Wednesday 7 April 2010
Free car insurance quotes
Lowering Car Insurance
Checking a car before buying
The golden rule is - never view a automobile in the dark or in the rain, as weather can hide a multitude of sins. You'll never spot scratches, dents or rust in the rain, & a lack of light means plenty of other potential problems will go unnoticed.
• First, take a walk around the automobile & take it all in. Unless you have been told otherwise, the automobile should be in a driveable state.
Outside
• You ought to always start the automobile with a chilled engine, as this is when it is easiest to spot beginning problems or excessive smoke. Place a hand on the bonnet - if it is warm, it is been run recently, so let it cold for a few hours. If need be, come back later.
• Let the seller show you the automobile, but don't let them distract you from carrying out your own checks.
• The wheels should sit neatly in the wheel arches, equally on both sides.
• Crouch down in front of each front wheel & look along the length of the automobile. Both front wheels should be directly in front of the rear – if they are not, it could mean the automobile has been in a crash with a slightly twisted chassis. This is known as crabbing.
• Look carefully at each panel for ripples or overspray – where excess paint has flecked onto other trim, such as window seals or bumpers.
• Check the gaps between the panels are equal. Run your finger along each to feel if the gap is bigger at three finish than the other. Uneven panel gaps occur if a automobile has been in a crash, or if panels have been refitted badly.
• The maximum tread depth is 1.6mm for the whole way around the tyre. Use a tread depth gauge to see how much is left – the more, the better.
• Look closely at each tyre – including the spare. Watch for uneven wear, which could mean suspension destroy, nicks & gouges. Tyres are pricey, so if they need replacing, use this as a bargaining tool.
• Most shunts are minor, low-speed crashes, but you ought to take extra steps to be sure there are not any more serious problems.
• Check under the automobile, at the front & back, under the bonnet & under the carpet in the boot for signs of crash destroy. Panels should be flat, & free from signs of welding or patching up – if they are not, it is probably had a shunt.
For more information on checking your tyre pressure, read our money-saving tip.
• Obviously rust is a bad sign, so keep your eye out all the time, around the wheel arches where moisture, grime & winter road salt can increase the speed of deterioration.
Inside
• Look around the cabin – a 50,000 mile automobile should not have a worn or sagging stool or a steering wheel, gearknob or pedal covers which have been worn by plenty of use.
There's plenty of things to check inside, as well, most of which can be a lovely indication of mileage & the amount of care & attention it is had lavished on it.
• Look closely at the dashboard binnacle (the bit which houses the speedometer & other dials). If the automobile has an older, mechanical-style milometer which turns as you drive, make sure all the barrels are aligned correctly – turning these back is the oldest trick in the book. If there's fingerprints in there, ask why – there could be an honest explanation.
• Make sure all the seatbelts work – they could indicate a previous crash or general neglect. They are a legal requirement – if the automobile is being sold with a new MOT certificate, alarm bells should be ringing as these should have been checked.
• This is harder to check on more modern models which have electronic milometers – the miles can be turned back basically by connecting a laptop & entering a new mileage.
• Either way, make sure the mileage tallies with elderly MOT certificates & service history.
• Don’t be quick to reject a automobile – it can be tricky to bolt a dash back together after changing a blown bulb in the device panel.
• Make sure all the dashboard & steering column panels are bolted on correctly – they could point to a clocked automobile, or three which has been stolen, if there's glass fragments on the floor.
• Make sure all the switches work – including the heater or air-con - & check the front seats move about properly.
• Locate the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). You'll find this riveted in the engine bay. There's few reasons why this should have been removed, so be suspicious if there's signs of tampering, you could be looking at a clone – a stolen automobile given the identity of a write-off. Visit our safety & security centre for more information.
• Modern cars also have the VIN recorded at the base of the windscreen.
• The VIN number will also be stamped in the floor beside the driver or passenger stool. A clone will have another number welded on, & are usually easy to swap.
• Check all the numbers match the logbook & your Automobile History Check documents – if they don't, walk away.
Under the bonnet
Next check under the bonnet – any problems you miss here could cost you a packet, so be thorough. Read our basic automobile checks page more for details on how to do this.
• Check for signs of oil leaks around the top of the engine, but don’t forget to check underneath as this will be where it is most obvious. Road grime can stick to oil, making it even more noticeable.
• Remove the dipstick, wipe it with a cloth & replace for a couple of seconds. Pull it out again & look at the amount of oil – it should be near the top; if not, the owner hasn’t been looking after it.
• Look around the oil filler cap for a white mayonnaise-like substance - this is an indication of a damaged head gasket which can be pricey to put right.
• The oil should be a golden colour – sludgy black oil is a sign the engine could be damaged.
Tuesday 6 April 2010
Buying a Car
Where to get motor finance
Staff at automobile dealerships will have received expert trained on specialist automobile finance products and will be able to advise you on the key features and benefits of different finance designs. For example, you may wish to lease/rent your next automobile than buying it outright. Dealership staff will be able to advise you accordingly.
You should think about all of the options available to you and seek advice before taking out motor finance. This will ensure that your finance agreement suits your personal circumstances and the type of automobile you are buying.
Motor finance agreements are provided by specialist finance companies, who may be a member of the FLA. There is a directory of FLA members, as well as information on the protection provided to automobile finance customers in Consumer Protection.
The automobile dealership providing finance may also be ‘Approved’ under the FLA’s Specialist Automotive Finance (SAF) initiative. SAF Approved dealers have voluntarily raised the professional standards and knowledge of staff involved in the sale of finance and for the benefit of customers. Look out for the SAF Approved logo in your local dealership.
Other advantages of arranging finance at the dealership include:
fast and simple to manage, often while you wait
wide range of products with flexible deposits and repayments
fixed interest rates
access to special promotions, such as 0% finance or cashbacks
You can also apply for motor finance from banks, building societies and other direct finance providers.
Car Insurance for Women
Cheaper Car Insurance for Women Drivers
This is palpably unfair on more careful drivers, & so several companies started to offer insurance targeted for less hazardous groups such as women.
At one times, automobile insurance was much a 'one size fits all' deal, where most people would be offered fundamentally the same kinds of policies. Although safe drivers could be rewarded by building up a no claims discount, the premise of motor insurance was that the premiums of safer drivers who made less claims would subsidise the premiums of those who claimed more often.
Statistics show that women drivers are less likely to be involved in a serious accident, largely because they tend to drive more carefully & at lower speeds, & so are less likely to require to make a claim.
FEMALES ARE BETTER DRIVERS?
This means, in theory, that as a group their premiums can be kept lower as the insurance company doesn't require to pay as plenty of expensive claims.
Although most insurance providers will nowadays take the gender of a drive in to account when quoting on a policyowner, specialist insurers exist that cater only for women. Whether or not they actually provide cheaper insurance is perhaps open to query, but as quotes are free & only take a few minutes it is worth a try.
Car Insurance for young drivers
If you are a younger driver, in your early 20s, or have only passed your driving check, this guide aims to help by providing tips on how to receive a lovely deal on your motor cover.
There's several reasons why younger drivers pay more for their automobile insurance.
Drivers are statistically more likely to have an accident in the first five years after passing their check than at any other time. Five in three drivers will have an accident in their first year on the road.
A third of fatalities on UK roads are caused by young drivers aged 17 to 25.
Young drivers also experience more theft, fire and vandalism to their vehicles, which leads to claims on their automobile insurance.
Young drivers are more likely to be ferrying around a automobile full of friends and therefore face a much greater risk of being involved in an accident than somebody who uses their automobile to nip out to the shops mid-afternoon.
So how can you get cheap young driver automobile insurance? Much of the advice given in our standard automobile insurance guide applies equally to younger drivers. However, here are some extra tips that can help shave pounds off the cost of your motor owner.
Forget about turbo-charged cars, with gigantic spoilers, fat tyres, alloy rims and other “sexy” extras. For at least five years after passing your check, aim to drive a automobile that has a tiny engine, or is in the lowest possible insurance group.
If at all possible, avoid being added to a parent's insurance owner. It prevents you from building up your own no-claims bonus.
If you are the main driver or registered keeper of the automobile, DO NOT insure it in your parents' name and put yourself down as a named driver. This is known as “fronting” and in the event of an accident it could mean the claim is not paid. Moreover, the younger driver can be charged with driving without insurance.
Think about taking part in the Pass And method. This is a certificate where a young driver who has already passed his or her driving check receives specific lessons in night, motorway and town traffic driving. Achieving the Pass And can earn significant discounts (as much as 35%) on your automobile insurance.