Tag: Quotezone

Top tips to combat Cost of Living Crisis

PRACTICAL POINTERS TO HELP BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES AGAINST SPIRALLING ENERGY COSTS

The last two years has created the perfect storm for cost-of-living problems across the UK and it’s speculated that things could get worse by April. 

As many households struggle to reach the first payday since before Christmas, we explore the measures households can take now to help make things more manageable.

New research shows that lower income households in the UK may have to spend half their income on energy. The industry regulator, Ofgem, has also announced that it will increase price caps in April, painting a bleak picture for some consumers.

UK households should double check they’ve made use of all the help available this winter such as:

·        Government schemes: research government schemes like the Winter Fuel Payment which provides £100 to £300 to help pay heating bills. Customers are eligible for the scheme if they were born on or before 26 September 1955.* Be aware that the government is also exploring options such as making payments to energy suppliers to soften the blow to consumers.

·        Switch providers: according to Ofgem, households can save around £360 every year. Switching provider doesn’t just help save money, it can also allow consumers to seek out more environmentally friendly suppliers and those with better customer service. 

·        Tax relief: check out the tax relief option, which allows anyone working at home on a regular basis to claim relief on gas and electricity bills – as well as metered water and business phone calls. HMRC are offering relief worth £312 per year with no need to provide receipts or factor in any complicated calculations. 

·        Discounts and efficiency checks:  use energy efficient lightbulbs – a relatively inexpensive solution which helps to reduce costs over a long period of time.  Also, look out for schemes such as the Warm Home Discount that provide a one off discount of £140 off the winter electricity bill between September and March.**

Greg Wilson, Founder of energy comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “Given the upcoming rise in energy price caps in April, it’s important that people get on the front foot and look for ways to save.

“If you’re eligible, making use of the government’s schemes to help with the cost of energy bills is a good start. There are many schemes out there, including the Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payments scheme, that should make bills a little easier to pay. These schemes are targeted to both the elderly and those on a low-income, providing support to the most vulnerable demographics.

“But there are also many other ways to tackle increasing energy cost – one of the most effective ways is to switch provider, a process which has never been easier. By choosing an Ofgem-accredited comparison site, consumers can get an understanding of what’s on offer across a range of energy suppliers – instantly providing an overview of more competitive prices.”

Quotezone.co.uk is one of the leading price comparison websites in the UK, helping over 3 million users find more competitive deals.

Double trouble! Storms warning for motorists

A leading insurance firm is warning motorists to check their policies before venturing out this week after the latest weather forecasts say two storms will hit Scotland from Wednesday night.

Storm Dudley is expected to bring coastal flooding as it coincides with high tides as well as gusts of up to 90mph and rain. Storm Eunice will follow on Friday with snow and more heavy rain.

Quotezone.co.uk, a leading car insurance comparison website, says any damage to cars caused by driving through flooded roads might not be covered by insurance policies. It warns motorists to carefully check their policies exclusions, and even if routes are partially blocked, drivers should think twice before using waterlogged roads.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “Motorists who have taken out third party only or third-party, fire and theft insurance won’t be covered for any storm damage to their vehicles, such as flying debris – only fully-comprehensive policyholders are likely to be protected in those cases.

“With Scotland expected to bear the brunt of the conditions, getting where you need to go without encountering a flooded road could be easier said than done. 

“Unfortunately, though, if motorists do decide to drive through these roads, there’s a very real risk that they won’t be covered for any resulting water damage to the car – even fully-comprehensive drivers.”

Greg Wilson advises motorists that have to go out to make sure their cars are roadworthy before setting off. Some insurance providers offer winter emergency survival kits as standard but if they don’t, it is wise to put one in the boot with thermal blankets, torches, phone chargers, emergency food and water rations and a first aid kit just in case.

Quotezone.co.uk compares prices across all types of car insurance, including breakdown cover, helping around 3 million users every year find better deals on their insurance, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products. Recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk. 

Scotland leads way in switch to green motoring

Scotland is at the forefront of the country’s switch to greener motoring according to new figures from the Department for Transport.

The figures reveal that from 1 October 2021 to 1 January, Scotland had the highest ratio of publicly accessible rapid charging points for electric vehicles with 12.9 devices per 100,000 residents.

Following Scotland are the South East and North East with 8.6 devices per 100,000 population. The average across all regions was 7.7 per 100,000.

After London with 102 charging devices per 100,000 residents, Scotland had the best accessibility to public (non-rapid) charging points with 52 for every 100,000. The national average is 42 devices per 100,000.

Nationwide, new charging points for public use went up by 9% in the three months to 1 January. There are now 2,448 more available charging devices across the country. Publicly accessible rapid charging devices increased by 233, a 5% rise over the same time period.

This brings the total of publicly accessible charging points nationwide to 28,375, of which 5156 are rapid charging devices.

Greg Wilson, founder of www.quotezone.co.uk’s comments: “It’s likely that Scottish drivers, like those across other parts of the country, are nervous that the 2030 deadline for car dealerships to cease selling new fossil fuel vehicles isn’t that far off and that the infrastructure to charge electric vehicles isn’t ready.

“But this boost in activity in the last three months in Scotland, building on an already established upward trend, is reassuring. 

“Let’s hope this pace continues so that Scottish drivers feel the electric option is a valid one, and that barriers to the green motoring revolution such as ‘range fear’ are a thing of the past, with a wide and evenly distributed network of rapid charge and electric charging facilities.”

Tanya Sinclair, Policy Director UK & Ireland at ChargePoint, said: “We welcome the Scottish government’s commitment over the next four years to invest in charging points across the country.

“The investment goes further than just a cash boost and is specifically designed to attract private investment in EV charging, which is what makes this investment really positive for the EV charging sector. In contrast, funds in England are channelled to local authorities who are resource constrained and shouldn’t be expected to provide EV charging on top of the essential services we rely on them for.

“To increase the overall adoption of EVs in the UK, we would encourage the other devolved nations to follow Scotland’s lead to help increase the amount of chargers. The government has earmarked money to solve the issue of rural charging infrastructure but it has not yet been spent.

“Along with this funding, the UK government must also drive the installation of charging stations, as it is vital that chargers are easily accessible throughout the country, not just big cities.

“As well as  increased investment in on-street electric car charging, the government must also focus on helping key charging locations such as workplaces electrify in a cost effective manner.

“This needs to be  done quickly but correctly – it’s not just about needing a large concentration of charging stations but the speed, location, ease of use and incentives need to be carefully considered.“

Recommended by 97% of reviewers, Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products including electric car insurance -recommended by 97% of reviewers.

Scottish electric vehicle registrations up 75% in a year

Ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) registrations across Scotland shot up by 75% between July-September compared to the same time a year before.

The Department for Transport’s (DfT) figures show that at the end of September, 38,600 vehicles belonged to Scottish residents, up from 22,100 for July-September 2020.

The data shows the longer-term pace of moving to electric vehicles went-up by 50% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2020.

North Lanarkshire – 104%, Shetland Islands – 98% – and Stirling – 93% – had the strongest take-up of electric vehicles. The lowest ULEV registration growth was in the Orkney Islands – 22% – and Na h-Eileanan Siar – 46% – with all other local authorities posting rises over of 50% for electric car ownership.   

Across Great Britain ULEV registrations hit 40%, with ULEVs making up 15.3% of all new registrations in the third quarter, some 83,000 vehicles.

More battery electric cars (BEV) – 51,000 – were registered for the first time than diesel cars -35,000 units. This followed a 44% increase in BEV car registrations in Q3 2021 than the same period a year before.

Petrol car registrations fell 41% and diesel by 66%. Average CO2 emissions for cars registered for the first time in the UK went down by 14%.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, a leading insurance comparison website, comments: “Scottish motorists are firmly at the forefront of the green industrial revolution when it comes to motoring.

“Government initiatives such as more public charging points and more home charging grants can only fuel Scottish electric vehicle registration growth over this year.”

Quotezone.co.uk compares prices across all types of car insurance, including electric car insurance, helping around 3 million users every year find better deals on their insurance, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products. Recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk. 

‘Can I borrow the car?’

Don’t give your festive guests the gift of penalty points this Christmas

With children heading back from university for Christmas or friends and family coming to stay, many hosts will be confronted with the same question: ‘Can I borrow your car?’ 

Such requests are likely to be even more common this year, with many guests trying to avoid public transport or staying for longer periods to make up for the time apart during the pandemic. 

However, according to leading insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk, obliging hosts should be aware that depending on the insurance in place, they could face losing their no claims bonus – or even getting in trouble with the law.

According to research from the Office for National Statistics, almost two-thirds of UK students have moved out of their family home to study at university – meaning when they do flock home for the festive season they are unlikely to have a permanent insurance policy in place on the family car.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “Whether or not to let children or guests drive your vehicle is a seasonal dilemma for many hosts, and the pressure will be even greater this year. However vehicle owners need to be aware of the insurance options before handing over the keys.

“Perhaps the most obvious solution is to add the other person to your own insurance policy as a named driver, particularly if it’s your own children that are asking to borrow the car. However, if they are involved in an accident, you could lose your no claims bonus.

“An alternative is for them to take out a separate policy in their own name. Temporary policies can be arranged for anything from a few hours to a month, and could give you greater peace of mind, especially if you have a large no-claims bonus. It may also work out cheaper too because you aren’t insuring them for the full year.

“Either way, insurers will want details of your guests including their driving licence and details of any convictions.

“Whichever option you choose, the most important thing is to ensure that your guest does have insurance in place. There is still a common misconception that anyone with comprehensive insurance on their own vehicle is automatically insured to drive another car on a third-party basis. However, this isn’t always the case so it’s important to check whether their policy specifically includes ‘driving other cars’ (DOC) cover.

“Driving without insurance is a serious offence punishable by a minimum £300 fine and six penalty points. In more serious cases, the driver may be given an unlimited fine or disqualification and the police may have the right to seize and destroy the vehicle, even if it belongs to someone else.  The vehicle owner could also be committing an offence and may be given points and a fine.”

Where children or other guests do stay for longer periods and hosts add them to their own policy,  they should be wary of how much time they spend behind the wheel  The main policyholder (known as the proposer) should still do the bulk of the driving, because if someone else is driving more often it could be regarded as ‘fronting’, a type of insurance fraud that could result in a large fine and a criminal record. 

Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 110 UK car insurance providers including niche products such as temporary insurance, named driver insurance and third party insurance.  

Winter is here: seasonal driving hacks to save motorists money

A leading insurance comparison firm is revealing the top winter driving hacks that could help motorists avoid higher premiums and retain those all-important No Claims Bonuses.

Quotezone.co.uk says many motorists overlook the winter conditions and can make unnecessary mistakes that will hit them hard in the pocket.

The firm, one of the UK’s leading car insurance comparison websites, says even minor adjustments in behaviour could save hundreds of pounds. Here they lay out some of the pitfalls motorists can find themselves in this winter: 

Defrosting – It is tempting to leave the engine running while the windscreen unfreezes, and the car warms up. However, if an opportunistic thief takes the vehicle, many insurance companies will not cover the loss. 

Leaving engines running is also an offence under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Doing this is known as ‘idling’,and is bad for the environment as it increases the amount of dangerous gases emitted into the air from the car’s exhaust.

Don’t use boiling water on windscreens – Glass can crack when it experiences a sudden change in temperature, and windscreen damage isn’t always covered by a standard car insurance policy.

Simply using a frost guard, a defogger or even homemade de-icer – lukewarm water mixed with rubbing alcohol.

Clear your windscreen before you set-off – Windscreens with inhibited views can land owners with a £1,000 fine and three points on a driving licence. So any leaves, snow, ice, mud or even condensation, needs to be fully cleared before setting out.

Check tyres – Motorists can be fined an eye-watering £2,500 for each faulty tyre and receive three points on their driving licence. If the police see another tyre falling short, it doubles to £5,000 and six points. Four faulty tyres could even see the maximum 12 points – resulting in the loss of a driving licence. 

Commercial vehicle drivers, where the car or van is owned by their employer – could land firms with penalties of up to £20,000.

Numberplate – Excess mud and grit on the roads this time of year can make your car dirty very quickly, and if the numberplate isn’t clearly visible, drivers could face a fine of £1,000.

Floods – Some car insurance policies include clauses advising policyholders not to drive through flooded roads, and may specifically exclude cover for any water damage to the car if the motorist goes against this advice.

Avoid puddles – Soaking pedestrians by deliberately driving through large puddles can results in a £100 fine and three penalty points.

Greg Wilson, Founder of car insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk said: “As winter approaches, it’s not just the fines that motorists should worry about, points on a driving licence are noted by insurers as a sign of how safe a driver is and what the risk of a claim might be when calculating premiums.

“Three points on a licence can add 5% to premiums every year until the points are spent after four years. Six points pushes premiums up by as much as 25%, and let’s not forget No Claims Bonuses and what they might be worth if they’ve been built up over time and now have to be accrued again from scratch.

“Careful, considerate and patient drivers who plan for the winter weather and adjust their behaviour to meet the conditions give themselves the best chance of avoiding points and keeping their premiums low.” 

Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products including car insurance, convicted drivers and breakdown cover. 

Quotezone.co.uk is recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk

Young drivers thrown a silver lining at last as premiums fall

Car insurance premiums for young drivers aged 17 to 29  are falling, according to new figures from Quotezone.co.uk. 

The car insurance comparison website recorded the largest decrease for the 17-21 age group with a drop of 14% in average premiums from 2020 to 2021 – from an average of £1,173 to £1,008 this year. 

Quotezone.co.uk found that drivers aged 22-25 were now paying an average of 6% less for their cover – falling from £833 in 2020 to £783 this year.

The firm says its research, based on a sample of over 50,000 car insurance policies, shows that 17 to 21 year olds still pay an average of 38% more than other young drivers, and that new drivers across the 17 to 29 age group pay on average 53% more than experienced motorists.

Quotezone.co.uk’s research reveals that newly qualified motorists can expect to see their car insurance premiums drop by an average of 29% after they’ve been driving for two years with no insurance claims.

The insurance specialists say that there was a 12.6% fall in new younger drivers in 2020, and for motorists aged from 17-21 the drop was 42%. 

Quotezone.co.uk’s Founder Greg Wilson comments: “Young drivers, particularly those aged 17 to 21, have had a tough year with driving lessons and testing on hold, and now delayed. 

“We expect the volume of young drivers to surge, once the queue for testing settles down, as people have had more time at home practicing their driving skills with friends and family.

“In terms of car insurance costs, it’s welcome news that premiums for this age range have fallen – it can often be expensive given their inexperience.  Average premiums start to fall by nearly a third as drivers gain more time behind the wheel – especially if they have two years driving safely with no claims made. 

“There are things brand new drivers can do to help them find the most competitive quotes though, such as choosing a car with a smaller engine, avoiding modifications, parking in a garage or on a private driveway, and opting for a telematics product which allows them to showcase their safe driving right from the get-go. 

“Drivers can compare all these options on our comparison site, so they can see which providers are offering the best extras and the lowest cost.”

Quotezone.co.uk offers specialist cover for learner drivers, temporary learner insurance and for young driver insurance.

It helps around 3 million users every year find better deals on their insurance, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products and is recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk. 

Faulty tyres could land drivers £10k fine … and 12 points

October is Tyre Safety Month, the annual reminder to make sure vehicles’ wheels are roadworthy. 

Motorists using illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres can lead to serious outcomes and in 2019 contributed to 5 fatal collisions and 136 serious collisions according to figures from the Department for Transport.

Motoring charity TyreSafe, the driving force behind the initiative, highlighted the extent of the issue in 2016, commissioning research that revealed over 27% of the 340,000 tyres analysed were illegal due to inadequate tread.

Many police forces across the country support Tyre Safety Month and will be eagle-eyed when it comes to tyre inspections on routine checks.    

Car insurance comparison experts Quotezone.co.uk are warning motorists could face another issue – both large fines and hikes to their insurance premiums if they drive with defective tyres. 

Motorists can be fined up to £2,500 for each faulty tyre and receive three points on their driving licence. If the police see another tyre falling short of the law, it doubles to £5,000 and 6 points. Four faulty tyres could even see the maximum 12 points – resulting in the loss of a driving licence.

Commercial vehicle drivers, where the car or van is owned by their employer – could land firms with penalties of up to £20,000.

The legal minimum tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm. These grooves help to remove water from the contact patch between your tyres and the road surface meaning the car can brake, steer and accelerate properly.

Greg Wilson, Founder of car  insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “While the complexity of insurance premium calculations makes it impossible to put a pounds-and-pence figure on it, on average three penalty points could result in a 5% jump in a driver’s car insurance premium, while six penalty points could see the cost of their insurance rise by a painful 25%.

“Also bear in mind that most driving convictions must be declared to insurance providers for five years – even if the penalty points are removed from your licence after four, so motorists with points on their licence could be hit year after year until they’re spent.

“With many cars being parked at home over the past year due to various lockdowns and people working from home, it’s possible tyres might be in better condition than normal, with fewer miles potentially resulting in less wear and tear. However, it is still crucial that drivers do proper checks before travelling – long periods without driving can cause its own problems such as issues with the battery.”

Quotezone.co.uk has created a Winter Driving Checklist, to help motorists prepare for travelling in the darker and colder weather:

  • Check that windscreen washers are working and topped up with water – the bottle may need emptied out if the car hasn’t been used, to unclog blockages from debris
  • Check the battery by going for a short trip close to home first
  • Check tyre pressure and that each tyre has more than 1.6mm of tread i.e. can hold a 20p in place
  • Check tyres for lumps, bumps or cuts and remove any stones and debris
  • Check oil levels
  • Check you have a breakdown kit – jump leads, safety triangle, torch with extra batteries, empty fuel can
  • Check you have a winter emergency kit – blanket, bottle of water, phone charger, first aid kit, de-icer
  • Check if your car insurance policy includes breakdown assistance and home start, and consider signing up for standalone breakdown cover if it isn’t included
  • If the car is electric, make sure you have a full charge before setting off – winter roads can lead to unexpected deters and delays. Ideally, keep a portable battery booster in the boot in case you need an emergency recharge somewhere unexpected.

Quotezone.co.uk is a pioneer of comparison technology and one of the leading car insurance comparison sites in the UK, with over 110 car insurance providers to choose from, helping 3 million people find better deals on their insurance each year.

Vehicles sales plummet during pandemic … but green vehicles buck the trend

The move towards greener motoring shows no sign of slowing down according to new Department for Transport research.

The latest government figures show new registrations of three main green fuel types – Hybrid Electric, Plug-in Hybrid Electric and Battery Electric – more than tripled in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019.

By comparison, there were falls of 27% and 60% for petrol and diesel vehicles respectively over the same period.

Petrol vehicles are still the most popular type of vehicle registrations – 269,000 vehicles – and they account for 56% of all new Q2 registrations in Great Britain.

Diesel car registrations have been especially badly hit in recent years. From a 2016 peak of 311,000, registrations fell by 80% to just 62,000 new diesel registrations in Q2 2021. 

Ultra-low emission vehicles ULEVs increased by over 300% during Q2 2021 compared to the same period two years before . They make up just under 12% of all new registrations in Great Britain – 76,000 vehicles. Hybrid electric followed with an increase of more than 200% in Q2 2021 compared to Q2 2019.

During the height of lockdown in April 2020, vehicle registrations fell by 94% compared to April 2019, before rallying with a 1,486% rise in April this year.

A total of 637,000 vehicles were registered for the first time in Great Britain during the second quarter of 2021, 12% lower than during 2019 Q2. At the end of June 2021, there were 39.2 million vehicles on the road in Great Britain.

The Prime Minister announced in November that wholly powered petrol and diesel cars will no longer be sold in the UK from 2030 as part of the ‘green industrial revolution’ to tackle climate change. He says the government plans to “invest more than £2.8 billion in electric vehicles, lacing the land with charging points”.

Efforts have been made to expediate this plan by encouraging all Londoners to get rid of diesel cars as soon as possible now the world’s first 24 hour Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London has been implemented.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, which offers a comparison service for electric car insurance, comments: “Despite lockdown, the move to greener motoring continues to gather pace as drivers race towards the 2030 carbon neutral deadline with electric and other hybrid vehicle sales beginning to soar.

“The rising investment in public and home charging points and the recent panic at the petrol pumps suggest this surge in demand is here to stay.

“As a growing number of insurance providers enter the electric car insurance market, we expect the average cost of insuring electric cars to fall steadily.  The use of a comparison website such as ours can help drivers compare quotes and find the most competitive premiums.”

Quotezone.co.uk offers bespoke items such as electric car insurance and van insurance.

It helps around 3 million users every year find better deals on their insurance, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products and is recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk. 

 

Post-lockdown Scotland will need to lock-up or lose out

Over 4/5 of Scotland at risk of burglary this summer

As the UK flocks to full capacity pubs and newly opened clubs, home security must rise to the top of homeowners agendas.

New data from Quotezone.co.uk, insurance comparison website, shows that over 80% of people in Scotland do not have a burglar alarm system in their homes.

More worrying still is that the findings, which are based on a sample size of more than 350,000 home insurance policies collated over three years, shows that 79% of neighbourhoods in Scotland do not currently have a neighbourhood watch in operation.

It’s clear that home security has fallen down the priority list for many and now couldn’t be a better time to rectify this. Burglaries reduced by 28% as a result of lockdown as more people stayed at home, suggesting that without the right measures in place a rebound post-lockdown is very likely.

What’s more, this coincides with studies which show that during the months of June-August home burglaries are the highest with a spike of 10% compared with the rest of the year.

Therefore, a surge of people spending more time outside of their homes as well as abroad on holiday, alongside a seasonal spike in crime means that now is most definitely the time to be thinking about simple steps to keep you home protected this Summer.

Some top tips from Quotezone.co.uk below:

  • Do invest in light timers to switch on your lights as it approaches dusk for an hour or two to give the appearance that someone is home. The light sensors that switch on when someone approaches the property illuminates intruders and act as a deterrent.
  • Do not broadcast your plans on social media and if you do want to post holiday snaps, make sure your settings are set to private to avoid alerting strangers to your location.
  • Do make any security or alarm systems you do have noticeable to potential burglars with key positioning at the front or back of the house. If you do not have a system then you can pick up CCTV signs from your local police station.
  • Do check your insurance policy before you travel, look out for limits on leaving your property unoccupied and how long you can be away and still make a claim.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk comments: “It does seem as if we could be heading towards a perfect storm in which more people spend time outside for the first time in 18 months, alongside a seasonal spike in crime, leading to a wave of burglaries throughout July and August.

“It is surprising that so few people across the UK have alarm systems or are involved in neighbourhood watch groups. Now is a good time to rethink the way they households are protecting their homes.

“Even if an alarm system is not something people can invest in right now, there are many other tips and tricks to secure your home and leave you feeling safer this Summer.”