North Carolina Car Insurance

North Carolina Car Insurance: NC State

Specific Auto Insurance Guidelines

Every state has its own minimum requirements for car insurance and it is
illegal to drive in the state without fulfilling these requirements.

Mandatory car insurance coverage is set by the state to insure you, your
family and your vehicle. The state of North Carolina also has its own
set of requirements laid down by the authorities.

A few states offer options other than car insurance to cover bodily
injuries and property damages, but not the state of North Carolina. You
are allowed to get auto liability coverage through an insurance company
or broker only.

If you are driving in the state of North Carolina you must have
liability insurance of $30,000 for injury per person per accident, a
total of $60,000 for injury or death of two people or more per accident,
and $25,000 to cover property damages.

The limits are exactly the same for uninsured drivers' insurance. This
basic coverage is referred to as 30/60/25 coverage with 30/60 UM limits.

These amounts are the minimum required by the state law of North
Carolina and the maximum that your car insurance company will pay,
unless you have taken higher coverage limit.

More detailed information is available by calling North Carolina Department of Insurance at http://www.ncdoi.com or contacting their Raleigh office by calling 800-546-5664.

The bodily injury liability will cover the medical expenses of people
injured in the accident caused by your fault. It also includes bills for
legal proceedings, compensation for lost wages sustained by the
victims. In case of a death, the funeral charges are also included in
this liability.

Bodily injury liability does not cover you or the passengers of your
vehicle. Therefore, you may want more comprehensive coverage for
yourself, your family and other passengers in your vehicle.

A type of coverage known as PIP which stands for Personal Injury
Protection covers you and the passengers in your vehicle against any
damage and injury. It also covers other members of your family who may
be passengers in another vehicle involved in an accident.

The property damage coverage is important for repairing or replacing any property that you may damage during an accident.

You can also add collision coverage to your policy if you have a car
that has significant value or has been financed by a lender. The
coverage will protect the lender's investment.

Uninsured and under-insured coverage provides immense help if you have
an accident with an uninsured driver, or if you are a victim of a hit
and run accident. This coverage cannot be less than the bodily injury
liability purchased and it cannot exceed $1 million.

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Pennsylvania Car Insurance

Pennsylvania Car Insurance: Quick 

Guide to Auto Insurance in PA

Like other states in the USA, it is mandatory for car drivers to have
car insurance. The insurance laws of Pennsylvania are different from
other states. It is, therefore, essential to understand the laws that
are effective in the sate before buying an insurance policy.

The five most important car insurance laws in Pennsylvania that you need to know are:

1. Pennsylvania's Minimum Requirements For car Insurance:

The laws of Pennsylvania make it mandatory for every driver to have a
minimum liability limit of $15,000 for any bodily injury per person.
Whereas, the liability limit per accident is $30,000. For damage to the
property in an accident, the liability limit is $5000. The Pennsylvania
law also requires every driver to carry medical expense coverage for
$5000. These required minimum limits are very low and it do not offer
full coverage of the damages if you get into a serious accident.

2. No Fault Car Insurance State:

The no-fault system is also referred to as Tort System and it implies
that the driver is held responsible for the accident. If you are car
driver in Pennsylvania, you have the option to choose either a limited
tort or full tort on your insurance policy. It is, however, advisable to
choose full tort because it provides a better car insurance coverage if
you get into an accident. Limited tort on the other hand would be
expensive for you and it provides only limited coverage.

3. Hefty Penalties for not having Car Insurance:

If you are driving a car in Pennsylvania without a proof of insurance,
you are running a great risk. If you get caught by a police officer,
your license will be suspended for 90 days and you will also be fined.
You'll also get a ticket for driving without insurance proof.

4. Assigned Risk Plan:

The assigned risk plan ensures that each and every car driver gets car
insurance irrespective of how high risk you are as a driver. If an
insurance company refuses or cancels your insurance coverage, then you
could use this law to get insurance coverage.

5. Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Extra Protection:

If you own more than one vehicle and you have them insured under the
same insurance policy, you can buy an uninsured coverage for the
vehicle. However, if you get additional coverage you have to pay an
additional premium and you would be entitled to receive additional
protection.

6. More information on PA Policies:

Further details pertaining to Pennsylvania insurance requirements and
information consumers can contact the Pennsylvania Insurance Department
located in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh by calling (877)
881-6388 or by visiting their web site athttp://www.insurance.pa.gov/.

Understanding the laws is essential because it not only helps you drive safely in the state, but also saves you money.

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Rhode Island Car Insurance

Rhode Island Car Insurance: Simple

Guide to Car Insurance in RI

A law enacted in November 1993 makes it mandatory for car drivers to be
able to prove their financial responsibility if they are involved in an
accident. A convenient way to prove your financial responsibility is to
buy auto insurance in Rhode Island that meets the state requirements.

Tort system is followed in Rhode Island. Tort demands the person
responsible for causing an accident be responsible for paying the
medical bills, car repair bills and other expenses of the other driver
involved in the accident. This cost towards the other party is covered
from the premiums you pay for the car insurance policy.

In Rhode Island, drivers are only required to carry liability coverage.
Liability covers property damage and bodily injury caused to another
person because of your negligence.

You need to purchase bodily injury protection of $25,000 per person and
$50,000 per accident. You are also required to purchase $25,000 worth of
property damage coverage.

Buying Uninsured/Underinsured coverage is not mandatory, but it is
encouraged. This insurance protects your private assets when you are
involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. Buying
a physical damage car insurance policy is also encouraged in Rhode
Island.

More information on Rhode Island auto insurance car be obtained by
contacting Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation in Providence
by calling their office on 401-222-2246 or visiting their web site at www.dbr.state.ri.us.

Here are some ways to obtain cheap quotes in Rhode Island:

1) Taking a Driving Course:

Car insurance companies give discounts to people who have taken a
special driving course. It is wise to ask the insurance officer if you
are qualified to avail the discount. Car insurance companies do not
consider people who have taken a driving course as accident-prone.

2) Combining Car and Home Insurance:

Car insurance companies offer 5 to 20 % discounts if you buy a car and a home loan from the same company.

3) Credit Rating:

Keeping a good credit score is one way to get cheap insurance quotes in
Rhode Island. Lately, car insurance companies base the rate of car
insurance on your credit history. If your credit history is not
satisfactory then it is wise to search for companies that do not do
credit checks.

4) Comprehensive Storage Coverage:

You can keep your car in comprehensive coverage if you do not plan to
drive your car for a few months. A stored car does not need liability
coverage and is unlikely to be involved in an accident.

5) Location:

Car insurance companies are ready to provide a good insurance rate to
people who live near their workplace or school. Competitive insurance
quotes are also available to people who have less mileage on their car
as reducing the time you spend on the road, reduces the likelihood of
being involved in an accident.

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South Carolina Car Insurance

South Carolina Car Insurance: Easy

 Guide to Auto Insurance in SC

If you are a car owner in South Carolina and you choose not to have car
insurance, you would have to pay a fine of $550 to the state every year.
Apart from the fine to the state, you also have to pay for all the
expenses from your own pocket if you get into an accident.

Every driver in South Carolina, as per the law, is required to have
minimum liability coverage of $25,000 to pay for the medical expenses of
a single person who suffers bodily injuries in an accident. Each driver
has to have a minimum of $50,000 coverage to pay for the expenses, if
more than one person is injured in an accident. If the driver causes any
damage to private property, the minimum coverage required is $25,000.

For detailed information pertaining to South Carolina insurance
requirements and information on companies that sell auto insurance
residents can contact the South Carolina Department of Insurance through
their web site, http://doi.sc.gov/, or by calling their office in Columbia at 1-800-768-3467.

The state of South Carolina has diverse geographic conditions and if you
live in the interior parts of the state, you would not have to pay more
for your car insurance. This is because in rural areas, since there is
not much traffic, the probability of accidents is less. On the contrary,
if you live in city, the roads are filled with traffic and the chance
of getting into an accident is much higher. Also, in urban areas there
is a risk of car thefts unlike in rural areas where car thefts are less.

Apart form your geographic location there are other factor that can affect your premium rates.

Your record as a driver has a significant effect on your car insurance.
If you are a safe driver and have not been involved in accidents, your
premium rates will be lowered by the insurance companies in South
Carolina. If you have a bad driving history, the insurance company will
categorize you as a high-risk driver and consequently your premium rates
will be hiked up.

Your gender also affects your premium rates when buying insurance in
South Carolina. Most car insurance companies in the state impose higher
premium rates for men than for women. This is because the insurance
companies believe that men are more vulnerable to accidents whereas,
women are safe drivers.

If you are a teenager in South Carolina, you may have to pay more for
your car insurance. If you are aged above 55, your insurer may offer you
a discount on your premium.

South Carolina is one of the few states where the marital status of a
person has an effect on the car insurance rates. Insurance companies
offer discounts to married people because, according to studies, married
people are statistically less likely to be involved in accident which
also reduces the likelihood of making an insurance claim.

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Tennessee Car Insurance

Tennessee Car Insurance: Quick Guide 

to Auto Insurance Coverage in TN

One of the most convenient ways to get cheap car insurance in Tennessee
is by buying the state's minimum auto insurance requirements, which is
also referred to as "liability coverage". In Tennessee, the minimum
insurance requirements are:

• $10,000 for Property Damage Liability.
• $25,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per person.
• $50,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per accident.

You can upgrade to a full coverage insurance policy when you feel the need to do so.

More details on TN aut insurance policies are available by contacting
the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance located in Nashville
on 1-615-741-2241 or by visiting their website at http://tn.gov/commerce/insurance/index.shtml.

Getting car insurance in Tennessee is not at all a daunting task.
However, it will be beneficial for you to be aware of the ways in which
you can get cheap car insurance in Tennessee. Some of the ways are as
follows:

Use your car less frequently. The distance you drive on
a daily basis can affect your insurance rates. Statistics indicate that
high annual mileage implies more chances of being involved in an
accident. The more mileage your car covers, the higher your insurance
rates. If your car covers more than 12,000 miles per year, you may have
to pay high premiums as insurance companies can assume that your car
faces heavier traffic conditions on a regular basis and is more likely
to get into an accident. Therefore, it is recommended that you consider
going to work using a public transport vehicle at least twice a week. By
doing this, you can get cheap car insurance in Tennessee.

Bundle your insurance needs. Your car insurance company
will regard you as a reliable customer only if they are convinced that
you can organize payments for your policy in an efficient manner. It is
advised that you consider purchasing your home and car insurance from
the same company in Tennessee. This way, you can get attractive
discounts on your car insurance premium.

You may also prefer purchasing an annual policy rather
than buying coverage for monthly or shorter period. This way, you will
be able to get a cheap insurance rate that will remain unchanged for an
entire year.

Opting for higher deductibles on comprehensive and
collision insurance policies will reduce you premium because insurance
providers in effect share some of the cost of the end customer in case
of an accident.

Prove your trustworthiness. Car insurance companies in
Tennessee want you to make your payments on time. Hence, if you have a
good credit history and have never defaulted in making payments to your
creditors, you can show it to your car insurer. Insurance companies
value good credit histories, and you may have to pay less on premiums.
If you have defaulted in making payments to your creditors, it is
advised that you clear up any errors on your credit before buying car
insurance in Tennessee.

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Vermont Car Insurance

Vermont Car Insurance: Simple Guide

 to VT Car Insurance Requirements

The traffic laws of Vermont require all drivers to have car insurance,
as it is the case with other states in the US. However, getting good and
affordable car insurance in Vermont can be a difficult task. But first,
drivers need to comply with basic insurance legal requirement.

Vermont minimum legal auto insurance coverage should meet the following requirements:

• Bodily injury liability: 25,000 for single individual injury / 50,000 for additional individual injuries.
• Property damage liability: 10,000 to cover property damage
• Uninsured/Underinsured bodily damage liability: 50,000 for single
  underinsured individual injury / 100,000 for additional uninsured bodily
  injury.

More details on VT auto insurance policies can be found on the website
of the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health
Care Administration at their website http://www.dfr.vermont.gov or by contacting their Montpelier office on 802-828-330.

There are a plenty of car insurance companies in Vermont and each of
these companies, which are registered under the Vermont's Insurance
Regulator, offer different quotes. There are roughly about 99 state
insurance companies in Vermont.

Many drivers debate whether they should opt for insurance from a State
Insurance Company or a National Insurance company. It is better to have
insurance from a state insurance company because not all insurance
companies are authorized to operate in all states. So if you opt for
insurance from a national company, you have to be sure it is licensed in
your state.

The premium rates vary from company to company in Vermont. This is
mainly because insurance companies in Vermont have a different set of
rates and different types of drivers in the state. Some car insurance
companies have their focus on immature and inexperienced drivers,
whereas other insurance companies in Vermont focus mainly on mature,
experienced drivers.

Like most other states of the USA, in Vermont, the cost of the premium
is high if you age is under below 25. If you have a bad driving record,
your premium rate is likely to increase as well. If you have a good
security system installed in your car like GPS, safety brake locks or
air bags, you would get a discount on your premiums.

In Vermont, if you are looking for cheap car insurance, the first thing
you need to do is to get as many insurance quotes as possible. When you
get the quotes, compare them and select the one that best suits your
needs. But before buying insurance, you must ask you insurer how you can
reduce your rates without having to compromise on coverage. If you fail
to research the insurance quotes, you could be losing out on the
cheapest auto insurance coverage available for your needs.

The cheapest auto insurance you purchase should have the basic minimum
liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. But you can
add coverage to your basic insurance such as collision coverage,
comprehensive coverage, and rental reimbursement coverage, underinsured
and uninsured coverage.

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Virginia Car Insurance

Virginia Car Insurance: Residents 

Guide to State Requirements

Car insurance is mandatory in all states by law, but the requirements of
auto insurance differ in each state. Virginia has its own unique
requirements for car insurance. A driver new to the state must educate
himself about specific laws to avoid getting into trouble with the
authorities. Once you know about specific car insurance requirements of
Virginia state law, you can buy the best coverage according to your
needs.

The tort system that the state of Virginia follows requires that someone
must be at fault of causing the accident, and the responsible party
must pay for all the damages.

All drivers need to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance.
Liability is one of two types of insurance; bodily injury liability and
property damage liability. The bodily injury liability includes the
medical bills of drivers who may get injured or killed in vehicle
accident. In case the matter goes to court, then bodily injury liability
also includes the legal expenses and compensation for the affected
victims.

Property damage liability is the insurance that you need to pay for the
repairs of your victim's vehicle. However, this liability may also
include other property that gets damaged during the accident, such as
houses or fences.

The state of Virginia has set the minimum amount for bodily injury
liability as $25,000 with an upper limit of $50,000. Minimum property
damage liability is $20,000.

The basic coverage is referred to as 25/50/20 coverage with 25/50 UM limits.

Unlike most states, Virginia state requires all of its drivers to have
uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage protects drivers against the
huge costs that one would have to incur in the case of an accident with
an uninsured driver.

The minimum amount for both bodily injury and property damage liabilities are the same as usual insurance.

These are the basic requirements of law in Virginia. You can also opt
for more comprehensive coverage to insure yourself and your vehicle.

You can also purchase medical and funeral expense benefits for up to
$2000 per person. Loss of income benefits can be bought for up to $100
per week for a maximum period of a year.

For more information regarding VA auto insurance policies, you may
contact the Virginia Bureau of Insurance in Richmond by calling
804-371-9741or by visiting their website at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/boi .

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West Virginia Car Insurance

West Virginia Car Insurance: Simple

WV Auto Insurance Guide

It is mandatory for car owners to have car insurance in the state of
West Virginia. You also need to carry a proof of car insurance while
driving in WV. The Tort system is followed in the state of West
Virginia, which means that the driver of the car is financially
responsible for damage to property and injuries caused to any other
party due to his/her negligence or fault.

The minimum liability coverage required to satisfy this responsibility
is often referred to as 20/40/10: $20,000 to cover the expenses for
bodily injuries per individual, $40,000 to cover for bodily injuries
caused to all, and $10,000 to cover for property damage to the victim.

A minimum Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage of $25,000 per
individual to a total of $50,000 per accident for bodily injuries caused
by an uninsured/underinsured driver's negligence is also required in
West Virginia.

If you require further information on WV auto insurance policies, you
can contact West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner by
calling 1-888-TRY-WVIC or by visiting their website at http://www.wvinsurance.gov.

It is recommended to first get free quotes to see what’s available to
you before you select and purchase a policy. A car insurance policy is
something which every driver needs. Car drivers also want the premiums
to be affordable. Therefore, we have a complied an easy to follow tips
to get cheap insurance quotes in the state of West Virginia.

Credit Score

You can get cheap insurance quotes from car insurance companies by
keeping your credit history clean. Insurance companies decide the rate
of your policy by checking your credit history. This is available via
credit scoring agency who provide this data to most financial
institutions. If your history is not satisfactory, it is recommended you
find companies that do not resort to credit checks.

Driving Courses

You can get cheap insurance quotes by taking driving courses. Insurance
companies believe that drivers who have taken a specialized driving
course, such as defensive driving are safe drivers and less likely to
get into an accident.

Combine Car and Home Policies

You can obtain a discount by buying your home and car insurance from the
same company. A 5-20% discount is offered for a combined policy.

Security System In your Car

Cars insurance companies offer discounts on cars that are less likely to
be stolen. Many pay more for their auto insurance simply because the
car module they drive is on the top stolen vehicles in their states or
in U.S.

Comprehensive Storage Cover

It is recommended to keep just the comprehensive coverage if you’re not
planning to use your car for a long time. If a car is not used often, it
will not need liability coverage, as it is less likely to get into an
accident.

Location and Miles Per Year

Your address is an important factor in on your insurance rate will be.
If you live in an area when low crime rate, you can get your a cheap
insurance quote. It is also recommended that you move near your
workplace or college/school to reduce the mileage of the car. Cars that
have ‘traveled less’ are given discounts by insurance companies.

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UK Car Insurance - The Top 10 Cheapest Cars To Insure

The cheapest cars to insure

The
type of car you drive is likely to have a big effect on the price of
your car insurance – find out which cars are the cheapest to insure and
why There is no definitive cheapest car insurance in the UK, so finding
the best deal depends on a range of factors – namely, the vehicle. While
common sense tells us it costs less to insure a Fiesta than a Ferrari,
the value of your vehicle isn’t the only factor involved in
determining car insurance cost – scroll down to see ten of the cheapest
cars to insure:

1. Chevrolet Spark
Cheap
to buy and decent for safety, the Chevrolet Spark makes up for what it
lacks in performance with its cheap car insurance rate.

 

 

2. Citroen C1
The C1 is cheap to run, while
servicing costs are also reasonable. Some Citroën deals also come with
one year’s free insurance to appeal to young drivers and first-time car
buyers.

 

3. Fiat Panda
Boasting a super-efficient engine, the pocket-sized Panda is a practical city car with low running costs across all models.

 

4. Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback
Popular with young
drivers for well over a decade, the Corsa is a sensible and reliable
supermini – all models from 2006 onwards appear in car insurance group
1.

 

5. Volkswagen Fox and Up
Originally designed as a Brazilian city car, the Fox is cheap to run and offers good fuel economy. Its successor, the Up, won What Car? ‘Car of the Year’ for 2012.

 

6. Ford Fiesta and Ka
The new Ford Fiesta is
officially the UK’s best-selling car, and both the Fiesta and Ka can be
found in car insurance group 2, making them the cheapest Ford cars to
insure.

 

7. Nissan Pixo
A collaboration between Nissan and
fellow Japanese manufacturer Suzuki, the Pixo is cheap to buy and comes
with extremely low running costs.

 

8. Peugeot Partner Tepee 
The Partner Tepee is a
compact and durable people carrier that’s only slightly bigger than an
average hatchback. Maintenance costs are low and it generally only needs
servicing every two years.



 

9. Skoda Fabia Hatchback and Estate
Part of the
Volkswagen group, the Fabia Hatchback and Estate are both in car
insurance group 2 as a result of their low prices and solid engineering.

 

10. Smart Fortwo Coupe and Cabriolet
Smart cars are
renowned for being able to squeeze into tight spaces and are often
attract cheap car insurance, though servicing and parts can be
expensive.

 

Car insurance groups – how do they work?

Every car on the market belongs to one of 50 car insurance groups set by
the Group Rating Panel (members of the Association of British Insurers
and the Lloyds Market Association).

Typically, the lower a car’s group number, the cheaper it will to be to
insure – for example, cars within groups 1-5 are far more likely to
attract the cheapest car insurance. Insurers can also use their own
grouping system if they want.

When the panel decides on which car insurance groups to assign cars to they look at:

• Car performance: the car’s acceleration and top speed
• Car security: what security features the car has
• Cost of parts: the cost of 23 of the most common parts
• Maintenance: how much and how long the car takes to fix
• Car value: the price of the car as new

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Save up to 45% on UK Car Insurance with Car Insurance Direct

Save on UK motor insurance with names and products such as:

★ Lloyds TSB Car Insurance,
★ Asda Car Insurance,
★ Post Office Car Insurance,
★ RAC Car Insurance,
★ AA Car Insurance,
★ AA European Breakdown Cover
★ Car Insurance for Women ... and more.

Choosing the right Car Insurance

Car insurance, much like anything else, comes in all shapes and sizes, and it's important to ensure you choose the right motor insurance for your vehicle; choosing your car insurance carelessly is a decision you might come to regret.
In fact, according to the Automobile Association, 88% of new AA car insurance customers, taking part in a recent study found their AA car insurance premium was less expensive than the price quoted by their previous motor insurance provider. Of course, cheap doesn't necessarily mean good, and it's no good having a £5 a year car insurance policy if it never actually covers you for anything worth being covered for.
That's why, after a lot of research and obtaining car insurance quotes from dozens of online - and offline - sources, we recommend UK motor insurance only from the following websites: Sure, it's easy to find a cheap insurance quote and purchase your car insurance online, but it's really not of much benefit if, when you really need it - after an accident, for example - you phone your car insurance company and they tell you that you're only covered for the first so many miles, or that your motor insurance doesn't cover you for a particular type of accident; believe it or not, there are many car insurance policies just like that. They look great at the time, and maybe right now even you have had the same policy for a year or two, but when it comes to the crunch (possibly literally) you may well find your car insurance company lacking.

Choosing the right Car Insurance is time consuming ...

If you had to individually check each car insurance company for a free quote, in order to find the best car insurance prices, then you'd probably need to take a few days off work to get the quotes, and then hunker down for another few days to study all the information. It's time consuming, right? But you don't have time for all of that, and so you just send in your renewal form from last year for the same car insurance (just because it's easier than finding another car insurance company) or just click on the first car insurance link that you find on the web because it looks like a good deal (forgetting to realise, of course, that they don't tell you all the things the policy lacks) ...


It's definitely a problem for many people, and that's why, at Car Insurance Direct, we have taken the time to review UK car insurance companies, and their motor insurance policies, in detail. The result is clear, and is what has been obvious to many people for a long time; and that is that many car insurance companies simply do not provide good value for money. It simply isn't right that you can end up in any accident that is not your fault, and yet still end up out-of-pocket because of someone else's carelessness; it's also not right that some car insurance companies - even when your claim is valid, and the insurance company has accepted they are liable - you're then waiting for months on end for your cheque ... and the list goes on. So remember, your car insurance company may often tout some big saving or other, but will rarely be so forthcoming with the limitations of their motor insurance policies. The same is also true for van insurance and motorcycle insurance plans.

What we have done is to take all the legwork out of finding car insurance, endeavouring to save you not only a huge amount of time, but also a considerable amount of money. How do I save money on car insurance, with Car Insurance Direct? First of all, by choosing to use one of the companies we have already screened for their car insurance coverage, you have already saved money by saving your time. However, it is easier to quantify the money you save by comparing your car insurance quote, from any one of the several motor insurance companies we recommend, to the car insurance premiums you paid last year, with your existing car insurance company. That's real money. That's money that actually stays in your bank account that you would otherwise have given to your current car insurance company!

Choosing Car Insurance with Car Insurance Direct

So, rather than spending time and wasting money on car insurance that doesn't provide good insurance coverage, and doesn't put your best interests first, we're sure you'd agree that it makes a lot more sense to choose to buy from a car insurance company that comes pre-approved, researched, and one that does put your car and your wallet first. The companies we recommend are on our list of approved car insurance companies for just one good reason. Because they're good. Although some of the companies we recommend are probably not the first names that spring to mind when researching car insurance, they are, nonetheless, companies that offer all types of car insurance (including van insurance and motorcycle insurance), with above-average service, above-average coverage and benefits, but with below-average prices. We think that these criteria alone make these companies worthy of our Car Insurance Direct approved car insurance list.

We Recommend ...

So, you've already spent more time than you intended to researching motor insurance, and now it's time to choose. Here are the steps we recommend, along with our list of preferred car insurance companies:

• First, bookmark this page, so you can easily find the list of recommended insurance companies again
• Secondly, visit as many of the five companies we recommend as you can
• Choose the insurance cover you need, whether it is Fully Comprehensive, Third Party only or Fire & Theft protection
• At each of the sites, request your free car insurance quote, and save the quote
• After visiting all five sites, and getting insurance quotes from each, simply go with the one that best suits your needs

... and, after that, we hope you'll recommend this page to someone else who you'd like to save money on car insurance.


Remember, these are companies that are pre-researched; we've already done the hard work so that you don't have to. However, definitely check the policies as thoroughly as you want to with each of the companies, but we're confident that, when you purchase car insurance from any one of our recommended list of motor insurance companies, you'll not be disappointed.

Car Insurance Benefits and Features

Here are just some of the features and benefits you'll find with the car insurance providers we have recommended:

* A dedicated UK claimline that is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year

* Save time with quick and secure online motor insurance quotes

* A courtesy car while your car is being repaired by an approved repairer

* Windscreen and window repairs with no loss of your no-claims discount

* Fast, friendly, expert claims service

* Generous No Claims Discount

* Save on your car insurance by including RAC breakdown service

* Easy monthly payments option

* Optional breakdown cover

* Personal accident cover up to £7,500

* Medical expenses up to £300 per person (£400 if you're an AA member)

* 35% discount off AA Breakdown Cover when you buy with AA car insurance online

* Assistance with overnight accommodation or onward transport following an accident

* Hire car option, should the worst happen, and you become stranded

* Show you car insurance policy features and benefits before you get a quote, so you know what cover you'll get

* Get the best possible car insurance quote from a panel of leading insurers

* Choice of cover, between fully comprehensive or third-party fire and theft

* Get fully comprehensive cover with a truly comprehensive range of policy features and benefits

* Get the best price from dozens of top insurers with a single click

* Quality car insurance you can rely on

UK Car Insurance for Women Like it or not, sexual discrimination within the car insurance business is as rife as anywhere else. The bottom line is that women do not always get a great deal when it comes to car insurance in the UK. If you don't think it's fair that a woman, of the same age, living in the same area, with the exact same driving record, and driving the same vehicle, pays more for her driving insurance than the equivalent male, then nor do we. In fact, it's far from right, and so we set out to find the car insurance company and motor policy that offered women the best deals. So, if you, like us, think that women should be treated equally when it comes to car insurance, then join the club. In fact all of the five companies on our Car Insurance Direct list provide good insurance for both men and women alike, but if one company deserves special mention, then ASDA Car Insurance surely merits it, and consistently makes the grade. Nonetheless, don't think that ASDA car insurance is only for women. It definitely isn't, and men will also reap the rewards when choosing to sign up with ASDA car insurance.

Other Car Insurance Providers

There are, of course, dozens of other car insurance providers (many of them listed below), and these are all the companies that you would otherwise have needed to navigate had you wanted to do all the research yourself. However, our five recommended car insurance providers automatically search dozens of these motor insurance firms to try and obtain the best quote for you.

So, by taking the time to try and ensure that the five Car Insurance Direct "Top 5" companies search as many of these companies as possible, we have not only chosen the best insurance companies for you, but also eliminated the need for you to even visit the others.

A J Insurance Service AA Car Insurance AAMI www.aami.com.au Admiral Car Insurance Adrian Flux Car Insurance AIG Motor Insurance Allianz Cornhill Car Insurance Allied Car Insurance Allied Irish Bank car Insurance Argos Car Insurance Asda Car Insurance Ashbourne Car Insurance Auto Direct Car Insurance AXA Car Insurance Barclays Car Insurance Bell Car Insurance Black Circles Car Insurance BMW Car Insurance BP Car Insurance Budget Car Insurance Central Car Insurance Churchill Car Insurance CIS Car Insurance Co-Op Car Insurance Confused Car Insurance CSMA Car Insurance Dial Direct Car Insurance Diamond Car Insurance Direct Choice Car Insurance Direct Line Car Insurance	easyMoney Car Insurance eCar Insurance Egg Car Insurance Elephant Car Insurance Endsleigh Car Insurance Equity Red Star Car Insurance Esure Car Insurance Firebond Car Insurance First Alternative Car Insurance Fortis Car Insurance Frizzell Car Insurance Geico Car Insurance GSI Car Insurance Halifax Car Insurance Hastings Direct Car Insurance Herts Classic Car Insurance Highway Car Insurance Home Approved HSBC Car Insurance I Buy Eco Car Insurance IFA Auto Car Insurance 4U Car Insurance Insurance.co.uk InsuranceWide.com Car Insurance Insure It All Car Insurance Insure Your Motor Car Insurance Insure.ie www.insure.ie Its 4 Me Car Insurance Kwik-Fit Car Insurance Lady Bird Insurance	Lady Motor Lancaster Insurance Lifesure Motor Insurance Liverpool Victoria Car Insurance Lloyds TSB Car Insurance Markerstudy Car Insurance MasterQuote Car Insurance Mercury Auto Insurance Metlife Auto & Home Mini Cover Car Insurance MissCar Car Insurance MMA Car Insurance More Than Car Insurance My Motor Quote National Farmers Union Car Insurance NIG Car Insurance Norwich Union Direct Car Insurance One Call Car Insurance Performance Direct Car Insurance Post Office Car Insurance Privilege Car Insurance Provident Car Insurance Prudential Car Insurance Quinn-Direct Car Insurance Quote Line Direct Car Insurance Quote Zone QuoteA Car Insurance RAC Car Insurance Response Car Insurance Royal and Sun Alliance Car Insurance	Royal Bank of Scotland Car Insurance Saga Car Insurance Sainsburys Car Insurance Screentrade Car Insurance Shearwater Car Insurance Sheilas Wheels Car Insurance Simple Cover Car Insurance Skoda Insurance Services Southern Rock Car Insurance State Farm Car Insurance Sureterm Direct Car Insurance Swiftcover Car Insurance Swinton Car Insurance Tesco Car Insurance The Green Insurance Company The Insurance Centre Car Insurance The Policy Shop Vauxhall Car Insurance Virgin Car Insurance Western General Insurance Company Yes Car Insurance Yesinsurance.co.uk Young Lady Driver Car Insurance Zenith Car Insurance Zurich Car Insurance

Motor Insurance or Car Insurance ...

Buying insurance can be confusing enough on its own, but let's set one thing straight, and remove at least one confusion. Almost in every instance that you read the term "motor insurance" you can substitute the term "car insurance"; they are, effectively, the same thing. However, in a more general sense, the term motor insurance might be used to include other types of insurance, such as van insurance, commercial vehicle insurance, or motorcycle insurance as well as car insurance. Meanwhile, the term car insurance obviously means just that. However, on saying that, most car insurance companies that provide car insurance, generally provide the other types of insurance too, with the possible exception of commercial vehicle insurance, where it may be necessary to seek a dedicated commercial vehicle insurer. Even so, many UK insurance companies, including some of those on our Car Insurance Direct list, do offer vehicle insurance for the self-employed, etc, or small businesses, such as plumbers, landscape gardeners, and other service professionals.

Car Insurance or Car Assurance ...

This one is easy. It's always called "car insurance" as opposed to being called car assurance. It's easy for some people to confuse the terms though, and especially since many insurance companies do also sell assurance products. However, when referring to assurance, in relation to finance and insurance, then the reference is usually related to life assurance, which is a product many insurance companies offer (besides life insurance, which is another type of product they offer). Nonetheless, for "car assurance" you should instead refer to "car insurance".

Fully Comprehensive, Third Party only or Fire & Theft protection?

The question of whether to choose fully comprehensive car insurance, third party only car insurance, fire & theft car insurance, or third party fire and theft insurance, is more tricky. It also depends on a variety of criteria. Firstly, it depends on what you can afford; if you can only afford third party vehicle insurance, then there's no point in pondering whether you should be getting fully comprehensive vehicle insurance. However, as you might expect, fully comprehensive motor insurance covers you for a whole lot more than simply fire & theft insurance (which covers exactly what it suggests - fire which damages your vehicle, and the theft of your vehicle). Most people that obtain third-party vehicle insurance also obtain fire & theft insurance within the same policy, and that's why you hear people often referring to "third-party, fire and theft;" however, with most types of third-party insurance, you're covered only for accidents which someone else causes; if you should happen to cause an accident yourself, and you don't have fully-comprehensive insurance, then you could be looking at huge bills (not just for your vehicle, and the other person's vehicle, but if they decided to sue you for damages, then ... well, you get the picture).


So, in general, if you can afford to buy fully-comprehensive coverage, then it's almost always a good idea to do so. Some insurance companies, including those we list, allow payment of your car insurance premiums in installments, and so, even if you may not be able to afford to pay for your entire year's premiums all at once, you may be able to pay monthly, in which case you may well be able to afford fully-comprehensive car insurance.

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How to prepare for interviews, auditions and tests

 

Depending on the kind of courses you apply for, your chosen unis and colleges may invite you for an interview or audition – in fact they’re compulsory for some courses, such as teaching and nursing.



They’re a way for both students and course tutors to find out if they’re
mutually suitable. If invited, your chosen uni will make sure you have
all the details so you know where to go and when. The interviewers may
want to see work examples – such as an essay or piece of coursework –
but they’ll let you know this in advance.



Here are some quick tips from us:

1. Plan ahead – check where you’ve got to go, when you’ve got to
   be there and try to sleep well the night before so you’re in the best
   possible position on the day.
    
2. Make a good first impression – show up on time, dress
   appropriately, remember your manners and be in control of your body
   language. Interviewers see hundreds (sometimes thousands) of students so
   make sure you stand out for all the right reasons.
    
3. Try your best to relax – although interviews are a daunting
   experience, try to enjoy it once you’re there. If the unexpected happens
   and they ask a question you’re not prepared for, don’t panic – ask your
   interviewer to rephrase or repeat the question and give it your best
   shot. They won’t be trying to catch you out.
    
4. Read your personal statement – your interviewer will have
   your application fresh in their mind, so make sure you can remember what
   you wrote and be prepared to talk about it.
     
5. Shout about your achievements – well don’t literally shout,
   but be prepared to talk passionately about things you’ve done which
   you’re proud of – for example coursework, charity work or a social event
   you might have organised. If it demonstrates key skills that are linked
   to your chosen course, mention it.
    
6. Ask questions – you need to convince your interviewer that
   you’ve got a real passion for your subject, so come prepared with
   questions to show that you’ve really thought about studying the subject
   at your chosen uni.
     
7. Reflect on it afterwards – when you come out of the interview
   room, allow time to make notes on how it went. If you’ve got more than
   one interview, this will give you something to work on for the next one.

For more interview tips, take a look at our how to prepare for interviews video guide.

Instead of an interview you may be asked to submit a portfolio or take
an admissions test. In this case, the university will let you know what
you need to do and when by. If for any reason you can’t meet their
requirements you must let them know as early as possible.

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7 Reasons Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims

7 Reasons Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims

I hope that you
have never been in the position to have an insurance claim refused.  If you have, it was probably for one of the
following reasons:

1)The claim was
outside the scope of the policy.

                Your policy will only cover the risk specified.  It is important to consider all your risks carefully.  Those you cannot manage or eliminate, you
need to insure.

2) You failed to
comply with the terms of the policy.

                There will be certain conditions you will have to meet in
order for an insurance company to underwrite your risk.  No company is going to insure a building that
has open fires burning in the centre of a warehouse full of flammable
stock.  An extreme example I know but it
is important to know that your policy is not being invalidated by something you
are doing now.

3) Your policy does
not include consequential loss.

               
Make sure your policy covers all the risk of any
incident.  Particularly consider your
ability to continue trading after a major incident.  Your buildings and contents may be insured
but how will you remain in business if you have no means of doing business
anymore?

4)You gave false
statements when you applied for insurance.

                Your insurance company will only insure what is real.  Lie and the policy will be void.

5)You failed to pay
your premium on time.

               
Sounds obvious but you are not insured unless you pay the
insurance premium.  Yes, you may feel
being a few days late does not matter but if you have not paid your premium you
are simply not insured.

6)You take too long
to report the claim.

               
Make the claim as soon as possible. 

7)You failed to
disclose all relevant facts.

               
Over 11 per cent of corporate insurance buyers have had a
claim challenged on non-disclosure grounds in the last two years. Insurance
policies are one of only a few contracts in which uberrima fides “utmost good faith” applies.  It is important you inform your insurance
broker of all relevant information.

I’ll help with any
claims, ensure the paperwork is correct and with the insurance company in good
time.

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Do I need Employers Liability Insurance if I employ my spouse?

Whilst it is not compulsory in the UK for a business to have Public
Liability insurance (which covers the potential legal liability of a
business to members of the public), it is compulsory for a business
operating in the UK and with one or more employees to have in force a
valid insurance covering them against Employers Liability. This is a
requirement of the Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.



Employers Liability insurance protects the employer against his or her
legal liability for compensation and associated legal costs in the event
of an employee being injured or contracting an illness or diseae in the
course of his employment. 



Minimum Levels of Cover

The Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 requires a
minimum indemnity limit of £5,000,000 although most insurers offer a
limit of £10,000,000 as standard.



If the business is part of a group, a policy covering the whole group
including subsidiary companies may ne taken out, in which case the group
as a whole must have cover of at least £5,000,000. Any associated
companies (for example where the directors of comapny A are also
separately directors of company B, but company B is not a subsidiary
of Company A) must have their own cover each with a minimum of
£5,000,000.



When deciding upon the level of cover appropriate to your own particular
business it should be borne in mind that claims for employees when they
are disabled as a result of an accident at work can add up to a huge
sum when taking into account the cost of lost income, pain and suffering
and the potentially lifelong care cost required. If more than one
employee is injured in a single incident the indemnity limit has to be
sufficient to cover the costs from all the employees injured in the same
incident. Without cover to provide a sufficently high indemnity limit
any such claims could bankrupt an employer.    



Which Firms are Exempt from having to take out Employers Liability cover

The following employers are exempt:

(a) most public organisations including Government departments and
agencies, local authorities, Police authorities and nationalised
industries;

(b) Health service bodies, including National Health trusts, health
authorities, primary care trusts and Scottish health boards; some other
organisations which are financed through public funds, such as passenger
transport executives and magistrates' courst committees;

(c) family businesses where all of the employees are closely related to
the employer. This includes any husband, wife, civil partner, father,
mother, grandfather, grandmother, stepfather ,stepmother, son, daughter,
grandson, granddaughter, brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister.
However, this exemption does not apply to family businesses which are
incorporated as limited companies. This is because a limited company is
regarded as a separate legal entity from its individual directors and
you can't therefore be regarded the son or daughter of a limited
company.

(d) companies employing only their owner where that employee also owns 50% or more of the issued share capital in the company.



What are the Consequences of not having Employers Liability cover?

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the law on Employers
Liability insurance and their inspectors will check that you have this
cover with an approved insurer for at least the statutory minimum level
of £5,000,000.



The fines are as follows:



£2,500 for every day which you are without insurance

£1,000 if you do not display the certificate of insurance or refure to make it available to HSE inspectors.



These fines would apply irrespective of whether there had been a claim. 



The insurer providing the cover must be authorized to do so. If they are
not, you may be breaking the law and subject to the above fines. The
Financial Services Authority (FSA) maintains a register of authorized
insurers. You can check whether a company is authorised by searching
their register on http://www.fsa.gov.uk/, or telephoning the FSA on 0207 066 1000.



In addition to the fines of course the business would be exposed to a
potentially disastrous liability in the event of an employee being
injured at work or contracting a disease in the course of their
employment.



Who is an Employee?

The legal requirement for Employers Liability cover is for any business
employing people under a contract of service or apprenticeship. The
contract may be spoken, written or implied. There are a number of
factors to be considered when determining whether a person is
employed under a contract of service. Irrespective of whether you
usually call someone an employee or self-employed or their tax status
the following factors will be taken into consideration:

(a) You deduct National insurance and Income Tac from the money you pay them

(b) You have the right to control where and when they work and how they do it

(c) You supply most of the materials and equipment

(d) You have a right to any profit your workers make although you may
choose to share this with them through commission, performance pay or
shares in the company. Similarly you will be responsible for any losses.

(e) You require that person to deliver the service and they cannot employ a substitute if they are unable to do the work

(f) They are treated in the same way as other employees, for example, if
they do the same work under the same conditions as someone you employ



The following factors may be persuasive in determining that they are not an employee:

(a) They do not work exclusively for you (for example, if they operate as an independent contractor)

(b) They supply most of the equipment and materials they need to do the job

(c) They are clearly in business for personal benefit

(d) They can employ a substitute when they are unable to do the work themselves

(e) You do not deduct Income Tax or National Insurance. However, even if
someone is self employed for tax purposes they may be classed as an
employee for other reasons and you may still need Employers' Liability. 

   

In most cases you will not need Employers' Liability insurance for volunteers of for

(a) students who work for you unpaid

(b) people who are not employed, but taking part in a youth or adult training programme, or

(c) a school student on a work experience programme.



Insurers will generally cover the above as part of their standard
Employers Liability policy, and there is generally no need to inform
your insurer if you take on any of the above. However, you should talk
to your insurers if you take on the above either for long periods, ,or
if they are undertaking any work that is not part of your company's
normal business activities. You should also bear in mind the level of
risk to which they will be exposed when they are working for you and it
may be necessary to carry out a separate risk assessment.  



These are just a few observations regarding Employers Liability cover
and the compulsory nature for emplyers. More observations next week.



In the meantime, if anyone has any queriesor observations regarding any
of the above or their own requirements for Employers Liability for their
own business please do not hesitate to be in touch.

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