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  1. How To Reduce Costs For Vehicle Insurance

    November 15, 2011 by Michael Woods

    Whatever the age or history of the driver, trying to get the most competitive vehicle insurance quote possible is something that everyone will want to do, and there are a number of things that can be done, especially for drivers with higher premiums to help mitigate those costs and to bring those insurance costs down.

    For younger drivers, or those who have only just passed the driving tests, it is always wise to look at Third Party, Fire & Theft policies rather than just the Fully Comprehensive vehicle insurance policies. Especially when the value of the first car may be quite low, going for the third party option will often take a large amount from the overall price of the quotes.

    Another thing that new drivers can do to help mitigate the costs of vehicle insurance is to look at completing a Pass Plus course, which is a course that is designed to further improve driving skills and to make the younger driver safer on the road, and it will often be the case that the cost of the course will be surpassed by the savings on the vehicle insurance premium.

    One thing that can help all drivers if they have the facilities is to look at where the car will be kept every night. For those who park the car on the road, but have a garage that is used for storage, there can be some savings to be made by clearing out the garage, and using it to store the car overnight. This will often take further costs from the premium.

    Another smart idea for drivers is to look at the type of insurance cover that is provided, as most sites will default to domestic and commuting use, while for those people who don’t commute to work using the car, just having domestic use cover may also reduce the premium for the vehicle insurance.

    There are further steps which can be taken which will vary from person to person, and the discounts offered by each insurance company will vary too, but by taking these steps it will be possible to get a better deal on the vehicle insurance, and to ensure that the premium is the smallest figure possible.


  2. What should you look for when buying a used motorbike?

    November 9, 2011 by Michael Woods

    Buying a motorbike second hand is one of the cheapest ways to start your riding career. As you’ve probably seen from the classifieds, second hand motorbikes can be picked up for as little as £500 but what should you be looking for? First of all, if it looks ‘too’ clean, then you should be wary. By polishing the frame, waxing the tank and cleaning the tyres, it can look great but that doesn’t mean it will work.

    Always look at a bike from a non-personal perspective. It might be a rare Ducati that you’re poring over but if it is going to have catastrophic engine failure when you ride off, you need to keep a cool head. Take a friend or knowledgeable mechanic with you so you can have someone to bounce ideas off and make sure your decision is the right one. In other words, don’t be short-sighted when buying a used motorbike.

    Make a list of the bikes that you’re interested in and pick a good number of them from the classifieds, eBay, Bike Trader and anywhere else that sells bikes. Don’t buy the first one you go to see. Shop around and make sure the one you choose is right in every way for you. If it’s not, then either use that to haggle the price down or walk away. Remember, it’s only a machine and there are many more like it. If you’re shopping at second hand bike dealerships then you should have an idea of the cost that it would cost privately. If the price is way too high and the warranty is short, then walk away and work out a better way to buy your bike.

    Make sure you can have a test ride. It might mean that the owner has to call their motorcycle insurance company to organise a short term policy or you might have to set up your own insurance if you’re sure you’re going to buy the bike. Make sure that you check everything on the bike, from wheel bearings, tyres, colour of the oil, the engine and the electrics. For an older bike you might want to check the carburettor for icing, which would make it difficult to start cold and will run badly. Ask the seller not to start the bike until you get there, so you can see if there is any piston ring wear which would be shown from a puff of bluff smoke when starting from cold.

    Make sure all of the paperwork matches up, such as the VIN number, the V5 and the MOTs are up to date. Also, make sure you meet the seller at their home or business. There are many motorbikes that are stolen, have the paperwork forged and then sold on. You don’t want this to happen to you as you will be left out of pocket and with no bike when the police catch up with you.

    Whatever bike you buy, have a level head when checking it over, if it looks strange then walk away.