Sat Nav Blunders Can Be Costly

Published: 7/28/2010

Technology is not always right is the message being sent out by car insurance companies such as Direct Line, suggesting drivers should not take the advice of the system blindly.

There have been many occasions when drivers have followed the route given to them by a sat-nav system only to find themselves heading down narrow farm tracks and through deep water. They carry on regardless though feeling that the satellite navigation system cannot be wrong. A big mistake say Direct Line since they have seen an increase in claims because of situations just like these.

If the situation continues then car insurance premiums are sure to rise, a scenario no one wants to see. Direct Line and other car insurance providers have to increase the premiums because of the extra costs they face so it is down to the drivers to make sure they use sat nav as an aid, trusting their own driving knowledge first and foremost.

Drink Driving Can Invalidate Car Cover

Drivers who omit to mention previous drink driving convictions could well find their car insurance is invalid should a claim be made say Norwich Union. A Norwich Union representative understood that a conviction for drink driving would increase a drivers car insurance premium considerably but by choosing not to declare it at all would cost much more when the cover was deemed invalid. Such a conviction would certainly come to light when a claim was made so it is in the drivers interests to declare it upon buying the insurance cover. Should a person be found not to have declared something such as this and then had their cover terminated this information would be held on a central car insurance database explained Norwich Union, which would increase the premium still further.

Van Drivers Classed As Safest

A new survey carried out by Tesco Finance has come to the conclusion that van drivers are the safest motorists on the UK roads. The study looked at insurance claims, finding a lower percentage of van insurance claims than any other type of vehicle. Tesco Finance also found that more drivers of vans receive extra training on the roads than other motorists. Perhaps then the traditional view of van drivers is out of date and should be revised. With van insurance claims so low they may well be good drivers and should see lower premiums as a result. The counter view that Tesco Finance did not mention in their report was that it could just be that van drivers do not always make a claim when they have an accident. If you look at the knocks and scrapes on many vans this could be a real possibility.

Unapproved Repairs Can Negate House Insurance Cover Warns Insurer

Endsleigh Insurance is warning homeowners that getting repairs and home improvement work done by non-approved people can mean home insurance is not valid, leaving the consumer unprotected. Should the design or workmanship of a home improvement project be below the typical standard, or if unsuitable materials or tools are used, Endsleigh Insurance will not pay out for any claims made. They, along with many other insurers, will also refuse to pay when structural modifications that have been done on a DIY basis, lead to a buildings insurance claim. The view of the insurer is that they are basing their premiums on the perceived risk of the property as described. If this changes, through a home improvement project for example, the insurer, be it Endsleigh home insurance or any other, needs to know about it, and to what standard it was done, so they can re-evaluate the risk profile.

Sat Nav Blunders Can Be Costly

More Articles

Drink Driving Can Invalidate Car Cover

Van Drivers Classed As Safest

Unapproved Repairs Can Negate House Insurance Cover Warns Insurer