Screentrade - Motor Insurance

About Screentrade

Better insurance is just a mouse click away

You're right to get a range of quotes before you pay out for your insurance. So welcome to Screentrade, the best and fastest way to find the right deal.

Screentrade don't see why you should have to make endless phone calls.

Why you should endure the hard sell (you know what you need better than any salesman).

Why you should answer the same old questions again and again. Then wait days for your written quotes to arrive. Then wade through piles of paper to unearth the one that's best for you.

Screentrade's here 24 hours a day to help you find the right deal on your motor, home and travel insurance. And Screentrade do it without any of the usual hassle. You can even cut the price of your premium on the spot.

Screentrade can prepare a number of competitive, personalised quotes for you in just a few minutes. Then you can compare prices and cover, and see just what you're getting for your money - you'll probably be surprised how policy features differ.

All you do is key in your details once, and you're in touch with some of the biggest names in the market.

And then you can buy on-line, or over the phone, whichever suits you best.

Screentrade Car Insurance Advisor

Screentrade are committed to helping you to get the best deal for your car insurance. Part of this is having a better understanding of what you are buying, and what factors can affect your quote.

The guides below should help you make a better informed decision ... so read on.

Motor insurance explained

Third party motor insurance is compulsory in the UK, so buying it is a chore that all car owners have to go through. Here are some basics to help you understand what's what.

Types of insurance

There are three main categories you can choose from - 'comprehensive', 'third party, fire and theft', and 'third party only'. Which you select depends on how much risk you want to take, and how much you want your insurer to take for you. Obviously, you will pay more for a comprehensive policy.

Third party only
The minimum level of cover required by law to drive in the UK.

Covers you for the cost of any claims for damage you may do to another person, vehicles or property. If you are in an accident which is your fault, the insurer will pay your liability to the other people in the accident.

You're not covered for damage, loss or theft of your own car or possessions.

Third party, fire and theft
Includes third party cover, and also insures your own car for damage or loss caused by fire or theft.

You have to pay for damage to your own car or possessions, apart from loss caused by fire or theft.

Comprehensive
Covers you for third party fire and theft, and in addition damage to your own vehicle. There may still be some exclusions so always check. Some insurers may refuse comprehensive cover to high risk cases.

Usually more expensive, but the most popular type of policy in the UK, accounting for over 70% of policies sold.

What basic factors affect my premium

Your insurance premium will vary for a whole range of reasons. The exact value will be calculated for a specific type of car, and a specific driver - this is what is called a certain 'risk'.

Insurers tend to focus on certain risks, and therefore give cheaper quotes for different sections of the market. For example some insurers may opt to insure young, high risk drivers, others may favour older drivers with large estate cars. So it's always worth shopping around for a range of quotes before you buy.

Type of car
Obviously, fast sports cars will be more expensive to insure than Ford Fiestas, and some foreign cars are very expensive to repair.

Check what range your insurance will be in before you buy a car. You can easily do this through Screentrade, and 10 minutes spent up front can save a lot of extra money once youve bought the car.

Car security
A vehicle alarm, immobiliser or tracker may reduce your premium as well as deterring crime.

Insurers usually require that it's a Thatcham approved device, and you'll be asked to prove it, so keep the installation certificate handy.

For some expensive cars, insurance companies may require you to have an alarm, but it'll usually qualify you for a discount.

Remember, if you do opt for the immobiliser discount, you need to make sure that it's in operation every time you leave your car. If your car is broken into and your alarm wasn't switched on, the insurance company may not pay out.

Postcode
Where you park your car overnight has a strong impact on your premium. Insurers rate different postcodes around the country by their estimate of the risk in that area.

If you live in a high risk area, then improving your car security may reduce your quote (insurers may actually demand it for particularly high risk postcodes), but bear in mind the warning above.

Insurers also prefer you to park your car in a drive or garage rather than on the road. Try some different options and see what the effect is on your quote.

Who is driving
Generally, the more people driving your car, the higher your premium. It's better to decide who will be allowed to drive and choose an 'insured and named' policy.

If you want to leave the car insurance open for anyone to drive, you can opt for an 'any driver' policy. You'll usually pay more for this but it is more flexible, although there may be restrictions - for example, many insurers do not allow driver's under 25 on an 'any driver' policy.

For each driver there are a number of criteria that can affect your quote:

Some insurers take into account other factors such as whether you are a homeowner, how long you have held your licence, marital status, etc. Screentrade asks all these questions to ensure that you get the most competitive quote available.

You are obliged to disclose all material facts about yourself and anyone who is driving the car. If you do not, your insurer may not pay out if you claim.

Usage
There are number of different types of usage which insurers will take into account. They range from social, domestic and pleasure, which can include commuting to and from work, to personal business use, up to a full commercial travelling.

If you use the car for business, you'll generally be charged extra, so make sure that you actually need it. You can change this on Screentrade to see what the effect will be.

Other
There are two other major factors that affect your premium

No claims bonus and other discounts

No Claims Bonus
If you have a claim free (not blame free) record, you'll usually qualify for a premium discount or NO CLAIMS BONUS, sometimes called a NO CLAIMS DISCOUNT.

Scales vary, but generally range from 30% for one claim-free year, up to 60% or more after four or five years. They're transferable between insurance companies, so you can change insurer without losing your no claims bonus, providing you can provide proof.

If you have a maximum no claims bonus (usually over 4 years), you may be entitled to protect this for an extra premium. This is usually a small extra fee that allows you to have a number of claims without it affecting your no claims bonus. Typically, two claims are allowed in a three to five year period. Well worth considering if you have built up a full no claims discount, as even small claims, for example for a break in, can mean you lose your no claims discount.

Introductory discounts
Even if you have never held motor insurance, and do not have a no claims bonus, many companies offer 'introductory discounts'. You could be eligible for one if:

Excess

On most insurance policies there's an amount which you have to pay in the event of a claim.

This varies for the type of claim e.g. accident, windscreen damage, and it can also vary between drivers e.g. if you have a young driver on your policy, a higher excess may apply if they're driving.

Most policies have a 'compulsory excess' which is fixed, and then a 'voluntary excess' which you can vary. Changing your excess level is a way to alter your premium. It means you can choose to take some of the risk by paying a higher percentage of any claim. It is worth trying different excess levels and seeing how it affects your premium.

Burleigh House,
Chapel Oak,
Salford Priors,
Worcestershire
WR11 5SH

http://www.screentrade.com