Cheaper Motoring
September 2009
With petrol prices rising on a weekly basis, there is plenty about the upkeep of a car that can make you question whether it is worth even owning one. Aside from road tax and MOT charges, a predominant factor in this debate is insurance, a question which varies according to every circumstance. Taking it to an extreme for the sake of argument, if you possess a four by four in central London, you may well reconsider just how essential your vehicle is: the colossal cost of insuring a vehicle in the middle of a major city is bolstered by small expenses, like the congestion charge or eco-related taxes.
It is possible, however, to ensure that you are getting your money’s worth from whichever insurance policy you sign up for. Even if you are getting comprehensive cover, you can make sure that you are not just throwing money away needlessly, as many companies will offer discounts and bonuses. Online discounts can be found in abundance, as companies will generally prefer to deal over the web, due to the reduced paperwork and administrative headaches that this leads to.
Most insurers will offer extras as part of a policy, and it’s good to shop around to find those that best suit you. Kwik Fit Insurance, for example, will throw in a free MOT and 10% off at Kwik Fit garages when you take out one of their car insurance quotes online. Companies will also boast various different benefits if you sign up for a comprehensive policy, with attractions such as windscreen replacement services, cover for personal belongings, and free car hire in the eventuality of your own vehicle being stolen, in addition to covering you and your vehicle if you happen to be involved in an accident.
Aside from the major plus points of comprehensive insurance mentioned above, different companies will focus on different areas. Some will provide particularly strong legal aid, whereas others will have a more practical emphasis, such as covering costs in case your car keys are lost, stolen, or broken.
Given that insurance costs will be similar across the board, depending on factors such as how much excess you are willing to pay for, it is in these smaller details that most policies differ. For this reason, shopping around for the best policy is an invaluable use of your time, and it’s important to remember that while market comparison sites are great for checking the majority of the competition, a significant proportion of good insurance companies won’t be on those domains, and they are far from exhaustive.
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