When A Regular VW Beetle Just Isn’t Enough- Ta Custom VW Beetles

The VW Beetle is one of the most recognisable cars in the world and has been for the 70 plus years it has been around. But for some, this image isn’t enough and an extra added something is required to provide the owner with an image they can truly appreciate.

The VW Beetle, or the Volkswagen Type 1 to give it its technical name, was first produced in 1938 and this longevity has not only allowed its image to be engraved in popular culture, it has also given it plenty of time for people to modify them to suit their own needs. So whilst many are content with the classic arched design, there have been many variations over the years, with modifications proving highly popular.

Here are just some examples of when VW Beetle modifications truly stand out.

First of all, let’s make one thing clear; the Beetle is definitely a car. It definitely has four wheels and is not designed to carry out the tasks of a motorcycle. But that hasn’t stopped one person from modifying their beetle to resemble a tricycle. Typing ‘trike vw beetle’ into google returns hits on many such modifications, showing that not only is this something that occurs all over the world, it is also something that is strangely popular.

Another example is of an image that is so far removed from the original design of a VW Beetle and from anything recognisable in the real world that one has a hard time trying to decide what it is. Google ‘modified vw beetle’ and you are sure to find what we are talking about.

However, in many cases, sticking to the original VW design works a treat, as the final examples prove. One has used the natural arch of the vehicle to depict a basketball, whilst the other has decorated the car with Stegosaurus spines. The effect is priceless and whilst the final example of two cars laid on top of each to resemble ying and yang might prove hard to drive, it shows that there are many ways of getting a lot out of a VW Beetle.

The ABI Publishes Figures its 2008 Figures

If Life Insurance is one of those areas that you do not wish to think about then perhaps figures released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) will convince you of the necessity to acquire cover in case the worst happens.

According to the ABI, 2008 saw more than 100 families a day helped by claiming on both life and critical illness insurances. With the average claim at around £52,000 this accounts for a lot.

It shows that in the most difficult of situations life insurance, along with critical illness insurance, can help out so that financial burdens are not added to the long list of problems.

The ABI reports that a high number of critical illness claims were made during 2008, with 90% of them paid during the period – a figure that rose from the figure of 80% in 2005.

They cite their own Code of Practice as the reason for the rise in successful claims, pointing out that less people had claims rejected on the grounds of medical information not being disclosed.

There was success with the number of life insurance claims paid out as well, with less people being rejected in that area as 97% of life insurance claims were successful.

The ABI hopes that with time more life and critical illness claims will be successful as they take steps to improve the industry further.

“The insurance industry pays out £5.9m every day in life and critical illness insurance claims, making a real difference to people’s lives at the most difficult of times,” said Nick Starling – the director of General Insurance and Health for the ABI.

He continues, “Insurance companies want to pay all valid claims, which is why the ABI is not complacent and continues to look at ways to reduce the number of claims declined even further. 

“The new ABI code is making a dramatic improvement to the number of critical illness claims we pay.  We have been working with the Law Commission so that the principles of our Code are embedded into law.”

Source: ABI Press Release Dec 2009

Some Good Reasons to Have Pet Insurance Cover

We’ve all heard good reasons over the years as to why people should have pet insurance, not least because of the lack of an animal NHS to pay for treatment. It is an area that receives a lot of attention and those that do have insurance are able to sleep a little easier knowing that their beloved animal can get the treatment he or she might need.

However, there is no better way to demonstrate the necessity of pet insurance than with two case studies, which are provided by Petplan and show how even the most unlikely of situations can lead to a claim on your pet insurance.

The first story involves a claim made to Petplan, which shows that, even when the house is considered cat-proof, our feline friends still find ways of getting into trouble.

The owner of Crunch the Cat, Patrick Briggs, tells the insurance provider what happened, explaining that when leaving the house one of the children had left the toilet seat up. In this sort of situation anything could happen and in this case, Crunch decided she wanted to investigate and subsequently fell in.

The incident suddenly took a turn for the worse when Patrick found her and attempted to dry her off using the hair dryer. But instead of shaking the wet she stayed cold and it seemed that it was time to take her to the vet, where a stomach pump to remove the water and an oxygen tent were both required to nurture her back to health, along with a drip and antibiotics. Had the family not acquired pet insurance, then they would have had to fork out the £600 veterinary bill themselves.

Another case study from Petplan shows how pet insurance can help even with expensive claims (with the right level of cover). The story involves Jean Kelly and her cat Cadbury, who suddenly lost his voice at the old age of 13. Kelly took no chances and took him straight to the vet, where £10,000 later he was equipped with his voice once again. The treatment involved a stay in intensive care, an oxygen tent, nursing and regular check-ups, with the insurance covering most of the overall cost.

So if pet insurance was something of an uncertainty, perhaps these studies could prove just how valuable it really is.

Source: Petplan Case Studies

With Pockets still Tight over the Holidays, Owners still Treating their Pets to a Gift

Many of us might have been concerned over the outcome of this Christmas, with the credit crunch forcing everyone to spend a little wiser in an attempt to stay afloat.

However, research has revealed that households will be battling strong through the credit crunch this year, with over half of all pet owners saying they will buy their pet a present for the big day.

According to Saga Pet Insurance, 53% of pet owners will be including their companions in their Christmas day celebrations, purchasing gifts for their dogs and cats. However, there is a small gender divide with the generosity, with 56% of women admitting to buying their pet a present compared to 48% of men.

The research was carried out by Opinium Research on behalf of Saga Pet Insurance, consulting 2,050 adults in the UK during February 2009, with 836 cat and dog owners also asked about their spending habits this Christmas. In addition to the 53% of people admitting to buying their pet a gift, the research also found 28% of people who would be getting them a Christmas stocking.

The study also found that 18% of pet owners will be serving Christmas dinner to their pets on the big day, which will be of concern to vets around the country who point to seasonal overfeeding as the cause of many illnesses in the New Year. A Press Release from Petplan reveals how the diets of cats and dogs change over the festive period, with many animals suffering from overindulgence.

However, it may come as little surprise that pets will be a part of Christmas celebrations, with various sources citing pets as a part of the family for many households. A press release from Tesco Insurance earlier in the year revealed that many dog and cat owners prefer the company of their furry companion to their human loved ones, opting to take them on holiday to accompany them on their travels.

The Saga study also found that 24% of people over 50 will sign a card from their pet over Christmas, whilst 6% of people will dress their pet up in a season outfit.

Source: Saga Press Release Dec 2009

Vets Concerned About Overfed Pets in the Festive Season

It’s something we’re all guilty of during the Christmas period – overindulging on food and reaping the consequences over the New Year, with Christmas Dinner and all the leftovers to contend with over the holiday season.

However, research from the Pet Insurance provider Petplan is suggesting that it is not just us humans that are having to loosen our belts during the yuletide festivities.

Carrying out a survey of vets across the country, Petplan has found that veterinary practitioners are increasingly concerned about overfeeding during the celebrations. Vets reveal that after Christmas, many animals visiting their clinics have become ill due to excess food consumption, with 1 in 4 vets saying that this was due to their owners over-feeding them.

However, it is not just vets that are talking about the worrying trend, with pet owners themselves admitting to the problem. Over half of those asked said that they were guilty of feeding their pets Christmas dinner, with 15% saying that their diet definitely goes through a change during the period.

The news comes not long after a recent report advising pet owners to keep their pets away from seasonal decorations, showing that Christmas can be a potentially hazardous occasion for pets up and down the country.

The report, sourced from Animal Friends, stated that many animals become ill because they have eaten items such as tinsel or gift wrappings, which are in abundance around the house. In some cases, animals will also eat through wrappings and find their way to potential treats inside.

So pets are going to have to watch what they eat this Christmas, from decorations to Christmas dinner, with the consequence being a trip to the vet and a potential claim on pet insurance.

Petplan discovered the age range of people who are most likely to over-feed their pets this Christmas, with 20% of 18 to 24 year olds revealed as the prime culprits, whilst some pets simply help themselves to leftovers if they come across them.

So Petplan has made a list of all of the items that pets must avoid this season, with chocolate, leftovers, grapes, alcohol and even antifreeze and road salt making the list.

It could hopefully lead to a brighter Christmas all round.

Source: Pet Plan Press Release Dec 2009

With Icy Weather Gripping the Country, Insurance Claims are on the Rise

It will come as news to no-one that the icy conditions across the country will have led to a rise in accidents, subsequently leading to a rise in the amount of claims on car insurance. However, what exactly is going on in the UK? What kind of problems are motorists currently facing?

The answers could be found in a press release from the AA, who reveal statistics from their recent insurance claims during the heavy snow fall.

The Insurance company is citing a range of accidents that people are facing, with insurance claims painting a picture of chaos on British roads. They refer to Friday 18^th December 2009, a day in which 100 claims came in for crashes on the snow and ice before lunchtime.

When we drive in treacherous conditions, potentially anything can be an obstacle so drivers are naturally urged to take extra care whilst using the roads – and in some cases, extra care whilst parking.

Even those opting not to use their cars should ensure they are safe by parking it sensibly. The AA cites two cases, one in which a range of vehicle collided with another vehicle that was parked on the side of the road; and another in which a car was struck whilst sat in the driveway.

The true figures paint a chaotic image of the roads, with the AA reporting that in one morning, they received claims for 31 cars in collisions out on the road, 6 that did not stop at a junction, 14 parked cars that were involved in collisions, 7 vehicles hitting the curb and many more. A large amount of cars also collided with stationary objects such as lampposts and other fixed objects, whilst many vehicles ended up in ditches.

Customers are also urged to ensure ice is removed from the car before setting off, with that ice flying off of the vehicle during the journey, creating a danger for other motorists and pedestrians. The insurance company cites an incident with a seven car pile-up that was caused by ice flying off vehicles.

Source: AA Press Release Dec 2009

The AA calls it the “busiest night for breakdowns in 25 years”

Anyone who has any doubt about the chaos caused by the snowfall over the last few days need not look any further than statistics revealed by the AA in the days just before Christmas 2009.

Whilst some parts of the country have been hit worse than others, the AA is reporting that by 8am on the morning of 22^nd December 2009, the breakdown company had visited around 6,500 broken down vehicles during the night. This makes the evening of 21^st December 2009 going into the 22^nd the busiest night for breakdowns that this country has seen for 25 years.

But before the night had even drawn in, the AA had already handled its busiest day in 10 years as it visited a reported 20,000 breakdowns before 8.30pm, with more than 1,200 an hour coming in according to their latest press release.

“There has been an unprecedented demand on our services nationwide due to the weather,” said Steve Dewey, the Road Operations Director for the AA, “not just in any one particular region – falling just before Christmas, it’s created a ‘perfect storm’ level of workload of the sort that only occurs say once every ten years.

“The difficulty is that with many roads grinding to a halt or impassable, it is taking us longer to get to members. We are also prioritising service for people in vulnerable positions on the road, over those at home.”

The company urges those with non-emergency situations to be patient, with Dewey going on to mention drivers with their cars stuck on the driveway – people should only contact the AA if they absolutely need to.

The situation comes only weeks after the AA reported a shortage in the amount of grit salt available to tackle freezing roads across the country. Back then they called the situation a ‘postcode lottery’ in regards to area that would receive adequate attention with AA President Edmund King pointing out that “Investing in ice and snow clearance, to save elsewhere down the line, makes total sense.”

People should clearly take care if venturing out onto British roads in these conditions with many roads and motorways severely affected.

Source: AA Press Release Dec 2009

The AA Warns Against Drink Driving

With the country gripped with an abundance of snow covering the whole country and still reeling from the effects of the recent flooding back in November, there is another menace to the roads that will receive a lot of attention this Christmas.

The drink driver. As the years go by the scorn held towards those who decide to get behind the wheel whilst intoxicated continues as more people are injured or killed at their hands. With the country enthralled in Christmas celebrations, those that drink and drive could soon be landing themselves in court.

The festive season is a time when the police step up their target on drink drivers, with a number of methods of catching them at their disposal and the AA is warning that unless you want to end up being prosecuted then you do not want to be drunk when you come across these situations.

Last year the AA reports that 5% of the 183,397 breath tests carried out were returned positive and this is likely to remain the case this year as drink drivers are caught by roadblocks on the night or the next morning, friends that inform the police or accidents that lead to a breath test.

The police know when the most drink drivers hit the roads as well as the likely areas in which they might drive. Therefore, roadblocks could be a common sight around areas where there are many pubs or routes to establishments. However, some people do not factor in the amount of time it takes for alcohol to leave the system, so being caught at a roadblock the following morning could also leave someone in hot water.

According to the AA, more people are willing to inform the police if someone they know is drink driving. 80% have said they would tell the police if someone they didn’t know was behind the wheel whilst drunk in addition to the 67% who said they would inform police of a friend’s behaviour.

One thing that people will want to avoid all of the time is an accident, but even if the accident is not your fault the police are likely to breathalyse you, so if you are drunk who are going to be in hot water even if you did not cause the accident.

Whilst the UK is bracing itself for an array of offending drivers, the rest of Europe could be faring worse. According to reports released last month, the UK is second only to Ireland when it comes to driving safely – and this includes driving whilst drunk.

But remember, it is not just drink driving that could be a problem and if you are caught with illegal drugs in your system whilst behind the wheel – this could lead to a whole world of trouble.

Source: AA Press Release Dec 2009

Around Half a Million Have Driven Without Insurance in the Last Year

Motor insurance continues to be something that is appearing in the news for negative reasons as motorists continue to break the law across the UK by driving without cover.

However, Sainsbury’s Finance reveals the results of a study carried out by GfK NOP in July 2009, which highlights the true extent of the problem on British roads.

The study shows that over the last 12 months, more than half a million people might have driven on the UK’s highways without motor insurance, with the true figure estimated to be around 516,000 people. It is a shocking statistic made all the more severe when looked at alongside figures showing over 20,000 people are injured by uninsured drivers every year, with an additional 160 people dying.

In another twist, Sainsbury’s finds the current results disturbing as they imply people are purposely avoiding car insurance rather than simply forgetting it.

Whilst the most critical victims of uninsured drivers are other road users caught up in accidents, there are also plenty of people who are being treated unfairly without ever coming into contact with them, with the Motor Insurers Bureau revealing the cost to honest motorists. According to them, insured drivers are paying £500 million each year towards car insurance premiums that are so priced because of the accidents of uninsured motorists.

To make matters worse, an additional 409,000 people are thought to have driven on foreign roads without adequate insurance in recent times.

Many people are citing financial difficulty for cutting back on car insurance, with a recent press release revealing many motorists cutting back in light of the recession, with others cutting back on other forms of insurance such as home insurance to save money.

However, it is not a practice that is recommended, with Ben Tyte of Sainsbury’s Car Insurance commenting, “With household budgets restricted as a result of the recession it’s inevitable, as our research found earlier this year, that some people will look for cheaper insurance policies or even reduce the cover they have. However, it is simply not an option to drive with no cover altogether.”

He continues: “Those that do so are breaking the law and are a real menace on our roads”, adding that they contribute to an extra £30 a year on car insurance premiums according to the Motor Insurers Bureau.

“Having an accident with an uninsured driver can leave you with a financial headache, because although you should be covered for the cost of any repairs through a comprehensive policy you may lose your no claim discount.”

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release Dec 2009

Fuel Costs Rise Steadily Through 2009 as Families Take to the Roads at Christmas

It will be news to no-one that Christmas is upon us and whilst present shopping and sending cards will be high on the agenda, another activity that is a seasonal tradition is taking to the road and visiting the family.

But those who are heading out to see friends and family this Christmas will be hit harder than they were a year ago as steady rises in the costs of petrol during 2009 means bigger spending than Christmas 2008.

This is something that will not change in the New Year either. According to the RAC, fuel prices are at their highest since July 2008 and 2010 will see VAT returning to its normal rate of 17.5%, so motorists are likely to be out of pocket even as the new decade opens.

The RAC reports on the rise in fuel costs in a recent press release, in which they detail the cost of filling an average tank of 55 litres. The average price of filling the tank has risen by 22% since the same period last year from £49.01 to £59.67, with the break down service citing the Petrol Prices website for exact figures.

Diesel owners will not avoid the rises either, with the average cost of filling up a diesel tank rising from £55.66 to £60.45 (9%) since December 2008. Therefore it might be wise to take measures to save on fuel costs over the Christmas period by driving sensibly and planning routes in advance.

“RAC predicts that Wednesday 23 December will be the busiest day as people start to make their getaway,” said David Hawes, the regional manager of the RAC, “but, with wintry weather forecast we suggest you allow plenty of time for your journey just in case driving conditions are poor.

“Motorists will also have to pay considerably more for their fuel this year – those with engines running on unleaded petrol will be paying over 20p more per litre this year so it’s worth shopping around to get the best price.”

The motoring specialists go on to detail the major roadworks that motorists will have to tackle over the coming weeks, with motorists advised to plan their journeys around them. Full details can be found online.

Source: RAC/Aviva Press Release Dec 2009