Articles by Julia Smith on ArticleSnatch.com

Learner Drivers Rely on Amateur Lessons to Pass Driving Test

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:56:18 -0500

Learner drivers are relying more and more on amateur lessons from friends, family and non-qualified driving instructors in a battle to prevent paying higher costs whilst learning to drive, according to new research. According to a price comparison site, learning to drive with a qualified instructor now costs an average of £1,127. Those who cannot afford to pay for professional driving lessons are finding new ways to learn how to drive for cheaper – and this is a whopping 72% of learner drivers. Research shows that over one in ten learner drivers are taught solely by non-professional driving instructors. A further 13% try to combat costs by taking some professional lessons and then other lessons with family and friends. For those that are relying on training from non professional instructors, 62% admit they cannot afford to pay for lessons themselves whilst 10% claim their parents cannot afford to pay either. But learning to drive via the amateur route may end up back-firing on those learner drivers who cannot afford lessons. 17% say that learning to drive with a family member or a friend turned out to be an unpleasant experience. **End Summary** Topics: car insurance]]> driving lessons]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The author is a freelance writer for the car insurance industry.

Areas in London, South Yorkshire and Manchester Are Car Theft Hotspots

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:30:57 -0400

Latest research has revealed the hotspots for car crime. Car owners living in areas of London, South Yorkshire and Manchester are more likely to be victims of car thieves. Motorists living in this area are also more at ris of having their cars broken into. In this shocking new research, drivers living in Chislehurst, Kent, or Wingate, Cleveland are three times more likely than average to have their car stolen. According to the research 1.17% of car owners across the UK have made a claim for theft on their motor insurance. The research was founded by a price comparison website during a study of the top 20 locations for stolen car claims on car insurance. 3.8 million car insurance quotes were analysed to show that car owners in Chislehurst were three times more likely to make a claim on the car insurance because they have had their vehicles stolen. Other areas of the country that have been branded as car theft hotspots included Sheffield and Bradford which came up high in the top 20 list. Other towns that have been blacklisted as stolen car hotspots include Essex towns Romford and Ilford. **End Summary** Topics: car theft]]> compare car insurance]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Julia is a journalist for Swiftcover car insurance. Compare car insurance rates online and get a quote in under 60 seconds.

Over 1.7 Million are driviing without Car Insurance

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:59:35 -0400

Barkerend in Bradford has been named and shamed as the 'UK's uninsured driving capital' by a report from the Motor Insurers' Bureau. It claimed that almost half of cars are being being driven without insurance in the West Yorkshire county. And it's not just Bradford that haven't been paying up. Five per cent of motorists are driving without insurance which results in almost 1.7 million uninsured vehicles on the UK roads. The top five worst offending regions are: 1. Metropolitan 2. Merseyside 3. Greater Manchester 4. West Yorkshire 5. West Midlands But it looks like those catching a free ride are likely to get caught. The industry report claims that over 232,000 people were convicted for driving without car insurance - which actually works out to one conviction every three minutes. Talk about risky. What is even scarier is the consequences for those illegal drivers and include vehicle seizure, a minimum of six points on a licence and a fine of Â£200. Ashton West, chief executive, Motor Insurersâ€™ Bureau, said: The fact that 1.7 million motorists still take to the roads without insurance is staggering; **End Summary** Topics: car insurance]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Julia Smith is a freelance writer for Swiftcover.com. Swiftcover is the UK's only 100% online car insurance company. We offer car insurance quotes in less than 60 seconds.