IRISH DRIVERS SUPPORT SAFER DRIVING TECH

New research by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC reveals strong support among Irish drivers for technology that tracks driving behaviour, particularly for new and young motorists, writes Brian Byrne. The study, involving 1,000 drivers nationwide, highlights that 74% support such technology for new drivers and 72% believe it benefits drivers of all ages. 

However, over a third still view the technology as primarily for younger drivers, and 32 per cent of respondents were unaware that safer driving can lead to personalised insurance pricing.

The findings underscore the importance of telematics, or ‘black box insurance’, which uses in-vehicle devices to monitor driving habits, potentially leading to safer driving and lower claims. 

Alan Behan, Aviva’s Product and Underwriting Manager, emphasises the need for clear information to enhance understanding and encourage safer driving practices. "It’s encouraging that drivers increasingly recognise the benefit of telematics beyond young motorists. At the same time, the research shows that there is still more to do to improve understanding of how the technology works and the benefits it can offer."  

Toyota introduces insurance product for Toyota, Lexus owners

Toyota's best seller: Yaris Cross.

Toyota and Lexus have launched a new tailored motor insurance product in the Irish market, writes Brian Byrne. Toyota Insurance Services has developed it in partnership with insurance technology leader Wrisk Europe GmbH.

The product offers comprehensive, competitively priced cover designed exclusively for Toyota and Lexus drivers, including Any Driver Cover, Genuine Toyota Parts, No Claims Bonus Protection, and Vandalism & Uninsured Driver Protection. 

Hybrid and EV drivers also benefit from added protections such as battery, charging cable and wall box cover.

The launch represents a significant expansion of Toyota’s insurance offering, reinforcing the brand's position as Ireland’s best-selling car brand for the fifth year running. 

New driver number regulation for insurance renewals

Driver numbers will be required on all motor insurance renewals in the state from the end of March, writes Brian Byrne. The number is on driving licences and those of all named drivers on policies must also be provided.

Failure to provide the driver number will mean motorists will not be able to renew their car insurance.

The numbers will subsequently transferred to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) which is aimed at keeping uninsured drivers off Irish roads. An Garda Síochána can access the database through their mobility devices, enabling them to spot drivers without insurance.

On the Irish plastic card driving licences, the driver number can be found in field 4d on the front of the licence. It contains nine numbers and no letters. 

Neglected tyres can invalidate insurance

Motorists who don't make sure their tyres are fit for safe use could have their insurance policy invalidated, writes Brian Byrne. The stark warning was given to mark Tyre Safety Day on 7 October.

Premium tyre manufacturer Continental, highlighting policy clauses that requires insured drivers to maintain their vehicle in a roadworthy condition at all times, says that if the roadworthiness of a car is deemed to contribute to a road accident, an insurance company can claim that a failure to properly keep up maintenance renders the policy invalid.

Tyres have such an important effect on the overall roadworthiness of a vehicle that drivers should regularly check them, according to head of Continental Tyres Ireland Tom Dennigan. Reinforcing the message, motor engineer and independent insurance assessor David Geary says faulty brakes and worn and defective tyres are generally the most common technical elements cited as key contributory factors in collisions. "The onus is very much on drivers to keep their cars in a roadworthy condition," he says.

Safety organisations and many tyre manufacturers recommend that motorists should think of changing their tyres when the tread depth goes below 3mm as the tyre’s braking ability can be seriously compromised the closer it gets to the legal limit of 1.6mm.

Liberty Insurance offers premium rebate for coronavirus

Liberty Insurance is to provide rebates on motor insurance to its customers due to the coronavirus situation, writes Brian Byrne.

The company says the offer is 15pc of the premium for two months, subject to a minimum amount of €10. The rebate is applicable to eligible policy holders as of 1st of April, for car, van, bike and taxi who have not laid up or suspended their policy. It can be applied for from 8 June 2020, through the website www.libertyinsurance.ie.

Customers can take it in a cash-equivalent voucher, or they have the option of requesting that Liberty donates the rebate to a charity working on the front-line in the fight against coronavirus.

At a European-level, Liberty Insurance has made a €250,000 donation to Médecins Sans Frontières.

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Take the Liberty route in bad weather

Take care when driving as we head into the winter season, writes Trish Whelan. We've already had a taste of what may be to come with Ophelia, Brian, and last week's heavy rain.

The way for motorists to deal with it is basically  to use common sense. Which is what Liberty Insurance offers in its check-list for motorists on winter driving.

1. Be sure to stay up to date on minute by minute weather and traffic reports – that way you’ll anticipate and avoid dangerous roadways.

2. Strong winds may affect control of your vehicle, particularly high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists so allow extra space on the road. Make sure there is plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. This should be a minimum of four seconds in heavy rain.

3. Anticipate gusts. Take special care when driving through areas prone to strong winds or when weather reports predict severe weather.

4. Watch out for loose objects and fallen branches that may have been blown on to the road.

5. Use your demister to keep your windscreen clear.

6. Use dipped headlights at all times when driving.

7. Stock a Winter Emergency Kit. In the event that you do have to pull over during the storm or find yourself with a broken-down vehicle, be prepared with a winter emergency kit. Recommended items include: a flashlight and batteries, hand-warmers, blankets, drinking water, shovel and ice scraper, jumper cables, and standalone emergency lights or flares.

8. Finally, don’t panic! Home insurance and motor insurance policies apply as normal in a storm. Insurance cover is not impacted by the weather conditions.

Liberty Insurance customers can call them on 1850 858 530 to notify of a claim. Their Home Emergency and Breakdown Assistance Teams are also available to their customers.

(Photo by Kaique Rocha.)

Younger drivers ‘more fluid’ about insurance fraud

New research for Liberty Insurance suggests a serious discrepancy in what constitutes insurance fraud between 17- to 29-year-old drivers and their older peers, writes Trish Whelan.

The research has shown that younger drivers are ‘more fluid’ in their interpretation of insurance fraud compared to older drivers, but are ignoring the consequences.

Liberty Insurance’s Driving Motor Insurance Reform event held in Dublin early today, brought together leading Irish and international motor insurance experts to debate the challenges and actions needed to successfully deliver motor insurance reform. 

With the rise in claims culture, 82 per cent of Irish drivers believe a ‘claims culture’ is more prevalent in Ireland today than it was ten years ago, while 88 per cent think those who submit false claims should face harsher penalties.

Despite this, few are willing to blow the whistle on insurance fraud. Some 44 per cent would not out of fear of being found out, increasing to 51 per cent among those aged 25-34. 

Conducted by Red C Research among 750 drivers, the survey found that 32 per cent of young drivers consider being untruthful about the primary driver of their car to be ‘mild’ insurance fraud or not fraud at all; this compares to 19 per cent of all adult drivers.

Additionally, some 56 per cent of young drivers consider being untruthful about your profession to be mild insurance fraud or not fraud at all, and 58 per cent say the same about providing a false estimate of the number of kilometres driven per year.

But almost half, 46 per cent of all respondents said that being untruthful with your insurer about the number of penalty points on your license constitutes ‘extreme fraud’. And 43 per cent say providing your insurer with false information about your driving experience is also extreme fraud.

On consequences, in such cases, being untruthful about the primary driver, your profession, annual mileage or penalty points when applying for car insurance constitutes fraud. If detected, it may prevent an individual from securing insurance cover in the future or invalidate a claim. 

Most motorists experience insurance cost jumps

A quarter of Irish motorists in an AA Ireland survey said their motor insurance premiums had risen by between 30pc-50pc at their last renewal, writes Brian Byrne.

A further three in ten of the 3,000 people asked said their premiums had risen by between 15pc-30pc.

In all, three out of every five of the respondents has seen increases of at least 15pc over the previous year.

Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs, says a report from earlier this year by Minister Eoghan Murphy and the Cost of Insurance Working Group must be implemented quickly. The report took on board recommendations from AA Ireland that included a greater use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology by the gardai, to identify uninsured drivers.

According to the survey, drivers aged between 35 and 46 were the most likely to have seen an increase in their premium.

It's official: Women are better drivers than men

Women in their 20s outdrive men with better scores than their young male counterparts with regard to accelerating, harsh braking and cornering, writes Trish Whelan. And when it comes to over acceleration, guys perform worse (69%) than girls (62%).

These facts were revealed today by No Nonsense, the low cost car insurance company, who officially announced that ... MORE

AIG launches new App rewarding safe driving

AIG Insurance has launched an app that rewards safe drivers by reducing their car insurance premiums.

Customers get an upfront 30 percent discount off their car insurance premium for taking the app which AIG say is easy and simple to use. The XLNT driver app then monitors the users' driving habits and gives additional discounts based on the driving results. This helps them to become a safer driver.

Drivers who continue to use the app over a period of three months and indicate a high standard of driving, calculated by the app, can avail of a further reduction on their car insurance premium, as well as special offers throughout the year.

The app is designed to help a driver to avoid bad habits such as harsh braking, excessive speed, distractions like phone calls and driving long distances without breaks. It works by monitoring driver behaviour. It also offers the driver real time information on their driving, gives them a score for each completed journey and allows them to track their progress towards additional discounts and receive offers from AIG.

It is simple to install and registration is straight forward. The app features unique automatic stop/start technology. The app automatically turns on and off itself and won't interfere with your phone while on the move.

Dublin stars Ciaran Kilkenny, Cian O'Callaghan and Sarah McCaffrey were joined by Tipperary hurler Cathal Barrett for today's announcement. More details on AIG's website.

Online preferential insurance in UK to be banned

The UK Competition Authority is to ban the practice of insurance companies providing preferential lower prices through comparison websites than a customer would get by going directly to a company or broker, writes Brian Byrne.

Almost half of new policies issued in the UK are done through such comparison sites, but there's a concern that the cheaper offers often don't meet the actual needs of buyers.

But according to a survey carried out by independent motor insurance broker Insurance Revolution, only 6 percent of respondents said a properly tailored plan was their priority. More than four in ten said cashback incentives were more important in their choice.

The impending ban might help to level the playing pitch for the insurance industry in the UK.

UK crash for cash gangs target 'White Van Bang'

We hear that 'white van man' is increasingly being targeted by criminals running dangerous crash for cash fraud rings in the UK, writes Trish Whelan.

Light commercial vehicles have been involved in almost a third of all deliberate collisions caused by the gangs in a worrying trend that has emerged in the last 12 months.

As UK police, insurers and authorities continue to battle the scourge of crash for cash, bespoke automotive anti-fraud firm APU and international commercial law firm Hill Dickinson, have identified the trend involving drivers of the UK's 3.7 million LCVs.

It seems fraudsters target professional vehicles like vans because they are more likely to be fully insured and their drivers are often working to a tight deadline and are therefore less likely to dispute liability.

One in seven personal injury claims in the UK - some 69,500 a year - are linked to suspected crash for cash scams costing the motor industry £392 million annually.

One investigator and former Detective Inspector of West Midlands Police said "The criminals are banking on the fact that they will simply exchange insurance details and move on. It's cynical, but it works."

With an average value of £30,000, the crash for cash scam is when a vehicle driven by a member of the fraud gang causes a deliberate collision with that of an innocent victim. Traditionally, this involves the fraudster pulling in front of his chosen target and slamming on the brakes, allowing little time for the innocent party to avoid a collision.

Best advice for any Irish LCV driver whose work takes them to the UK is to be vigilant for any suspicious activity on the roads and to at all times maintain concentration and follow the basic rules of save driving.

Blue Insurances launches Bicycle Insurance

While we mostly feature stories about four wheel means of transport, we're happy to bring this new two-wheel insurance product to your attention.

Irish insurance company, Blue Insurances, has launched a new product, bicycleinsurance.ie which is set to bring relief to the thousands of cyclists who fall victim to crime every year with competitive prices starting from €1.99 per month.

This product also includes cover for accidental damage,t heft, breakdown, personal accident and 60 days worldwide cover. Bike theft, in particular, has become a huge problem in Ireland in recent years, with recent CSO figures showing that over 2,000 bicycles were stolen during 2013.

Although many bicycle owners may believe they are protected under their home insurance, the vast majority will not be covered as home insurance can have limits on the value of items that can be insured and may also have high excess rates. If people are unfortunate enough to have to claim, then another benefit is that they can avoid claiming under their household policy which won't affect their home insurance renewal.

Pictured above are Ciaran Mulligan, Managing Director of Blue Insurances, and Kathryn Thomas, at the launch of bicycleinsurance.ie today.

AIG launches Smartphone app

AIG, Ireland's newest direct car, home and travel insurer, has launched its new Smartphone app, AIG XLNT driver (Excellent driver).

The app, available in conjunction with AIG's motor insurance cover, aims to reward better and safe driving behaviour with potential savings of up to 25 percent on motor insurance premiums. It also hopes to encourage drivers to improve their driving overall, leading to fewer accidents on the road.

Customers who use the app will be given a 5 percent discount on their premium immediately and further discounts of up to 20 percent will be applied to the premium after three months use, subject to the scores achieved.

It is the first driving app on the market with an auto start/stop function which means that users do not have to stop and start the app each time they wish to make a journey.

The app scores the user's driving on a scale of 0-100 and provides the user with a visual representation of their journey together with an overall score. It monitors driving performance under four key areas - smooth driving, mobile phone usage, speed and time. Users will also be able to report an accident 24/7 from their app directly to AIG's Express Claims Team via the 'call now' button feature.

XLNT driver is available to download for free to AIG motor insurance customers at the iTunes or Google Store. For more information, visit www.aig.ie.

Most 'gadget' insurance claims due to damage

Gadget insurance provider, Gadgetinsurance.com, has revealed the top reasons for claims during 2013 and has reported that a massive 59 percent of people were forced to claim due to gadget damage, writes Trish Whelan. The remaining 49 percent claimed following the loss or theft of their gadget.

Among the 1,000 people that claimed from their insurance last year were a number of people whose reasons for claiming were somewhat outside of the norm. One woman claimed following a blind date. During the date she popped off to the bathroom, and upon returning was shocked to discover that her date, and her phone, were both gone.

A number of people often end up cancelling their claim after the missing item is recovered. Places where items were reported to have been found vary greatly such as inside a fridge and in the cage of a pet hamster. One forgetful person cancelled their claim following the discovery of their phone under the Christmas tree, which was found thanks to the ringing sound coming from inside a wrapped gift!

Ciaran Mulligan, Managing Director, Gadgetinsurance.com said, "With the rise of smartphone and gadget claims recently, it is becoming more important to insure your gadgets so you don't have to fork out for replacements should anything happen. At Gadgetinsurance.com, we know how important your smartphone and other valuable gadgets are and so offer a speedy claims process so you don't have to be without them for long."

The company received an average of 1,000 claims during 2013. They offer gadget insurance from €1.49 per month.

Wackiest and most popular insurance claims

Multitrip.com travel insurance provider, has revealed details of their 2013 travel insurance claims. While most of the claims were standard - such as lost baggage or a cancelled flight - others were somewhat odd.

Among these includes the story of a person who attempted to seek compensation from their airline after a spider appeared on their jacket during their flight. Following the flight, the person complained that airline staff refused to look for the spider hence causing them to suffer traumatic stress.

More recently, Multitrip.com have seen high profile claims in excess of €100,000 - many of which were due to medical issues. 42% of claims during 2013 were for medical assistance.

Here are the top ten reasons that people claimed travel insurance during 2013:

1. Medical Assistance: 42%
2. Reimbursement of the cancellation expenses of trip: 26%
3. Compensation due to problems with personal belongings: 12%
4. Indemnity due to transport departure delay: 4%
5. Indemnity due to problems with luggage & belongings: 4%
6. Early return due to serious family matter: 3%
7. Medical Transport: 2%
8. Loss of connections due to delay of transportation: 2%
9. Urgent Dental Treatment: 1%
10. Replacement of cash: 1%

It was recently revealed that 28% of people still travel without insurance. Commenting on this statistic, Ciaran Mulligan, Managing Director of Multitrip.com said, 'The fact that 28% of people travel on holidays without travel insurance is worrying, given that over the past number of years we have seen an increase in claims in excess of €100,000. Why take that chance?' He continued, 'For the price of a few pints, people can make sure that they are covered against a holiday disaster that is outside of their control.'

AXA cuts insurance for electric cars

Insurance company AXA is offering a 20 percent discount on insuring customers with electric cars, writes Brian Byrne.

Colm Mc Grattan, Executive Director at AXA, says the new electric vehicle policy has been developed by AXA as part of group initiatives to reduce the company's carbon footprint.

The offer applies to new and existing customers

AXA in Ireland has acquired a Renault ZOE electric car as part of its commercial fleet. It will be used as part of an employee carpooling scheme.

Pictured are Dermot McArdle, Managing Director, ESB ecars and Colm McGrattan, Executive Director at AXA Commercial with the Renault ZOE.

Gadgetinsurance.com celebrates iPhone 5S & 5C launch

Apple's newest smartphone models will hit the stores this Friday, 25 October and to celebrate gadgetinsurance.com has announced a limited offer of 10 percent off annual policies.

A recent survey by Behaviour & Attitudes for gadgetinsurance.com found massive growth in smart phone and tablet access and usage here in Ireland. Some 79 percent of Irish adults have a portable online device which can be used on the go. On average, Irish adults have access to three portable online devices at home. Smartphone ownership is highest amongst the 16-24 year olds with 81 percent ownership.

However, 55 percent of those surveyed said they did not currently hold insurance for any of their gadgets.

Gadgetinsurance.com offer iPhone and smartphone insurance cover providing protection against theft, accidental damage and water damage. Additional loss cover is also available. This promotion is available to use in the ROI between 25-27 October. Log onto gadgetinsurance.com and enter the following unique code to avail of this promotion. Code: GPGP298791. www.blueinsurance.ie

Pictured above are Ian Kennedy, Marketing Manager, gadgetinsurance.com; and Ciaran Mulligan, Managing Director, gadgetinsurance.com

In love with our cars, but not rules of the road

Consumers in Ireland would sacrifice almost everything before their cars if they faced financial difficulty.

In fact, 92 percent of respondents to the www.123ie SMILES Index on driver happiness say that their car is essential to their way of life. This Index researches driver behaviour to see what makes people happy about motoring in this country.

But not everyone is happy on the road and overall, 73 percent of us complain about fuel costs. And cars are no longer toys for boys with 92 percent of women saying they are happy to attempt to repair their husband's car!

Cost of fuel ranked as the most frustrating thing about owning a car, followed by having to pay road tax. Having to cope with vehicle breakdowns, getting the NCT and the cost of general maintenance ranked on the list of frustrating things about car ownership here in Ireland.

Just 8 percent of consumers said they would get rid of their car first if faced with financial difficulty. They would drop holidays, household luxuries, TV packages, and gadgets before selling their cars. The only thing we seem to like more than our cars are our mobile phones.

It seems that we love our cars and love driving, but want the road all to ourselves. Poor driving by other drivers came in most prominently as an irritation for 29 percent of respondents. Other drivers disregarding the rules of the road was next most annoying trait followed by lack of respect for other drivers.

The research was conducted using online polling and is based on over 500 respondents completing the survey. The survey was conducted using OnePoll online polling.

No Nonsense launches SmartDriver

No Nonsense, the low cost car insurance company, has today launched SmartDriver technology aimed at cutting out 'the nonsense' in the car insurance market by offering cash back based on individual driver behaviour, writes Trish Whelan.

The company claim that this technology, now being offered by over 60 percent of UK car insurance firms, will transform the way in which car insurance premiums are determined and works on the basis of rewarding safe drivers for their behaviour on the roads.

The technology will use an in-car telematics device to measure driver behaviour. It follows the EU Courts banning insurance discounts based on gender and will be seen by many younger women as a way to avoid the significant increase in premiums, getting cash back of up to 30 percent.

A study involving 1,000 drivers, conducted to mark the launch of the new SmartDriver, found that 61 percent of men believed they were safer drivers than women, with 82 percent of women drivers disagreeing. Some 75 percent of men welcomed the new EU law which prevents use of gender on setting insurance premiums, and 73 percent of women disagreed with it.

Our picture shows model Holly Carpenter, Irish rugby International Cian Healy, and Jackie McMahon, General Manager of No Nonsense, at the launch of SmartDriver.

FBD Insurance plc, trading as No Nonsense, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.