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Car Owner Evade Insurance at Their Peril
Added: (Wed Sep 03 2008)
The credit crunch has led brought economising to the for front of many British drivers mind - everyone's doing it - and motorists particularly are feeling the pinch, with rising petrol prices and the new Vehicle Excise Duty levels rising over the next 12 month. But drivers trying to save money by not taking out car insurance are cost-cutting to a foolhardy extreme, warns RIAS.
To begin with, this is illegal in the UK and those found guilty of it could get themselves a criminal record, it also costs other car drivers in excess of £500m each year, according to the Motor Insurers Bureau. This equates to around £30 extra on every premium, effectively being subsidized by the fully insured user.
"There is no question that driving without insurance is both unlawful and ill-advised," says RIAS Managing Director Janet Connor. "If you are worried about the cost of insurance, it is worth talking to your insurance provider to check whether there are any savings to be made. At RIAS, for example, we specialise in finding tailored insurance solutions for the over 50s, who can often benefit from cheaper premiums because of low mileage, or because their cars are parked off-road or kept in a garage. We advise customers to ensure they ask about discounts and flexible payment plans when they call us for a quote."
While steps are being taken by the police nationwide to reduce the numbers of uninsured drivers on British roads, but much can be done by all members of society and none of us should not look the other way if people they know are driving without insurance.
Car Insurance Evasion - the facts:
* Last year, around 160 deaths and 23,000 injuries were caused in road accidents involving uninsured drivers.
* Claims made against uninsured drivers can be very hard forthe victim to process.
* In 2007, the British police seized over 150,000 uninsured vehicles - that's one vehicle every three minutes.
* Number plate recognition technology and better link ups between police and insurance companies is helping to combat uninsured motoring.
1Source: The AA
2Research from the Motor Investigation Bureau, Report: The Road Ahead, Issue 15, 2007
*Call RIAS for a quote on your car insurance to see if we can save you money: 0800 052 5250
All products including house insurance can also be ordered online.
Janet Connor, Managing Director of RIAS is available for further comment and interview. To arrange an interview with, or photography of, Janet, please call Simon Robinson on 07976 329823 or e-mail srobinson@rias.co.uk.
About RIAS
* RIAS was established in 1992 and is a specialist provider of insurance products for the over 50s age group
* RIAS negotiates with a panel of insurers to secure competitive, value for money products
* RIAS has over 970,000 customers and employs over 1,200 people across two locations - Bournemouth and Belfast
* In July 2007 RIAS' home insurance contents and buildings policies received four 'Best Buy' awards from Which? magazine
* In December 2007 RIAS won the 'Personal Lines Broker of the year" award at the Insurance Times awards