Autos and motos: all news and articles

In the world of car insurance, a wide assortment of coverages exist and for good reason. Certain types of motor vehicles require specialised insurance cover due to the nature of the car. These vehicles include high performance cars, grey import vehicles, and high value cars. This grouping also includes vehicles that have non-standard risks attached to them. Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, Nissan Skyline, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Nissan March and Porsche are among the vehicles in this grouping of high performance and prestige vehicles, although there are many others.

Fortunately, quite a few insurers offer private car insurance cover of this nature so that all car owners can protect their motor vehicles while travelling to and from work, travelling on vacation, or simply storing their cars in a garage or off-road storage location. Insurers who deal with this specialised grouping typically have special training so that they are fully capable of meeting the needs of the insured.

In many cases, certain requirements are in place when it comes to car insurance coverage for high performance or high value cars. An age restriction is often in place. It might state that the driver of the vehicle is at least 28 or 30 years of age. Likewise, the driver often must have a minimum of at least two years with no claims discount before they can obtain this type of cover. In any case, drivers seeking insurance cover for high value, high performance, grey import, or non-standard risk vehicles must have at least one full year of driving experience with the specific vehicle in question or one that is quite similar.

A limited number of available discounts exist for this type of car insurance cover. In general, they are typical and similar to those obtainable with standard coverage. Each discount offers benefits based upon one of the following: the secure garaging, safety and security measures in existence, limited mileage, and the length of the ownership of the high performance, high standard, non-standard risk, or grey import car for the insured.

As with any type of car insurance cover, certain benefits are attached to the policy as standard. In particular, both Third Party, Fire, and Theft cover and Comprehensive cover typically provide a number of these benefits with the purchase of the policy. These benefits vary from one insurer to another. Typical benefits received as standard cover often include a small sum for the replacement of vehicle locks due to the loss of the car keys, insurance cover while travelling the European Union, and more.

No matter which insurer is used to obtain private car insurance cover for high performance cars, grey import vehicles, and high value cars, and non-standard risk vehicles, certain limits are in place regarding replacement values, accident losses, and reimbursement for repairs. Additionally, certain restrictions are often in place regarding original ownership of the motor vehicle.

The potential damage that can be caused by leaving a vehicle outside in bad weather is well known. Few people with garages take such a risk with their car during the winter months. For some reason cars seem to get special attention though, whereas taking care of caravans often gets forgotten about. Just like your car, your caravan needs care and attention, to reward you with many years of pleasurable caravanning and, when you come to replace it, keep depreciation to a minimum.

Even finding somewhere to store your caravan during the winter months is not sufficient though, as the rain that falls in April contains the same acids as the rain that falls in December. Leave that rain water to build up on your caravan for too long and the deterioration soon starts, along with a probable development of sludge and green algae on the roof.

It is not just the wet weather that is a problem either, the powerful UV rays of the sun can damage the paintwork, tires and upholstery. Yet the weather is only the start of the problem. Birds might well enhance your caravanning experience, but they show no respect when it comes to where they leave their droppings! Consider also the potential for nasty scratches, bumps and even the audacious thief.

There is a solution though – a good caravan cover is an accessory that can save you upset and expense. You can even buy one that will help your caravan blend in with its surroundings. After all, wouldn’t you rather be out enjoying your caravan than spending precious time cleaning or repairing it?

The well-fitting cover, especially one made to fit your own particular caravan, is a microporous barrier. Just as our own skin is waterproof and ‘breathable’, exhaling condensation, so the caravan’s weather resistant cover can protect it from damp as well as all other environmental damage. Most covers are made from polypropylene, a versatile material well known for its toughness, strength and its powerful resistance to chemicals, grease, oil and heat.

Your caravan is an investment and deserves sound protection. Look after it all year round and you will reap the maximum benefit from it. Time spent on good ‘over-wintering’ will pay off when it comes to the spring and the wise caravanner will follow a check-list of jobs to do before settling it into hibernation. Removing all the contents, leaving the fridge door open and giving the caravan a good clean and polish will all stand you in good stead for next season and rounding everything off with a good quality caravan cover will be a job well done.

A meaningless hybrid?

If you’re at the Detroit Auto Show, or following the coverage, you might think the automotive world has really changed. All our troubles are behind and new green vehicles, particularly hybrids and plug-in vehicles, are set to make everything better.

Yet, in ten years less than 10 percent of America’s automotive fleet will be hybrid or plug-in – at best – according to almost every automotive analyst and researcher.

Anyway, this year in Detroit the Ford Fusion hybrid was awarded The North American Car of the Year. And it’s deserving. Everything about the Fusion hybrid is great, except for sales. Sure, almost 30,000 Ford consumers bought a Fusion hybrid last year, however, over 400,000 Ford consumers bought a gas-guzzling Ford F150.

And next year in Detroit, the Chevy Volt will probably win The North American Car of the Year. Yet, the Volt will probably move even less units than did the Fusion hybrid in its first year. Even more alarming, by 2020, according to GM executives like Bob Lutz, plug-ins like the Volt will still only appeal to about 5 – 10 percent of consumers.

Today, even hybrid king Toyota only offers the third most fuel efficient fleet in America – despite selling 200,000 hybrids – thanks to its many gas-guzzler sales.

Sadly, in tens years the US auto fleet won’t be much more fuel efficient than it is today, and green vehicles will still be just a niche, but at least we’ll get to enjoy a decade of superb greenwashing along the way.