As many of our roadside assistance service customers will be aware, there has been a notable – if not seismic – change in the cost of their insurance policies. They have, for once, gone down for most motorists.
The reason for this relates to a recent Ministry of Justice ban on insurers selling information to claim management companies. These firms encourage drivers to pursue personal injury demands, thereby pushing up claims across the board (due to the insurers’ increased pay outs).
According to research by the BBC, the ban has had a devastating effect on claim management firms, which have reduced in number from 2,435 in March 2012 to just 1,700 in June 2013.
But as many drivers will be painfully aware, premiums are still much higher than they were six years ago – by a factor of two.
So what is keeping our premiums so high? In short, uninsured drivers. One in 25 drivers has no cover, a figure which rises to one in 5 in some parts of the country.
The Government has taken steps to de-motivate uninsured drivers – by increasing the fine from £200 to £300, and by awarding six instead of three penalty points.
But is this enough? Many people do not believe so, mainly because the penalties for getting caught pale by comparison to the cost of getting covered. Policies are often well over £1,200.
A recent survey revealed that 81 per cent of respondents did not believe the penalties for uninsured drivers were harsh enough.
What do you think? Let us know below.
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