Is Classic Car Insurance Expensive?
Well, it all depends on where you go! Have a look online and find an insurance company who have a background in classic cars rather than one who would treat your pride and joy as just another car - when it’s not! Heritage-quote.co.uk is ‘run for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts’ and offers expert and specialist advice for all types of classic vehicle. Modern to vintage, they will cover the lot and they even offer schemes that are not available anywhere else. Some features are;
- Cover in European countries for up to ninety days per trip and unlimited trips
- A designated repairer in the event of an accident
- Free valuation service with certificate.
And we don’t mean just that gorgeous model that nobody make anymore. Cars that are over fifteen years of age are considered ‘classic’. If this applies to you, a specialist may not be what you’re looking for. Again, shop around and use comparison websites to ensure you get the best deal possible for the lowest price you can. The AA offer competitive prices in the UK and take things like age, condition and location (such as your area and whether the car has a garage) into consideration.
Classic-car-insurance-experts.co.uk offer a comparison service for competitive prices, although these are for the vintage model as opposed to an older car.
Check out the various policies available at Yesinsurance.co.uk for older models and also for older drivers. The website has easy to find quotes - why not see if they have something to suit you as they also specialise in insurance for women, as well as small vans and non-comprehensive insurance.
For the over fifties, Saga.co.uk seem to be the definitive insurance company and their policies will suit all budgets. Their competitive prices ensure you are covered and have piece of mind without having to re-mortgage the house or empty your savings account. Have a look at their site for everything from car to boat insurance - all at very reasonable prices.
Towergate Insurance
Towergate Insurance work with the leading insurers such as RSA, Zurich and LV to ensure their customers get the best deal for their business insurance as possible. They will give you a quote online in five minutes, whether you are looking for insurance on a small business or a high risk trade.
The beauty of Towergate Insurance is not just the way they put the customer first and compare quotes, taking all the hard work out of the equation, it’s the fact that every member of staff is a specialist in his or her field. They know their business and they also know what you will expect from the level of cover you decide to purchase.
You will be spoilt for choice as Towergate offer cover for over five hundred different professions; if you’re just starting out and are a little confused at the variety of policies available, Towergate’s easy to use website will answer any questions you may have. They’re also happy to have a chat on the phone if you’d rather speak to a person and not a computer screen.
From choosing the right level of liability insurance for your business to landlord insurance tips, there is something for you, no matter the nature of your business - it’s also all explained clearly, with no jargon. There are even tips and guides for your perusal, invaluable for a first time business owner, and perhaps a few things that established businesses won’t be aware of.
The claims process is as simple as possible, with no need to jump through hoops to get what you need. In the event that you do need to make a claim, it will be resolved quickly, efficiently and with the minimum of disruption to your business. With all centres based in the UK, it’s just a matter of picking up the phone stating your needs. Or if you are online go to www.towergateinsurance.co.uk.
Top Five Pet Insurance Companies
Pets are a very important part of one’s life; this is why you do your best to keep them happy and healthy. In order to attend to your pet’s needs and not be overwhelmed by the costs, the best thing to do is buy a pet insurance policy.
There is a variety of insurance companies that offer pet insurance policies that can cover illness, accidents and financial protection. The best policy is full coverage, which is expenses but covers a wider range of illnesses, accidents and can give you larger compensation.
Steps in Choosing a Pet Insurance
Firstly, you should talk with your vet to see which risks is your pet is most likely to face and what the vet recommends. Secondly, you should see what there is available on the market, what it covers, how much it costs and previous claims issues. After you determine the risks and the general offer, you are ready to make a decision.
Top 5 Pet Insurance Companies
Healthy Pets have awards and accreditations like Moneyfacts 2010 Consumer Awards and their clients can benefit from paid vet fees up to £7,500 in cases of illness and injury, flexible cover levels, no upper age limit and cover for ongoing treatments, overseas travel and holiday and immediate cover online at www.healthy-pets.co.uk.
Animal Friends Insurance offer insurance policies for dogs, cats or multi-pets. The company donates a part of their profits to animal charity. Their policies cover a wide range of risks from illness and accident to public liability, loss and many more. Find out more on www.animalfriends.org.uk.
Aviva Pets Insurance offer policies fit for cats and dogs and also cover the costs of treatment even if the problem continues or reappears; your pet is covered in case it needs long-term treatment.
Direct Line Insurance offers a 15% discount if you ensure more than one pet. Moreover, there is no restriction on the number of claims due to the fact that the pet is covered per condition.
Tesco Insurance has been awarded at Your Money 2011 Awards as the best direct pet insurance provider. The policy can be made for pets from 8 weeks old and the policy conditions do not change as your pets get older; so, no maximum age limit.
Critical illness insurance – the facts
Critical illness insurance can be a confusing business with a host of policies all offering various levels of cover, so the bare facts are important. Discover more at Endsleigh.co.uk.
What is a critical illness?
A critical illness is often summed up by the insurers as an acute condition: conditions that respond readily to treatment. It differs from a chronic condition which has no apparent cure – it reoccurs and needs long term surveillance.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) helpfully takes this definition further. Their Statement of Best Practice for Critical Illness Cover regulates what any ABI member must class as a critical illness in order to fulfil the lowest level of service. The ABI’s core illnesses are cancers, coronary artery by-pass surgery, heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, major organ transplants and multiple sclerosis. It seems obvious that these diseases should fall under the banner of critical illness.
One in five critical illness claims is for breast cancer. This is a regular example of what critical insurance will cover. The buyer must still be wary as some insurers will further define cancer in terms of “pre-malignant” or “non invasive.” When someone signs up for critical illness cover, they may overlook specific definitions, which is understandable. This has heaped controversy on the critical illness insurers, but if the insured take time to read the documentation, any definitions should be clearly spelled out.
Critical illness insurance can become invalid if your ailments are, for example, self inflicted, if you have indulged in hazardous sports or if you live outside the European Union.
With one in three people developing some form of cancer during their lifetime, critical illness insurance is more important than ever. It may feel like a gloomy policy to take out but it does mean your health woes won’t be added to by economic misery.
A critical illness policy can be researched through the Endsleigh.co.uk website and talking to their advisors.
Difference Between Secured and Unsecured Loans
The Debt & Loan Info Centre endeavours to give seekers clear and concise information about loans and debts as possible. One of the many queries people have had in the recent past is that of wanting to know the difference between secured and unsecured loans.
The easy answer is that one requires security and the other doesn’t. As you know, whenever you approach a financial institution for a loan, they will require you to give them something against which they will lend you money. This is so that in the event that you are unable to repay the full amount, they will sell the item to recover their money. In most cases, the item in question is landed property. This in essence means that only homeowners or those who own land can access secured loans.
Unsecured loans, on the other hand are accessible to those with no land or homes. The borrower however, needs to show that he is able to sustain the monthly instalments that will be required to repay the loan, plus its interest. This in most cases means presenting the lender with payslips to show that you earn a regular income. Another requirement, again based on the lack of security, is a good credit rating. Those with bad credit history will be unlikely to obtain unsecured loans particularly from high-street banks.
Another difference is in the length of time allowed for repayment. Generally, secured loans can be for long periods of time, often up to 25 years. This is not the case with unsecured loans and this is again down to the security provided by the borrower. Lenders will also feel comfortable lending bigger sums to those who provide security than to those who don’t. For more information, you can visit the Debt & Loan Info Centre.
Listed House Insurance
If you own a listed house, then you’re going to need some help when it comes to insurance. A listed house and all that entails is a far larger responsibility than a property without such a status.
What you require from an insurance company is a thorough and detailed approach. And one which you might have the opportunity to add in cover for contents and personal belongings as well as insurance for your listed house.
Firstly, just to be sure about the definitions, a listed house is an official status. To be listed, the house has to be acknowledged as such by the secretary of state as being of special interest and furthermore, worthy of the special protection that being listed implies. And the building will be ‘listed’ on a register.
In other words, being listed is an official status and not up to the owner alone to change. And many structures can be listed, not just houses, and includes walls, milestones and canal locks.
A little confusingly, there is no one set reason for a property becoming listed, it more concerns an opinion as to whether it is worthy of being protected for the current and future generations. Created just after the second world war, the listing process came about as a response to the destruction wrought by five years of conflict with Germany.
Organised into three main areas (in England and Wales), only about 2% of buildings are Grade One (of exceptional interest); 4% are Grade 2* (important examples of special interest buildings); and, the vast majority, around 94%, are Grade 2 (of special interest). And these grades are protected by law. For example, making structural changes, even minor and cosmetic, without permission, can cause you a lot of trouble.
Therefore, when it comes to insuring the structure of a listed house, the insurance company needs to understand the major, but also, the subtle differences when it comes to protecting against the risks. And of course, the biggest problem is ensuring that there is enough cover to rebuild the house should the worse happen and it be completely destroyed. And although rarely is the house completely destroyed, the insurance has to be based on the worst scenario.
And in reaching a premium estimate, the insurance company has to consider a number of things:
- confirmed listed status;
- current market value;
- estimated cost of total reinstatement (to effectively re-create the building using authentic materials);
- estimated cost to rebuild with modern materials;
- estimated cost of indemnity insurance (basic cover which provides for a rebuild, but not to the level of the original building);
- on-going maintenance costs;
- house owners background material (surveyor’s reports, measurements and photographs of existing property).
And in deciding upon a premium, the insurance company has to take into account not only the listed status, but the owner’s wishes and their ability to pay for certain levels of the insurance.
In other words, the insurance company has to highly experienced in such buildings and in their ability to deal with the owners.
Remember, only choose an insurance company which has a deep empathy with a listed house.
What does business insurance cover?
If you are setting up a business there is a lot to consider from finances, business ideas, business plans and business insurance - it can seem like a minefield.
However, if there is one thing that shouldn’t be skipped on it is business insurance. Business insurance can cover you if the unexpected happens and can stop your business being hit with hefty bills for compensation or to put your business back together after an act of nature. But just what does business insurance cover?
Well that depends on what you need covered. Different businesses have different insurance needs so your insurance will differ from other businesses. But there are a few basic areas of cover.
Employer Liability Cover:
This will cover you for any injury or illness that your staff might get as a result of your business activities. So if a member of staff has a trip or a fall on your premises they could put in a compensation claim for loss of earnings, future loss of earning and if it is found to be your fault the NHS could even put a claim in. These costs could run into the thousands but on top of this it is a legal requirement to have Employer Liability cover in place if you employ staff and risk a hefty fine if you don’t.
Public Liability Cover:
This will cover you for any injury or damage to property as a result of your business activities. So for example if a customer slips on a wet flaw in your shop or restaurant they could put in a compensation claim which public liability cover would cover you against. Therefore, if you come into contact with members of the public in your business it important cover to have.
Professional Indemnity Insurance:
This is aimed businesses which sell their knowledge and skills. It covers against any claims that a third party makes against you if you have made a mistake or are even found to be negligent in any of the services you provide.
Property insurance:
This covers any loss or damage to your business property and assets
Motor insurance:
This covers your business vehicles and any property in them.
Health Insurance Policies
Private Medical Insurance sometimes called PMI, private healthcare or private health cover can provide you with the peace of mind that should you need treatment you and your family can be treated quickly without waiting for the NHS to treat you. NHS waiting times can be long depending on the treatment you need so buy having health insurance you know you can get seen and treated quickly at first rate facilities. This can be especially reassuring if you are a business insurance customer and run your own business as taking time out for ill health can be detrimental to your business especially if you are the main person running it. With medical insurance you know you can be back on your feet as soon as possible.
You can offer health insurance as a benefit to your employees no matter how small your company. You can either pay for the cover yourself or offer it a voluntary employee paid benefit.
However, why should your business offer health insurance, well there are actually a number of benefits. Because diagnosis is so fast and treatment so prompt your staff can quickly return to work after an illness. This means that you can cut down on the level of absenteeism which can be a huge expense for any business. The sooner you can get your workers back to work the more productive your company will be.
It is also a very highly rated employee benefit. More and more staff rate health insurance as a highly prized benefit. So by offering it to your staff you will be able to attract the brightest and best staff to your team as well as retain the staff you have which is hugely beneficial to businesses as in the current climate they need to have the best possible talent available in order to expand and grow and retain customers. What’s more having a plan in place shows that you care about the health and welfare of your staff which helps in rentention.
Boat Insurance
If you are a proud boat-owner, you may already know that you are required to take out a boat insurance policy if you intend to use your boat on public waters. The boat insurance market is as competitive as any other, so you should be sure to thoroughly investigate what’s out there in order to find a policy that provides the precise cover you require at an affordable price. First off, as boat insurance is slightly less common and therefore a little trickier than other forms of vehicle insurance, it is important that you find an insurance company who will listen and respond to your individual needs. You need to have faith in this company to provide you with cover and respond quickly and efficiently to any difficulties you may have.
A good way of judging an insurance company, although certainly not fool proof, is to pay attention to the length of time that the company has been successfully serving the boat industry. The longer a company has been insuring other boat owners like yourself, the more likely it is that they know what they are doing and will be helpful and consistent. Some insurance companies that offer boat insurance will also offer the various standard forms of insurance such as home, contents and car insurance, and if you consider all these policies well enough in advance you may find that you are able to get a great deal by taking out multiple forms of insurance from the same company. However, no matter how good a deal may seem at first, do not neglect to read the small print of the policy so you are one hundred percent sure what you are letting yourself in for. You may also consider going online to a price comparison website to compare quotes from various different companies, helping you to find the most affordable deal for you.
Guide to Car Insurance
Whether renewing your car insurance or insuring your car for the first time, browsing around the market to find the best deal is obviously a desperate requirement. Too many new car owners immediately settle for the first offer they see, whilst existing owners are all too quick to renew cover that may in fact be quite extortionate compared to other deals that are out there. Many people do not realise how much the market can change over a year, so it is always worth looking round and checking out the competition rather than simply renewing the same old policy. If so far that provider has been good for you, you can still stick with them; just be sure that it is your absolute best option and before making a decision have a look at endsleigh.co.uk.
Various research conducted in the comparison of different car insurance providers has shown that you, as a driver and car owner, can lower what you pay every year by an average of over £150. If you happen to be one of the drivers at the top end of this spectrum, you could be saving much more than that, just by making the effort to search around a little. Be careful about when you start looking, too, as many insurers will automatically renew your possibly at the end of a year unless you contact them in time and ask them not to do so. A lot of drivers are caught in the same insurance policy because they forget to call or just can’t be bothered, meaning that they are very easily trapped in their contract year in, year out.
If you are thinking of obtaining your first car insurance policy, you will be able to choose between a fully comprehensive or third-party protection policy. You may assume that third-party cover is cheaper, but this is not always the case, so if you can get fully comprehensive cover at a reasonable price there is no reason you should go for the latter. It may sound improbable, but due to insurers manipulating the prices of insurance to suit their needs, it is entirely possible you will find more cover for less cost if you search around extensively.
