After an extended holiday period, RAC predicts that 4 January 2010 will be one of the busiest days in 2010 for vehicle breakdowns as millions of motorists return to work.

The severe weather in the eight days prior to Christmas led to RAC attending almost 80,000 breakdowns. Since then many motorists have not used their cars and, given the ongoing wintry weather conditions, a breakdown is now far more likely.

David Hawes, RAC regional manager, comments: “The combination of a long break and very cold or damp weather can be a recipe for disaster. A car’s electrical system has to work a lot harder at this time of year as drivers are more likely to use their lights, heated windows as well as the heater fan. The starter motor also has to work harder to start the engine on these cold mornings making a battery failure more likely.”

RAC is urging motorists to do some basic preparations, such as simply turning over the car engine as well as allowing extra time, to ensure they’re not caught out on 4 January.

To help motorists avoid a breakdown, RAC has put together the following tips:

Don’t leave your vehicle un-used for the whole period between Christmas and New Year. It’s a good idea to start the engine to ensure everything is working as it should be and allow the engine to reach operating temperatures – taking care that it doesn’t overheat

If you have a garage, use it, or try to leave your vehicle undercover

Check oil and water levels. Ensure they are topped up correctly. Pay particular attention to the anti-freeze content of the cooling system. Check your owner’s handbook for information on the recommended anti freeze or consult your local dealer

In cold weather avoid frozen locks by using lock de-icer

Avoid queues at petrol stations by filling up the tank before the morning you go back to work

If the weather is icy, use a windscreen scraper or a de-icer to remove all the frost from your vehicle before setting off. Don’t use hot water from a kettle, as this may crack the windscreen. Also use a windscreen additive to prevent washer bottle freezing and ensure clear vision of the road

Check the battery connections ensuring that they are tight and free from any corrosion

Have your battery and charging system checked before it is too late

Wrap up warm and take a blanket, waterproof clothing, sensible footwear and a fully charged mobile phone in case of breakdown

If travelling a long distance, allow extra time for your journey, ensure you have enough fuel for the journey as not all fuel stations will be open over the festive period. Let friends and relatives know of your expected journey routes and times of arrival if travelling in remote areas

In case of a breakdown, visit www.rac.co.uk

Notes to editors

About RAC

With around seven million members, RAC is one of the UK’s most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it’s roadside assistance, insurance, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information – RAC is able to meet motorists’ needs.

RAC is committed to providing the very highest levels of service to its members and was the top named service organisation in the July 2009 UK Customer Satisfaction Index from the Institute of Customer Service.

Aviva bought RAC in May 2005. The acquisition brings together RAC’s powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Aviva UK Insurance. Aviva is the UK’s largest insurer with a market share of around 15 per cent.

RAC is part of Aviva, the world’s fifth largest insurance group which operates in 28 countries.

RAC’s news releases and a selection of images are available from the internet press centre at www.rac.co.uk/press-centre/

Tags: Car Breakdown, Car Maintenance, Cars, RAC

You want a good deal on car insurance – but don’t just go for the cheapest option. Here’s what to think about when choosing car insurance…

Everyone shops around for a cheap car insurance quote, but cheapest isn’t always best. Focus on finding the right car insurance for your circumstances. Ask yourself:

what level of car insurance cover do you need?

do you want any extras included in your car insurance?

how much excess can you afford to pay?

could you lower your car insurance premiums?

Car insurance: the different levels of cover

Third party car insurance is the most basic level of cover. You’re covered by your car insurance if you damage another car or injure someone in an accident. But you’re not covered for any damage to your own vehicle.

Third party, fire and theft car insurance also pays out if your car is lost, stolen or damaged by fire.

Comprehensive car insurance is the highest level of cover. If your car is damaged or written off in an accident, comprehensive car insurance will pay out.

Car insurance extras

Some extras may be free, but some are worth paying a little more for. Your car insurance could include cover for:

• driving abroad while on holiday
• vandalism
• storm damage
• windscreen repair or replacement
• car accessories and personal belongings
• personal accident and medical expenses
• breakdown and emergency call-out
• legal costs
• a courtesy car

The excess on your car insurance

When you claim on your car insurance, you usually have to pay a set amount of the claim yourself – known as the excess. This can range from nothing to a few hundred pounds.

Always check the excess before you buy car insurance.

Keep your car insurance premiums low: top tips

You can’t change your age or where you live, but you may lower your premium if you:

• fit an alarm or immobiliser to your vehicle
• keep your car in a garage overnight
• keep your annual mileage low
• pay your premium in one go rather than in instalments.

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For More information on specific Banks use these links

• Alliance & Leicester
• Bank of Scotland
• Barclays
• Capital One
• Child Trust Fund
• First Direct
• HSBC
• Post Office
• Tesco Savings

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For all the best deals on Home, Car, Travel and Life Insurance, Credit Cards, Travel Money cards and Savings Accounts from The Post Office visit www.quoteservices.co.uk/

Tags: Car Insurance, Insurance, The Post Office

Sourced from http://www.insurancebanking.co.uk

How old do you have to be before insurance becomes a pressing concern in your life? Is it something that comes along with kids and a house? Should you care about insurance while you are in school? Should you focus on saving money or buy insurance?

No one would ever argue that growing up is easy and as the years go by it seems that more and more responsibilities keep being added to your plate. As if a job and home were not enough to worry about, now you are being asked how much cover you are carrying!

Here is some simple and straightforward information to help you get started with your first venture into the world of purchasing insurance. This article will over which types of insurance are most important for young adults and which can be postponed to a later time.

Car Insurance

A minimal amount of car insurance is a legal necessity, and one that can only be forgone by committing to riding public transit. However, the amount of insurance that you purchase is quite flexible and should reflect your unique position.

Are you driving a thrice handed-down vehicle with duct-taped seats and more miles than the Challenger? If this sounds like you then maybe protecting what is inside the vehicle (you and your passengers) is more important that carrying extra insurance against theft.

>> Get your free quote today

Home and Contents Insurance

You may just be starting to build up your possessions, but its likely true that you have one or two valuables that you would like to protect. There is a variety of home and contents insurance options available to you; some for individual items and others for your entire home.

Balance the cost of contents insurance against the risk of damage and the value of your belongings. Also be sure to understand clearly how your landlord’s insurance works. It is a common mistake for people to rely on their landlord’s insurance, when it may not provide them with any cover.

>> Learn More

Health Insurance – For You and Your Pet

Health insurance is one of the places that people tend to try to scrimp and save – but this makes the least amount of sense for a budget. Even though you may feel young and invincible, a health crisis can strike at any time and such problems can be financially and emotionally devastating.

Health insurance is one area where purchasing the maximum amount possible is always a safe bet. Learn more about how Tesco can help (link to health insurance)

As for your furry friend, pet insurance can be a good investment, especially if it will cover your pet for their entire life without age limit. It is likely that your pet is the first member of your new adult family, the first being to rely completely on you. Do not let them down and do not put yourself in a position where financial constraints force you to make a difficult decision.

>> Learn more about Tesco Pet Insurance

Final Thoughts

Remember, insurance is not meant to be a lottery – you do not want to carry such excessive cover that making a claim seems like a dream come true. Instead, your level of cover should reflect your lifestyle.

Purchase as much as you can afford and remember that you can always increase the level of cover as your circumstances change.

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For More information on specific Recovery Agents use these links

• The AA
• Green Flag
• The RAC
• More Than
• GEM Motoring Assist

For more detailed information and all the best deals from the AA visit www.aa-cover.com/

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For More information on Pet Insurance use these links

• Direct Line Pet Insurance
• Halifax Pet Insurance
• Helpucover
• Homebase Pet Insurance
• Liverpool Victoria Pet Insurance
• Marks & Spencer Pet Insurance
• MORE TH>N Pet Insurance
• Petguard Pet Insurance
• Petplan Equine Pet Insurance
• TESCO Pet Insurance

Tags: Banking and Insurance, Health Insurance, Home Insurance, Insurance, Personal Insurance, Tesco, Tesco Insurance

Source from http://www.insurancebanking.co.uk/

Well, not exactly fake – more like un-accidental accidents. Curious about how it works? So are the hundreds of people each year who fall victim to this insurance scam…

The Sting

Favouring motorway slip roads and roundabouts, these fraudsters carefully create a situation in which an unsuspecting driver becomes involved in an accident. Worse still, the situation is planned so that the victim appears to be at fault!

One of the most common scenarios is for one or more staged vehicles to slam on their brakes, forcing the innocent driver behind to slam into the car’s rear.

The Bigger Sting

Adding insult to injury, the fraudster vehicle will sometimes be carrying several passengers, allowing for many person injury and wage loss claims. Plus, there have also been reports of entire criminal rings being established and involving companies that will help the criminals justify inflated claims.

The Cost to Victims

In addition to financial consequences, there are also unmeasured emotional costs to the victim. Although it is not included in the official evaluations of this scam, most people find participation in vehicle accidents very stressful and upsetting, particularly when they believe that they are fault.

In addition to affecting the direct victims, everyone who owns car insurance is paying the price. Staged crashes such as they cost the insurance industry millions each year, pushing up premiums for everyone.

Finally, there is a real risk to the safety of everyone involved. Even staged crashes can be dangerous, especially if they involve more than the intended two cars.

Protecting Yourself

Unfortunately, it is no easier to prevent an induced accident than a legitimate one. The only way to protect yourself is to always practice defensive driving and remain alert to all potential problems.

Since most frauds of this nature involve unexpected braking, be sure to follow other vehicles at a safe distance. This way you will have plenty of time to stop safely, should they slam on their brakes.

If you do find yourself involved in an accident, be sure to record every detail meticulously. This can help your insurance company whether the accident was induced or legitimate.

Keep paper and a pen in your vehicle at all times; record your version of the events and ask the other driver to do the same. You should also take down all important contact information and the names of possible witnesses.

If you have reason to suspect that the accident was induced, be sure to inform your insurance broker of your suspicion. Although it can be difficult to prove, insurance companies are working diligently to stop this kind of crime and your information may be of assistance.

Tesco Provides a winning combination of cheap car insurance and high quality customer service. >> Learn More

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For More information on specific Recovery Agents use these links

• The AA
• Green Flag
• The RAC
• More Than
• GEM Motoring Assist

For more detailed information and all the best deals from the AA visit www.aa-cover.com/

Tags: Car Crashes, Car Insurance, Fraud, Insurance, Insurance Fraud, Tesco, Tesco Insurance

Sourced from http://www.insurancebanking.co.uk/

Many people living in the UK are simply paying too much for their insurance. Whether you carry home, car, pet, or health insurance, or some combination, if you are not covered by Tesco then you may be paying more than you have to.

Signing up with Tesco can mean big insurance savings on car cover, pet cover, health cover, and home cover. Plus, cheap insurance from Tesco does not mean a sacrifice in value. Tesco’s comprehensive cover provides a variety of options not available from other companies, along with customer service that cannot be rivalled.

How much could you save?

Depending on your insurance needs and your current costs, you could create substantial savings by switching to Tesco.

>> Discover how much you could save today

Watch your savings grow…

After discovering how much you could save every month by switching to Tesco, consider stashing these funds away in a high-interest savings account.

If you think about, these savings are a bonus above and beyond your current monthly budget, so it is money that could be easily parted with. Instead of splurging on a shopping trip, pay yourself and think about your future.

Tesco Internet Saver accounts provide high interest rates, as well as quick and easy access to your funds. With a Tesco Internet Saver account, you are not limited by minimum deposit amounts or maximum transaction rates. You are truly in charge of your funds.

Plus, some of the highest interest rates available ensure that your money grows quickly, providing fast return for your good saving practices.

Quick Steps to Fast Savings

By taking advantage of Tesco’s products, you are well on your way to fast savings. Follow these simple steps…

• Learn more about switching your health, pet, car, and house cover to Tesco and start saving each month on your insurance costs. Receive your quote now!
• Commit that every month you will put the amount you are now saving on insurance into a high-interest Tesco Internet Saver account.
• Sit back and watch your money grow!

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For More information on specific Recovery Agents use these links

• The AA
• Green Flag
• The RAC
• More Than
• GEM Motoring Assist

For more detailed information and all the best deals from the AA visit www.aa-cover.com/

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For More information on Pet Insurance use these links

• Direct Line Pet Insurance
• Halifax Pet Insurance
• Helpucover
• Homebase Pet Insurance
• Liverpool Victoria Pet Insurance
• Marks & Spencer Pet Insurance
• MORE TH>N Pet Insurance
• Petguard Pet Insurance
• Petplan Equine Pet Insurance
• TESCO Pet Insurance

Tags: Car Insurance, Health Insurance, Insurance, Pet Insurance, Tesco, Tesco Insurance