As newly qualified driver you need to sort out car insurance if you will be driving. If you already have access to a car i.e. your parents then they can add you as an additional driver. If however you have your own car then you will need to get quotes from at least 5 different insurance companies and compare them.
Getting car insurance for the first time drivers can be exciting as well as annoying. As a new driver you will find that in most cases the insurance costs more than the car itself. The best thing to do is to find a car that you like and get some quotes for it; you may find that the car you want is actually costing too much in car insurance premiums. This is the biggest problem new driver’s face after passing their driving test. In the news recently was a 17 year old teenager who just passed his driving test, he bought a Vauxhall Corsa for £1,400 but was quoted £17,000 for insurance. He managed to get the quote down to £2,000 but even then the insurance cost more than the car.
If you can hold on to your licence for a few years then start driving as some licence holders do not actually drive a car as soon as they pass, instead they wait a few years. Age as well as licence held is the factor when it comes down to insurance quotes. So if you have held your licence for a few years you are at a lower risk of having an accident to someone who is just qualified even if you haven’t driven since passing your test. You could however be put on a driving policy as an occasional driver so you can still have some practice in the mean time.
It’s a well known fact that Japanese car manufacturers are the most reliable and parts are fairly easy to get hold of. Japanese cars have a very good reputation when it comes to getting your money’s worth as they are voted ‘least likely to break down’. When you compare SUV’s, Japanese car makers also have an impressive range that are much cheaper than other top of the range models and due to the advance in technology, Asia have a stronghold on environmentally friendly cars.
Years ago the car insurance industry started to provide insurance for car manufacturers individually, so if you own a Porsche, Lamborghini or Lotus it makes better sense to pay insurance to a company that understands the top of the range models and expensive parts. Japanese car makers on the other hand have an excellent reputation when it comes to reliability, practicality and affordability. So by opting to get insurance from a company that specialises in your car make, you should in theory save money when it comes to accidents, thefts and annual car insurance premiums. So if you own a Honda, Toyota or Nissan, japanese car insurance makes sense then.
Saying that, if you know that the car you have is reliable and the chance of anything going wrong is slim, is it really worth it then? In some ways yes as most Japanese cars have a lot of advance technology, so in some models there’s no need for a key while others operate on hybrid technology. So if you were to have a problem, a standard garage may not have the up to date knowledge and tools to help you whereas your insurer will have an extensive list of all approved garages nationwide. For models that are not as hi-tech as the newer models, going with an insurance company that specialises in your car make/model may not be the best solution financially.
There are many Japanese cars that appeal to the younger first time buyer such as the Nissan Micra but with car insurance premiums averaging £2k or more for these inexperienced drivers, it’s not really worth it and therefore going with a standard insurance company may be better. After no claims have been built up and you now own a top of the range car from Japan manufacturers, then Japanese car insurance will be well worth it.
As we all know there are many benefits to having a travel insurance policy and with many people arranging their own holiday itinerary, you will not have anyone to turn to should anything go wrong. If however you book as part of a package then the tour operator will advise you on what to do should anything go wrong; you will then also be able to claim from your insurers for things that are part of your policy. This includes delays, lost baggage and hotel problems. Depending on the policy you choose, you may or may not be covered for even the most simplest of things like flight delays so it’s well worth checking beforehand.
Since the eruption of the volcano in Iceland April 2010, this has caused many flights to be delayed for up to a week and even more in some places. When this natural calamity happened, everyone just assumed that the travel insurance will pay up for things out of pocket like arranging another week of accommodation but all travel passengers were left shocked to find that the volcano was a natural calamity so is not covered in the travel insurance policy. For those who booked with a tour operator, they would’ve have arranged everything so you don’t have to. If however you booked your own flights and accommodation, you would have to sort out another week’s worth and pay for it yourself.
There have been many passengers that have praised their tour operator for looking after them and their family while this natural calamity happened but there have been many that have been left stranded and massively out of pocket. As all policies vary, the majority will state clearly in the terms and conditions that all natural calamities such as volcanoes, hurricanes and earthquakes are simply not covered. It is unfortunate that the country you may be holidaying in does not contain any natural wonders but they can affect neighbouring countries such as ash clouds from volcanoes.
Although many have been affected by the Iceland volcano, the likelihood that insurers will pay out for anything is very slim. In most cases there are reports of insurance companies levying a tax of £40 as the volcano continues to release ash clouds. Since the volcano eruption, more people are now aware of the possibility of weather related problems all over the world. There are still some travel insurers that are compensating travellers who have their plans affected by the volcano even if they have booked after 14th April, but there is a chance that the premiums will be slightly higher than other travel insurance companies.
Having bought my first DSLR camera for nearly £650 like a week ago and preparing to go on holiday now, I was very anxious that anything bad would happen to my precious camera and decided to look into some sort of insurance cover to give me peace of mind. Although you will take reasonable care of your digital camera during your holiday period, sometimes there are things which are just out of your control and you may find yourself in a situation where your valuable camera is lost, stolen or damaged.
Usually people hope for the best when they go abroad expecting the locals to be nice and very welcoming but as in every country, you sometimes get the bad guys and your digital camera may be snatched from you and leave you several hundred pounds out of pocket. Therefore it is important that you have proper insurance in place for things like that.
If you haven’t purchased extended warranty for your DSLR camera (standard manufacturer’s warranty only covers for faults), you may be taking a huge risk. You might drop the camera in water while trying to take a good shot and having accidental damage cover is therefore crucial. This is why you need to keep on renewing your camera’s warranty if you think the camera is still worth a lot of money.
As I was buying annual travel insurance for my holiday trip, I wanted to know whether my DSLR camera was covered under the policy. So I called up Virgin Money Travel Insurance and talked to an advisor who told me that if I go with their Silver package, I would be able to claim upto £1500 on baggage. Now since my digital camera would be considered as personal belonging carried in the suitcase, I should be able to claim it.
My other option was to have the camera as an endorsement. This means that it would be covered under a separate insurance policy just for that trip that I was going to make. The cost to insure my £650 DSLR camera would be around £30 for a single trip! Although it would cover it even if it is lost, stolen or damaged, this was too expensive considering that I could get annual cover for my camera for that price and settling for a holiday trip period would be silly.
So I was thinking of going with the standard travel insurance policy when I decided to read the policy wording. It states that you can only claim upto £200 for a single item (some companies allow upto £400). What this really means if that since my camera is worth £650, they would assess the usual wear and tear and come up with a current price tag and the maximum they would pay me is £200 even if the current price for the camera comes at £600. This is just insane and this is what the advisors don’t tell you. You can claim a total of £1500 for baggage but for any single item, you can only claim upto £200. This is not what I wanted and does not cover anything really because I wouldn’t be able to replace my DSLR camera if anything happened to it.
So if you’re thinking of insuring your DSLR camera under travel insurance, think again! You are better off purchasing extended warranty for your precious belonging if you’re really worried about it.
Everyone is entitled to take out life insurance cover whether you’re single, widowed or disabled; the level of cover will depend on how much you pay in and your circumstances. There is a discrimination act that states that insurers are not allowed to make you pay more if you have an ailment. Saying this, if they can prove that this is justified then they can get away with it. The one thing to remember when taking out insurance for a disabled person is some insurers may not pay out if the death was because of a pre-exiting condition. So when taking out a policy read it over thoroughly to make sure it meets your needs before signing any paperwork, otherwise the contract is legally binding.
Why is insurance for disabled people important?
Just like everyone else, people with disabilities can still live normal healthy lives without their ailments getting in the way. If they were to die, then it’s reassuring that funeral costs and any other expenses will be covered in the event of a death. If it is found that a disability could have a negative impact on life span, then insurers can make you pay higher insurance premiums and the only way to avoid this is to shop around.
How to get lower disabled life insurance?
Speaking directly with an advisor who deals primarily with insurance for people with disabilities can save you a lot of money. They will understand the type of disability you have and will be able to find a policy that covers everything you need and also at a reasonable price. Years ago it was hard to find an insurance company that would take on people who have disabilities whether it was from birth or developed later on in life. Nowadays there are many companies that have been set up to offer better deals for people that do have disabilities due to experience and knowledge in this field. Unfortunately comparison websites do not really give you the option to list your disability and even if they do, they will most probably not accept you.
What insurers must do when a customer approaches them for a quote is do a risk assessment to see if they are high risk and if the customers’ disability would affect the life insurance quote. In most cases disabilities will not have a detrimental effect on the life insurance quote but if the disability causes death, then the policy will not be valid. If this is the case, the insurer will inform the customer that pre-existing medical conditions contributing to death will account in the policy being void.
Travel insurance can prove very useful to have when going on holiday or taking a short break. There’s no reason why people who have pre existing medical conditions shouldn’t get cover either. For people who have disabilities such as having a wheelchair or any other impairment, standard insurance policies won’t cover basics like wheelchair protection. It’s always best to go to an insurer who will cater to your needs. A common myth is that people think that if they are unwell and have pre existing medical conditions that the insurance will be higher or in some cases difficult to approve. There are many travel insurance companies that will insure people with disabilities only, this is sometimes better as they have gained many years experience in this field and can understand and help should you need to make a claim.
Benefits of disabled travel insurance
Unlike other insurance policies, companies that cater for disabled people have standard benefits such as:
As all companies have different limits, they will vary so read over the policy to make sure you are happy with the amounts they will compensate for.
Peace of mind is what all travellers want when they go on holiday whethey they are disabled or not. Many people who have pre existing medical conditions do not travel often due to the uncertainty of getting travel insurance. Why should people who have illnesses have to miss out? Get travel insurance even if you have a disability today to make your holiday more enjoyable should unexpected matters arise.
With record numbers of employers making staff redundant, it’s unsure if it’s even possible to find another job in the current climate. Many people who have been laid off are competing for the same jobs and even graduates are being forced to go for lower paid jobs or jobs that they haven’t graduated in. It’s a competitive job market that is only getting worse. It has been announced today that 15,000 university posts will be lost in the next few years averaging 5,000 posts a year.
Protection from unemployment
If you own property or are the main breadwinner for a family, then it is wise to have some sort of protection in the current climate. If you are made redundant, you may not get as much money as you may think. With a mortgage and children to raise, the money will soon be non-existent. There are two ways to protect yourself should you be out of work and need to pay your mortgage. You can phone up your mortgage provider and negotiate a smaller short term repayable mortgage repayment. If you cannot afford to repay the mortgage, then you may also negotiate a small repayment break and then continue in a few months or so. When taking out a loan or mortgage you are given the choice to buy protection from unemployment or loss of earnings but banks do charge more than an insurance company specialising in this.
Job loss insurance
If you work in a job sector that is more than likely to be making redundancies such as the car industry or financial sector, then it may be worth buying an insurance policy that will cover you if you lose your job. Unemployment insurance will cover loss of earnings if you lose your job or can’t pay bills and mortgage due to sickness. You can get as much as £1500 a month to cover bills, loans, mortgage and other household expenses tax free.
How much is unemployment insurance?
For the average 24 year old, you could pay as little as £51 for unemployment insurance and if you another pound on top of that, you could be covered for sickness and accident as well. I have found that the younger you are, the cheaper the cover and for a few extra pounds you could be covered for things other than unemployment. On average the most you can get from an insurance company is £1,500 a month; if you will need more for you to get by then you could pay a higher insurance fee.
Overall unemployment insurance is a great way of protecting your home and family from the unstable job market in the current climate. Read the policy first and check what is needed to make a claim. Fr example if you break your arm and are unable to work for a few months, is a doctor’s certificate sufficient or will you have to pay to get a private consultation with one of their own consultants? Read the small print and make sure you understand before entering an insurance policy and you will have peace of mind that your finances are protected should you not be able to pay your bills.
As more and more couples opt to get married abroad, it’s not hard to see why – with guaranteed sunshine and everything taken care of, it is a hassle free wedding. As there is usually no expense spared for weddings abroad or even in the UK, it is common sense to take out wedding insurance or is it? The average wedding costs a hefty £17000 and depending on how many people are attending and people you hire, the cost can soon mount up.
Depending on the level of cover you opt for, it can cover virtually everything.
Cake cover – if anything was to happen to the cake you could get your money back
Ring cover – if your rings are lost or stolen you’re covered
Catering cover – should anything go wrong with the caterer you would be reimbursed
Wedding dress cover – if your dress gets damaged in transit or by bad weather you would get your money back
If any companies you hire for your big day go bankrupt, you will be insured and if the photographer doesn’t turn up or the pictures are unsatisfactory you could get up to £3000 to have them scheduled for another time. Public liability can also be covered for should anyone be injured or property damaged on the big day. You can even get counselling if the wedding is proving too stressful to cope with. You would even get your money back for any deposits you have paid out for even if you cancel the wedding.
Wedding insurance can start from as little as £59 to £189; there are a few levels of cover so depending on how big your wedding is this would reflect the premium and value of cover insured.
There are clauses to the cover of the individually named cover above, so it’s worth checking and reading over the small print first but wedding insurance could save a small fortune from mishaps that can occur when planning to get married.
With countless floods in the last five years alone, insurance companies have become inundated with calls from their customers asking them to pay for repair costs. Is the house insurance company responsible to pay for the damages caused by floods? You’ll actually be surprised with the answer!
When you buy a property, your solicitor will make various searches on the property and one of them will tell you the likelihood of flood and if the property and area has ever had localised flooding. It is at this point that you will need to think twice. It is a good idea beforehand to do your own research before you decide on purchasing a property that exists in a flood risk area. There are many free websites which allow you to check the flooding risk in the area you would like to live. If the house you wish to purchase is in a flood risk, you may have a hard time finding an home insurance company which will take you on.
Home insurance to cover flood damage?
Home insurance does not automatically cover flood damage but if you are buying or live in a flood risk area, you may be able to negotiate a quote. You can take steps to prevent the risk of floods damaging your home. If you can do this, then there is a possibility that a company may accept you. If you are really struggling to find a home insurance company that is willing to cover your home, you may be left with no other option than to go with a specialist flood insurance company.
Special flood insurance policy
There are at least 5 million people who live in areas where floods are likely to occur and although not all of them have witnessed the devastating effects of what floods can do to a property, the risk is still there. There have been many new ideas that local councils and the government have put in place to reduce the risk of flood damage and if you live in one of these areas, you can find out what they are doing to protect your home.
There are a few specialist flood insurance companies that are willing to cover even those who are at high risk flood level. You can even get discounts off provisions that might save or minimise the risk of damage by floods. These companies are specialised and the people who help you with your claim are trained in this area particularly and when you have to claim for flood damage you will find that they are helpful and provide a high level of customer care. As all properties are different, the best thing to do is compare a few quotes before deciding which company to go with.