can cause the caravan and tow car to become unstable and it is rare for a caravan to survive a 'blow-out'.
Insurance claims relating to burst tyres are not uncommon, but there are precautions you can take to help prevent it happening to you:
* Tyres over 5 years old should be replaced. You should be able to find the manufacture date on the tyre itself
* When the caravan is not in use for long periods, e.g. during the winter months, check tyre pressures regularly to ensure they don't get too under inflated.
* The sidewalls of the tyres should be inspected for any signs of damage such as cracks or damage from impact.
* Should the worst happen, a crash can be avoided if using Tyron wheel-safety-bands which are proven to reduce the risk of an accident should the caravan's tyres become deflated. Although they do not prevent the puncture occurring, they enable the driver to stay in control of the vehicle and find a safe place to change the tyre.
This kind of tyre damage can make the tyres more at risk of punctures and in the worst cases 'blowouts'. Even a slightly deflated tyre can cause the caravan and tow car to become unstable and it is rare for a caravan to survive a 'blow-out'.
Insurance claims relating to burst tyres are not uncommon, but there are precautions you can take to help prevent it happening to you:
* Tyres over 5 years old should be replaced. You should be able to find the manufacture date on the tyre itself
* When the caravan is not in use for long periods, e.g. during the winter months, check tyre pressures regularly to ensure they don't get too under inflated.
* The sidewalls of the tyres should be inspected for any signs of damage such as cracks or damage from impact.
* Should the worst happen, a crash can be avoided if using Tyron wheel-safety-bands which are proven to reduce the risk of an accident should the caravan's tyres become deflated. Although they do not prevent the puncture occurring, they enable the driver to stay in control of the vehicle and find a safe place to change the tyre.
Labels: Caravan Tyres Causing Insurance Claims
The Best Insurance For Your Corvette
Do you have a classic Corvette that your drive very seldom? Are you sure that if your vehicle was totaled or stolen that you would get the full vale of the vehicle? Let's consider the different types of insurance available for your sports car: standard insurance policies and collector's policies.
With a standard insurance policy, you are paid the Actual Cash Value or Retail Value of your vehicle upon total loss or theft. If your car is damaged in an accident, they will pay for you to have it fixed up to the Actual Cash Value amount. If the amount of damage exceeds the Actual Cash Value, they will simply write you a check for the Retail Value and consider your claim settled. The problem with this on collector's cars is that they have such a wide range of values, and you will almost certainly not get the full value you would need to replace your vehicle.
Enter your second option, a collector's policy. These policies are sold by specialty brokers and offer a clause called "Agreed Value". This value is stated in your policy, and is agreed to by the insurance company and you. If your policy states the agreed value is $25,000, then upon theft or total loss you are compensated with a $25,000 check from your insurance company. These collector's policies have certain stipulations, such as the vehicle must be garage kept, driving infrequently (typically less than 5,000 miles per year), driven very infrequently by youthful drivers, and you must have a very good driving record.
Another benefit of the collector's policy is you can choose the repair shop that will fix your damaged car and ensure you receive original parts. Original parts are not as important on a newer car, but for a collector's car they add so much value. Most standard insurance policies do not understand this, and simply use generic parts to repair the vehicle and do so in "their" repair shops.
These specialty brokers sometimes offer a third variation, though. You must be weary of the "Stated Amount" collector's policies. Under these policies, you state the amount of coverage needed for your vehicle. What the insurance company actually covers is the lowest of these three figures: "stated amount", cost to repair (without exceeding "stated amount", or "actual cash value". The last one is where you can lose a large amount of money. The "actual cash value", as stated earlier, is usually what a typical vehicle would cost to replace, and this number is usually much lower than your "stated value".
Total losses and thefts do occur, and you need to ensure you are adequately covered. If you have a newer Corvette, you should be fine utilizing a standard coverage policy, but if you drive a classic, make sure you cover yourself properly. Look into a collector's policy.
Remember, if you own a collectible Corvette, insist on your insurance coverage being for the "Agreed Value", otherwise you may be out a large sum of money, in addition to your vehicle, if you suffer a theft or total loss.
With a standard insurance policy, you are paid the Actual Cash Value or Retail Value of your vehicle upon total loss or theft. If your car is damaged in an accident, they will pay for you to have it fixed up to the Actual Cash Value amount. If the amount of damage exceeds the Actual Cash Value, they will simply write you a check for the Retail Value and consider your claim settled. The problem with this on collector's cars is that they have such a wide range of values, and you will almost certainly not get the full value you would need to replace your vehicle.
Enter your second option, a collector's policy. These policies are sold by specialty brokers and offer a clause called "Agreed Value". This value is stated in your policy, and is agreed to by the insurance company and you. If your policy states the agreed value is $25,000, then upon theft or total loss you are compensated with a $25,000 check from your insurance company. These collector's policies have certain stipulations, such as the vehicle must be garage kept, driving infrequently (typically less than 5,000 miles per year), driven very infrequently by youthful drivers, and you must have a very good driving record.
Another benefit of the collector's policy is you can choose the repair shop that will fix your damaged car and ensure you receive original parts. Original parts are not as important on a newer car, but for a collector's car they add so much value. Most standard insurance policies do not understand this, and simply use generic parts to repair the vehicle and do so in "their" repair shops.
These specialty brokers sometimes offer a third variation, though. You must be weary of the "Stated Amount" collector's policies. Under these policies, you state the amount of coverage needed for your vehicle. What the insurance company actually covers is the lowest of these three figures: "stated amount", cost to repair (without exceeding "stated amount", or "actual cash value". The last one is where you can lose a large amount of money. The "actual cash value", as stated earlier, is usually what a typical vehicle would cost to replace, and this number is usually much lower than your "stated value".
Total losses and thefts do occur, and you need to ensure you are adequately covered. If you have a newer Corvette, you should be fine utilizing a standard coverage policy, but if you drive a classic, make sure you cover yourself properly. Look into a collector's policy.
Remember, if you own a collectible Corvette, insist on your insurance coverage being for the "Agreed Value", otherwise you may be out a large sum of money, in addition to your vehicle, if you suffer a theft or total loss.
Labels: The Best Insurance For Your Corvette
Reduced Mileage Could Mean Cheaper Insurance For Americans
At the moment when it comes to getting car insurance it can be a pretty expensive task, insurance companies seem to be under the impression that we're all driving round like potential bumper cars waiting for the next crash, 20 car pile up or car rolling down an embankment.
The truth is that by and large we don't often end up having to claim against our car insurance, but small portions of our driving brothers and sisters either drive without insurance or constantly have to claim, unfortunately driving our premiums up in the process.
There are a few other tips and tactics that insurers tell us will help drive our premiums down such as reducing the amount of time we spend driving, i.e. not using our car to get to work which would mean you'd get lower prices because you're not likely to be on the roads during high traffic rush hour periods.
The other main way we can help drive car insurance premiums down is to have a lower annual mileage. Currently we are asked our average mileage when we apply for car insurance but this is open to abuse with some people lying or simply giving an approximate answer because they do not know.
One scheme being introduced by some American insurance companies is to cut down on the ambiguity over drivers' mileage and to actively check odometers for the exact mileage. This pay as you go approach could mean that drivers who do not use their car as much as others will be able to get cheap car insurance as it would possibly help set the insurer's mind at ease over the potential risk you as a driver present to them.
Meanwhile over here in the UK it is worth trying to use your car less and to take an accurate note of your mileage so that if you are trying to get cheaper car insurance you may be able to achieve it by being more accurate with your usage.
The truth is that by and large we don't often end up having to claim against our car insurance, but small portions of our driving brothers and sisters either drive without insurance or constantly have to claim, unfortunately driving our premiums up in the process.
There are a few other tips and tactics that insurers tell us will help drive our premiums down such as reducing the amount of time we spend driving, i.e. not using our car to get to work which would mean you'd get lower prices because you're not likely to be on the roads during high traffic rush hour periods.
The other main way we can help drive car insurance premiums down is to have a lower annual mileage. Currently we are asked our average mileage when we apply for car insurance but this is open to abuse with some people lying or simply giving an approximate answer because they do not know.
One scheme being introduced by some American insurance companies is to cut down on the ambiguity over drivers' mileage and to actively check odometers for the exact mileage. This pay as you go approach could mean that drivers who do not use their car as much as others will be able to get cheap car insurance as it would possibly help set the insurer's mind at ease over the potential risk you as a driver present to them.
Meanwhile over here in the UK it is worth trying to use your car less and to take an accurate note of your mileage so that if you are trying to get cheaper car insurance you may be able to achieve it by being more accurate with your usage.
Labels: Reduced Mileage Could Mean Cheaper Insurance For Americans
Used Cars Proving to Be Cheaper to Insure
Insuring a vehicle these days can be a pricey process, there are a multitude of different factors that determine how much you're going to be spending on insurance for your car. Car Insurance is mandatory in the UK and so when you are looking for a new or used car, you are likely to be considering how much that car will cost to insure, many people will make decisions based on this alone when they are looking to get their next car.
Recent surveys have found that if you want to get a cheap car to insure then you should look towards a used or older car rather than a brand new, latest and greatest model. Newer models are likely to come with higher premiums for a wide range of reasons from the cost of replacement parts to the safety record.
Cars are classified into insurance groups which are determined by these factors, factors like replacement parts, safety records, the power and top speed of the car and other factors. When you go to buy a car there's a chance that you'll be told what category the car falls into, many smaller cars being sold will capitalise on this selling point as smaller cars are very popular with younger or first time drivers and will be cheaper for them to get insurance on.
Recently a car manufacturer has made a press release about how one of their modern cars has been reclassified to a cheaper car insurance category. The change has been made due to the safety record and the cheap parts that the car uses, it also cites that with lower insurance premiums to pay it means that drivers are less likely to suffer with the upcoming road tax alterations and the rising cost of petrol and diesel.
Cheap Car Insurance is something we all strive for and with the sheer range of providers now available it's no surprise that many of us change to a different one more often these days and check with insurers before buying a new or used car. Many people are swaying towards buying a used car as, apart form the obvious insurance benefits, there is also the fact that new cars depreciate a tremendous percentage when the owner tries to sell on, so buying a second hand car means you are less likely to lose a large sum of money when you come to trading up for a new model.
Recent surveys have found that if you want to get a cheap car to insure then you should look towards a used or older car rather than a brand new, latest and greatest model. Newer models are likely to come with higher premiums for a wide range of reasons from the cost of replacement parts to the safety record.
Cars are classified into insurance groups which are determined by these factors, factors like replacement parts, safety records, the power and top speed of the car and other factors. When you go to buy a car there's a chance that you'll be told what category the car falls into, many smaller cars being sold will capitalise on this selling point as smaller cars are very popular with younger or first time drivers and will be cheaper for them to get insurance on.
Recently a car manufacturer has made a press release about how one of their modern cars has been reclassified to a cheaper car insurance category. The change has been made due to the safety record and the cheap parts that the car uses, it also cites that with lower insurance premiums to pay it means that drivers are less likely to suffer with the upcoming road tax alterations and the rising cost of petrol and diesel.
Cheap Car Insurance is something we all strive for and with the sheer range of providers now available it's no surprise that many of us change to a different one more often these days and check with insurers before buying a new or used car. Many people are swaying towards buying a used car as, apart form the obvious insurance benefits, there is also the fact that new cars depreciate a tremendous percentage when the owner tries to sell on, so buying a second hand car means you are less likely to lose a large sum of money when you come to trading up for a new model.
Labels: Used Cars Proving to Be Cheaper to Insure
Car Insurance - Cracking Down on Rogues
Being involved in an auto accident can be a stressful experience - there's the damage to have repaired, visits to the doctor for your injuries, and then there's all that paperwork for your insurance company to deal with.
However, the process of making a claim and recovering the money for repairs and medical bills can be a lot more stressful if the other driver is uninsured. According to research, uninsured drivers cost the insurance industry millions of pounds each year, which leads to increases in premiums - on average around £30 - each year. Accident statistics show that uninsured drivers are estimated to be involved in over 23,000 incidents per year - causing death and serious injury.
Research has shown that uninsured drivers are normally driving vehicles that are either not taxed or registered, whilst also having some form of driving penalty - usually a disqualification from driving. And with many drivers constantly complaining of rising car insurance prices, particularly during these difficult times of a credit crunch, it's no big surprise that uninsured drivers are one of the main pet peeves of road users.
Such is the concern for rising prices of car insurance, the Government has had to respond and propose measures to take action and target rogue drivers in an attempt to cut insurance premiums for law-abiding motorists. Indeed, keeping an car mobile and uninsured could soon become an offence, with police being able to match vehicle information to that contained on insurance databases and DVLA records, with warning letters being sent out to owners with the threat of vehicle seizure and even going so far as to crush them if no action is taken to register and insure the vehicle.
With the credit crunch affecting everything in our lives - from insurance to icing sugar - the new measures are sure to be popular with drivers who want to see their car insurance premiums reduced.
However, the process of making a claim and recovering the money for repairs and medical bills can be a lot more stressful if the other driver is uninsured. According to research, uninsured drivers cost the insurance industry millions of pounds each year, which leads to increases in premiums - on average around £30 - each year. Accident statistics show that uninsured drivers are estimated to be involved in over 23,000 incidents per year - causing death and serious injury.
Research has shown that uninsured drivers are normally driving vehicles that are either not taxed or registered, whilst also having some form of driving penalty - usually a disqualification from driving. And with many drivers constantly complaining of rising car insurance prices, particularly during these difficult times of a credit crunch, it's no big surprise that uninsured drivers are one of the main pet peeves of road users.
Such is the concern for rising prices of car insurance, the Government has had to respond and propose measures to take action and target rogue drivers in an attempt to cut insurance premiums for law-abiding motorists. Indeed, keeping an car mobile and uninsured could soon become an offence, with police being able to match vehicle information to that contained on insurance databases and DVLA records, with warning letters being sent out to owners with the threat of vehicle seizure and even going so far as to crush them if no action is taken to register and insure the vehicle.
With the credit crunch affecting everything in our lives - from insurance to icing sugar - the new measures are sure to be popular with drivers who want to see their car insurance premiums reduced.
Labels: Car Insurance - Cracking Down on Rogues
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