Independent Driving

Posted December 3, 2010 by drivinglessonspreston
Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Independent Driving

Just a quick reminder about my website explaining all about Independent Driving during the driving test.

Cheaper Car Insurance For Young Drivers

Posted December 12, 2009 by drivinglessonspreston
Categories: Uncategorized

Flux calls time on high cost of insuring young drivers

8th December 2009 Print Email Share

Young driver

Young drivers spend an average of £2,455 on car insurance, according to the latest research from gocompare.com. But there’s absolutely no need for them to be spending that much, says leading car insurance broker Flux.

“It’s just crazy for youngsters (or their parents) to be spending that sort of cash on insurance,” says Gerry Bucke, operations director at Adrian Flux Insurance Services. “All it takes is a bit of common sense to cut the figure in half.”

Flux is one of the UK’s leading specialist car insurance providers. It has championed safer driving for young adults by offering big discounts for those taking their Pass Plus or a similar advanced skills course.

Here are a few common sense ways to cut insurance costs for young drivers:

1 Choose the right car. “This is absolutely rule number one and it’s where lots of mistakes are made,” says Bucke. Small and low-powered is the key – ideally the motor should be no bigger than 1,000cc. “Avoid larger motors and treat anything with the letters ‘GTI’ on the back as if it had the plague,” he adds. A second hand car in decent condition with a one litre engine may well cost more than the 1600cc model. But the insurance savings will more than make up the difference. Plus, it’ll be easier and safer for a new driver to control.

2 Take the Pass Plus course. In fact, book it as soon as the driving test itself is safely passed. These days most insurance companies will offer some sort of discount – Flux offers up to 30%. Visit passplus.org.uk for information.

3 Join an owner’s club. Just about any make and model of car will have one. The cost of membership is likely to be minimal, but many insurers offer discounts simply for being a member – often the club itself will have an affiliation with an insurance company. Typically the discount will be 10 to 15%.

4 Take a limited mileage policy. An agreement to drive no more than, say, 5,000 miles a year could knock 10% or more off the cost of the premium.

5 Shop around. Call several insurers to compare quotes.

6 Don’t rely on the internet. Searching online can be very effective, but beware of web quotes that seem too good to be true – check they are comparing like for like. (For example, check what the excess is). The best deals are usually to be had by talking to car insurance specialists on the phone.

7 Increase your excess. The excess is the amount of any claim that the policyholder pays before the insurance company starts to contribute. Typically the excess will be £100 to £250 – but it’s possible to get much higher excesses, which will reduce the cost of the insurance.

8 Buy a classic car. It doesn’t have to be that old a car – motors as young as ten years old could qualify. Classic car insurance is usually significantly cheaper than for a standard car.

Adrian Flux aims to offer cheaper car insurance and has a huge range of policies for the motoring enthusiast.

For more information, visit adrianflux.co.uk.

Comments: Be the first to comment

Motoring organisiatons warn that Driving Licences do expire

Posted November 14, 2009 by drivinglessonspreston
Categories: Uncategorized

Motoring organisations have reported that most drivers believe that their new style licence is for life and that is has not been publicised that the licence actually expires after a set period and has to be renewed.

The first batch of ten year photo licences was issued in July 1998 and the confusion has only just come to light as they start to expire. The DVLA figures reveal that 16,136 licences expired last year and only 11,566 drivers have renewed, 300 000 more photocard licences are due to expire by the end of this year. The new style photocard licences are not very clear showing the expiry date, the small print below the drivers name is a numbered series of dates and details. Number 4b features a date but the significance is explained only if the card is turned over where the key on the back states that 4b relates to ‘licence valid to’.

The DVLA say that drivers are allowed to continue driving if they have failed to renew before the expiry date but they could be charged with ‘failing to surrender their licence’ which is an offence carrying a £1000 fine. The Association of British Insurers and the Department of Transport said that insurance cover was not affected if drivers failed to update their photocard.

For more information about driving lessons in Preston call me on 07786 350635

Comments: Be the first to comment