Age Concern Dorchester - Home Page Article

DON’T put the brakes on comprehensive car insurance

Don’t plump for price over promise on car insurance during the credit crunch. Switching from comprehensive to third party fire and theft car insurance can leave motorists exposed to financial loss, warns Age Concern Dorchester.

As people look to cut back on their outgoings, Age Concern Dorchester is urging older drivers . . .

not to ignore the benefits of comprehensive cover and downgrade their car insurance to third party fire and theft.

Comprehensive cover is used by the majority of motorists and comes with a number of benefits, including cover against damage to both your own car and others in the event of an accident caused by you. Comprehensive cover also offers crucial protection against uninsured drivers – an important aspect to consider when taking out a policy.

Third party fire and theft cover, whilst worth considering as an option for older cars, will only offer financial help for damage you cause to a third party.

Third party fire and theft will not cover the cost of repairing damage to the policy holder’s car after an accident, leaving the policy holder either needing to find the money themselves to pay for costly repairs, having to replace the vehicle, or potentially being without a car whilst they negotiate with the third party’s insurer for compensation - assuming the third party can be traced and has insurance cover.

The UK has one of the worst records in Western Europe for uninsured driving, with an estimated one in every 20 cars on the road (nearly 2 million in total) being driven without insurance.  Uninsured drivers are more likely to drink and drive and to drive un-roadworthy vehicles than drivers with insurance policies.

Wendy Hilton from Age Concern Dorchester says:

“During these difficult financial times, it’s wise to limit your spending. However, your car insurance should not become a casualty of these cut backs. Downgrading from comprehensive cover to third party fire and theft cover can be a false economy as your level of cover will suffer."
“You won’t, for example, be covered for repairs to your car should you cause an accident and if you’re unfortunate enough to be hit by an uninsured driver, the only way of reclaiming damages is by launching legal action against them. And that’s only if they can be identified.”

Ashton West, CEO of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, says:

“We know that uninsured drivers cost our society £500 million annually and, in fact, they are thought to kill 160 people and injure 23,000 others every year. We would strongly advise people to consider taking out comprehensive insurance to protect themselves from the thousands of uninsured and therefore illegal drivers on our roads.”

In an increasingly technology-driven society, Age Concern Dorchester is invaluable in offering older people in Dorchester personal face-to-face service at a local level, which many feel more comfortable with. Now Age Concern Motor Insurance can also be purchased face-to-face by visiting your local Age Concern trading office. Trained staff are available to provide customers with a free no-obligation quote, right through to taking out a policy. And from April 1st, customers receiving an Age Concern Motor Insurance quote from Age Concern Dorchester will receive a free thermal mug, to keep their drinks hot while they are on the move.

To find out more about Age Concern Motor Insurance or to get a quote, visit Age Concern Dorchester (10 am – 12 noon)  at Rowan Cottage, 4 Prince of Wales Road, Dorchester, DT1 1PW, call them on 01305 269444 or visit our website page.

Customers can pay by instalments over the year at no extra cost.