How to avoid a winter car insurance claim
Everyone dreams of a white Christmas. Unfortunately, not all of those who have their dream come true and see several inches of snow on the ground enjoy their experience as much as they would have liked.
Each year, car insurance companies are inundated with claims from motorists who have had accidents caused by wintry weather. These motor insurance claims range from crunches caused by skidding on ice and snow to accidents involving fallen trees and flooded roads.
As well as being extremely inconvenient at the time, winter accidents can often cause problems for the future too. Many of these drivers will be unable to find any cheap motor insurance quotes after they have claimed as they will be viewed as higher risk by their car insurance company.
All in all, it is much less hassle to take precautions beforehand that will decrease your chance of having an accident and needing to make a claim on your car insurance. This way, you and your car will stay safe and sound and so will next year's motor insurance quote.
Preparing your car
As the days draw in and winter approaches, you will probably feel like staying inside and venturing out only when absolutely necessary. However, it only takes a few minutes to carry out a few checks and the tiny amount of effort it takes is well worth it when you consider all the implications for your motor insurance otherwise.
The first thing to do is to check all the exterior lights on your car. It's easy to drive around without realising that you have a blown bulb, which can cause confusion for other motorists, especially in bad weather like heavy rain or fog. As well as ensuring your lights are functioning, give them a quick clean as spray from the roads can quickly impair their effectiveness.
An absolutely vital part of your car to look after is the windscreen wipers. Check both back and front wiper blades regularly for signs of wear or splitting. When driving in wet weather, having a decent wiper blade can make the difference between adequate visibility and a dangerous inability to see. Each year we hear of people driving into the back of queued traffic on a rainy day because their windscreen was smeary and they couldn't see properly.
On a related point, ensure that you have plenty of windscreen wash. Splashes and spray will result in a dirty windscreen in seconds once you get on the road on a rainy or snowy day so it is important to be able to clean it when necessary. Make sure the windscreen wash you choose has an anti-freeze element to it so it won't freeze when you spray it on cold mornings.
It is also well worth taking a look at the level of water and anti-freeze in your car's cooling system. The mix should be 2/3 water, 1/3 anti-freeze and this will both stop the water from freezing and provide rust-protection for the radiator.
As well as these steps, it is also advisable to carry out your usual car maintenance checks on a regular basis. Take a few minutes to have a look at all the tyres (including the spare) and check the pressure, as well as ensuring the battery is fully charged and in good working order.
Preparing your journey
If the wind is howling and the rain is torrential, it is nature's way of telling you to stay in. It is highly recommend that your follow this advice because driving in these conditions can be extremely hazardous. Fallen trees, high winds on open roads and flooding can all cause serious problems for car drivers and have been the reasons for car insurance claim upon car insurance claim.
However, if you absolutely must travel, we have a few tips that can help you to stay as safe as possible in the conditions and prevent any nasty rises in your motor insurance quote rates.
Before you leave, let someone know where you are going, the route you expect to take and how long you should be. Also, remember to take a fully-charged mobile phone with you so you can telephone for assistance if there is an accident or your car breaks down.
It is also well worth taking a glance at the fuel gauge. Allow a generous amount of fuel for your trip because you may have to drive further than you have planned if you need to take an alternative route. If you are driving in very cold weather, you should take into account the fact that the engine will burn more fuel than normal.
You may find that your windows and windscreen will mist up when you get in if it is wet or cold. It is important to clear all of them totally so you have full visibility before you start out on your journey. Many motor insurance quote has gone up because an impatient motorist has set off with only a small defrosted patch on the windscreen to see out of.
As important as it is for you to see other motorists, it is also vital that they see you too! Ensure that your headlights are on if the light is poor, it is raining or visibility is otherwise compromised. The only exception to this rule is driving in fog; use your fog lights instead as you may find that your headlights make your own visibility even worse.
If you live in a rural area, it is best to stick to the major routes as much as possible. This is because these roads are most likely to have been gritted and are less likely to be blocked by trees, debris in the road or flooding.
Winter weather - extra equipment
When driving in poor weather conditions, it's best to be prepared - even if you aren't going very far. Taking a few precautions before you leave could save you a great deal of hassle if anything should go wrong.
Here is a checklist of bits and pieces to take with you on a winter journey:
- Heavy duty jump leads
- Tow rope
- Good first aid kit
- High quality torch
- Snow chains (for use in deep snow only)
- Fuel can
- Light bulb kit and fuse range
- Money for fuel or emergency phone calls
- Warning triangle
- De-icer and a windscreen scraper
Motor insurance quotes that are cooler than the winter
Now you are all prepared for the worst that winter can throw at you in all respects but one: your car insurance.
When you get a motor insurance quote with duck2water Car Insurance Services, you will find everything you need to stay protected, all year round.
With telematics technolgy and a Clear Box fitted as standard you get accident alert and theft tracking services as part of our deal.
However, the best thing about motor insurance quote with duck2water is the price. We specialise in really cheap car insurance for careful, low mileage drivers, and many customers find they save £££s on their motor insurance outgoings. To go with our really low cost motor insurance quotes, we also offer great breakdown cover deals and legal expenses insurance.
Want to save money on your car insurance? Get a motor insurance quote with us.