Insurance Vlog

Buy A Talking Churchill Bulldog From The Car Insurance Specialists

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:55:00 +0000

Ooh yes, you can now buy a talking version of the cuddly british bulldog Churchill that features in the Churchill Car Insurance adverts........

Ooh Yes! Churchill The Car Insurance Dog Soft Toy Outsells The Meerkat

The holding company of Churchill Insurance, RBS, whose future remains in doubt, must be pleased as punch to learn that sales of the Churchill nodding dog soft toy were ten percent higher than those of rival car insurance comparison website Compare the Market over the christmas period, according to figures released today from the Association of British Toy Distributors.

Buy The Churchill Dog

Before they all go barking mad down at Churchill, it should be pointed out that the figures relate to sales of the bulldog stuffed toy against those of Alexsandr Orlov the Compare The Meerkat main character.

Alexsandr Meerkat was only available through Harrods and supplies were restricted according to Benja Katya who runs the online Meerkat Toy Store in partnership with Amazon.

She told Insurance Blogger. "The dog is now a part of British Culture and sales of the toy will enjoy longevity despite who owns the brand."
"Meerkat Toys are becoming more popular everyday and the interest is spreading globally. Much of this must be attributed to the success of the Compare The Meerkat TV and Internet Social Media Marketing Campaign. Ironically the Meerkat phenomena which started out as peculiarly British thing has spread as far as Namibia!"

The idea is seemple and not a new one either!
Remember the Nat West piggies?
With Social media here to stay as part of the Insurance Marketing mix, it looks like the Insurance logo soft toy spinoff market is a very lucrative source of extra income for cash strapped Insurance Marketing departments.

Insurance Blogger wonders what furry animal will be next to capture the hearts of the Britsh Car Insurance buying public?

Labels: car insurance, churchill, Churchill Bulldog, Churchill Toys, Compare The Market, Compare The Meekat, Insurance Brands, meerkat soft toys, meerkat toys, meerkats

Churchill Car Insurance

Publisher : youTube The Churchill Dog

Nodding dog Churchill goes on a sponsored parachute jump and has to try and avoid a spiky end! Get free breakdown cover from Green Flag when you buy a Churchill car insurance policy. Offer ends 31st March 2010. Visit http://www.churchill.com/motor/car_in...
Category: Entertainment
Tags:
Supermarket car park car insurance breakdown cover Churchill free breakdown cover parachute sky dive porcupines nodding dog commercial

Endsleigh Car Insurance

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:47:00 +0000

This film by Microsoft shows how Endsleigh Insurance is utilising Microsoft Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software to enhance it's business.

On the same note, Car Insurance TV have just released the findings of their car insurance website reviews which included Endsleigh Car Insurance........

The UK Car Insurance Blog

Monday, 1 February 2010

Endsleigh Car Insurance Review

We asked a large team of people to visit the Endsleigh Car Insurance and report back to us about how easy it was to use and whether the website offered all the car insurance services and covers they required.
The Car Insurance review team consisted of a cross section of UK demographics, car types , occupations and ages; the only common factor was that none of the team had bought car insurance online before.
The object of the review was to rate the ease of use, online information, cover options and services of the website; not just to compare car insurance quotes and covers.

CAR INSURANCE COMPANY: Endsleigh Car Insurance
Website: http://www.endsleigh.co.uk
Insurance Website Type : Car Insurance Brokers offering comparative backend quoting system

REVIEW

Q. Are Endsleigh car insurance offering any special discounts or offers?
A. There were no offers displayed.

Q. Is there a discount if you purchase online?
A. My quote claimed that an online discount had been applied but I was not made aware there was one!

Q. Is telephone help readily available from the webpage?
A. There is a link to a contact page with many numbers and email addresses.

Q. Is there a claims section readily accessible?
A. Yes, and easy to use with options for online claims as well.

Q. Was it easy to find the quote page?
A. Yes, very and straightforward.

Q. Was there an option to recall a previous quote?
A. Yes, you could save quotes to recall later.

About Cover and Policy Restrictions.

Q. Are there any restrictions to getting a quote?
A. There were none immediately obvious in getting a quote - they came across as accepting of all types of drivers.

Q. What are the minimum and maximum ages?
A. They had a separate section for drivers over 50.

Q. Do they cover all professions?
A. Yes

Q. Are Kit Cars, Q plates and modified vehicles covered?
A. Yes but need they all need declaring.

Q. Do they cover Northern Ireland (NI)?
A. They cover the U.K but were unclear about NI.

Q. Are drivers with convictions covered?
A. Yes motoring Convictions, but they need to know how many you have had in the last three years.

Q. How many claims in the last three years are allowed?
A. They did not ask about previous claims, or give a maximum claims allowed.

Getting A Quote

Q. How many pages are there before you get a quote?
A. 1.

Q. Does the application find your address easily from the postcode?
A. Yes.

Q. What is the maximum number of NCD years allowed?
A. 9 years.

Q. Can you protect NCD?
A. Yes, for an extra premium.

Q. Does the car details come automatically from the DVLA when the registration number is entered?
A. Yes or you can enter manually.

Q. What are the maximum and minimum Voluntary Excess Amounts?
A. GBP 0 to GBP 2000

General Thoughts

Q. Was it easy to understand what the questions wanted and were there help boxes?
A. There were help boxes on all the necessary questions.

Q. Were all the questions necessary?
A. Yes and less intrusive than usual.

Q. Could you change things like voluntary excess to get a requote.
A. Yes.

Q. How long did it take to get a quote?
A. Less than 5 mins.

Q. How many quotes were returned?
A. 1.

Q. Do the quotes offered have different levels of cover?
A. You chose the cover as you made the quote.

Q. Can you go back and requote?
A. Yes, by amending your details on the same page.

Q. Did you understand the levels of cover you were getting?
A. Yes, the help boxes were very clear and informative.

Q. What additional covers options were offered?
A. The site offered many covers such as road rage, repair guarantee, legal, wind screen cover but most were an optional extra unless comprehensive.

Q. Were these covers included or do you have to pay extra?
A. They were included for comprehensive cover.

Q. Could you remove covers to make the quote cheaper?
A. You are originally quoted with no extras attached and then you add what extras you want and your quote builds up.

Q. Can you save the quote to return to this site later?
A. Yes.

Q. Are you offered the policy documents and keyfacts documents to read before you purchase?
A. Yes but you cannot find them anywhere until you get to the final stages of a quote.

Q. Was this easy or discouraged from viewing these documents before purchasing?
A. It was encouraged.

Q. What payment methods are available?
A. All methods including monthly premiums.

Q. Were you asked for more personal or car details before you could purchase? If yes what?
A. I could not proceed without the registration number.

Overall Opinions of the Website

Q. How did you find the navigation? Was it easy to move around?
A. The site was simple to navigate.

Q. Did you like or dislike this site? Why?
A. Ok - The site seemed good at first but when explored didnt feel very informative as you couldn't view policy documents until the system had decided the insurance company.
Very good competitive premiums for students and young drivers generally.

Q. Was the website quick or slow?
A. Fairly quick - especially quick to get a quote.

Q. Was the site easy to use? On a scale of 1 to 5 , 1 being hard to use and 5 being very easy - how would you rate it?

A. The site was very simple to use with a fast quotes. it could have been more informative about the products. Overall score 4/5.

All our respondents were impressed at the speed of Endsleigh Car Insurance in returning quotes. The site is flexible and offers a wide range of covers, and is particularly goood for young drivers, professionals and some specialist markets.
Being an Insurance Broker, Endsleigh Car Insurance is able to offer excellent additional services such as claims and telephone assistance.

A Car Insurance Television Review 2010.

Labels: car insurance, Car Insurance Brokers, Car Insurance Review, car insurance reviews, Endsleigh Car Insurance Review, Endsleigh Insurance, UK Car Insurance Reviews

Admiral Car Insurance

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:28:00 +0000

Title: Admiral Car Insurance
Publisher: Veoh - Admiral Insurance
A short film outlining the achievements of the Admiral Car Insurance Group in 2009

Watch Admiral in News |

A review of Admiral Car Insurance by Car Insurance Television

The UK Car Insurance Blog

Admiral Car Insurance Review

We asked a large team of people to visit Admiral Car Insurance and report back to us about how easy it was to use the website and whether the website offered all the car insurance services and covers they required.

The team consisted of a cross section of UK demographics, car ownership and ages; the only common factor was that none of the team had bought car insurance online before.
The object of the review was to rate the usability, car insurance cover offerings and services of the website, and not just the premioums quoted.

REVIEW OF ADMIRAL CAR INSURANCE
Website: http://www.admiral.com
Q. Is the car insurance company offering any special discounts or offers?
A. Yes,10% online discount

Are these only available if you purchase online?
Yes, only available to online purchases of car insurance

Q. Is telephone help readily available from the webpage?
A. There are 2 numbers available for getting help with quotes on single and multi car policys and an extensive 'contact us' section with many numbers and addresses

Q. Is there a claims section readily accessible?
A. There is a link to a claims page with all the necessary form available for print, download or to be completed online

Q. Was it easy to find the quote page?
A. The link was central on the opening page of the site

Q. Was there an option to recall a previous quote?
A. Yes, you created an account during the quote process

Policy Restrictions

Are there any restrictions to getting a quote

Q. What are the minimum and maximum ages?
A. There appeared to be no age resctrictions

Q. Do they cover all professions?
A. Yes

Q. Are Kit Cars, Q plates and modified vehicles covered?
A. Yes

Q. Do they cover Northern Ireland (NI)?
A. There policy extends to the whole UK however it is unclear

Q. Are drivers with convictions covered?
A. Yes

Q. How many claims in the last three years are allowed?
A. There was no maximum

Getting a Quote

Q. How many pages are there before you get a quote?
A. 5

Personal details

Q. Does the application find your address easily from the postcode?
A. Yes, and it asks you your house number before the search so you don't have to choose from a list

Q. What is the maximum number of NCD years allowed?
A. 9+ years

Q. Can you protect your NCD?
A. You could opt for protected and guaranteed NCD years but it cost an additional premium

Car details

Q. Does the car details come automatically from the DVLA when the reg no is entered?
A. Yes, but you could enter the details manually if you wanted to.

Q. What are the maximum and minimum Voluntary Excess Amounts?
A. Â£0 to Â£1000 - changing these affected the premium considerably.

Claims details

Q. How many accidents are you allowed?
A. They wanted to know about all your accidents and claims but there was no obvious limit

General Observations

Q. Was it easy to understand what the questions wanted and were there help boxes?
A. The majority of the questions had help boxes but was easy enough not to need them

Q. Were all the questions necessary?
A. Yes

Q. Could you change things like voluntary excess to get a requote?
A. You could change details about your quote on the final price page and the quote responded accordingly

Q. How long did it take to get a quote?
A. About 5 mins

Q. How many quotes were returned?
A. Just 1

Q. Do the quotes offered have different or varying levels of cover?
A. No, but you could amend your quote details and therefore change your level of cover and requote.

Q. Can you go back and requote?
A. Yes you could requote as much as you wanted

Q. Did you understand the levels of cover you were getting?
A. There was no description of the differences in covers

Q. What additional covers were offered?
A. They offered windscreen, courtesy car and stereo cover as basic, then breakdown, personal injury and hire car at a charge

Q. Could you remove covers to make the quote cheaper?
A. You could not remove the inclusive covers

Q. Can you save the quote to return to this site later?
A. Yes through your account..

Q. Are you offered the policy documents and keyfacts documents to read before you purchase?
A. The documents are all available to view and download from the main page.

Q. Was this easy or discouraged from viewing these documents before purchasing?
A. Easy.
.

Purchasing Admiral Car Insurance

Q. What payment methods are available?
A. You could pay online with any major credit/debit card also you could set up a direct debit and you could finish the quote over the telephone.

Q. Were you asked for more personal or car details before you could purchase? If yes what?
A. No

Overall

Q. How did you find the navigation? Was it easy to move around the website?
A. Good, you could move around the site whilst getting your quote as the quote process was done in a separate window.

Q. Did you like or dislike this site? Why?
A. Like - The site was enjoyable to use because it felt honest and upfront although the premiums occasionally seemed very high in comparison.

Q. Was the website quick or slow?
A. The site itself was quick to navigate around and the quote process also

Q. Was the site easy to use?
On a scale of 1 to 5 , 1 being hard to use and 5 being very easy - how would you rate it?
A. 5 - The site was simple, quick and clear.

Get an Admiral Car Insurance Quote

So there you have it - Admiral comes out top on usability with a maximum vote of five from our team, that is going to take some beating. It looks like the Business Analysts at Admiral have done a fantastic job on the online functionality of this website! Let us know your thoughts on this website.

Read More Car Insurance Reviews and Compare Cheap Car Insurance Quotes from hundreds of specialist suppliers.

Labels: admiral, admiral car insurance, Admiral Car Insurance Review, car insurance, Car Insurance Review, UK Car Insurance Reviews

Porsche Insurance - compare schemes online

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Compare a large range of specialist Porsche car insurance quotes with large discounts available for our Porsche insurance schemes!

Car-Insurance.tv is the only UK Specialist Porsche Insurance comparison website that compares multiple dedicated Porsche car insurance schemes.

We provide cover for all models including classics and sports cars from the Boxster roadster, all variations of the 911 and 964, Carrera GT, Cayman, Cayenne to the new Panamera.

Our simple to use comparison system allows you to enter your basic details once, compare prices and buy cover online in a just couple of minutes!

You'll also have the experience of qualified specialist Porsche car insurance brokers and experts at hand to help should you have any queries, adjustments, questions or claims.

Compare Audi car insurance quotes - From Japan

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Car Insurance comparison website Car-Insurance.tv lets you Compare Audi Car Insurance Quotes and schemes for all Audi models online. Save hundreds with our specialist Audi cover and cheaper schemes and premiums.

We found this one on a japanese website!From Japan!

Landlord Insurance: Buildings and Contents insurance for landlords let property

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:28:00 +0000

Landlords and Property Owners can now compare quotes and policies from all the main landlord insurance companies and many specialist landlords insurance schemes on a new comparison site launched this week by UK landlord insurance company http://www.landlord-insurance.net

Video Synopsis:

Channel landlordsinsurance
17 November 2009

http://www.landlord-insurance.net offers buy to let and commercial landlord insurance online and has agencies with all the major UK landlord and let property insurance companies. This enables us thro...
http://www.landlord-insurance.net offers buy to let and commercial landlord insurance online and has agencies with all the major UK landlord and let property insurance companies. This enables us through our online price comparison and quote engine to offer you the widest scope of cover available on the web at cheaper Internet prices. Landlords Rent Guarantee insurance and appliance breakdown cover options available.
Category: Howto & Style
Tags:
landlord insurance landlords let property cover rent guarantee quotes landlords insurance landlord insurance let property insurance

Publisher: Landlord Insurance UK

Events Insurance

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:17:00 +0000

Leading UK Events Insurance Company http://www.eventsinsurance.co.uk offer special events cover for all liabilities and cancellations. Our Wedding event cover covers all events including the reception, cake, dresses, staff, cancellation and all liability.

Video synopsis
http://www.eventsinsurance.co.uk are the UK's leading online wedding insurance company. We offer a range of covers from dresses through to wedding cancellation cover and public liabilty for receptions and the weddiny party.
Visit us today for cheap special events insurance
Category: People & Blogs
Tags:
wedding insurance weddings events
Publisher : Events Insurance Brokers Ltd

Sports Car Insurance

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:10:00 +0000

Compare Sports Car Insurance quotes from over 100 specialist sports car insurance schemes at the UK's leading independent car insurance comparison website Car-Insurance.tv

Compare over 100 specialist sports car insurance schemes at http://www.car-insurance.tv... We offer the cheapest sports car insurance rates for sports cars new and old
Category: Cars & Vehicles
Tags:
sports car insurance specialist compare
Video Publisher : Car-Insurance.tv

Compare Classic Citroen Car Insurance Schemes

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:28:00 +0000

Whether you drive a Citroen DS with the first full usage of Citroën's now legendary hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension system or a later SM, GS, CX, BX, XM, or Xantia model you can now compare over 100 Citroen Classic Car insurance schemes in one place at Car-Insurance.TV, saving you time and MONEY

Compare Classic Citroen Car insurance @ Yahoo! Video

Citroen Classic Car Insurance is available for all Citroens over fifteen years old including the following models:

Classic Citroen Insurance

* 2CV (1948–1990)
* Ami 6 (1961–1971)
* Ami 8 (1969–1979)
* Citroën Bijou (1959–1964)
* DS/ID (1955–1975)
* Dyane (1967–1984)
* H Van (1947–1981)

Classic Post war Citroen Insurance (1970–1980)

* Acadiane (1978–1987)
* Ami Super (1973–1976)
* Axel (1984–1988)
* C25 (1981–1993)
* C35 (1974–1992)
* CX (1974–1989)
* FAF
* GS and GSA (1970–1984)
* LN (1976–1979)
* LNA (1978–1986)
* M35 (1970–1971)
* Méhari (1968–1987)
* SM (1970–1975)
* Visa (1978–1988)

Recent classics

* AX (1986–1998)
* BX (1982–1994)
* C15 (1984–2005)
* Evasion (1994–2002)
* Citroën Fukang 988 (1998–2003): derivative for the Chinese market
* Saxo (1995–2003)
* XM (1989–2000)
* Xantia (1993–2001)
* ZX (1991–1997)
* Synergie (1995–2001)
* Xsara (1997-2006)
* Xsara Picasso (1999-2008)
* C5 (2001-2008)
* C3 (2002 - 2009)

Save money on Citroen Insurance and benefit from a fully backed car insurance broker office with claims handlers, when you purchase Citroen Classic Car Insurance at Car-Insurance.tv

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance Rates Without Reducing Your Cover

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:08:00 +0000

Everywhere you go these days you will hear the same word applied to car insurance. On the TV ads and commercials and on the radio........

Compare!

Well yes, you certainly do need to compare what you are spending your money on when it comes to car insurance, but as expert Dave Healey points out in the following article, there is a lot more to Comparing Car Insurance than what you are first led to believe by the giant car insurance 'price comparison' sites, whose horrible jingles regularly ring in your ears......

How to Get Cheaper Car Insurance Without Reducing Your Coverage

When you enter your details online and ask for a quote, the car insurance rating system returns a price for your coverage determined by the answers you give to the questions asked. This is exactly the same process as if you walked into a high street brokers or telephoned a company you found in say yellow pages. The difference online is that you are doing the work filling in the form or researching the market for yourself, saving the insurance company the cost of employing people to process your application.

Online car insurance is therefore nearly always a cheaper method of purchasing coverage as nearly all online motor insurance companies offer an immediate discount to the basic insurance rates, of at least ten percent for purchasing this way. To get the cheapest cover then, it is necessary nowadays to spend some time online.

The art to obtaining cheaper car insurance is found in a combination of first identifying a set of policies or companies that suit your particular insurance cover needs and then adjusting the factors within the preferred policy to tailor the price of it to your pocket.

Different companies ask different questions to assess your risk, but all ask a basic set of questions called rating factors. Although rating factors vary from policy to policy, the standardised method of rating a vehicle according to its risk group (engine size and cost to repair) and a driver by his age and experience, apply almost universally. When looking for cheaper insurance always answer the questions asked truthfully, in order not to invalidate your cover.

Your answers to the standard rating factor and risk questions should always be the same, as things such as your age or the type of car, do not change.

Identifying a company which is right for you is of particular importance as it is not desirable to reduce coverages to save on price. Getting cheaper premiums is about negotiating a price for the level of cover you desire. For example, reducing your coverage from comprehensive to third party fire and theft may save you a lot of money up front, but will cost you dearly in most cases in the event of a claim, especially if you are at fault!

A good place to start, if you have the time, to get an indication of what you are likely to pay, is to visit a car insurance price comparison site. These websites compare rates and policies, often from hundreds of different insurance suppliers. Some online systems particularly these so called aggregator or price comparison sites are more often obliged to ask more questions, so getting a cheaper quote can be time consuming. This is because certain of the insurance companies on the panel require differing information about the driver or the car, in order to return the quote. This obviously takes a lot longer to complete the quotation and purchasing processes where sometimes hundreds of policies are involved, however the time spent is rewarded with a list of competing companies offering a variety of quotes, giving you a very good indication of what you are likely to have to pay. These may not be the cheapest quotes you will find online, but being presented with various offers and options is a starting point for identifying cheaper car insurance.

If you like a look of a particular policy that you have found on a car insurance price comparison site, you can often save money by visiting the company's own website and applying direct. In order to ensure you get the full benefits of cheaper cover it is often necessary to remove all cookies from your browser window, before visiting the car insurance provider direct.

It is also worth remembering that many of the cheaper car insurance companies do not have their motor insurance products for sale on the price comparison sites, and many make a point of this direct exclusivity, in their advertising campaigns. These so called direct car insurance companies are also able to offer large discounts for purchasing their insurance because they cut the costs of production of the policy by cutting out the costs of the middleman, in the form of a price comparison site fee or car insurance brokers commission. The commission savings these direct insurers make by conducting business this way can then be passed onto their customers as cheaper car insurance premiums.

Another area to explore if you have particular driving coverage needs or own a classic or expensive performance car, is the specialist car insurance market. This market is comprised of many specialist car or niche motor insurance schemes, often operated by much smaller companies who could specialise in, for example, a particular classic car make and model scheme, young inexperienced driver insurance, or drivers with convictions.

These specialist policies are often available at much cheaper prices than both the price comparison sites and the direct insurers because they have both the bulk buying power and mutuality of affinity groups, where these economies of scale can be passed on as cheaper car insurance premiums to the customer; and also benefit from the fact that where the risk is known and can be grouped, much more accurate and tailored risk pricing can be achieved. To identify a suitable specialist company simply search online for insurance for your vehicle type.

Once you have identified a few policies that are suitable for your personal driving requirements, there are certain adjustments that can be made within the quotation system that will reduce the premiums.

Many of the adjustments that online car insurance applications allow you to make, do not reduce your levels of cover but transfer some of the risk to yourself in the form of excesses. The excess is the amount that you personally have to bear the cost of in the event of a claim, before the insurance cover kicks in.

The higher the excess you are prepared to accept on a voluntary basis the cheaper the cost of the policy. This method of reducing premiums is fine if you are a careful driver and do not believe that you will ever have an at fault accident or claim. Higher excesses invariably mean small claims for bumps and scratches are avoided. A new type of car insurance called value car insurance was recently introduced into the UK market by supermarket chain Tesco.

The concept of this insurance is an ultra high compulsory policy excess to deter all but the most serious claims; coupled with ultra low premiums, sometimes as much as a third of the competitors prices. Companies are able to offer this cheap coverage because claims are reduced and profits higher.

So in order to get cheap car insurance it is necessary to dedicate some time comparing policies, plans, schemes, covers and prices. Going direct or haggling on the phone can also sometimes produce spectacular price reductions, particularly as there are many promotional offers these days that are only available direct from the supplier. The more time you dedicate to exploring and researching various car insurance options the more likely it is that you will find much cheaper car insurance than you are currently paying!

Original Article Pulication : http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Healey http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Get-Cheaper-Car-Insurance-Without-Reducing-Your-Coverage&id=3102589

So there you have it...
Shop around, Compare Car Insurance at YouTube and check out TV and radio ads for great cheap car insurance deals.
Always remember to check what you are buying in terms of a claims service!

Selling Your UK Insurance Broker Business - The Most Important Deal of Your Life

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:13:00 +0000

You have spent the majority of your adult life working hard and slowly nurturing your insurance company to a position of strength. Your reputation as an honest and efficient business person or broker is a proud reflection on your work and the fact that many of your long standing clients are now trusted friends is testament to this. So how do you put a price on your life's work and can you really walk away knowing that the business will be in safe hands?

When considering selling, it is vital that you establish a clear cut succession plan to ensure that you receive the correct financial reward for your career's work. It will take time and careful consideration to find the option that works best for you and there are plenty of questions to be raised before you choose which path is best for you.

In practice there are six main options for those looking to pass on or sell their business. Of course each situation is different and often a compromise between these will be required. However as a general rule at least one of the following scenarios will fit with most acquisitions within the UK broking sector.

Possibly the simplest option is to persuade your fellow directors to buy you out. This can often be agreed quickly and without too many problems as you are dealing with people whose trust and understanding you have gained over the years. The integrity of the business remaining unaffected and the lack of disturbance on your client base and staff are also great advantages. However, this form of buy out is dependant on finance being readily available to the remaining members of the board so it is not always viable.

Alternately an individual could sell their shares to an external third party. There is some risk in this as the wrong person coming in could cause difficulties with the remaining shareholders. The flip side however, is that if the right person comes on board then they can add an injection of new ideas and fresh life into the business propelling it forwards.

A long term strategy is to train an existing employee with a view to taking over the reins. This offers the prospect of instilling your existing values into the next generation of your company and goes some way to ensuring a legacy; however the obvious pitfall is the realisation of capital. Unless your protege has substantial personal wealth or you are a very generous employer, will they have the funds necessary to step in and buy you out when the time comes?

If all shareholders are in agreement then selling up to another firm is a common choice, but how will working under a new regime impact upon those that stay on? Can those members of the board that stay adapt to less business-critical roles so easily? Without the full backing of all the shareholders a successful deal cannot be agreed so negotiations need to reflect the needs of those who will remain as much as those who are looking to leave.

The final option is to face up to facts that liquidation may bring in more revenue than selling the company as a going concern. If the business is turning over just enough to stay afloat but retention rates are not sufficient enough to attract a reasonable offer, it may be that the equity tied up in assets such as cars or property may be more profitable sold on their own. Again the decision to wind the company down is one not to be taken lightly as the welfare of your staff also enters the equation once again.

Ultimately you need to think carefully about the exit strategy that fits with your own thinking and how you wish to see the business develop once your gone. The most desirable strategy may not be available to you and of course market conditions and levels of third party interest is always going to feature highly in how you leave your business and the value you are able to realise for it.

For any seller, it is essential to find a suitor that you are comfortable with so you can be confident that the new corporate culture will sit well with the way business has been run traditionally. It may be the last deal you make, but be prepared to do some serious work on this one as quite simply; it is the most important deal of your life.

The author has been involved in extensive insurance mergers and acquisitions and specialises in the area of UK Commercial Insurance.

Please visit insurance brokers for sale for more information on selling an insurance business or Insurance Broker Buyers if you are interested in purchasing UK based insurance businesses.

Original full article published at http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Healey http://EzineArticles.com/?Selling-Your-Business---The-Most-Important-Deal-of-Your-Life&id=2958407

Drive Through Classic Car Insurance Comparison Supermarket

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:27:00 +0000

The driver of this classic 1978 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost decided to take his grievance up directly with his local Tesco supermarket in Andover UK, by driving the car through the plate glass window and into the store.
He might have difficulty getting insurance for his not so cherished vehicle when he finally gets out of prison in a couple of years time........

Maybe he thought you had to go to the checkout to compare classic car insurance prices; a line which this famous store is now offering to its car insurance customers!

Boat Insurance - Hurricane Season is upon us

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:34:00 +0000

For those of us who own a yacht or ship sailing in caribbbean waters , you won't need reminding that the annual waves of hurricanes and tropical storms that blast across the Atlantic into the gulf of Mexico is fast approaching!

But what precautions are you expected to take to protect your boat or yacht under your existing boat insurance policy conditions so as not to invalidate the cover?

Insurance Blogger Paul Magus explains.......

Caribbean Yacht Insurance - Hurricane Claims May Be Rejected

Following the recent hurricanes, many yacht owners in the Caribbean are finding that their yacht insurance or marine insurance no longer covers them. By following simple instructions regarding moorings and policy declarations, yacht owners in hurricane risk areas can avoid the disappointment and stress of having a yacht or boat insurance claim disallowed following a storm.

With the hurricane season in full sail and the damage to the US gulf states and the Caribbean from hurricanes Ike and Gustav already running into billions of dollars, Yachtline Insurance of London, one of the major providers of cover for yachts throughout Caribbean region and marine underwriters at Lloyds of London, are warning that in some places, many yacht owners are finding that they are not covered having not complied with the minimum requirements for their policy or taken out or declared the additional hurricane windstorm cover.

"We have insurance loss adjustors working round the clock, particularly on the Islands of Grenada, Jamaica and Cuba which took some of the worst damage from Ike and Gustav. In many places we have found damage to vessels that could have been avoided if the proper hurricane risk management had taken place"

Yachtline are pointing out that no matter who insures you, you should observe the requirements for hurricane yacht and boat insurance which are contained within your policy.

The Caribbean Yacht Insurance cover hurricane affected area is defined as north of 9 degrees North and south of 35 degrees North, west of 55 degrees West and east of 100 degrees West. For cover purposes this encompasses the region west from the Venezuela coast and Trinidad in the South to Cape Hatteras in the north.

The Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th and all laying up conditions and procedures must be observed during this period for the yacht insurance to remain valid.

Monohull boats out of the water, should be protected in a purpose built cradle made of prefabricated steel. Heavy duty webbing should be applied to the cradle to anchor it down at at least four anchor points. All catamarans should be securely laid up ashore and anchored as above. Mast removal and storage on racks attracts cheaper yacht insurance premiums and should be observed if declared. However masts removed and properly attached to the hull is usually sufficient. All sails should be preferably stored safely, and all loose articles properly lashed down. If the boat cannot be removed from the water then stern mooring and guardianage should be arranged with the marina owners.

If boat owners take the simple precautions as laid out in their policy then the number of claims and losses disallowed will reduce. Follow the instructions given when making a yacht hurricane area policy declaration when first taking out or renewing your boat insurance.

How and Where to purchasing cheap classic car insurance online

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:53:00 +0000

Purchasing Cheap Classic Car Insurance Cover Online
By Dave Healey

Do you own a car over fifteen years old?
If you do you may well be entitled to insure it under what is known in the industry as a classic car insurance policy.
In the past there were many more restrictions on cover under this type of policy and specialist motor insurance brokers and insurance companies were very particular about the type, age, make and models of the cars they wished to cover on their books. they were also restricted by the number of classic car insurance schemes available to them.

Times have changed and technology has led to many more cars now fitting into a bracket that was once reserved for the glamourous, collector and vintage car owners. It is now possible to obtain both cheap quotes and classic car covers online from many providers including the majority of those famous high street brands, who have realised that nearly fifty percent of the cars on the road now fall within the strict underwriting parameters for classic car policies. Consequently premiums in this market, which were always cheaper than standard cover, have become much more competitive in recent years, with the entry into the market of many of the larger insurance companies.

When searching for the right covers it is wise to get a range of classic car insurance online quotes from various different sources. Not all motor companies are the same, and neither are all classic policy conditions.

When applying for a classic quote you should be aware of the varying limits of cover and restrictions that may be put on driving the vehicle. For example many of these policies will only allow you very limited road mileage each year, sometimes as little as 3000 miles per annum. This is fine if you have an expensive collectors car that is garaged throughout the year and only taken out for the odd cruise or rally. The problems occur much more frequently when non valuable classic cars are insured under this type of policy when they should really be covered under a more embracing standard motor insurance. Unfortunately, restrictive policy conditions often only come to light after an accident and a claim is made, rejected by the insurer and leaves the policyholder feeling missold and abandoned.

If you have decided that a classic car policy is right for your car, then when applying for quotes online always check that the policy is right for you, the owner as well. Many policies are designed to charge by the lifestyle of the insured and as with all car insurance there is a tendency for cover to be cheaper for older persons and women drivers. Many companies will not issue classic motor insurance to persons under the age of twenty five, although this is changing as well, and there are some very good providers out there who will cover drivers as young as twenty one.

If the value of the car is not particularly high and the replacement costs of parts and repairs does not warrant a specialist policy, you may well be better advised to seek out quotes from a mainstream insurance company. They often have additional online discounts and offers which the classic policy providers are not in a position to offer.

As with all car insurance, what may initially appear cheap at policy inception could cause some unpleasant surprises when it comes to making a claim.

Shop around for specialist car insurance and Classic Car Insurance deals. You can cave time by using a specialist classic car insurance comparison site that compares classic car insurance schemes for your model. Compare prices and insurance covers from both major high street brands and the smaller insurance specialists to ensure you not only get a good deal, but get the adequate levels of cover you require for your classic car, as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Healey http://EzineArticles.com/?Cheap-Classic-Car-Insurance-Cover&id=2613741

How to Compare Car Insurance Online and Save Money

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:46:00 +0000

How To Compare Car Insurance Online

Everybody these days will tell you to go and compare Car Insurance online if you want to get cheap car insurance. But where do you start?
And more importantly what should you be comparing?
We asked our classic car insurance specialist to investigate........

Original areticle by: Dave Healey

Comparing car insurance online, particularly classic car insurance, can be a minefield for any people, with so many options available online at the click of a mouse, it is often confusing, a problem that is exacerbated if you own a classic car and require specialist car insurance.

So how do you choose firstly a website, then a company, then the policy, that is going to be right for your prized possession, your cherished classic car?

You could like the majority of people start off by visiting a large car insurance comparison site, such as the ones you will see advertising during virtually every commercial break on television. don't expect to find any bargains at these types of sites. They are designed around standard polices for standard vehicles, and although many of these sites willl now quote for classic cars, the premiums are often heavily loaded and more often far from competitive. Having spent time filling out the application form online it can be disappointing to find that most companies on the comparison panel are refusing to quote for your particular classic, or have loaded the premium as the do not want your business. For the majority of the large car insurance companies, classic cars mainly equate to expensive claims, and not profitable target business.

When comparing what can at first appear to be, cheap classic car insurance through one of thee large supermarket distribution outlets, be very careful to read all the wordings in the small print, paying particular close attention to the information regarding claims.

If you own a classic car you need to ascertain that in the event of an accident your classic car will be taken to a specialist or maker approved repairer and that only genuine replacement parts will be used on your car to repair it. Unfortunately you will find that most mainstream car insurers have a network of approved repairers nationwide, and will often insist that cars covered under their policy contracts must be repaired through these outlets. In situations such as this, what appeared to be a bargain cheap car insurance deal at source, could prove to be a very expensive mistake.

The solution to the problem is to approach a specialist car insurer or broker, in particular one who has experience in underwriting classic motors, and preferably has a large book of business of classic car insurance. Unlike in many other professions for example healthcare, a specialist in car insurance is often cheaper than the High Street names and offer better value quality cover that can be tailored to the requirements of your specific classic car make and model. By specialising in a particular market niche these car insurers have developed group schemes for virtually every type of classic. By joining one of these schemes you are joining a risk pool of like minded individuals and similar cars. The specialist car insurer is able to determine more accurate rates for a particular classic and you will also benefit from the power of group buying which delivers economies of scale in the form of shared risks and cheaper premiums.

About the Author:

With the demand for specialist car insurance rising, there are now many websites where you can compare car insurance online and specifically specialist schemes, covers, and rates for classic car insurance. When comparing both covers and premiums it is essential that you make comparisons on a like for like or similarity basis, including the arrangements for settling a claim.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How To Compare Classic Car Insurance Online

Cut the costs of Caravan Insurance by comparing cover online

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:38:00 +0000

Caravan Insurance is now available to buy online from companies who compare quotes and cover from multiple suppliers. Whether you have a static caravan on a park or kept at your own property, a motorhome or touring caravan, there are a plethora of companies offering cover online. Caravan Insurance rates and covers can vary wildly from insurer to insurer so it is best to try and visit a website that compares the whole UK caravan insurance market in one form, saving you time hunting for cover and providing the best premium rates available. One such company CaravanInsurance.org is a one stop shop for all your caravan insurance needs and cover can be obtained and poaid for online in a matter of minutes, leaving you free to do more of the things you enjoy most - hitting the road or relaxing in your park!

Compare Caravan Insurance

Specialist Car Insurance will cut premium costs!

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:18:00 +0000

The UK public are turning to specialist car insurance providers as they seek to reduce the costs of car insurance premiums during the current recession.

Specialist car insurers provide policies and cover that is tailored to the particular individual insurance needs of the driver or car, for example women driver insurance, classic car insurance cover or performance sports car insurance. Premiums are often much less than what the equivalent quote may be from a mainstream insurer. The policy covers are also much more suited to the type of vehicle or person driving it especially when it comes to making a claim. The advent of the Internet and online underwriting has enabled the public to have broad and wide access to policies that were previously reserved for the few. Division of cover by make, model or class of driver has also provided the specialist insurers with much safer risk pools of the type of business the are looking to underwrite and consequently with less claims they can offer further reductions in the cost of car insurance.

There are many companies now offering this cover online but it is best to shop around and compare quotes from many specialist car insurance providers. Visit a one stop shop where they compare specialist car insurance quotes from many providers for the best deals and cheap car insurance.

Piracy Insurance - Walking the Plank!

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:24:00 +0000

Pirate Attacks on Merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden have been dominating the headlines over the last few weeks. There were more than 50 reported attacks off the coast of Somalia in the first eight months of 2008, with 32 vessels hijacked. It seems like any vessel rounding the Horn of Africa is at risk from Somalian Pirates totting AK47's in dugouts with a couple of large Evinrude outboards on the back.

Not that Piracy died out with Blackbeard and the crew of The Queen Anne's revenge, piracy has dogged shipping for the last twenty five years off the coasts of Nigeria, SE Asia and of course Brazil where Sir Peter Blake lost his life.

But the recent spate of blatant attacks in the world's most busiest of shipping lanes has taken this ancient art of high seas robbery to new heights - they even took a container ship of Russian Tanks! More than a dozen ships are currently being held to ransom in the region, including the Saudi-owned supertanker Sirius Star, which has two British crew on board. The average duration of vessel seizure is 60 days but for some it is much longer.

We even have a reality Pirate TV show here in the UK - Ross Kemp In search of Pirates (if you want to watch the video online), where the former Eastenders 'Hard Man' teams up with the crew of HMS Northumberland to patrol the waters off of Somalia.

So I sat down and watched it, and what did I see, the Royal Navy cruising up and down the Gulf looking for Pirates and when they did happen to strike on a ship that HMS Northumberland been escorting earlier that day - sitting there in International waters, doing nothing, and watching the pirates change course and take the ship to Somalia!

What?

So if I see a robbery taking place I just walk on by, if I see someopne critically injured I turn the other way, If I'm a policeman and I see your car being hijacked I just let the thieves carry on and just report it back to the station!

Don't worry the Insurance will pay out!

The excuse they use is that they don't want to put the crews lifes at risk! Hello!
The crews lifes are already at risk and will be until the Insurance coughs up the ransom.

Let's just hope for the crews sake the vessel had piracy cover!

Freight Forwarder Insurance for Marine Cargo.

Self Employed Insurance

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:57:00 +0000

Accident and Sickness Insurance For the Self Employed

If you are just starting out in business or have been self employed for some time you should consider protecting not just yourself, but also your home and family against the possibility of you having an accident at work or home, or perhaps getting sick for a long time and not being able to work.

Both of these risks happen every day to someone unfortunate and it would be a brave person to jeopardise their home and business when accident and sickness insurance is widely available online to purchase in an instant cover that has been specifically designed for the self employed, and would remove all those worries.

Accident insurance is always sold as a policy in conjunction with Sickness insurance. This can usually be purchased individually as what is known as a disability cover or bundled up in a group of insurance products usually known as ASU (Accident, Sickness and Unemployment) or as Protection Insurance, commonly known as PPI.

When you purchase accident and sickness cover, you purchase levels of protection as units of what is known as monthly benefit. So for example if you need 1000 units of monthly cover you pay by the percentage rate cover unit determined by how old you are.

Typically a thirty year old in the UK who buys disability insurance from a well known independent supplier, will pay as little as GBP18 per month for GBP1000 worth of benefits, should they get sick or have an accident, leading to missing time off work.

ASU can be particularly cheap for self-employed persons if bought without the unemployment element of cover, which has significantly increased the cost of this type of cover in the near past due to the economic crisis.

Working for yourself is hard enough work alone, without having to worry about where the money is going to come from to pay the bills if you have to stop your business dealings for any time due to an accident or sickness.
Protection Insurance products such as mortgage, lifestyle income protection, all offer peace of mind and cover for anyone who works for themselves or as a contractor, and is not covered by any existing employer accident compensation.

Be aware that any long term pre-existing medical condition usually excludes you from purchasing Payment Protection Insurance or Sickness Insurance cover.

Shop around the independent providers of ASU for accident insurance, as there are always good deals to be had in this very competitive market []Payment Protection Insurance and Accident Insurance for the self-employed can be purchased quickly online from leading UK companies.

By Dave Healey : Accident And Sickness Insurance for the Self Employed

Single Premium Payment Protection Insurance is Outlawed Today

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:58:00 +0000

DEATH OF THE SINGLE PREMIUM PPI POLICY

The new regulations regarding the selling of Single Premium Payment Protection Insurance come into force today, rather in the shadow of the Norwich Union name change to Aviva.

The product, first thought up by the now despised and disgraced UK banks and building societies, not only took all your money up front for the cover when you took out a loan or mortgage, but it failed to pay out in over 85% of cases, has now been banned by the FSA.
It has become a classic example of a financial product that should never be allowed in the hands of Bankers and Building societies!

Also, one of a product thought up by people outside the insurance industry to defraud the UK public of billions of pounds!

PPI CLAIMS LAWYERS APPEAR FROM NOWHERE!

Just like the ambulance chasing solicitors and personal accident and injury claims lawyers of the no win no fee nineties, the amount of new laywers specialising in claiming for missold PPI policies is about to explode - the market is worth billions and those already entrencehed banks and building societies are going to have to pay dear once the TV ads start and the cash strapped British public whose mortgages fuelled the UK economy for 12 years of mortgage lending - realise they've been f**ked over big time!

Get Claiming!

BUY DECENT PPI COVER FROM AN INDEPENDENT

Fortunately, new good payment protection insurance products have arisen from independent providers who actually cover you at about a fifth of the price of banks - and you get 'Real' cover you can claim on if eligible. moreover, the payments are monthly and you can cancel or switch at any time. Try a lifestyle insurance or income protection plan if you want to be sure to cover everything.

Sex Drugs Car Insurance and.....Butter!

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:49:00 +0000

Somewhere at the Swiftcover Car Insurance Film studios, back of the chicken sheds......

Singing...
Oh, the passenger
He rides and he rides
He sees things from under glass
He looks through his windows eye
He sees the things he knows are his
He sees the bright and hollow sky
He sees the city asleep at night
He sees the stars are out tonight
And all of it is yours and mine
And all of it is yours and mine
Oh, lets ride and ride and ride and ride...

CUT! Yeah OK Iggy you can put it away now, we've all seen it before anyway!

Yes OK, We can film you in purple if you want, but NO! you can't wear those see through pants - this is an INSURANCE ad! OK!

And as for Johnny Rotten making money out of Country Life Butter...

I am an Anti-Christ!
I am an Anarchist!

...No your not! You're a BUTTER salesman!

Johnny Rotten? - More like Robbie Rotten! (Lazytown to all those of you without kids!)

Oh no it's true - forty years on and PUNK is not just dead, it's turned into a zombie!

MG Car Insurance - Members Club Classic Cover Scheme

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:50:00 +0000

MG Car Insurance - The official MG Motors Members Club Classic Cover Scheme

They might be gone as a brand for now, but we have a particular love of MG Motors. To many people, MG has been the accessible sports car for many a year.
Lancaster Classic Insurance started life over thirty years ago as the insurance division of the official MG Motors Members club, and has since grown to become the largest specialist car insurance company in the United Kingdom.

Lancaster have kindly provided us with a list of the complete range of MG cars produced, which are all available for cover online at Car Insurance TV.

List of models covered under the official MG Classic Car Insurance Scheme

* Sports car
o 1924-1929 MG 14/28
o 1924-1929 MG 14/40
o 1929-1932 MG M-type Midget
o 1931-1932 MG C-type Midget
o 1931-1932 MG D-type Midget
o 1931-1932 MG F-type Magna
o 1932-1934 MG J-type Midget
o 1932-1934 MG K-type Magnette
o 1933-1934 MG L-type Magna
o 1934-1936 MG N-type Magnette
o 1934-1936 MG P-type Midget
o 1936-1939 MG TA Midget
o 1939-1940 MG TB Midget
o 1945-1950 MG TC Midget
o 1950-1953 MG TD Midget
o 1953-1955 MG TF Midget
o 1955-1962 MGA
o 1961-1979 MG Midget
o 1962-1980 MGB
o 1968-1969 MGC
o 1973-1976 MGB GT V8
o 1992-1995 MG RV8
o 1995-2005 MG F
o 2002-2005, 2007- MG TF

* Subcompact car
o 1982-1990 MG Metro
o 2001-2005 MG ZR
o 2007- MG 3

* Compact car (Small saloons)
o 1933-1934 MG KN
o 1962-1968 MG 1100
o 1967-1973 MG 1300

* Midsize car (Medium saloons)
o 1924-1927 MG 14/28
o 1927-1929 MG 14/40
o 1928-1933 MG 18/80
o 1937-1939 MG VA
o 1947-1953 MG Y-type
o 1953-1956 MG Magnette ZA
o 1956-1958 MG Magnette ZB
o 1959-1961 MG Magnette Mk. III
o 1961-1968 MG Magnette Mk. IV
o 1983-1991 MG Maestro
o 1985-1991 MG Montego
o 2001-2005 MG ZS

* Full-size car (Large saloons)
o 1936-1939 MG SA
o 1938-1939 MG WA
o 2001-2005 MG ZT
o 2007- MG 7

* Supercar
o 2002-2005 MG XPower SV

* Racing cars
o 1930-1931 MG 18/100 "Tigress"
o 1934 MG Q-type
o 1935 MG R-type

* Concept car
o 1985 MG EX-E

* Vans
o 1980s MG Metro van [14]
o 2003-2005 MG Express [14]

Income Protection Insurance

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Income Protection Insurance

This insurance covers your income with a monthly tax free benefit should you become unemployed or suffer an accident or sickness

MG Classic Car Insurance

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:13:00 +0000

Lancaster Insurance Services Ltd was formed as the insurance division for the MG Owners Club in 1984. The ordinary car insurance policies that were available at that time proved to be expensive and did not take into consideration the fact that many of these vehicles were second cars, rarely used, or possibly laid-up for restoration.
Lancaster has since become the largest classic car insurer of MGs in the UK.

MG car insurance for all models of MG sports cars. http://www.car-insurance.tv/classiccarinsurance/MGclassiccarinsurance.html can cover all MG's including the MGA and MGB GT

Renewing Your Car Insurance Policy

insuranceblogger@insuranceblog.co.uk (Insurance Blogger) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:56:00 +0000

By Dave Healey

With the exception of the fairly new practice of issuing pay as you go car insurance policies, when you purchase car insurance you are entering into, and bound by the conditions of, a fixed term contract with the car insurance company. In the vast majority of cases this fixed term is for exactly one year since the date of the policy's inception or beginning.

As you near the end of the period of cover, your insurance company will invite or tender you to renew the contract. These days the systems employed by large car insurance companies will trigger the renewal procedure which initially means the production and posting of a set of renewal documents to the policyholder. This is usually timed so that the invite to renew pack is produced automatically around fifteen days prior to the termination of the existing car insurance contract, giving the prospective renewal policyholder time to correspond with the car insurance company and inform them of any changes that may have occurred during the term of the contract which are not reflected in the renewal documents.

If you intend to renew with the same insurance company you are legally bound to inform this company of any alterations to the statement of fact that you originally made when you first took out the policy.
Likewise you may wish to add or remove elements of cover from the current status of the car insurance policy, as your requirements may well have changed over the previous year.

Because of the compulsory nature of third party car insurance, no 'days of grace' are allowed after the renewal date of the policy. This can cause problems for car insurance companies as for practical purposes renewal documents and certificates have to be produced and dispatched to the prospective renewal policyholder in advance, which will become operative from the first day of the new period of insurance.

The renewal certificate, required by law to tax a motor vehicle, in theory cannot be issued until the renewal premium is paid. If payment was received subsequent to the expiry date of the existing car insurance policy, then the certificate would have to be re-written with the operative time and date matched to the time of payment. This could cause a major problem for the car insurance companies, as to issue an unaltered certificate would be equivalent to ante-dating it, which is a criminal offence, whilst re-writing the renewal documents would result in additional costs and expenditure to the car insurer, and more importantly would leave gaps in cover for the policyholder, which would leave a driver exposed to risks and legal action for driving without car insurance.

In order to overcome these practical difficulties of renewals, car insurers have developed a practice of incorporating into the renewal documents a certificate of insurance that is valid for an extended period of seven to fifteen days. This benefits both the prospective renewal and the insurance company by extending the period during which the insured has time to pay the renewal premium, yet still receive a certificate dated from the first day of the new contract period.

Car Insurers are particularly sensitive to what is known as the 'renewal retention ratio' , the number of renewals expressed as a percentage of the previous years total policies issued, especially since the introduction of online car insurance underwriting which has enabled a prospective renewal to shop around much easier and perhaps to change supplier.

The issue of this temporary certificate of cover in effect and contract law, constitutes an offer by the car insurance company, which the insured must either accept expressly, by paying the renewal premium, or by implication by doing nothing and having the premium taken from the payment source of the previous year's policy.

If however the prospective renewal obtains car insurance cover elsewhere or by some action, such as a telephone call, implies that he does not intend to renew and thereby not accept the offer, then this temporary cover would be deemed invalid. If a policyholder does not for some reason receive the renewal quote and certificate, or was unaware of the wording of the renewal notice, he cannot accept an offer and is therefore entitled to a full refund if the money has been debited from his account.

With the vast amount of choice available online for car insurance today, ranging from specialist car insurance schemes targeted at a particular group to the aggregator comparison websites, huge savings can be made by a policyholder at renewal if they are prepared to shop around for equivalent cover. It may not be in the best interests of a policyholder to blindly accept an offer to renew a car insurance contract without recourse to other offerings in the market which may be more suitable for their particular circumstances. Car Insurance rates vary immensely and it is not unheard of for companies to match or better a renewal offer from a competitor if you pick up the phone and give them a ring.

Dave Healey is a specialist car insurance underwiter who has been underwriting Car Insurance polices at Lloyds for over thirty years.

Article Source:

Classic Car Insurance - kewego Renew your Classic Car Insurance and save money!