Brits Compare Car Insurance on Price

Only 19% Say Level of Cover Is Important

The results of new research indicate that most Brits are bargain hunters when they compare car insurance deals.

The study conduced by the Fair Investment Company found 57 per cent of those UK motorists quizzed named price as the most important element of securing car insurance cover on their vehicle.

The level of cover was considered much less important in car insurance comparisons; only 19 per cent viewed this as a crucial aspect in selecting a policy.

However, "motorists should be careful choosing their car insurance by price alone, the cheapest car insurance is not always the best and there are other aspects to be taken into consideration” says James Caldwell, Fairinvestment.co.uk’s director. "I would advise anybody shopping for car insurance to compare deals not just on price but also policy features, some of which may be outlined in the small print."

Breakdown cover and a no claims bonus were named by around two per cent of participants in the survey as an important factor when they compare car insurance.

Changes to the UK Car Insurance Grouping System

20 Groups to Change to 50

Due to the increasing amount of makes, models and types of vehicles on Britain’s roads today, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced a change to the way car insurance is calculated. t

Over the past 10 years, car insurance has been allotted to 20 groups dependant on the possible risks for each vehicle. The new car insurance classification system will split cars into 50 groups which will be determined by the amount of damage one car will make on another, should an accident occur, as well as the cost of repairs to a vehicle.

Presently, when inputting your details to compare car insurance online, you will be asked about information concerning your vehicle including car make and model, age of vehicle, and location of where the car is kept. With the new classifications, car insurance quotes will take into account many other attributes about your car including weight and size of the vehicle, top speed and whether components such as air conditioning and a catalytic converter are present.

With this information, car insurers can calculate the amount of damage a vehicle is likely to make on another vehicle should a collision occur.

A Chicken Chaser Called Ben Dover?

‘Fakes’ Could Be Compromising Insurance Cover

A list of the most bizarre and suspected-fake details that Brits use when filling in online forms is today released by price comparison website thecomparisons.com. It is warning that Brits tempted to use fake names or occupations could be unknowingly compromising their insurance policies.

Using a data resource of more than eight million people across the UK, thecomparisons.com has revealed the top ‘suspected fakes’ people enter when completing online forms, such as car insurance quotes or mailing list applications.

Of the thousands of potentially dodgy details that are flagged up each month, among the most common and strangest jobs were chicken chaser, chicken sexer and artificial limb fitter! A ‘pearl stringer’ even made an appearance!

While a proportion of the jobs listed are likely to be genuine, some are thought to be fictionalised.

The UK’s Top 15 Suspected Fake or Bizarre Jobs¹
1. Dog Beautician (17%)
2. Chicken Chaser (15%)
3. Parachute Packer (15%)
4. Artificial Limb Fitter (13.5%)
5. Chicken Sexer (12%)
6. Balloonist (5.5%)
7. Sheriffs (4%)
8. Clairvoyant (4%)
9. Palmistry Expert (4%)
10. Pig Manager (2%)
11. Kissagram (1.5%)
12. Dendochronologist (someone who studies tree rings – 1%)
13. Ventriloquist (1%)
14. Ocultist (0.5%)
15. Pearl Stringer (0.5%)
¹Percentages based on only most bizarre/suspected fakes taken from data resource

Entering any false details when applying for an insurance quote online can result in consumers unknowingly compromising their insurance cover by not properly registering details.

thecomparisons.com data also revealed there’s a ‘plague’ of fake names being used in online application forms - ranging from famous faces to fictional characters.

Top Famous Names
1) David Beckham
2) Elvis Presley
3) Frank Sinatra
4) Jimi Hendrix
5) Marilyn Monroe

Top Fictional Names
1) Barney Rubble
2) Bart Simpson
3) Indiana Jones
4) Scooby Doo
5) James Bond

Top Comedy Names
1) Anette Curtain
2) Banana Man
3) Ben Dover
4) Hugh Jarse
5) Justin Credible

The findings are based on data available to thecomparisons.com, where the suspected fake details are automatically filtered out of more than 700,000 entries per month.

Chris McDonald, Director of thecomparisons.com, said: “While some of the names and job titles are bound to be genuine, the frequency that some of them occur would indicate people are making some of them up. Though it may be tempting to enter false details as a bit of fun when researching a quote, it’s worth remembering that you should never enter any fabricated details when actually applying for a policy.”

“There’s every chance you’ll have to fill the form in and re-apply, wasting all the time you could have saved by using a price comparison website. And worse still, there’s a risk that the fake details could cause problems if you do need to make a claim.”

The Comparisons in Pole Position with New Sponsorship Deal

thecomparisons.com, the Leeds-based price comparison website, is announcing a winning new sponsorship deal, with Wakefield’s Tequila motor racing team.


The team compete in the prestigious national VW Cup Championship, which is organised by Volkswagen Motorsport, and is a support race to the British GT Championship, featured on Sky TV.

Tequila Racing is made up of Nick Dunn, who races a 2.8 litre Beetle RSi, and his team mate, Jamie Perry, who drives a turbo charged Mark 5 Golf GTI. The team is currently 12th in the driver’s championship and 4th overall in the team championship. The next round is due to take place on 24th/25th May at Rockingham, Europe’s fastest banked oval racing circuit.

Directors at The Comparisons Limited agreed to sponsor the team because it had a good synergy with the business, which currently specialises in comparing prices for domestic car insurance. thecomparisons.com logo will now appear on Nick’s car throughout the season.



Chris McDonald, Director of thecomparisons.com, said: “We’re excited to be supporting a local racing team and we’ll be watching their progress keenly. It’s just a shame we couldn’t give them a quote for their racing insurance, as we only compare car insurance prices for domestic customers!”

Thousands Set to ‘Spring Clean’ Car Insurance Policies

• Thursday 1st May is ‘D Day’ for insurers
• Record number to switch providers

According to new data from price comparison website, thecomparisons.com, the yearly peak for car insurance renewals is almost upon us. With the credit crunch looming, more consumers than ever will be looking to switch providers, meaning D-Day for insurers.

Using its data resource of more than eight million people across the UK¹, thecomparisons.com has found that Thursday 1st May will be this year’s peak for driver’s insurance policies coming to an end and up to 270,000 people² - more than ever before - will be affected.

Crucially, according to industry figures, drivers will spend the final three weeks of April researching the best deals available. thecomparisons.com is predicting that with the credit crunch looming, savvy consumers will spend more time than ever searching online for the best price and are also more likely than ever to switch car insurance providers in favour of a better deal.

In response, thecomparisons.com is preparing for record traffic on its website from bargain-hunting consumers.

Chris McDonald, Director of thecomparisons.com, said: “Traditionally, the peak for car insurance renewals is thought to be earlier in the year. However, this data certainly challenges that.”

“The rise of price comparison websites, which allow consumers to compare prices from hundreds of different providers in seconds, mean that the market has never been more competitive.”

“Many ‘direct’ insurers are having trouble retaining customers, and some insurers are refusing to be listed on price comparison sites. This means that there has never been more of a bargain to be had and there are potentially hundreds of pounds to be saved if you take a few moments to visit a price comparison site like thecomparisons.com.”

The least common month for renewals:
November

The most common months for renewals:
December, June, April

¹Based on a representative sample of data on car insurance renewals from data pool company, The Trading Floor Limited, strategic partner of thecomparisons.com.
² Based on MINTEL figures of 27 million car insurance policy holders in the UK.

New Marketing Manager for the Comparisons

Daniel Tangen is recruited as thecomparisons.com expands

Following a successful launch and first five months of business, thecomparisons.com, the Leeds-based price comparison website, has recruited a dedicated marketing manager, Daniel Tangen.


Daniel will play a key role in building the company’s profile and strengthening its point of difference against its competitors. He previously worked in the online department of Redcats UK, as well as for insurance company, Equity Group in a similar role. He specialises in customer recruitment and retention, as well as online search and affiliate marketing strategies.

Daniel was born and raised in Aukra, Norway and has lived in Leeds since 2004. He gained a degree in International Marketing and Management from the Norwegian School of Management and an MSc in Marketing from Leeds Metropolitan University.

Daniel said: “I’m very excited to be joining the company and look forward to helping develop and grow the brand. Online marketing is such an innovative and creative area to be involved with at the moment and, combined with such a young, fast moving company as thecomparisons.com, my new role will be extremely exciting and varied.”

Chris McDonald, Director of thecomparisons.com, said: “Our team is expanding fast, allowing us to continually build the business and strengthen our position in the market. Daniel is the perfect addition to our team, and with his depth of experience in marketing online businesses, we are ready to launch a series of new offerings and services for our customers throughout 2008.”

The Real Cost of Go-Faster Stripes!

New Study Reveals How Car Accessories Could ‘Drive up’ Your Premiums

Boy racers beware, because according to new research from price comparison website, thecomparisons.com, even the simplest of car accessories can drive up your premiums by as much as 50%.

Using information gathered from its panel of hundreds of different car insurers, thecomparisons.com has produced a ‘risk list’ of the car accessories and modifications that could end up burning a hole in your pocket.

Topping the list were ‘engine chip’ and ‘dump valve’. While both can dramatically improve a cars performance, they can also cost you a lot of money, and can increase car insurance premiums by up to 50% and 25% respectively.

Also making the list was car body kit, spoilers and even go-faster stripes, while a number of modifications – including turbo charging and nitro drives – could mean some car insurance providers would not consider insuring you at all.

Top ten costly car modifications (potential increase to annual premiums)
1) Engine Chip* – 50%
2) Dump Valve – 25%
3) Pick up/Caborlet conversion* – 25%
4) Body kit – 15%
5) Racing seats – 10%
6) Back Box* (exhaust modification) -10%
7) Lowered suspension* – 10%
8) Alloy/wider Wheels – 10%
9) Go-faster stripes – 5%
10) Rear spoiler – 5%
Turbo charging, Nitrous Oxide drive – normally unacceptable.
*some providers will not consider insuring at all

Data provided by thecomparisons.com panel members, including Express Insurance. Figures are intended as an approximate guide only.

Chris MacDonald, Director of thecomparisons.com, said: “Insurers will look at a diverse range of factors when providing a quote for a customer and even the most innocuous of accessories can drive up your premiums quite dramatically. It is important to remember, you should always register the correct specifications of your car when applying for a quote, or you could risk causing complications and delays if you do need to make a claim.”

“This really demonstrates the importance of getting a wide range of quotes, and what better way to do this than through a price comparison website?”