AK Motor – Car Insurance

Birmingham city centre – dubbed Britain’s whiplash fraud capital by SmartWitness – has the highest car insurance premiums in the whole of the UK, according to new research.

In a survey of all UK cities by SmartWitness Incident Cameras it was revealed that Birmingham’s motor insurance premiums have shot up and are now seven times higher than Aberdeen – the UK’s cheapest city for car insurance.

The price of insuring a BMW 3 Series in Bordesley Green, Birmingham B9 is £1,101.62 per year, compared with Aberdeen city centre which comes in at only £157 for the same car.

Overall Birmingham has more than a fifth of the worst 100 postcodes for motor insurance premiums in the country – 22 in total.

The second worst city in the UK for car insurance is Liverpool with 17 of the top 100; East London is third on 13, Manchester fourth with 11, fifth is North London with nine; sixth is South East London with seven; seventh is Bradford with six postcodes, and eighth worst is Sheffield with three postcodes.

SmartWitness managing director Simon Marsh said: “Part of the reason for the sharp increase for the car insurance premiums is that Birmingham has become the capital of whiplash claims in the UK.

“The six top areas for Third Party Injury (TPI) claims are all in Birmingham and it’s no great surprise that those neighbourhoods mirror very closely those with the highest premiums in our survey.”

“Most insurance experts have said that whiplash claims have cost motorists around £90 a year in increased premiums. Over 40% of motor insurance claims are contested but only 2% of SmartWitness claims are, so you can see that having reliable video evidence practically eliminates bogus whiplash claims.”

Other UK cities with high numbers of TPI claims are Bradford with four of the top 20 worst postcodes, Manchester next with three, and Liverpool and London have one each.

The cities with low TPI claims also had the lowest insurance premiums. Several of Scotland’s cities had the lowest premiums in the UK and also the lowest number of TPI claims.

Aberdeen had three postcodes in the top 20 lowest areas for TPI claims – and is the cheapest UK city for car insurance.

One of the worst things about renting a car, especially for infrequent travelers, is that moment at the car-rental counter – or next to the car, if you’re renting from Enterprise – when the rental agent tries to sell you on purchasing a “collision damage waiver”: optional coverage that spares you from having to pay your own insurance policy’s deductible in case of an accident.

If you own an insured car yourself and rent with a major credit card – some MasterCards excepted – you should know you probably don’t need it. But if you haven’t checked beforehand, you might be uncertain enough to spend needlessly, and some rental agents might seem eager to stir that anxiety. An Enterprise agent, while renting me a minivan because the smaller car I’d booked wasn’t available, once warned that “vans aren’t covered under most credit-card policies.” I had to call my card issuer to check. It turned out that the exemption applied only to big vans, which aren’t considered passenger-car rentals.

The best way to be sure what’s covered is to read your card’s contract terms carefully and ask about anything you find confusing. But second-best may be this new study by CardHub.com, which reports that 20 percent of renters always buy the waiver, and that another 20 percent sometimes do, even though every Visa, American Express and Discover card includes rental-car protection. Some other highlights of its findings:

• All four major card networks provide some form of rental car insurance coverage, though MasterCard does not provide coverage on all of its cards.
• American Express received CardHub’s highest score (90%) for its rental policy. Discover ranked second (88%), MasterCard third (79%), and Visa last (74%)
• All four require cardholders to charge their entire rental car purchase on their credit card and decline supplemental insurance/Collision Damage Waivers (CDW) offered by the rental company in order to be eligible.
• All four exempt coverage for rental of exotic, expensive, or antique cars; trucks; vehicles with open beds; and off-road vehicles
• Visa is the only network that does not cover accidents occurring on dirt and gravel roads. However, MasterCard only covers them if those roads are “regularly maintained.”
• All card networks exclude rentals that exceed certain time limits. Coverage may not extend to every country overseas – checking beforehand is key.
• Minivans may not be a problem, but some SUVs are. CardHub says American Express excludes coverage for some popular models, including Chevy Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LX450, Range Rover, and full-sized Ford Broncos.

Look here to see CardHub’s whole study and its methodology. One small warning: CardHub says, “American Express, Discover and MasterCard responded to our questions and confirmed the accuracy of our data. Visa declined to clarify issues regarding its policies despite multiple attempts to contact the company.”

Vehicle insurance has become a necessity in India due to the rules and regulations of the transport authority along with the government. This has been a good step taken by the national authority in order to ensure full safety of the cars as well as people. Having auto insurance in India allows a person to cover up all the expenses in case of a collision, theft, fire or any adversity happening with or from the car. After buying cars in India, it is mandatory for each driver to avail vehicle insurance on order to drive on the roads. The auto insurance in India is valid for car owners of every age, be it youngsters or adults. However, most of the people are unaware of the procedures involved in obtaining car insurance for young drivers. Following steps will help in clarifying this query of concerned people:

• To avail maximum benefits on car insurance for young drivers, the first and foremost step is to research on the internet. Youngsters should decide on which specific type of car they want to buy and what is its cost of maintenance. Vehicle insurance for youngsters can be generally high as reports show that these people are more involved in an accident than the adults. Therefore, it is a must to find about the car and premium rates offered by various insurers available in the market.
• If a person decides to buy used cars in India, he she should first examine the actual condition of the vehicle. If a car is badly damaged or has been repaired sufficient times, then it is expected to bear heavy premiums in case of insurance. Therefore, even while buying used cars, people should always accompany a mechanic who can identify the mechanical problems persisting in the vehicle.
• Car insurance for young drivers in India can be availed as per the mileage of the vehicle. If a youngster drives less frequently as compared to a fully-grown, then he/she might avail decent discounts on the premium. The same can be enquired by several authorities of auto insurance in India.
• Youngsters should also keep in mind as to what type of auto insurance policy they want to avail. In India, there are generally two types of insurance schemes available – Third Party and Comprehensive Plan. The former deals with only the third party or the liability and doesn’t include the insured vehicle, whereas, latter is beneficial for all the parties including the liability.
• The last and important method to secure beneficial auto insurance with low premiums is to enhance the driving skills. An auto insurance company might offer a flexible scheme to youngsters if they learn to drive skilfully and safely. The young people can take assistance from car driving institutes or their parents for the same. Also, learning to drive safely allows the young driver to be more careful and cautious on the roads; thus, providing safety to other cars as well.

I’m at 8 per cent, hurt by the length of my commute and the construction mess on the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Blvd. W. which is giving a new meaning to stop and go traffic.

Here are the details:

Distance driven:

Maximum annual saving: 10 per cent

My saving: 2 per cent

If you drive more than 15,000 km a year no saving at all. As an Oakville commuter I drive more than that and so would normally get nothing. But how’s this for an upside to the road construction: I’m back on the GO Train and driving less. I may sneak under the bar.

Acceleration & braking:

Maximum saving: 10 per cent

My saving: 1 per cent

If you accelerate faster than 13 km/h or more in one second or decelerate 15 km/h or more in one second, the device will consider this sudden.

My dashboard shows almost 300 incidents in 10 weeks, with quick acceleration outnumbering quick braking by 3 to 1.

It’s hard to translate 13 km/h per second into something meaningful. Veilleux says many customers are saying the same thing and Desjardins plans to post videos on its web site at different braking and acceleration speeds to show how it might look.

Time of day:

Maximum saving: 5 per cent

My saving: 5 per cent

I rarely drive between midnight and 5 a.m. This is when accidents are statistically the most deadly because of fatigue and lack of visibility. I drive to work at 6 a.m. It’s before rush hour, but it’s getting light and drivers tend to be more alert.

The insurance industry is lining up at FSCO’s door to apply for these programs. Those approved or already rolled out include CAA Insurance, The Co-operators, Intact and Allstate.

Carter says the biggest danger is ‘function creep,’ where insurers collect all kinds of secondary information and then use it without asking permission or sell it to third parties.

These might include: How often you travel out of province or to the U.S. When exactly you’re prone to accelerating quickly. How often you stop at a McDonalds versus Wendy’s, how long you stay at the grocery store and which ones you visit. Did the kids spend the weekend in Montreal when they borrowed the car or go to Ottawa?

Carter says insurers find it irresistible to collect data. The more they know about you, the more they can calculate risk and design products.

None of this is necessarily bad as long as you know what is being collected and agree to it. Carter says it comes down to a simple test:

“Whenever your information is being used to make a material decision about you, you have a right to see the information. That is the basis of all privacy laws. There should be no secret record keeping.”

Carter is a big user of public transit, but says he would opt for such a policy “if the company was trustworthy.”

As for me, I’m not sure $150 gain is worth what I’m giving up. For now, anyway.

Related: How I cut my car insurance by 30 per cent

What Desjardins has learned

Reach investing and personal finance editor Adam Mayers at amayers@thestar.ca

• Lessons from a year of usage-based insurance in Ontario.
• Two-thirds of customers say they are more aware of how they drive;
• Half say they think their driving has improved;
• A third say the plan makes them consider driving less, using transit or walking;
• 40 per cent of new customers are signing up for Ajusto, well head of their 25 per cent target.
• Desjardins has gained 50,000 new customers in Ontario and Quebec through Ajusto.

For the past two months a small device in my car, the size of a credit card, has been tracking my every movement.

It knows how far I drive every day, the time of day I’m driving, how quickly I accelerate to get on to the highway and which highway that was. The wireless GPS monitor goes with the Desjardins Insurance Ajusto program which was launched in Ontario last May.

I’ve been testing the device to see how much I might save by exchanging some privacy in return for a discount based on my driving habits. So far, I’m looking at about $150 a year and I’m not sure whether the tradeoff is worth it.

I’m not alone in that. Desjardins has added 130,000 new customers in Ontario and Quebec in the past year and 50,000, or about 40 per cent, have opted for Ajusto. This is despite an incentive of 5 per cent off in the first year for trying it.

Ajusto is the first of a new tier of car insurance products coming your way. Companies are using wireless technology to monitor how you drive and sell you products based on that. In exchange for personal information, you’ll get a better deal.

Ajusto’s measures are clear and well explained. It monitors the time of day you drive, the distance you drive in a year and how fast you brake and accelerate. It passed a very stringent examination by the insurance regulator, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). The Ontario privacy commissioner approves of the program.

Fred Carter, a senior technology advisor to Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian, says the agency supported the Desjardins application because the criteria was clear, the data collection transparent and consumer privacy protected.

“Ajusto nailed it down,” Carter says.

Alex Veilleux, chief product manager in charge of telematics at Desjardins, says the company expected 25 per cent of new customers would try Ajusto, not 40 per cent. They are very happy with that. In Ontario, the take-up rate may be a testament to just how much drivers are chafing under the highest insurance rates in Canada.

Veilleux says the three things Desjardins is measuring have been shown over time to be the key factors in accidents and claims. He adds that anyone opting for Ajusto will not be punished for bad driving.

“This will never be used to deny you insurance or increase your rates,” he says. “This will never be a punitive thing. It just offers additional rewards.”

After a 10-week trial here are my thoughts:

• The device was simple to install and plugs into my car’s diagnostic port underneath the steering column. At first, I found it creepy to think my trip to the grocery store for a dozen eggs was being recorded somewhere. I quickly forgot the device was there.
• You can log in to the Desjardins web site and view a rolling tally of your annual savings. Veilleux says this information is a powerful motivator for better driving, because like a video game you’re always aiming for a better score.
• Desjardins advertises savings of ‘up to 25 per cent’ but the average is 12 per cent.

You probably already know that your car insurance premiums can be significantly higher if you have no or poor credit. WalletHub conducted a study by state and insurance carrier to find out just how much your credit can affect your insurance rate.

The financial site obtained quotes from the five largest car insurance companies across the country, using two hypothetical, experienced drivers (male, age 36, licensed since age 20, driving a Honda Accord)—one with no credit history and one with excellent credit.

They found that for the average state, there’s a 65% price difference between the excellent credit score and the no credit scenario.

Allstate seems to be the company using credit data for premium pricing most, with a 116% fluctuation, while State Farm appears to rely on it the least, with a 45% premium fluctuation. The other three insurers measured are Progressive, Geico, and Farmers Insurance.

Some of the companies, like Progressive, were more transparent about how they use credit history to determine rates than the others were.

Head to WalletHub to see the full report and the exact premium difference for your state.

Confused about whether or not to buy extra insurance when standing at the rental car counter? Join the club.

Often times, people end up buying supplemental insurance protection that they really don’t need, said Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of credit card comparison site, CardHub.com. That can add anywhere from $15 to $30 a day to the cost of a rental.

“The majority of consumers are covered by their own auto insurance, but they may not know it,” he said. “They may be spending extra money when they don’t have to.”

And those who aren’t covered by their own insurance, are likely covered by their credit card, he said. All four major credit card issuers, Visa (V), American Express (AXP), MasterCard (MA) and Discover (DFS), provide some form of rental car insurance coverage. Although, MasterCard issues a few cards that don’t offer coverage.

CardHub rated the card issuers based on the extent and length of the coverage they provide, how clearly they state what’s covered and how easy it is to get claims paid. American Express (AXP) received the highest rating of 90% for its car rental insurance; Discover (DFS) was second at 88%; MasterCard (MA) third at 79%; and Visa (V) ranked last at 74%.

To make sure you get covered, you must charge your entire car rental on your credit card and decline the supplemental collision damage coverage offered by the rental company. If you sign up for that insurance, you won’t be covered by the credit card company.

Coverage from your credit card comes with restrictions, though, said Papadimitriou. Several types of vehicles aren’t covered, including trucks with open beds and off-road vehicles, as well as exotic or expensive cars like Ferraris or Jaguars. And American Express doesn’t cover certain popular SUVs, such as Chevy Suburbans, Ford Expeditions and Range Rovers.

Visa and MasterCard may not cover damages that occur on dirt or gravel roads and other cards don’t cover wheels and rims. Some card issuers cap rental periods at 15 days, after which the insurance lapses. None of the card issuers will insure a rental car for more than 30 days straight.

Rental cars in some countries are not eligible for credit card insurance. The ones most often named include Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica and Australia.

One other important note: Unless your personal auto insurance also covers business use, your personal policy won’t cover damage caused when you’re renting a car for a business trip.

Drivers who aren’t sure about their coverage should call their credit card company before they leave for their trip.

Every fall, drivers can change their car insurance. With the 30th November of that, date is coming up to which the insured must usually terminate their insurance policies. What do you have to pay attention?

Liability and collision can be terminated separately

In the motor liability and comprehensive insurance are separate contracts, even if they were completed together. Therefore, it is possible to separate only by notice from the vehicle insurance and continue the insurance. Many insurance policies have a 31 December of each year, so that the insurer must receive the termination taking into account the one-month’ notice at the latest by 30 November.

Be careful, because someone insurer meets the policy year a time year of twelve months. This means that a 1 July started car insurance cannot be cancelled on 31 December, and only on 30 June of the following year, it can be cancelled. In this case, no later than 31 May, the letter of resignation submitted to the insurer. If in doubt insured might therefore be better to check their contract documents.

From 1 December is too late for a proper notice. Many consumers also after the date the option to change their car insurers. Thus, in the case of a premium increase will be terminated for cause. Here too, the policyholder from receiving notification of the more expensive premium, nor can solve within one month from the contract.

Even after a claim, the insured may terminate – regardless of whether the insurer adjusts the damage or not. Change the contract terms or changes the insured within the contract period the vehicle; it can also get out of the contract. By November30 must be the notice with the previous supplier.

The postmark of that date is not enough. Who wants to be sure, announced by registered mail. So also, the 30th letter of the reporting date November is received; it should be no later than 26 November will be abandoned. Fax the notice, however, on November 30 also is possible.

Partial coverage or liability

Liability or partial coverage? Who insures a vehicle often face the question of the appropriate scope of coverage. Here we will explain when to submit a motor vehicle liability insurance, and when at least a partial coverage protection is advisable.

Liability or partial coverage: What is covered?

A motor vehicle liability insurance is necessary for every vehicle owner. Anyone who is caught without on German roads must expect a custodial sentence of up to one year. In addition, not without reason. Because accidents can lead to high costs to the statutory motor liability to financial compensation for the victims can be ensured. The automobile liability regulated accordingly the compensation claims of the other party. Vehicle owners have already demonstrated in the approval of the cars that at least temporary cover in the motor liability exists.

For the compensation of accident victims, the law provides a minimum coverage of EUR 7.5 million for personal injury. In addition, damage to at least 1.12 million euros and financial losses to be at least EUR 50,000 insured in the compulsory motor. What may at first sound like much, after an accident involving personal injury, however easily be exceeded.

Additional costs would have to pay out of pocket then insured. Auto insurers offer thus tend to cover a lump sum of EUR 50 or EUR 100 million, some even unlimited coverage. The coverage of the liability is for the insured, the owner, the driver and the owner. The partial coverage is an optional insurance regulated and damage to the vehicle of the insured. A jump in broken glass, wild accidents and natural hazards such as storms, hail, lightning or flooding. It also pays for vehicle theft. However, even with shorts, fire and explosion can contact their insured partial coverage.

Liability or partial coverage – Risks weigh

In general, car owners should take some thought in advance what risks they want to know is covered – otherwise it can be very expensive in case of damage in certain circumstances. In addition to the compulsory automobile liability, the conclusion of a partial coverage pays. It does not matter whether it is the vehicle to be insured is a relatively new or an older year. For the partial coverage includes comprehensive benefits, the use of pay for the additional costs incurred often after only one loss.
Those who want to play it safe, you should decide for a comprehensive insurance. It encompasses all the benefits of partial coverage and regulates vandalism and damage resulting from self-inflicted injuries to your own vehicle. In our car computer is a car insurance that fits your needs.

What to consider when changing

Because the Motor Insurance is a compulsory insurance by law, insurers must with very few exceptions all applicants provide insurance cover. Therefore is recommended that prior to the termination of the current contract you to be awaiting the confirmation of insurance of the new insurer. The Effective Date, you can select in consultation with the insurer on your needs.

Novice drivers are inexperienced and they have to pay some kind of risk premium. Usually receive the novice claims category 0 – representing about 240 percent of the normal premium. Thus, the annual cost of car insurance quickly rise over 5000 euros. Nevertheless, there are ways to reduce car insurance premiums. Here wegive yousome tipsthat you cantake advantage of.Check them out.

Common cause with the parents

Who makes common cause with the parents may massive savings in car insurance. Report for novice drivers in their car, as a second car in the name of the father or mother, ranks the insurance, a vehicle usually in the SF class ½. The contribution rate in the SF class ½ is between 120 and 140 percent. Some insurance companies offer under certain conditions even in better conditions. Compared with the SF-class 0 can therefore save many hundreds of euros a year.

The parent-child benefit scheme

License holders, who wish to register their vehicles in their own names, can also slip into the claims category ½ or better, when the parent-child scheme to make use. In this case, the same insurer must insure the car as the parents.

Save costs with a driver safety course

Novice drivers who can demonstrate participation in a driver safety course can, in many insurance
companies take advantage of discounted rates. The ADAC and other car clubs offer safety training.

Buy low vehicle type class

Impact on the amount of the insurance premium has others the class type of the vehicle. The more often the type of vehicle is involved in accidents or stolen statistically is, the higher the type of class and the more expensive the insurance. Novice drivers should therefore informed before buying a car. In motor insurance, there are 16 type classes (10-25), in the comprehensive insurance 25 (10-34), in the partial cover 24 (10-33).

Are you interested in relax cash ? then we can help.

There are many types of loans currently available to consumers. While payday loans are quite the trend, are they right for your situation? Payday loans can be a good option for people who have bad credit and need cash for an emergency right now. Read the following information so that you are an informed financial consumer.

Those of you considering a payday loan must understand when the loan must be paid back. The interest rate associated with a payday loan is high which can result in significant costs if not paid back promptly.

Think carefully about how much money you need. It is tempting to get a loan for a lot more than you need, but the more money you ask for, the higher the interest rates will be. Not only, that, but some companies may only clear you for a certain amount. Take the lowest amount you need.

Be sure you understand any hidden fees that may be involved. You never know what someone may charge you unless you ask and you are clear about what you want to know. Some people find themselves owing more than they intended after they have already signed for the loan. Do your best to avoid this by, reading all the information you are given, and constantly questioning everything.

Pay back the entire loan as soon as you can. You are going to get a due date, and pay close attention to that date. The sooner you pay back the loan in full, the sooner your transaction with the payday loan company is complete. That will save you money in the long run.

Before using a payday loan, look at all your other options. It is better for your pocketbook if you can borrow from a family member, secure a bank loan or even a credit card. There are so many fees with payday loans that will be higher than any of the other options that may be available to you.

There are some payday loan companies that are fair to their borrowers. Take the time to investigate the company that you want to take a loan out with before you sign anything. Many of these companies do not have your best interest in mind. You have to look out for yourself.

The number one rule regarding payday loans is to only borrow what you know you can pay back. For instance, a payday loan company may offer you a certain amount because your income is good, but you may have other commitments that prevent you from paying the loan back. Generally, it is wise to take out the amount you can afford to pay back once your bills are paid.

Several payday loan companies have ratings with or are members of Better Business Bureau. Prior to signing any loan documents, get in touch with your local Better Business Bureau office to ascertain if any complaints have been lodged against the firm. If there are complaints, you should look for another lender.

You should keep in mind the interest rates and service feeds attached to payday loans. You should also understand that payday loans can create an overdraft risk on your bank account. If your check does not clear the bank, you will be charged an overdraft fee in addition to the interest rate and fees charged by the payday lender.

Apply for your payday loan first thing in the day. Many loan companies have a strict quota on the amount of payday loans they can offer on any given day. When the quota is hit, they close up shop, and you are out of luck. Get there early to avoid this.

Check out a company’s APR prior to making a decision whether to obtain a loan. The APR is very important because this rate is the actual amount you will be paying for the loan.

Be sure to research the lenders that you are considering for a payday loan. Some businesses will put you in over your head with outrageous interest rates and other hidden costs. Research the company as best you can, online and within your neighborhood. You want to work with a company that has been around awhile and built up a good reputation. This is a sure way to avoid being scammed by payday loans.

After reading this article, you now have an understanding of payday loans and their benefits and drawbacks. You are now much better prepared to make an educated decision. Take the tips in this piece to heart so that you make the wisest call possible.