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. read more »

Different Sources Cite Difference Changes

The RAC, in a new press release, has announced that the cost of motoring for British drivers has fallen by 5% in 2009, with an average reduction of £123. However, according to Sainsbury’s Finance, this is not so.

According to Sainsbury’s Car Insurance, the average annual cost of running a car has increased by 2.68% when compared to the year before, with the figures rising to 11% when compared to 2007.

The leading insurance provider says that the most noticeable cost increase has arisen due to car insurance. This is an area that the RAC and Sainsbury’s can at least agree on, with the RAC seeing an average rise of £385 in 2008 to £409 in 2009. This compares to figures from Sainsbury’s which estimates the average annual cost of car insurance per motorist has risen from £488.48 in 2008 to £551.74 in 2009. The Sainsbury’s figures amount to an increase of 13% compared to 2008 and when compared to 2007, it demonstrates an increase of 23%.

Whatever the situation, the RAC cites various changes in the habits of those running cars in their day to day lives, such as the return to the one car family and downsizing the size of the vehicle (with the RAC citing more women doing this than men).

 2009 did see a decrease in fuel costs despite rises and falls all year round and the RAC cites figures that claim a fall of 10% in the last 12 months, a fall to £1,184 for the motorist per year, whilst diesel has fallen by 14%.

Sainsbury’s Finance comments on their figures, with Ben Tyte saying “While certain costs of running a car have fallen during the past year, compared to 2007, the cost of motoring has still increased fairly significantly with road taxes and insurance premiums both on the rise. The cost of driving a car can be kept better in check by shopping around, particularly for car insurance and servicing.”

The RAC, whilst clearly disagreeing over the news that the costs have risen, points to motorists still feeling financial pressure and acting accordingly, with Adrian Tink pointing out: “We’re seeing motorists really question how they use their cars. The trend towards the one car family shows how people are prepared to make fundemental lifestyle changes for the benefit of themselves, their families and their pockets.”

Sources: RAC Press Release and Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release Nov 2009

According to new Figures from Sainsbury’s Finance

It is one of the factors cited by modern drivers as a nuisance of the modern world – car insurance is too high, with unaffordable premiums making cars uninsurable.

However, despite the risks of even higher premiums for car insurance, two thirds of Britons are still admitting to driving in a ‘potentially dangerous’ way, according to figures released by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance.

Their figures demonstrate two thirds of drivers in the UK admit to taking part in a dangerous activity whilst driving during one month earlier in 2009. The figure of 69% of those asked demonstrates a 4% increase on the same period from 2008.

There are a range of illegal habits that drivers should avoid taking part in unless they want to face prosecution, an injury or their car becoming uninsurable in the future. Some of these are well known, such as talking on a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel and drinking and driving. However, there are certain activities that some people might not have considered.

Those who do not want to see an increase in their motor insurance premiums might wish to stop eating and drinking whilst driving, driving whilst tired, speeding excessively or wearing flip flops to operate foot pedals. Eating and drinking behind the wheel accounted to 43% of motorists during June 2009, a 2% increase from the year before, with driving whilst tired close behind at 32%, a rise of 4% from 2008.

Not all of the figures show a rise and as shocking as it might sound to hear that some Britons might feel the need drive bare-footed or with flip flops, these figures actually went down from 18% to 14% in the last year.

Worryingly though, drink driving has shown no change from the year before, remaining at 9% as it did in 2008. This is despite the warning that those who are convicted of a drink driving offence may find it hard to find an insurance provider willing to provide them with motor insurance in the future.

“Unfortunately many motorists get distracted too easily whilst driving and don’t consider the possible consequences of their actions”, said Lucy Hunter of Sainsbury’s Car Insurance, “We would urge motorists to concentrate at the wheel and not be tempted to engage in anything that could distract them.”