Choosing a tourer – tips

If you’re looking for a touring caravan, particularly if it’s your first time, you might find the following tips to be useful even if they’re largely common sense:

• take your time. Look around and compare a number of options before making your decision. Try to use your head as much as your heart, as that cute and appealing tourer might be simply too big or too small for your needs;

• think about running costs. Some tourers may be more expensive to maintain, operate and repair, than others. Check for things such as the availability of spares and how much it might cost to purchase them;

• think carefully about your requirements. Purchasing a caravan only to discover shortly afterwards that it doesn’t provide enough facilities or isn’t the right size, might prove to be an expensive mistake. Plan out in advance, exactly what you’re looking for;

• don’t break the bank. Stretching your available money to the limit on the purchase may leave you too short of cash to do anything with your caravan once you have it. Remember that, just like cars, caravans can go wrong and need money spent on them;

• think about touring caravan insurance. Some makes and models of tourer may cost significantly more to insure than others. That may be fine if you have budgeted accordingly but check in advance of purchase to avoid getting caught out;

• balance new versus previously owned. There is no single answer to what approach might suit you but think carefully about all the issues. Sometimes a lower-cost solution may not prove to be quite so cost-effective if it means substantial subsequent spends on refurbishment etc;

• research your caravan before purchase. That applies to the specific caravan (check for accident histories and repairs) but also to the type. If you’re looking at what appears to be a bargain and you’re not familiar with tourers, you may want to ask some expert advice as to why the model appears to be so reasonably priced compared to different types;

• check everything works. Whatever the documentation says, make sure that you have tested the electrics, water supplies, tyres, undercarriage and so on. Get expert help if necessary.

Best insurance cover for disabled drivers

People with disabilities often have a far more pressing need for a car than the rest of the population. It can be their only route to obtaining the level of freedom they require in their life. Without a suitable vehicle the most basic things such as shopping or socialising can become onerous tasks. Therefore, a rock solid policy is of paramount importance.

Disabled drivers may have significantly different requirements to their able bodied counterparts. Not only may they own different types of vehicles and mobility aids, but these vehicles may also be specifically adapted to suit their needs. Many disabled drivers own bespoke kit cars, and it can be very difficult to get insurance from traditional providers. Another route taken by many is to import cars from the USA, and this can also lead to difficulties with obtaining cover. Though the Disability Discrimination Act has forced insurers to up their standards many disabled drivers still find their choices are limited.

If you drive a car with modifications it is crucial that your insurer will replace like for like in the event of an accident. Such modifications may include:

o Ramps
o Tail Lifts
o Person and Wheelchair Hoists
o Twin Flip Pedal Transfers
o Adapted Controls
 Tiller Controls
 Steering Wheel Balls
 Joysticks
o Transfer Seats
o Wheelchair Storage
o Child Harnesses
o Restraints and Belts
o Side Steps
o Winches
o Electronic Ring Accelerators
o Throttle and Brake Hand Controls
o Handbrake adaptations
o Infra Red Controls

Any such modifications must be disclosed to the insurer and written confirmation must be obtained that the policy will extend to cover them. This is vital as the cost of repairs for such modifications may be prohibitive.

It may be impossible to supply a suitable courtesy car, so look for an insurer that offers a loss of use allowance. Additionally check that wheelchairs and mobility aids are insured by the policy in the event of an accident or loss whilst stowed within your vehicle.

Insurers will require full disclosure of any driving license restrictions and may even require a medical report to confirm that the insured party is fit to drive.

An insurance broker with experience in this intricate and delicate field like Chartwell Insurance will be able to best service specific needs and have access to a range of insurance providers who they know will be able to provide appropriate cover. Some will consider motability driving experience as a no claims bonus and this can be very helpful in reducing the size of a premium. Also look for insurers that include roadside assistance with their policies to save hundreds of pounds every year. As with traditional insurance three levels of cover are typically available from third party to third party fire and theft to fully comprehensive.

Many disabled people rely on the help of a carer to ease their lives and may be required to also drive their clients vehicle. This will need to be added to any policy.

Taking a road trip in Ireland

There’s a lot to see and do in Ireland and if you have never been before you may find it useful to select one specific area rather than try to cover the whole place in just one trip.

A trip to the south west, for example, may offer you the very different delights of Counties Kerry and Cork.

Being on the Atlantic coast, you may be forgiven for thinking that the beaches of Kerry may be quite a chilling experience for most of the year. To the contrary, you may find that the effects of the Gulf Stream mean that the water is surprisingly warm and many will claim that it may be possible to swim in the sea all year round – though that may be a matter of individual tolerances!

In some parts of Kerry you’ll also find whole villages where Gaelic is still the primary language spoken and much of the county is steeped in history and legend. There is also a strong culture of traditional music.

If you’d like a break from all the history though and take part in some retail therapy, Killarney can offer a multitude of shops and opportunities to purchase local arts and crafts.

If you enjoy a challenging drive though, then the Ring of Kerry may be worth a try. This is a 110 mile stretch of costal and mountain road offering spectacular scenery. If you are a Northern Ireland resident, then checking on your car insurance for Northern Ireland before embarking on this drive may be a good idea.

Further east you’ll come to county Cork, which has its own attractions including the city of Cork itself which is the second largest in the Republic after Dublin.

With history dating back to the 1st century, this is an area with a lot to offer, including some magnificent walking tours to experience the history and the architecture, music festivals including traditional Irish music, art galleries, shopping and of course gourmet food and drink. Cork harbour was also the last berth of both the Titanic and the Lusitania and the dead of both those disasters are commemorated here.

Need a change – Be a taxi driver

Many people become bored of sitting in a stuffy office all day. This is why people now love the opportunity to try something different; like being a taxi driver. The UK transport network is ailing, the train system is horribly outdated, and the buses rarely turn up on time. The economy is in the bin, jobs are more difficult to get hold of, and with the advent of weekly taxi insurance, now is the perfect time to try out the role of a taxi driver.

What Does the Driver Do?

A simple question to answer. The taxi driver takes people from their location to another destination for a fee. This fee is decided on by a taxi metre in the car itself, however fares are influenced by local authorities. A driver may pick up passengers from the side of the street or they may have to be called personally, but this depends entirely on whether they are a private or public hire driver.

Getting Started

To get started individuals need:

• A car which can manage at least 100,000 miles during its lifespan. It has to hold at least four passengers and it should take very little servicing. Servicing costs can cripple any new taxi business.
• A knowledge of the local area. Yes, a satellite navigation system can be useful, but they are not always accurate and they don’t point out handy little shortcuts to avoid the traffic.
• Insurance to protect against any legal claims members of the general public may make. This can be anything from weekly taxi insurance for the tentative person putting their toe in the water to fully comprehensive taxi insurance.

Single or Not?

The choice as to whether someone wants to actually drive the taxis or whether they want other people to do it for them is a hard one to make. Some people are not cut out for driving but they have a great business head, so employing other drivers may be a good idea. This obviously takes more thinking about and certainly more planning than simply being an owner driver. Research is needed as is a proper business plan.

Taxi drivers can find excellent rates for fully comprehensive or weekly taxi insurance at redmetro

What is Business Insurance?

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a multi-national limited company or a small home-based start-up business – your business can be brought to its knees by a claim made against it.

One way to protect your business from claims for compensation (from the public or employees) is to be rigorous about health and safety regulations and procedures, and to be vigilant in observing your duties as an employer.

If those measures fail for any reason, then you need to have adequate business insurance in place. There are several types of business insurance.
One type of business insurance is Public Liability Insurance. This protects you against any claim for negligence (that has led to personal injury or loss to property etc.) that might be made by a member of the public. So for example, a customer slips on your floor or you accidentally lose their files or damage their property through the course of your work: they can make a claim against you. Even if the claim is spurious and is not actually due to any negligence on your part, it can be costly to hire a solicitor to defend your case.

If the claimant were to lose their case, they could be ordered to pay your costs, but not necessarily – and even if they are ordered to pay your costs, they might not have the money to do so.

If the claimant were to win their case, you would have to pay whatever level of compensation was ordered by the court, and you would probably also be ordered to pay their costs as well as your own.

Another type of business insurance is Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII). This is relevant for businesses that act in a capacity of offering expertise to a client. For example, solicitors and will-writers have to have PII, to protect them in case a client alleges that their advice was wrong and negligently given, and has led to a loss.
You might also need PII if you handle sensitive data that might go astray.

A third type of business insurance is Employers’ Liability Insurance. This is necessary for any business that has employees. If you are an employer (and the definition of an employee is broader than you might think – it is rather hard to demonstrate that a person who does work for you is not merely self-employed) then you have responsibilities towards your employees whilst they are at work. If they get hurt or ill because of something at work (such as a slippery floor, faulty electrics, food poisoning) then you could be found to be to blame. Employers’ Liability Insurance provides you with protection against the legal costs of your defence and the costs of any compensation awarded. If you have employees, you have a legal duty to have Employers’ Liability Insurance in place.

Is a car insurance policy all about price?

When most of us look for an insurance policy price is the first thing that we consider. With petrol prices rising to higher levels than ever, every saving you can squeeze out of your car is essential. However, you have to be careful that you do not just choose the cheapest policy going and then discover it doesn’t include the things you thought it would. Sometimes a slightly more expensive policy will include extras like courtesy cars, protected no claims bonus and a no claims bonus for named drivers, which could save you all money in the long run. You need to think about your individual needs and strike a balance between policy price and features to find the right car insurance policy for you.

If price is the most important factor for you then you should look on the Internet for the cheapest car insurance quotes. Insurance comparison sites, such as uSwitch scour 100s of the top insurance companies to return the best quotes for you. They tend to have simple interfaces that make comparing policies easy, and will let you change things like the excess to see how much of an influence it has on the overall cost.

The company you choose to insure with is always important and you should check online reviews to ensure that you invest in a policy with a reputable company. There is nothing worse than paying for an insurance policy, then when you come to claim the provider tries to get out of not paying, or you find you’re not insured for as much as you thought you were. Sometimes it is worth paying a little bit extra for a company with a good track history, rather than opting for the cheapest policy regardless.

There are also specialist car insurance policies that can provide extra support to different groups of people, such as the over 50s. Because people aged over 50 tend to claim less on their car insurance and often combine 5 or more years of no claims history with a have a low yearly mileage so they have access policies with lower annual premiums. These policies may not be immediately obvious when looking on an insurance comparison site.

There are also extra incentives that some policies offer to entice customers. Options such as a protected no claims bonus may charge a slight premium but will ensure that your policy price stays low in the years to come, even if you have to make a claim. If you have been careful enough to build up your no claims bonus then having a policy that will protect it is a very valuable feature. Multicar policies can also work out cheaper for households with more than one car, as insurers will lower the prices if you insure all of your cars with them. Other insurers offer no claims bonus for named drivers, which could save thousands if the named driver has to get a policy of their own.