January 7th, 2012  Posted at   Motorcycles

When searching for caravan insurance it is important to know what cover you are getting, for example insurers cover your caravan for one of three options, New for Old, Agreed Value or Market Value.

There is often confusion as to which cover is most suitable for you and here we try and explain the differences, as in the event of a claim this can be a big difference.

What Is New for Old Cover?
New for Old is a term used mainly in household insurance and basically means that if you suffer a total loss to the caravan (i.e the caravan is written off) within a set timescale from the date that the caravan was made, the insurer will replace the van with one of the same make and model.

One of the general stipulations of this cover is that you would have an original purchase receipt, and this would prove the value of the caravan for your insurer. The insurance company specify a timescale for this cover, typically 3 or 5 years but in certain cases this can be more. It is important to remember that the cover runs from the date that the caravan was manufactured and not when purchased by you.

Another thing to consider is that some insurers cover you only if you are the first owner of the caravan, whilst others cover New for Old regardless of the number of previous owners as long as it is within the specified timescales.

It is also very important to update the value of the caravan every year to the correct replacement value to ensure you have the correct cover.

What Is Agreed Value?
The second typical level of cover in caravan insurance is Agreed Value which means that if your caravan suffers a total loss within the specified time period the insurance company will pay the purchase price paid by you. This cover generally is for if you have not been the only owner and many insurance companies do not offer this cover as it leads to confusion as to the final value of the caravan. Read more… »

January 6th, 2012  Posted at   Motorcycles

Motorcycle insurance is essential to any motorcycle owner for protection against anything that may happen to the driver or the bike. It is thus important that you do the right research to find the best insurance policy for your bike with maximum coverage.

So here are some tips on how to get the best motorcycle insurance available.

  1. Shop around and don’t get your policy from the first insurance provider you come across. You never know when you will find a provider who offers the best deals possible, at relatively lower prices.
  2. Collect quotes from different insurance providers for different premiums and policy coverage and make comparisons. There is no restriction to the number of quotes you collect; so make use of the many online tools and resources available to collect and compare quotes to find the policy that fits your budget and meets your requirements.
  3. Try adding some security features to your motorcycle like tire locks and security alarms to reduce your insurance premium amount. The more secure your bike is even in your absence, the less likely are its chances of getting stolen. This in turn is good news for the insurance provider and is the reason why they can afford to give discounts for bikes with security features.
  4. How often you use your bike also determines your insurance policy. If you ride it only a few times a year, you are eligible for a discount on your monthly premium as you are exposed to less risk. This is again good news for the insurance company as it means the chances of you getting involved in an accident is reduced, and consequently, you don’t spend much money for repairs and medical expenses.
  5. Similarly, you can get the best insurance policy for your motorbike by improving your riding skills. The more qualified and experienced a rider you are, the less risk you are to fellow riders. Take a rider safety course or any similar course that makes you a better motorcycle rider to save money on your monthly premium.
  6. Your driving record also affects your motorcycle insurance. If it shows you have been involved in any auto accidents, then your insurance premium amount instantly increases. Moreover, if you are new at bike riding, and you are a bit on the older side, you will have to pay a higher rate for your insurance policy. This can however be reduced by investing in some motorcycle class, and showing its certificate to the insurance provider.
  7. Your address affects your motorcycle insurance premium as living or working in a high crime or accident area is risky for your bike. This is thus a risk to the insurance provider, which is why they charge higher rates for those working in these regions. However installing an alarm for added security and parking your bike in a garage is much safer for your bike than parking it in an open, unsecured area, and thus gives you a lower premium amount.
  8. The newer, more attractive and more expensive bikes automatically attract higher rates as the chances of it getting stolen are much higher than that of an older bike. So if you have an option, and are on a budget, it’s better to buy an ordinary bike than the latest models in the market.
  9. Besides getting insurance coverage for your bike, you could also get 3rd party liability insurance which saves you a lot of money if you get involved in an accident. With this coverage, the insurance company pays for any damage to people and property involved in an accident where you are at fault. Read more… »
January 5th, 2012  Posted at   Motorcycles

There are millions of static caravans around the UK and indeed the world, with probably a large percentage of them uninsured as people often overlook the importance of having their static caravan insured.

Just like a normal house that you would live in, you need to make sure that your static caravan is insured against the typical types of damage that can occur.

For example, you need to protect against damage caused by:

• Fire
• Wind Damage
• Water Damage
• Accidental Damage
• Theft And Criminal Damage

There seems to be a common misconception that because you might only visit your holiday home for a few weeks of the year, there is no point in insuring it. But, this really should be quite the opposite because the less you are there, the more chance of damage occurring as you are not around to protect your caravan or spot any problems in the early stages before they become a major issue.

There is also more chance of criminal damage or theft when the caravan is left empty for long periods, and whilst it is never a good idea to leave lots of valuables in the caravan, you will of course have to leave some items that could still be of value to any thief that wants to try and take them. Static caravans, especially out of season, can become easy targets for thieves because they realise there is little chance of anyone being around at this time of year.

It is important to remember that there are many types of static caravan insurance policies, just like any type of insurance, so it is vital to check with your insurer or your broker that the policy covers exactly what you need it to, in terms of value and the type of things it protects you and insures you against. Read more… »