Importing vehicles from markets such as Japan is increasing in popularity.

There is a tendency for these types of car to have lower mileages and higher specifications than the equivalent UK models, and because they are imports, they are frequently available at good prices.

These types of car are usually known as “Grey Imports”.

Grey Import cars are not as popular with insurers however so it is unlikely that the usual insurance providers would be prepared to offer cover. You would be best advised therefore to consult a specialist insurance provider.

When you bought your grey import car, you more than likely went to a specialist dealer. To purchase parts, you will probably need to consult a specialist as well. The same applies when you are looking for imported vehicle insurance.

These providers will be used to finding policies to suit unusual and even completely unique cars. They will know which insurers offer the best policies and at prices to suit most budgets.

You will be assured of speaking to knowledgeable staff with access to underwriters prepared to develop bespoke policies if necessary.

There are specialists out there with exceptional expertise in the provision of insurance for:-

• Japanese and other Grey Imports
• Specialist American cars
• Modified imported vehicles
• Q plated imports
 
Finally, keep your car garaged if at all possible, install the best alarm system you can afford and you will, in all likelihood pay less for your insurance.

We all know that if you can avoid being involved in any car accident, then:

1) We are extremely lucky and;
2) No claims bonus builds up and insurance premiums will be as low as one can reasonably expect.

Most people sit back, daydream or just switch off whenever something is being discussed which is of no interest in their workplace. If it’s on the TV, they simply change channels.

But for some, the decision making process, and the way those decisions are formulated, can be interesting.

In this article I am to try and provide a brief insight into the work undertaken by expert analysts which helped the Government decide on the strategies to bring the number of road deaths down on UK roads by 2010.

Like all strategies, it must first establish a baseline to measure performance against. This is usually done by research and analysis of data/information. In this instance, it was data from 1994-98.

The Department for Transport laid out its objectives and commissioned expert analysts to conduct the independent review.

In order to develop effective strategies for reducing Road Traffic Accidents, experts needed to gain a better understanding of the causes of accidents and the likely injury outcomes of certain specific type of accident.

To achieve this, an “On the Spot” (OTS) project was commissioned to gather in-depth information at the scene of accidents.

Data was collected by expert investigators (who typically attended within 15 minutes of an accident occurring) in two geographical locations, namely; the Thames Valley and the Midlands. Their prompt attendance enabled them to collect vital data that might otherwise have been lost.

The data collection began in 2000 and more than 2,000 accidents were recorded on the database at the time the experts report was submitted.

To enable them to offer recommendations to help reduce the number of accidents, the database included some very specific causal data such as:-

• The road and environmental conditions at the time of the accident
• Examination of causes and resultant injuries
• The severity of any accident and injuries
• Types of accident
• Types of injury

The report runs to some 70+ pages and must have involved thousands of man hours to collate and put together.

 If you would like to learn more, further information can be found on the dft website by clicking here

The introduction/promotion of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) is claimed to be able to help reduce the number of accidents involving injury by up to 29%.

Or so the Government says!

This apparent relentless over-regulation of drivers and road users ignores the fact that driving continues to be safe as long as drivers behave sensibly and responsibly by sticking to the applicable speed limits and of course, making an allowance for the prevailing driving and road conditions.

Most drivers do indeed adhere to road regulations, the Highway code and the Road Traffic Act so is it really necessary for the Government and car manufacturers to be considering fitting ISA as standard to new vehicles.

There is some question surrounding the data used to support the 29% potential reduction suggested. It is suggested that 17% of those fatal accidents reported indicated the vehicle involved was driving at excessive speed considering the road conditions at the time – they were not however breaking the speed limit.

An ISA would not have made any difference in those circumstances.

Perhaps, an alternative would be for courts to insist that certain drivers prosecuted for speeding should only be allowed to drive vehicles fitted with an ISA unit for the period the conviction remains on their licence.

As new car sales plummet and money gets tighter, there is always a temptation to put off minor maintenance repairs to not only one’s home, but to our cars as well.

And the consequences can be expensive, if not fatal.

Nobody wants to spend their hard earned money at the moment but if you do not invest a little in keeping your car roadworthy, you risk not only yourselves and any passengers, but the wrath of the police and your insurers.

It is a condition of your insurance policy that your vehicle is kept in a roadworthy condition when used on public highways. The police will not hesitate to prosecute anyone driving on our roads without a valid MOT, insurance along with a variety of other reasons.

Motor engineers and servicing specialists are equally looking to generate business in this tough economic climate just like every other business, so whilst you may not want to fork out for a service and get that car checked over, you may in fact find yourself being able to negotiate a far better deal than you think.

With the adverse weather making driving conditions treacherous in places, it must be worth having a chat with your local garage or mechanic.

All too often, as consumers, we simply decide on the level of cover we want for car insurance and then compare the costs provided by insurance companies.

We may have heard of the insurance provider, we may not have, it makes no difference as long as the cover is in place and we conform to UK legal requirements.

Periodically, therefore, I intend to include a little history and information about specific car insurance providers in the UK.

It is important to note that many of these insurers have diverse portfolios and do not offer only car insurance

In this article you will be provided a little information about Eagle Star Insurance Company.

The present name Eagle Star was adopted in 1937 but it started to assume its present form in 1917 when the British Dominions General Insurance Co Ltd, merged with Eagle Insurance Company, Sceptre Life Association Ltd and Star Assurance Society to form Eagle Star and British Dominions Insurance Company Ltd.

Diversification and growth continued when in 1959, Eagle Star acquired Midland Assurance Ltd, prominent in employers’ liability insurance and the subsequent acquisition of Navigators and General Insurance Co Ltd, very prominent in the insurance of yachts and small craft in 1960.

Eagle Star is also associated through minority interests and various reinsurance and co-operation agreements with a number of insurance companies in other countries.

Eagle Star Group underwrites fire, accident, motor, marine, aviation and transport risks within the United Kingdom and overseas,
including reinsurance and is what is known as a proprietary composite insurance company.

Proprietary in the sense that it is a publicly owned joint stock company as opposed to a mutual association and composite in the sense that it carries on both life and non-life insurance.

Eagle Star is involved in property management which has been acquired, managed, and developed over many years.

Within the United Kingdom the Eagle Star Group transacts its insurance business through a regional network of over 100 branch offices and the 10 regional offices with many other branches enjoying a large degree of decentralised underwriting authority.

The Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) was established in 1946 as a private company limited by guarantee for the purpose of entering into Agreements with the Government to compensate the victims of negligent uninsured and untraced motorists.

Every insurance company underwriting compulsory motor insurance is obliged, by virtue of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to be a member of MIB and to contribute to its funding.

In short therefore, a percentage of your insurance premium is used to fund the MIB, and due to the number and monetary value of claims, this contribution is generally increasing, year in, year out.

A fundamental component for MIB is to ensure that claims which result from the negligent actions of uninsured or untraced motorists are dealt with fairly, efficiently and promptly.

The good news is that the total number of new claims reported to the Bureau in 2007 fell for the second consecutive year realising an almost 10% reduction in the last two years displaying progress by the insurance industry, the Government and the Police in delivering positive results in the fight against uninsured driving.

The MIB, ABI (Association of British Insurers) and BIBA (British Insurance Brokers Association) have worked closely with the Government, the Police and DVLA to co-ordinate activity in order to address this socially unacceptable menace of uninsured motoring.

It is therefore essential that enforcement action is maintained against offenders. The Motor Insurance Database (MID) is now proving to be a key tool in the fight against uninsured motoring.

The Police have access to the MID, as do the DVLA when you tax your vehicle on line. It is therefore essential that your insurance record is correctly on the MID.

The penalties for failure to comply are getting more and more severe so if you want to keep driving on our roads, make sure you are insured.

You have been warned.

In this second article, we will deal with the technical aspects if you are unfortunately involved in an accident overseas.

Try not to admit liaibility.

You may be asked for, and should be prepared to produce your driving licence, the registration document for the vehicle to prove ownership although other evidence may be acceptable and your insurance certificate or Green Card (which has for many years been the most widely accepted evidence of insurance for foreign registered vehicles).

It is ok for you to complete and sign European Accident Statement as it is simply a method of ensuring that the parties to an accident exchange the relevant information and details of the accident. Make sure that you retain a copy and you understand what the other person has written.

If the police are involved, again, stay calm, listen carefully and if you experience difficulty in understanding them, try and explain that you need an interpreter.

In some countries drivers may be arrested and their vehicles impounded, when the accident is serious, to allow time for fault to be determined. If this happens, ask to contact the British Consul or equivalent as soon as possible.

If your car is immobilised, notify your insurers as soon as possible. If it is driveable, then it is usually acceptable to wait until you return to the UK but check with your insurers before embarking on your trip, particularly if you are going to be abroad for more than 14 days duration. You should have been provided with a name and contact details of a representative for your insurer when you advised your insurer of your intention to go abroad.

In the run up to Valentine’s day, it is perhaps appropriate to remind readers about what you should expect in the event of an accident when driving overseas to ensure you know what to expect and any interruption to that romantic few days is not affected too badly.

This article therefore lays out some basics:

It is of course, important to remember to ensure your insurance is valid for driving in the countries you intend to visit.

Under EU law, all car insurance providers are obliged to offer third-party only cover when driving abroad. This level of cover will only pay out for damage sustained to another vehicle or driver - it does not protect against theft, accidental damage, or personal injury.

It may be possible to extend comprehensive cover for the duration of an overseas trip, but drivers need to check the small print, as some insurers will charge for this.

Before setting out, it is important to confirm that your insurance policy provides adequate cover for the countries you will be driving through as the road traffic rules can vary from country to country rules are different.

There may come a time when you find yourself involved or caught up in an accident of some kind.

If this happens, you should stop as soon as it is safe to do so, and place your accident warning triangle at a distance far enough away from your car or the scene of the accident to allow passing traffic to take avoiding action.

Try not to admit liability, say as little as possible and remain calm, especially in any dealings with the local police.
The only document you should sign is the European Accident Statement or “Constat Amiable”.

The subsequent article will offer guidance on the technical aspects.

If you find yourself going to your car one day and realising that your car has been damaged by another car or road user but they have not left you any contact details, depending on the extent of the damage, you may find yourself exploring avenues to recover your repair costs.

The Untraced Drivers’ Agreement 2003 includes compensation for property damage resulting from accidents occurring on or after 14 February 2003.

In order to be able to make a claim though the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) you need to be aware of the following and take the following steps:-

Claims for property damage must be made within 9 months of the accident date and subject to a £300 excess.

Personal injury claims must be made within 3 years of the date of the accident.

To make a claim:

•    You firstly need to report the incident to the Police. This must be done within 14 days of the accident occurring. If it is damage to property, they must be notified within 5 days.

•     Secondly, make enquiries to see if you can identify the driver, check any information you may find out with the Police. You could even try making contact with the motorist in person, and/or tracing the registered keeper via DVLA and contacting them. Their failure to notify you may have been accidental. They may not even know that they caused damage to your vehicle.

•     If you have been unable to identify the driver, next try to identify the vehicle involved through any registration number you may have obtained from any passer-by or witness to the incident. 

•     Finally, contact your own insurers as your policy conditions will demand that you report all accidents. They may be able to trace the other party’s or his/her insurers. Your insurer also has access to the Motor Insurance Database which may contain details of the motorist’s insurers.

Motorists complying with the law and ensuring that they have a valid motor insurance policy in force when they drive on public roads will be pleased with the planned measures to come down more heavily on motorists who drive without car insurance.

Drivers using cars on our roads without the minimum legal requirement are costing the compliant drivers dear so it is extremely pleasing to see the government giving increased powers to police authorities to try and secure compliance.

Even with the introduction of such initiatives, there of course, remains a chance that some people may not get their letter, are on holiday or simply forget and there is the risk that some people will see a £100 penalty as a cheaper option that insuring their car but the issuing of warning letters and the targeting of persistent offenders will hopefully serve as sufficient warning to anyone tempted to try and save a little money.

After the warning letter has been sent, a £100 fine will be imposed on those breaking the law.

Following that, anybody who is still found to have no insurance, faces losing their vehicle.

Compounding the misery for the offender will be the conviction that they can expect to receive being added to their licence which will, in all likelihood, increase their next insurance premium further.