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FOCUS ON: Car Insurance
Save £££s on car costs by shopping around and getting the best deal
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HOW TO... cut the cost of car in surance
We all know that car insurance is a must, but how can we get the right amount of cover without paying a fortune? With a little research and a spare hour or two, it’s easy to cut the cost.
Frequently asked question s...
•Don’t just auto-renew when the time comes, always phone up your insurer and ask if they can reduce the price. Insurers rely on the fact that many drivers don’t bother to question the new premium or take the time to call around for a cheaper quote.
•Third party isn’t always the cheapest option. It may be the minimum legal requirement but it only covers the driver you bump into plus their car and many insurers will actually give you a more favourable price if you choose comprehensive as your cover option.
•The optimum time to renew is said to be 20-26 days ahead and it can potentially save hundreds of pounds. Never leave it until your renewal day, as the cost options might not be as favourable and you’ll pay more as a result.
•If there’s more than one car in your family, ask about a multi-car policy as many providers offer incentives for adding more cars, even with different renewal dates.
•Adding a second and even third named driver can bring the cost down, especially if they have a clean record and years of experience. They don’t have to live in the same house as you either.
•Your job title can also make a lot of difference to the cost of your policy so try tweaking the wording to see if that brings the cost down.
Is it cheaper if I pay monthly? No,
it will end up costing you more overall so where possible, always pay an annual sum. If you can’t afford to pay yearly in one go, a credit card with a low interest rate will still work out cheaper than paying your insurer with a monthly payment plan, as their interest rates tend to be pretty high. Shall I bother with protected no-claims and other add-ons?
Protecting your no-claims bonus is always worth doing. It may cost a little extra and you usually can’t do it until you’re about four years in but it’s definitely a good thing as you can keep the discount on future insurance policies, even if you’ve had to make a claim. It’s probably cheaper to get your breakdown cover separately elsewhere, however, so double check. Can I switch insurer before my
USEF UL CONTACTS
renewal is up? Yes, you can swap providers at any time during the year and you can save money doing so. If you have to cancel an existing policy, always make sure the new one starts immediately so there’s no gap where you’re not insured. You should get a refund for the rest of the year from the old insurer but they may charge a cancellation fee. If you do one thing... Use price comparison sites – they • Compare prices as well as cover levels at compare quickly show you the difference in themarket.com, confused.com, gocompare.com, premiums and levels of cover. Try those moneysupermarket.com, directline.com listed in Useful Contacts (left), and go and aviva.co.uk. to Direct Line and Aviva directly – · Find further advice at uswitch.com. they aren’t on comparison sites · There are also some helpful tips at and may offer a much thisismoney.co.uk and money.co.uk. cheaper rate.
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Wren K itchens went the extra mile for us
With the help of Wren Kitchens, Gabrielle and Calum transformed their canal boat into a stunning space to cook and socialise in
Meet Gabrielle and Calum, owners of unique canal boat 2 Crew and a Cockapoo
The kitchen is a place to flex your culinary expertise, but it’s also so much more than that. As well as being functional, it’s the social heart of the home – and achieving a space that encourages this is at the top of Wren Kitchens’ tick list. Whether your room is big or small, Wren Kitchens will work with you to create a design that’s suitable for any space and place.
To be inspired by Wren Kitchens’ carefully curated designs, check out Gabrielle and Calum’s unique canal boat refurbishment. Their home is part of the #Wrenovation series, which shines a spotlight on real customer kitchen renovations. STEP ONE When Gabrielle and Calum went into their local Wren Kitchens showroom, they had a challenge for designer James Ware. They were on the hunt for a modern kitchen complete with a full range of home comforts, all of which needed to be installed onto a wide-beam canal boat. The new kitchen was part of Calum’s larger renovation plan for the boat, which meant that the couple had a clear vision for their home. This consisted of an industrial-style kitchen that would not only complement the overall aesthetic of the boat’s interior but also fit within its tricky dimensions. This was a challenging brief, but one that Wren Kitchens was more than happy to take on. ‘They were one of the only companies that weren’t afraid of our design’, says Gabrielle.
STEP TWO After speaking with James, the couple opted for a Milano Elements kitchen. The handleless design of the Milano units was a great way to save space on the compact canal boat and the smooth lines of the modern design worked wonders for their vision. ‘We wanted to go for an industrial feel throughout the boat and when our designer saw the space, he suggested we go for a Milano Elements style as this would complement the look we were hoping to achieve,’ recalls Calum. However, it was the sleek finish of the Metallic Night Elements range that really sealed the deal on the design for their boat, 2 Crew and a Cockapoo.
