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Women Drivers’ Insurance

With the overall number of female drivers in the UK increasing steadily since the mid-1970s, it is perhaps not surprising that the number of car insurance providers offering specialised insurance products for women has also increased in recent years. The emergence of a two-tiered motor insurance market might seem like a step back in time but in fact this development is highly beneficial for both insurance companies and female drivers alike.

Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK with a minimum of third party cover mandatory before you can hit the road. However, insuring your car does not have to cost the earth; the car insurance market in the UK is highly competitive and, if you are willing to put in a little effort investigating your options, there are some great deals around that will not only provide good value cover but also a range of extra features and benefits created with the female driver in mind.

What is Women Drivers’ Insurance?

A large number of car insurance companies now offer specialised insurance products for female drivers. As well as the big insurers providing reduced premiums for its female customer base, there are now a number of companies that only deal with women drivers.

These specialist women-only policies are responding to a better understanding of the unique needs that women have behind the wheel and consequently they have begun to offer a number of attractive extras for female drivers. Special features currently available on the UK female insurance market include for example, priority roadside assistance, handbag contents cover, free breakdown cover and female friendly repairers.

Why do Women Only Insurance Policies Exist?

Statistics clearly show that female drivers are less likely than their male counterparts to be involved in a serious road accident. Home Office statistics show that well over 95% of all dangerous driving convictions are against men as well as over 80% of speeding charges.

Such striking disparities in the driving profiles of men and women are primarily because, on average, women tend to drive more carefully and at lower speeds. It follows then that female drivers are less likely than men to have to make an insurance claim. It is often argued that male drivers generally drive longer distances each year than women; whilst this is true, even allowing for this increased mileage, men still fare worse with a much higher risk of making dangerous manoeuvres and driving at high speeds.

Insurance theory states that if a particular group can be shown to be lower risk then, providing members of this group can be easily identified, they should be able to enjoy correspondingly lower premiums as the chances of having to pay out are reduced. With the data indicating not only that women drivers make fewer insurance claims than men, but also that when they do claim, the value of the damages tends to be significantly less, insurance companies can afford to reward the carefulness of its female customers with significantly reduced insurance policies. Of course past driving history and age will still be taken into account when calculating the premium but, on average, a female driver is a considerably safer bet than a male.

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What are the Benefits of Women Drivers’ Insurance?

The benefits of taking out a car insurance policy that is specifically geared toward female drivers are not restricted to the insurers; there are several key benefits for women themselves. Firstly, taking past history and other information into account, women drivers will generally find that the premiums will be lower than for men with a similar driving profile. As mentioned, this is because, as a group, women present a lower overall risk to insurance companies, such that the cost of cover can be reduced.

In addition to the reduced premiums, female drivers can also enjoy a number of intelligent extra features when taking out women drivers’ insurance that are absent from the less specialised gender-neutral market. Most providers of women drivers’ insurance in the UK, for example, tend to include around £300 worth of handbag cover as standard, protecting your bag and all of its contents against theft or damage.

On top of this, the market leaders in the women drivers’ insurance market all offer ‘female friendly’ repair services, such as ensuring that cars can be collected from garages in daylight or helplines that translate motoring jargon and provide counselling after any accidents.

As with all insurance policies, your premium will be determined by a wide range of factors and it always pays to shop around. But with the statistics finally backing a winner in the age old debate of who makes the better driver, it’s fantastic to see the insurance market wising up to what us women always knew – female drivers on the whole are more careful, cause fewer accidents and drive more slowly than men.

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Breakdown Cover for Women Drivers

With breakdown cover now starting from less than the price of a pair of shoes, you can afford to buy motoring peace of mind.

There are many different types of breakdown cover you can choose from. You can choose the basic level which normally includes roadside assistance, and recovery to a local garage, or, the more comprehensive levels which offer extras such as car hire, onward travel costs or even the cost of overnight accommodation while your car is being fixed.

Many breakdown cover providers also offer European breakdown cover as well as in the UK. You can purchase this for short trips away on the continent, meaning you will feel safe in the knowledge you can get help if your car breaks down abroad. This cover normally includes extras such as repatriation to the UK, 24 hour English speaking assistance and a hire car.

PetrolPrices.com compare the leading breakdown cover providers in the UK, to help drivers find the most suitable breakdown cover to suit them.

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What is Van Insurance?

Van Insurance is a specific type of insurance that covers vans used for commercial purposes, for instance, for transporting goods from one destination to another.

Many policies will require the policyholder to state the weight of the van as well as to choose whether cover is for the UK or is also to cover the rest of Europe. Normally, insurers will only provide van insurance for vans which carry less than 4 passengers and weigh less than 3.5 tonnes in Gross Vehicle Weight.

Van insurance is essential whether you own just one single van or a fleet of van as part of your business. Direct Line offer additional discount for a Fleet of Vans. Click Here for a Van Insurance Quote for a Fleet of Vans.

In order to qualify for van insurance, most insurers will demand that the main driver is at least 21 of age and in possession of a full UK licence for at least 1 year.

Although many commercial vans are owned by companies, most insurers will issue van insurance to a named main driver.

If you have a van which you drive around just for private use, specific van insurance is not necessary. Normal motor insurance is adequate.

Different Types of Van Insurance Categories

Before deciding which level of cover will best suit your business needs, you need to be aware of the type of van you are driving. Choosing the wrong type of van may invalidate any claims you may make. Check with an expert if you are uncertain. The main van categories are as follows:

• Large Van
• Medium or Panel Vans
• Small or Light Vans
• Micro or Small Vans
• Double Cab or Pick-up
• Car Derived Vans

Be aware that some insurers will not provide cover for certain types of vans, for example, pick-ups so it’s best to check with the insurance company.

Different Types of Van Insurance Policies

To ensure you are able to secure the best protection, it is vital to choose the right cover. Different insurers will make different types of offerings so please check the details carefully. For example, check if your policy applies just within the UK or if you can make claims outside the country. Most insurers offer 3 main types of van insurance over as follows:

Third Party Only

Third Party cover represents a basic type of protection and tends to be the least expensive cover you can find on the market for your van. With a third party only van insurance policy, most insurers will offer the following as standard:

• Unlimited cover for causing accidental injury or death to other people
• Specified cover for accidental damage to other people’s property
• Cover for accidents caused by towing a trailer or disabled vehicle
• Emergency treatment for injuries arising out of the use of the van

Third Party with Fire and Theft

Cover for Third Party with Fire and Theft is essentially the same policy as Third Party except that it provides additional cover in the event of fire to your van and theft of your van. With the majority of third party fire and theft van insurance policies, you will get all the above mentioned Third Party Only cover as well as the additional benefits of cover for fire, theft or attempted theft.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive cover is of course the most extensive type of policy which covers all the above including the loss or damage to your van. Comprehensive cover will compensate you for personal injury as well. Certain insurance companies will provide cover for the contents of the van including audio equipment. A good level of comprehensive coverage will include cover for a new van, windscreen and repairs cover and compensation for lost, damaged or stolen tools in transit.

A comprehensive van insurance policy provides an enhanced level of cover to give you complete peace of mind.

With the majority of comprehensive van insurance policies you will be offered the following:

• Cover for accidental or malicious damage
• Sound or Audio Equipment – loss or damage up to a specified amount
• Glass Replacement cover for windows
• Windscreen Replacement cover
• Claim Repairs

Important Considerations Before Buying Van Insurance

Do not get just one quote even if it is from a reliable insurance firm. Get hold of a handful of quotes from reputable insurance companies.

Do not just go for the cheapest quote – choose a policy that gives you an adequate level of cover. Cover that is appropriate to you and how you use your van. You must feel confident that, in the event of a mishap, your policy will be helpful to you.

Read and understand all terms and conditions carefully before agreeing to buy any type of van insurance.

Research all the discounts available to you if you want to keep your costs down. Remember that the cost of not buying the right van insurance can prove more costly in the long run.

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Motorbike Insurance

The law in the UK states that “driving a vehicle on a road or in a public place without insurance against third party risk is an offence”. Therefore, if you own or have access to a motorbike that you intend to use on public roads, you must insure it. If you are involved in an incident involving another party and you are unable to prove you are insured, the resulting fine to you could be a hefty £5000, depending on the seriousness of the incident, and an endorsement on your licence of between 6-8 points.

Insurance companies structure their prices based on the likelihood of a claim being made, so certain criteria will affect the price you will be quoted. For example, if your motorbike has been modified in any way, is a top luxury or sports model and tempting for thieves, if your driving history indicates previous incidents, or you are a recently licensed motorcyclist, your quote is likely to be higher than others. Conversely, if you have invested in a reputable security system for your bike and your history indicates a careful motorcycling history and high no claims bonus, your insurance premiums are likely to be lower.

When you apply for motorbike insurance, you can expect the following questions to be asked:

• the motorbike details, including make, model, registration details
• what the bike will be used for, eg. personal or business use
• where the bike will be stored
• the ages and occupations of the people who will be driving the motorbike
• any penalty points on your licence or convictions for driving offences
• any no-claims bonus and how long you have been riding for
• any recent insurance claims

Your insurance policy shows who can ride your motorcycle, what purposes it can be used for and whether you are permitted to ride other motorcycles. The certificate of motor insurance does not, however, indicate the full policy cover. You are likely to find these details in your policy documents. Most policies will cover theft and accidental damage of your bike and named accessories in both the UK and the EU as standard.

This means that if your motorcycle is stolen, damaged or destroyed, your insurance company will either:

• pay for your motorcycle to be repaired
• or replace your motorbike
• or pay the amount of the loss or damage

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You don’t necessarily need to be driving the motorcycle at the time of an incident to make a claim. Often damage can occur to parked vehicles in car parks and on roadsides. You also don’t need to have an incident with a third party. An altercation with a tree, bollard or lamp-post will also constitute an acceptable claim provided that the incident could not have been avoided by any reasonable measure taken by you. The maximum amount they are likely to pay will be the market value of your motorcycle immediately prior to the loss according to how it was estimated on your policy schedule.

Generally, if your motorcycle is immobilised through loss or damage, your insurers will cover the cost of transport and delivery to the nearest repairers, and occasionally the cost of delivery to you after the work has been completed. If your motorcycle is damaged beyond repair, or stolen and not recovered, you should be able to claim a replacement with a new motorcycle of the same make and specification.

If you have been involved in an incident where a third party has also been damaged and you are found to be at fault, a fully comprehensive policy will cover the costs of both the damage sustained by you and by the third party (or parties). A third-party only policy will only cover costs for the other party’s damages and not yours. Other benefits may include the cover of repatriation of the motorbike from an EU country, payment of medical expenses following an accident, and no claims protection options and discounts. Ensure that the policy you choose also states that it complies with EU directives.

Most policies enable you to reduce your premiums if you agree to an excess payment. This is often set at between £150 and £250, and means that if you need to make a claim against a loss, theft or damage, the costs are reimbursed in accordance with your policy less the excess agreed. The higher the excess, the lower your premium will be.

Many motorcyclists enjoy discounts for a history of claim free riding, advanced training, secure overnight garaging, restricted mileage per annum and approved motorcycle security systems. Female riders are usually offered more competitive quotes too

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Business Car Insurance is different to insurance for cars which are used for personal projects like the weekly shop or picking up the kids from school because they’ve often got multiple people insured on them and are specifically for business tasks such as delivering or collecting goods or people.

Why is Business Car Insurance Required?

The government taxes us depending on our behaviour and we can receive a lower rate of tax on business vehicles than on our regular leisure vehicles because we are using them, in effect, to make a profit for ourselves or our employers.

Company cars are a type of business car which is usually loaned to a person as a fringe benefit of their employment so that they can perform the acts for which they are employed, whether that’s attending long distance meetings, travelling between clients, delivering or collecting goods or any number of other tasks.

Business cars, in turn, have different requirements to regular vehicles when it comes to their uses. Some small businesses use business cars for internal purposes and some businesses, such as taxi ranks and limousine companies use whole fleets of vehicles up to 24 hours a day.

What Does Business Car Insurance Cover?

Ordinary family-style cars, limousines, taxis, refrigerated vans and lorries -including ice cream vans – tippers, flatbed vans and pick-up trucks are all just some of the vehicles which might be used by businesses and, therefore, qualify for business car insurance.

Most business car insurance plans cover a high number of different eventualities because realistically a business car is likely to be used more frequently than a car intended for personal use and it is, therefore, exposed to more risk. Often policies include up to £20 million for damage to property which has arisen from an accident or several accidents and up to £5 million for any costs incurred by third party claimants.

As business drivers often listen to the radio for hours at a time on long journeys, you may find that a policy has unlimited cover for audio equipment which is permanently fitted to the inside of the vehicle and because the windscreen is often the first part of a car to need repairs, unlimited windscreen cover might also apply.

Some policies offer up to £100 for personal belongings which are left inside the vehicle (but kept out of sight in the case of robbery) and whole vehicle replacements can also be sometimes issued. Special vehicles such as fork lift trucks, tractors and diggers can also occasionally be covered by business car insurance, but it’s a complicated area and there are some disagreements regarding vehicles for building and agricultural uses.

Replacement Vehicles

If a business car is taken in for repairs then the needs of the business owner don’t just go away, so all good policies have a replacement vehicle sent out while the damaged car is in the garage for repairs. Most insurance policy makers also realise that business cars are likely to travel abroad, so up to 30 days cover in European countries is often also included in business car insurance plans. In the event of accident some plans also pay for a proportion of the passenger and driver’s medical expenses.

Business Car Insurance Benefits

Business car insurance on a vehicle used for business purposes is a legal requirement in the UK. There are no ifs or buts, all vehicles must be insured by law and because of the nature of the use of a business vehicle it needs a higher level of insurance than an ordinary car. However, some tax benefits on petrol and other costs associated with running a business car more than make up for the slightly more expensive insurance premiums.

The obvious benefits to having business insurance is that the cover is far more comprehensive for a business vehicle than a personal car, so you could find that if you suffer a crash while in your business car you are entitled to more financial aid than you would be in the car you use to do your shopping.

Policies vary widely and going for the cheapest option isn’t always the best. Make sure that you read all the fine print when choosing a policy and that you’re covered for issues which suit the use of your vehicle. If for example you regularly visit France, make sure that you’re covered whilst you’re there or if you carry a large amount of valuable goods in your vehicle ensure that the cover you buy reflects the true value of those goods just as you would when buying home insurance.

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Car insurance is there to protect you against any loss you could face as a result of accidents on the road. These losses could be your own death, damage to your car, personal injury or the injury, death or vehicle damage of other drivers. Most policies also cover you for the theft of your vehicle and any vandalism or wear and tear which your vehicle might suffer. Because premiums can increase after a claim, most drivers choose to pay for wear and tear and minor vandalism themselves rather than claim on the insurance.

The Law

In the UK it is illegal to not have insurance for any vehicle you own. Even vehicles which you might have parked off-road on your property need a certain type of off-road tax certificate specific to them. It was in 1930 that the UK government first introduced a law which required everyone with a car to take out insurance.

Since then, there have been several changes to the Road Traffic Act, which was first created in 1988 and these mean that anyone with a car must be insured at the very least against the damage they could do to other people and their vehicles. This minimum cover level is called Third Party Insurance. It’s illegal to drive your car or allow other people to drive it without at least this form of insurance.

Drivers are also required by law to show police officers and government officials their insurance certificate when asked to. If the driver cannot show the police officer the document immediately they could be issued a HORT/1 form, with just 7 days to produce their certificate. If they then fail to show the police a certificate they are officially guilty of an offence and could face serious consequences such as hefty fines and having their car crushed. Furthermore, if you then refuse to pay fines or get in the way of the authorities carrying out justice, you could be arrested.

All vehicle owners are also required to prominently display a tax disc in the front window of their car, this is useful because when the disc is purchased, the buyer must show their insurance certificate and so in having a tax disc it is quite safe to say you also have insurance.

To deal with the repercussions caused by those who flout the law, The Motor Insurers Bureau was created and the Bureau offers compensation to victims of traffic accidents which were caused by drivers without insurance. The Motor Insurers Bureau also runs the Motor Insurance Database and in this are details for every insured car in the UK.

What does Car Insurance cover?

Different companies offer different coverage and benefits and most insurers mainly compete on price, trying to offer more competitive, cheaper deals. This is because car insurance is considered a necessity, something which all people must have. As a result basic, cheap deals are popular.

However, the most common factors are the same across the board. There are two main types of cover, basic cover which typically is third party, fire and theft and can only be given to drivers over 25 where there are no drivers registered on the policy under 25 and there are little to no previous claims. More comprehensive cover which might include cover whilst driving abroad (especially Europe), a maximum no claims discount, cover for up to 4 different drivers, breakdown cover and other perks and extras.

Women Drivers

Women drivers pay less because they statistically have less chance of claiming than male drivers. Deals for women often have more comprehensive cover than those which are unisex and offer better perks. The facts which have been compiled by the UK government and which support the standard of women drivers paying less on their insurance premiums are also quite surprising.

In studies it has been unequivocally proven that 92% of all UK convictions for driving offenses are male drivers. Statistically women are far safer drivers and more conscious of laws than men, but whether or not the standard of women paying less insurance is fair has been queried several times.

Most recently European Union members debated whether or not the insurance industry practices amounted to gender discrimination and came to the conclusion that women were offered cheaper car insurance based on provable statistics. Therefore, it would be unfair to make a woman pay the same as a man when statistically she had far less chance of being involved in an accident than a man the same age. Forcing a woman who poses less risk than a man to pay the same premium, would in fact be unfair.

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Car Insurance Benefits

The benefits of having car insurance are clear. Firstly, it is a necessity and secondly it provides you with funds in the event of an accident.

Car Hire Insurance

One thing people often forget when they hire a car is that they have a choice over which service provider they chose. For more information, take a look at the Car Hire Insurance website.