Introduction
It’s probably the worst nightmare of any driver – being involved in some sort of collision. Aside from the potential for serious injury and even death resulting from a crash, there’s many other implications too that are all too frequently involved, including financial, emotional, insurance, and more – not to mention just simply the inconvenience that a minor prang can cause.

You’ll notice I’ve written ‘collision’, as opposed to accident. The reason for this is very simple in that most of the time there isn’t an accident, as someone has been at fault. That’s not to suggest however that a crash has been or was deliberate, but it’s worth bearing in mind that some callous individuals will do exactly that in order to try to make a claim – I will cover this later.

However, there can be no doubt that the vast majority of people who are involved in collisions are law abiding individuals who at times do end up injured, which is where a personal injury claim come into pay. You may have seen the advertisements on television – essentially what these claims mean is a way in which to get some financial recompense for the injuries that have been suffered.

Collisions
The following is taken from the website of Surrey Police with regard to what you are legally obligated to do if you are in a crash:

When damage has been caused – to another vehicle, property, person or animal – you must stop and give your name, address and registration number to the other person(s) involved. In the case of injury, you will have to show your insurance certificate.

However, if you are unable to produce any of the above documents, or there is no one else around to whom you can give the relevant information, then you must report the accident to a police station or officer as soon as possible, within 24 hours of the incident.

If there is another driver involved in the accident and they fail to stop, write down their registration number and report it to the police. If the accident is serious, do not attempt to move any of the vehicles. The positions might well be important to any ensuing investigations.

Compensation
There are actually quite a wide variety of bodies that can and do assess and reward compensation. They include:
• Consulting with a qualified claims assessor
• Taking full legal action against another party
• Using CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority)
• Specialist schemes ran by the government

So how much can you actually get from compensation? Well, that’s a tricky one to answer, as there are so many different factors that can come into play. What is true is that there are ‘general’ damages which covers things like compensation for pain and bodily injury. ‘Special’ damages however can cover loss of earnings, meaning you shouldn’t be put out of pocket, provided your claim succeeds.

Making a claim
To start a claim, you need to ensure that you have all relevant details – and that another person was responsible for the accident. Provided you are able to do so, take photographs of the area including several from different angles of the collision itself.

Take down witness details and give the fullest account you can to the police, should they attend (this is probably a good step if you are going to make a claim). Any costs incurred arising from the accident should be fully documented and receipts should be kept.

Provided you are ready to do so, you should now start to look at the variety of solicitors and other companies that deal with personal injuries compensation claims. All of them will have different means of working, with some requiring a fee ‘up front’, whilst others will work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis.

No win, no fee
If you’re familiar with the term but aren’t sure how it works, allow me to explain it. Simply put, if the case is a loss, then you shouldn’t be liable for the costs incurred in the administration of the action (however, look carefully at the small print, there may be a nominal fee to pay). However, if the personal injury compensation claim succeeds, the company dealing with it will take a percentage of the cash that is awarded.

Another way in which ‘no win, no fee’ companies make a return is by seeking to recover their costs from the insurance company of the other party (as well as the accident compensation award). This is one of the reasons why insurance costs can be so high!

Untraced Drivers
As discussed above, every driver has certain legal requirements that they must meet in order to ensure they do not break the law when involved in a collision. However, some unscrupulous individuals continue to flaunt their legal and moral obligations, by failing to provide their details. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau runs The Untraced Drivers’ Agreement 2003, which provides a way in which to make a claim.

Accident cover included in insurance
Read the small print of your vehicle insurance very carefully – some insurers will provide an exact breakdown of what kind of accidents are covered and how much they pay for specific types of injury. This is especially prevalent in policies for motorcyclists for example, who are, generally, more vulnerable road users.

Payment for hospital treatment
You may find that, should you receive personal injury compensation, that the NHS trust responsible for your care attempts to recover the cost of your treatment via the Injury Costs Recovery Scheme. It is worth making sure that you’re aware of this factor and if you’re not sure or unclear as to your rights and responsibilities, make sure to consult a suitably qualified solicitor or other legal representative.

A note on false claims
Unfortunately (and perhaps as a sign of the times), there are some who commit fraud and deliberately set up ‘accidents’ in order to make false claims for financial gain. Not only is this completely against the law, but it can put the lives of others in danger. Essentially, the best advice for dealing with these criminals is to stay vigilant and if a collision does occur and another party is responsible, take down as many details as you can – this may be the only way in which you can protect yourself from this kind of immoral and illegal activity.

Conclusion
With the best intentions in the world, sometimes we do get hurt out on the road. However, it is good to know about how to at least begin a claim, and whilst I do hope that you never have to, perhaps this has provided you with at least an idea where to start. Stay safe on the road.

Useful links
Motor Insurers’ Bureau
Brake
Citizens’ Advice Bureau
The AA
The RAC
Highways Agency
Institute of Advanced Motorists

In one case highlighted by the Mail Online, a young driver was given an estimated quotation of £17,000 in order to get insurance cover on his Vauxhall Corsa – hardly a Ferrari now is it!

I do recall when I was first learning drive, the hassle of being added as a named driver, not having my own car, the costly insurance… The costs of course all went up as soon as I passed my own test, bought my own wheels and had to take care of everything myself! So, why does this happen? Why is it that young drivers face massive costs? It’s all down to the fact that younger, inexperienced drivers are statistically less safe, or more likely in real terms to be involved in a road traffic collision.

What I’d suggest is that you buy a car from the lowest insurance group possible and start building up your own no claims. The car you do buy should be reasonably old, so it doesn’t have a high residual value. On top of that, consider getting third party cover only (make sure you could afford to buy a car again if you do this) and take a higher excess. All of this will help to bring down your premium cost. Oh, and try not to get any speeding tickets!

The cost of car insurance has soared this year, according to research published this week by Confused.com in conjunction with consultant EMB. The price of the typical policy has increased by 14 per cent in the three months from April to June, the study found, taking the average annual bill to £599 from its previous level of £525.

This news will be especially upsetting for younger drivers, many of whom are already struggling to afford their premiums. Motorists in the 18-25 age group generally face the highest insurance costs because statistics show they are more likely to be involved in accidents and to make claims. So if you’re in this age group, what can you do – aside from getting older – to bring the cost of the cover down?

Prove you’re a good driver

To cut the cost of insurance, you need to understand what factors drive up premium prices. As we said above, age is a key determinant when insurers set policy rates, because new drivers – especially young men – are more prone to accidents. So what you need to do is show you’re not like these other risky drivers. Here’s how:

Get experience

Insurers will cut the cost of cover to customers who have a record of not making claims, and who have built up a few years’ no-claims bonus. This shows they are experienced, less risky drivers – exactly the kind of people insurers want to do business with. (See our article: No claims bonus explained.)

One way for young or new drivers to build up this experience – and get their no-claims bonus more quickly – is by signing up to a policy with a bonus accelerator. These policies typically run for slightly less than a year – usually 10 months – but give the policyholder a full year’s no-claims bonus at the end. So you would be able to build up three years’ no-claim bonus in just two-and-a-half years. This kind of policy is also suitable for anyone who has recently had to make a claim, and needs to start building up their no-claims bonus from scratch again.

What to watch for

Bonus accelerators are a good idea in principle but there are a few things to check before you sign up. First of all, make sure that the price of 10 months’ cover is good value compared with a year-long policy. There’s no point paying the same total premium for a shorter period of cover, even if you are getting a bonus accelerator.

Secondly, bear in mind that some insurers may not recognise a 10-month no-claims bonus as a full year. So if you want to switch provider when your policy comes up for renewal, you may not be able to choose from all its rivals if you want to take your no-claims bonus with you.

Other tactics

Take extra training. Passing an extra driving qualification shows insurers you are less of a risk, and many will cut your premiums accordingly.

Make sure you choose an accredited programme such as
PassPlus: and weigh up the cost of taking such a course against the likely reduction in insurance prices it will result it. Bear in mind that some local authorities (including every council in Wales) may help you meet the cost of a Pass Plus course.

Pick a lower-risk vehicle. Steering away from the stereotype of the boy racer is a good way of reducing car insurance costs. So opting for an older, more boring vehicle may not bring you extra street cred but it will save you money

Cars are expensive purchases for almost all of us. Anything that has three or more zeroes tends to make you think before you dive in. However, when you’re looking at a gleaming new set of wheels, you can quite easily get emotionally involved in the purchase. This is why it’s so important to know what type of finance or loan will best suit your needs prior to visiting the forecourts.

Personal Loans

Perhaps the simplest option is to go for a personal loan from a bank. APR (Annual Percentage Rate) can vary, but essentially the way this works is the interest you pay on the amount you borrow. These are normally to a maximum value of £25,000 and over a ten year repayment period. One thing to note is that your credit status can dictate the maximum value you can borrow along with the APR itself. A better credit rating means you’re more likely to have to pay less in the long run as there is less risk for the loan provider. This type of loan doesn’t have to be used to purchase a motor vehicle, but it can be used to do so.

Let’s take a quick look at a very simple personal loan. If you wish to buy a car that has a value of £6,000 and put in your old car in part exchange for £1,000 then this leaves you with the balance of £5,000. If you choose to repay over 3 years (36 months) and the APR is 8%, your total repayable will be £5,617.39.

Secured Loan

This type of loan is secured against a property – so you’d need property to secure it against. A longer repayment period and a higher maximum value can be borrowed with this type of loan, but obviously comes with the risk that you property could be repossessed by the bank should you default on the loan!

Car Finance

Generally speaking, when you go to buy a new or used car, the dealer will either have their own credit provider or be linked with an established company (such as Black Horse finance). When a dealer offers you credit, look over all of the paperwork very carefully. You may find it a good deal, or alternatively choose to arrange a loan through your own bank, depending on what sort of APR is being offered.

PCP

PCP (or Personal Contract Purchase) is an alternative way to buy a car. It’s actually a good way to get a higher priced vehicle on your driveway, but at a cost. Simply put, PCP can be better for some people as it includes road tax, sometimes maintenance too and comes with fixed monthly payments that are quite often lower than other forms of finance.

The drawback comes from the fact that once you paid off the initial period, there’s a balloon payment at the end, called an ‘optional final payment’. It’s at this point that you can hand the car back, pay off the money and keep the car, or use it as a deposit on a new vehicle. The choice is entirely yours. Overall, PCP tends to come with lower monthly costs associated but a higher total payable when the optional final payment is taken into consideration.

Fees To Consider

When organising a loan, sometimes you’ll find there are ‘hidden’ costs. A good provider – or car dealer if being arranged on the day of purchase – should discuss with you all of the options and where additional costs are accrued on the loan. Here’s a breakdown of some of those additional costs that you may see when arranging finance:

• Application fee: A fee that is charged when applying for the loan
• Arrangement fee: Normally added to the cost of the loan when your credit has been checked and agreed
• Courier fee: Depending on what is required, some companies will charge a courier fee – this can range from £25-100
• CHAPS fee: Clearing House Automated Payment Service – a way to transfer money from one bank to another, quite often in a single day. This is normally £25
• Early settlement fee: Some companies charge if you settle the loan early, as it means they won’t be getting the full interest. This tends to be based around the amount of interest remaining so depends on the value of the loan
• Optional final payment: Should you choose the option of PCP, the optional final payment is the lump sum you pay at the end in order to keep the car

Other things to consider

When purchasing a car, unless it is brand new, I’d certainly recommend running a vehicle data check. It’s fairly cheap to do so these days and could well help you spot a lemon. We’ve written before with advice on buying a used car. On a finance note, consider if you can putting down a larger deposit. This will reduce your monthly repayments when it comes to your loan, which can be very useful.

Perhaps most importantly when considering finance, choose the right car for you. Remember that you are getting into debt (for what could be a significant amount of money) so it is important that you’re happy for the wheels that you buy for as long as possible!

Lastly, should the worst happen and you fall behind on your payments, do not panic. Talk to the loan provider, they may be able to arrange something to help you. Alternatively, seek financial advice from a specialist, your bank and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Motor insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, but there are still drivers who do not have insurance. The good news is that under the uninsured driver’s agreement, an arrangement between the Government and Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB), the costs incurred by an insured driver involved in an accident with an uninsured driver may be paid for by the scheme.

The MIB is a company funded by its members, and according to UK law all car insurance providers are required to be members. The MIB estimates the fees presently paid amount to between £15 and £30 per policyholder, and are built into premiums.

If you want to make a claim, you need to follow a few simple steps. Start by making a formal complaint to the police about the uninsured driver, and report the accident to your own insurer. If you think you are eligible for compensation from the MIB visit www.mib.org.uk for more information.

It is best to make sure that the other driver really is uninsured before you make a claim. A check with the DVLA can confirm this. In the event of a hit and run case, or where you are unable to identify the other driver, you can claim under a separate MIB scheme known as the untraced driver’s agreement.

Some motorists drive illegally, without insurance, under the mistaken belief that car insurance is expensive and unnecessary. On the contrary, motor insurance need not be costly. At the very least drivers can take out a third party policy, which covers them against the costs of damage to other vehicles or properties in the event of an accident.

Cheap car insurance can be found by getting a quote from an online insurance site such as Directline.

Car Insurance And The Law

It is a legal requirement that you have car insurance if you’re using a vehicle on the road. The minimum level of insurance you can have is third party, which covers any damage or destruction to anyone else’s property (or indeed their person).

Further levels of cover include fire and theft cover. This provides you some insurance coverage for if your vehicle is fire damaged or is stolen from you. However, it will not cover your loss in the event of a collision.

For the most comprehensive form of cover available, you’ll need fully comprehensive insurance. This covers you for most (not all) eventualities and should mean that in the case of an accident you’ll receive cover for the damage done to your vehicle (and yourself potentially if you’re injured).

You’ll note that I mention above that you are not covered for all eventualities. For certain things that aren’t covered (such as loss of earnings potentially) you may seek a legal claim against the person responsible for the road traffic collision (assuming it wasn’t your fault). Legal protection cover affords a means to do this – it covers legal costs to help you recover losses that aren’t covered in your policy.

Lastly, as a side note, if you use your car for work you’ll need to make sure that you get business insurance added to your policy. This will cover you for attending meetings etc and quite a few insurers will add this for free, provided it isn’t adding more miles to your policy or doing something outside the remit of standard insurance.

Car Insurance Groups And Price Premiums

One of the costs of buying and owning a motor vehicle is the cost of car insurance. It’s not just the cost of the car that you’ll be paying for every month, but such things as petrol, servicing and consumables. A large part of the cost also comes from insurance.

Cars fall into different insurance groupings, which range from 1-50 (the maximum rating used to be 20). The objective of the change was to provide a more clear rating for consumers and for companies to provide more accurate quotations.

How Are Car Insurance Groups Calculated?

• Value – The more expensive the car, the more expensive it will be to insure on the road
• Power – Higher performance unfortunately means more risk, which in turn means higher premiums
• Age – If a car is older, the value will be lower, resulting in a lower premium
• Maintenance costs – Motor vehicles that require specialist servicing, costly parts and bespoke work will cost more to insure
• Size – A very large car could be seen as a higher risk due to the potential damage to other vehicles
• Security – The more security your car has, the lower the premium (in particular if you use approved trackers, Thatcham alarms etc)

Of course, it’s also worth noting that the insurance group is not the only impact factor on the cost of a quotation. Your own details are just as significant as the car, including (but not limited to) where you live, how old you are, your driving history, any previous claims, any other policies you have or are on etc et.

How Can I Lower My Insurance Premium?

There are a number of ways in which you can lower your premium so that the price you pay every month (or annually) is the lowest it can be. Here are some of my most recommended tips:

• Shop around – it really does pay. Get a few different quotes and compare not just the basic price but what’s included in the premium. Some will add in things like breakdown cover, which only becomes apparent when they go through every element of the policy. Take off everything you don’t need to lower the cost.
• Use price comparison sites – Granted, they don’t include every insurance broker, but if you’ve followed the tip above you’ll already be on your way to finding a good price.
• Call your insurer from last year – In the face of competition, they’ll frequently be able to price match the offering.
• Show Loyalty – If you get all of your insurance (home, contents, car, motorbike etc) from one place, you can frequently receive quite a hefty discount across the board as you’re giving all your business to one supplier.
• Buy Carefully – If you’re buying a new car, choose the model carefully. Some manufacturers have model ranges that differ significantly from each other depending on the level of trim, performance and engine size.
• Stay Clean – Do not collect any endorsements (penalty points) on your licence. A clean licence is the sign of a less risky driver – less risk means lower premiums.
• No Claims – Do arrange to have protected no claims when you can – you never know when you might just need it and whilst you may pay for it, it will be a godsend should you need to make a claim.
• Tell the Truth – Do not lie to your insurer for any reason at all – you could invalidate your insurance which puts you at risk financially.

I hope that this explanation of insurance has been useful to you all in securing a cheaper quotation and giving an insight into how car insurance works. Look out for a follow up on documentation, what to do in a crash and my own personal experience of insurance companies.

Well, yes. A one litre engine in a three year old Fiat Panda will put you in the ultra-cheap, group one insurance bracket, and if you do a little hunting around for a good online car insurance provider you could end up spending a lot less than you imagined.

But (and it’s a big but), who wants to drive a 54bhp tin box that takes half a year to do 0-60 and feels like your fillings are going to drop out if you go anywhere near its break-neck top speed of 93mph? Still, small Fiats and young drivers could well be a match made in heaven.

“FIAT!” I hear you cry, “Fiat can’t be cool.” Yes, I see your point, in fact when my mum very generously offered me her T reg 126 rustbucket recently, as she no longer drives it, I nearly choked on my fettuccini.

No, what I’m talking about is the chic-hot retro styling of the super-cool new Fiat 500, and it has been pointed it out by some of the more style conscious motoring journos out there that the 500 is THE car to be seen in – but only if you’re a girly and you have a sense of humour.

I’m both of the above and I love the Fiat 500, there’s a powder blue one that drives past me every day on the way to work and I’d swap my Astra clunk-wagon with it any day of the week. However, I have it on good authority that there’s a 500 out there for the blokes and it goes by the name of – ABARTH!

With a pedigree founded on the iconic tuning firm of the 50’s and 60’s that turned run-of-the-mill fiats into supercharged racing cars, the Fiat 500 Abarth has been likened to a ‘yoof’ “wearing a hoody, sporting a flick knife”, and has quickly been touted as the 500 with attitude. One critic even said, and I pause for effect here, it made the Mini Cooper look boring!

The Abarth’s styling is edgier than the cutesy-tootsy production line model, with the trademark scorpion badges being a high-vis reminder that this is the car of a bloke who knows his motoring.

Sporting 16” alloys, wide wheel arches and sills, the lowered ride height and mean, moody air intakes offer little touches of ‘oomph’ that when combined with the 1.4l engine, delivering a cool 135bhp, your top speed of 127mph lifts this little bundle of fun above your average small car.

According to press reports, only 5,000 of these little beauties will roll off the conveyor belt of desire and a mere 1,500 will be trundling their way to the UK in 2009. Demand is likely to be high and probably out of range for your average Uni Joe who picks up shifts at his local Wetherspoons to supplement his student loan, but give it a year or two and Fiat 500s will be hitting the second-hand market, ripe for souping.

So, I rest my case. Yes, it is possible to be a cool young driver in a small car and no, you should never accept a second-hand car from your mother – no matter how cheap the car insurance will be.

It seems that these days motoring costs more and more – why should that be though when there’s not only a wealth of decent used cars available but there’s plenty of choice for insurance?   Granted, fuel prices continue to rise and that is sadly out of our hands (to a degree, depending on your driving style), but there are ways in which you can save on your premium.  Let’s take a look:

No Claims
This is one of the most oft-cited ways in which to be charged less for an insurance premium of either type.  Simply put, what you’re telling the insurance company is that you’re a reasonable driver – or rather at the very least you haven’t made a claim in however many years.  The more of these you have, the more fait they will put in your ability to stay out of trouble on the roads.  Ergo, if you’re the type who crashes at least once a year then you should be paying more than someone who is more ‘reliable’.

To make sure that you’re eligible for no claims bonus/discount, keep your previous insurance policy documents and the most recent ‘renewal quote’ you get from your current insurer.  This is a great way to bring your policy cost down and proves that you have a reasonable level of skill behind the wheel (though statistically an accident will happen to all of us at some point as drivers, however small).

Storage
Your car makes up part of the cost of the policy (how new, valuable and modified it is to name just three variables) and you make up most of the rest.  However, part of the cost lies in the area in which you live.  Simply put, it’s a bit like the NHS Postcode Lottery only this time, the rougher an area you live in, the more likely you are to have a higher premium.  To put it in perspective, if the area where you live has high levels of car crime, statistically you’re more likely to take a hit.

Multiple Policies
Most UK insurers will offer a range of policies on a variety of items – this may include motor, home, personal possessions and even life cover.  Whilst shopping for insurance cover, check the rest of your policies.  If you consolidate, you might well get a bigger discount.  In doing so, they may well match a cheaper quote too – it’s a win-win situation.

Voluntary Excess
This is an ‘interesting’ area of insurance, and to me is the closest there is to a scam.  This excess basically acts as a cover for the insurer.  Whatever your claim, you’ll pay your voluntary excess as the first part.  I.e. if you have a claim for £1,000 and your voluntary excess is £300, you’ll pay the first £300, leaving the insurance company to foot the bill of £700.  An excess is a way in which to lower your claim, for instance if you elect to pay a £500 excess your overall policy cost will go down – but you will have a big fat bill to pay out if you do have to make a claim.  Always aim for the ‘middle way’ if you can.

Phone Use And Other Bad Drivers
It will come as a shock to some, but if you’re caught driving whilst using your mobile (now illegal for those of you who live in the sticks and haven’t seen the Highway Code or the news for a while) you may find that your insurance cover goes up, as well as being rewarded with 3 points on your license and a £60 fine.

How does this work?  Well all insurers should be made of endorsements that you have, whether for speeding or other.  A CU80 is a ‘mobile phone whilst driving’ offense and so easily spotted amongst other convictions.  Due to increased risk, there are some insurers who won’t cover you at all if you’re found guilty of this type of offense.

Other drivers with a variety of offenses will also find it difficult to get cover – not to mention it being more expensive to boot.  I guess how it really operates is quite simple and that’s to ensure you don’t go around being an idiot.  Follow the rules of the road and common sense and you should be okay.  Just don’t get me started on due process if you are unlucky enough to be in a collision though.

It has been brought to my attention that more than 40,000 uninsured drivers are out on the roads in the North East of England.  In some areas, it has been noted that almost one in five cars will be without any sort of cover at all, whilst arrests have reached a peak in the Northumbria area – with a quadrupling of arrests for driving without cover since 2004.

Safety campaigners are keen to point out the relevant statistical ‘facts’ too – that uninsured drivers are ten times more likely to drink-drive and three times more likely to be convicted (not just arrested there) than your standard, insured citizen.  Not surprising really is it, if someone is quite happy to break the law with regard to insurance, I doubt they’d have a qualm about the legal requirement to drive with due care and attention either.

In the North East alone, there were 3198 crashes involving uninsured drivers.  I’m sure you’ll all agree that is actually quite a high number – especially just for one area of England.  So why do people do it?  Well for one thing, there’s the usual excuse of ‘well my car’s insurance is actually more than the car’.  This is worrying on two levels.  First of all, if you scrimp on the few hundred quid it’ll cost for your (s)crapmobile, exactly how often do you get it serviced?  Do your brakes work?  Are your tyres at the legal tread depth?  No, I didn’t think so.

Secondly, if people feel that there’s no point in purchasing insurance, they’re sorely mistaken.  There are a good number of reasons, but here’s the main one.  Protection.  Insurance can be costly, there’s no doubt about it.  But have you ever taken a look at a liability case where someone has caused the death of another?  Well this will carry a jail sentence, along with a near-unlimited fine.  Insurance gives you legal protection in the face of a lawsuit for whatever reason involving your vehicle.

The protection afforded by insurance also covers you.  Quite often, good insurance will allow you to drive another car (this is more useful than it at first may seem), cover any valuables you may have in the vehicle or even provide you with breakdown cover through a third party.  All very valuable no?

Of course criminals come in all shapes and sizes and that’s exactly what uninsured drivers are – it is after all illegal to drive a vehicle without insurance.  So what sort of person might do this?  Well first of all, you have the young ‘just passed’ driver.  Their reasoning is normally the one above – cost.  However, I’ll say this.  If you can’t afford all the costs of a car (this includes fuel, oil, serving and insurance) then DO NOT GET ONE.  Cars as a mode of transport are a privilege not a right.  Because you have a driving license you don’t have a license to break the law.

Another type of driver that may not have insurance is the ‘not so savoury type’.  Granted, sometimes people may borrow a car very quickly, but there are others who may ‘borrow’ a car for a longer time.  They are also more likely to be driving unsafely remember – so we’re better off without them on the road too.

Foreign drivers, unfortunately, don’t always come along with the correct level of insurance.  Apparently, cops are told to take just as hard a line with them too – whether this happens or not I won’t speculate but once again, they are braking the law.  They need protection and so do the rest of us on the road.

So what might happen if you get caught?  New powers mean that the police can legitimately seize uninsured vehicles anywhere if found to have been driven uninsured, or if uninsured by the registered keeper.  New technology means that the law-breaker is much more likely to get caught.

What’s the bottom line?  There are a few things that you need in life if you’re going to drive.  The first is a license for the type of vehicle you’re going to drive.  The second is a safe, regularly serviced vehicle.  The third is fuel.  The final essential is insurance.  Don’t leave him without it.