Advice From The Experts

Car insurance claims: How to prevent a claim

Car Insurance Claim form, ready to be filled out.

No-one wants to have to make car insurance claims. Unfortunately, these things are often out of our control. What is in our control, is our actions towards avoiding such an incident that can result in making a claim.

Continue reading to discover our top 5 tips on how to reduce your chances of an accident, and in turn a claim on your car insurance:

1. Avoid tailgating

Travelling too close to the car in front, otherwise known as tailgating, is one of the leading causes of car accidents. Without leaving an appropriate amount of space between yourself and the car in front, you are putting yourself at greater risk of a collision.

Did you know?

You need at least 3 seconds to react if the car in front of you starts braking suddenly.

It is recommended that you should be able to see the tarmac and back tyres of the car in front, if you cannot, you are too close.

5 benefits of leaving space behind the car in front:

If you are hit from the rear, the space creates a buffer between yourself and the car in front, minimising possible damage
Allows room in case of roll back, if you have stopped on a hill
Leaves room to pull out and move around if the vehicle stalls or breaks down
Enables you to see further up the road
Gives you more margin for error

Be aware

Fraudulent claims are on the rise! Claimants are braking at unusual places, such as roundabouts, causing the vehicle behind to run in to the back of them.

2. Err on the side of caution

“I didn’t see the car until it was too late”

When pulling out of a minor road take the time to check for vehicles on the major road and assess the speed they’re travelling at. One of the most common causes of car accidents is not noticing the oncoming vehicle and/or misjudging the time you have to pull out onto a major road.

This could put you at blame of the car accident!

Before pulling out of a minor road, make sure your windows are clear of condensation or frost and wait until you are absolutely sure that it is safe to move on.

3. Watch your speed

Car accidents caused by travelling too fast for the road conditions are often a result of drivers rushing to their destination. Consider your journey time and plan in advance. Allow plenty of time for your journey, and if you are late – don’t panic! It is far more important that you get to your location safely, rather than timely.

4. Overtaking is overrated

Overtaking another vehicle can be a dangerous manoeuvre to make due to the difficulty in judging the time and space to complete the overtake successfully and safely. The manoeuvre is made even more difficult in certain places such as road junctions or at the brow of a hill.

If you must overtake, follow this advice:

Don’t tailgate
Use your mirrors and check your blind spots if necessary. Signal and when safe to do so then start to move out
Be careful to not immediately follow an overtaking vehicle in front of you, there may only be enough room for one vehicle
Take extra caution at night and in poor visibility. Conditions like these make it harder to accurately judge speed and distance
Think ahead and don’t overtake when there is a possible right turn the vehicle in front might make.

Most importantly, if you are ever in doubt, don’t pull out! In this circumstance, proving the other driver is to blame would be extremely difficult.

5. Don’t leave keys in the car

This may sound like an obvious point to make; nevertheless, it is so easily done.

Have you ever left your keys in your car with the engine running while you were defrosting your windows? Most of us have!

However, if your car is stolen while your keys are inside the vehicle, your insurer will not pay out. Whether you had ‘popped inside’ or ‘turned around for a second’, insurers will find these as insufficient excuses.

How to make car insurance claims

The team at David J Miller Insurance Brokers is on hand to offer help and advice. We can help in presenting your claim to the insurer and move it forward as quickly as possible.

Contact our insurance claim department directly on 01254355175 during office hours, Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm.

Or, email us at claims@davidjmiller.co.uk.

Should you be involved in a car accident you can call our 24-hour motor accident helpline on 03435065794.

Why should I use an Insurance Broker? Answering your FAQ’s

Lucy Pilkington Insurance Brokers

Insurance brokers helping you save money.

What is an insurance broker?

To put it simply, as an expert in their field, an insurance broker represents their clients’ interests in finding and advising on cost effective insurance protection. They act as the middleman between clients and insurance companies; through understanding their clients’ needs and requirements they can ensure that they find suitable cover to meet their requirements at that time.

What does an insurance broker do?

Primarily, an insurance broker is someone you can buy insurance from; however, they do not work for insurance companies. A broker will work towards understanding their clients’ needs and constraints in order to be able to act in their clients’ best interests. Essentially, they become their client’s right-hand person in insurance by shopping around to find the best possible deals with their client requirements in mind.

Why would I use an insurance broker when I can use direct comparison sites?

Often, a comparison website will be the first port of call when looking to find the most competitive insurance policies available. Undeniably, a comparison site can be a good way of quickly scanning the current market, however, even the most well known sites offer generic policies rather than cover that is tailored to meet your specific needs. This means you could be paying for cover you do not need or may even not be able to find a policy that fully meets your individual requirements.

This is where an insurance broker can step in to make all the difference.

5 benefits of using an insurance broker

1. Dedicated expertise

An insurance broker offers a wealth of knowledge and understanding of how the insurance world works; with most specialising in particular areas of insurance and having access to insurers that do not deal directly with the public.

2. Personal touch

A good insurance broker will get to know their client, providing excellent customer service as a part of their service. By building a rapport with their client, they are able to properly understand their clients requirements and in turn find the policy that fits them best. Through building strong relationships with their clients, insurance brokers can become a reliable and trustworthy advisor.

3. Time savers

Shopping around for insurance can be a long and tedious task, especially if you are not completely sure on what you are looking for. Hunting for competitive and comprehensive insurance deals is what a broker is best at, as they do it every day! Other than taking information as and when it is needed, informing of the competitive rates available and contacting their client before their renewal date, brokers leave their clients to carry out their day-to-day lives while taking care of the hard work for them.

4. On your side

A broker’s priority is to find the best deal for their client while providing support as and when it’s needed. They will source cover to meet with the clients requirements and that at the most competitive quote available at that time.

5. Claim support

Brokers are on hand to provide support and assistance should a client need to make an insurance claim. They aim to make the process as simple as possible for the claimant by helping them to present their claim to the insurer in a clear and legible way in order to move the claim forward speedily.

Do I have to pay extra to use an Insurance Broker?

There are no upfront costs payable for using the services of an insurance broker. They are motivated by finding the best deal for their client and take a commission fee from the insurance company that has offered the quotation.

What sets David J Miller apart from other Insurance Brokers?

Based in the Northwest of England, David J Miller Insurance Brokers is a renowned insurance broker with over 50 years of experience. Operating since 1965, we have continuously developed and expanded our product offering through niche insurance opportunities and products.

As a dedicated insurance broker, we have built our reputation upon the foundations of competitive premiums, comprehensive cover and exceptional customer service. Our goal is not to satisfy our customer’s expectations but to exceed them!

In short, we don’t just want to sell you an insurance policy. Our team are on hand every day of the working week to assist with any of your concerns or queries. No matter how big or small the question may be, we are here. After all, our mission statement is to guarantee that you receive the most beneficial service to ensure that you want to return to us year after year.

Haven’t found the answer you were looking for?

We are happy to help with any queries you may have!

Car Insurance FAQ’s: Answers from the insurance experts

Lucy Pilkington Car Insurance

Any further questions? We’re happy to help!

Speak to an expert today; we’re always on hand to answer your car insurance FAQ’s.

**Do I have to buy car insurance?**

This may be one of our most popular car insurance FAQ’s.

In short, if you own a vehicle, it is a legal requirement in the UK to have car insurance.

Failing to insure your vehicle can lead to serious legal repercussions.

Why is car insurance so expensive for young drivers?

This is simply because statistically younger drivers are more likely to get into an accident than those that have years’ experience of driving. However, there are ways to help keep the costs of your premium down if you are a younger driver; one popular option is installing a telematics box into your car that monitors how, where and when you are driving. By selecting a telematics insurance product, you have the opportunity to demonstrate you are a safe driver, which could helping to reduce your premium.

Does my car insurance cover everything?

While it depends on the policy and coverage you have selected, even the most comprehensive car insurance will not cover everything. At David J Miller Insurance Broker, our team of experts pride themselves on being able to find comprehensive and competitive policies suitable for your needs at that time, however, there can sometimes be some exclusions, restrictions limits to a policy. Our team will work with your needs and budget in mind to find the best fit.

Can my insurer change my policy whenever they want?

Insurers can change a policy mid-term within reason. However, your insurer is obliged to inform you in advance before any changes can be made to your policy.

Usually your insurer will try to reach you through one of these methods of communication:

Phone
Email
Letter
Through your broker

Insuring through David J Miller Insurance Broker means that you can be confident we will inform you of any changes or updates to your policy as and when they may occur. We guarantee to do our very best to keep your policy premium as low as possible, allowing you to carry on with day-to-day life knowing your insurance is in safe hands.

What is a no claims bonus?

Otherwise known as a ‘no claims discount’, a no claims bonus is a discount accumulated over up to 15 consecutive years that the policyholder goes without making any claims. This discount can be taken across insurers, you just need your no claims bonus proof and the renewal notice from your previous insurer.

Will I lose my no claims bonus after making a non-fault claim?

Positively, submitting a non-fault claim should not affect your no claims bonus and you should be able to continue accumulating your discount.

Will my insurance premium be affected after making a non-fault claim?

It is extremely probable that your premium can be affected following a non-fault claim, for example, if someone hits you while you are driving to work.

This being said, a non-fault claim should not normally affect your car insurance premium as much as an at-fault claim.

How can I prevent an insurance claim?

Accidents where you cannot prove the other party are to blame cost your money!

Read our guide on the best practices to avoid an insurance claim on your car.

How do I make an insurance claim?

Should you need to make an insurance claim, our team will be on hand to offer insurance claim help and advice on the best way to present your claim to the insurer and move the claim forwards as quickly as possible.

Contact our insurance claim department directly on 01254355175 during office hours, Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm.

Or, email us at claims@davidjmiller.co.uk.

Should you be involved in a car accident you can call our 24-hour motor accident helpline on 03435065794.

What makes David J Miller Insurance Brokers better than the well-known comparison sites?

At David J Miller, we look at things differently. We’ve seen all the television adverts and comparison websites, and we’ve decided that our customers deserve more. As a trusted and renowned name in motor insurance, you can rest assured as our insurance team has access to some of the UK’s top independent motoring insurance policies.

We understand that your car is your pride and joy. That is why alongside access to fantastic rates and competitive deals, we provide a first-class customer experience.

Haven’t found the answer you were looking for?

We are happy to help with any car insurance FAQ’s you may have, no matter how big or small!

Motorhome theft: 10 ways to protect your motorhome

Lucy Pilkington Motorhome & Campervan Insurance

Are you protected against motorhome theft?

As the number of motorhome thefts increases each year and thieves become more innovative in their tactics, it’s so important to ensure you stay up to date with the latest security measures and advice.

Here at David J Miller Insurance Brokers, we understand that your motorhome is your pride and joy. We want you to be able to enjoy your motorhome fully without worry of leaving it unattended. Your motorhome is made for exploration, not for being stuck on the driveway out of fear of taking it elsewhere.

With this in mind, let’s explore 10 ways you can protect yourself from motorhome theft:

1. Tracking devices

In the event of your motorhome being stolen, having a high-quality tracking device fitted could mean the difference in recovering your stolen motorhome or not. While it may seem tempting to save a few pennies and go for the cheapest tracker available, investing in your security means investing in your peace of mind.

Insurance tip

Some insurance companies have now made it mandatory to have a Thatcham Research or Sold Secure approved tracker installed. Which can significantly increase the chances of recovery following theft, whilst upholding the security of your motorhome.

2. Take measures to prevent motorhome theft

While installing security measures around your motorhome such as steering wheel locks, gear locks, clutch claws and wheel clamps increases the overall safety of your vehicle, they also act as effective visual deterrents.

3. Protect your keys

Although this may seem like an obvious point, how many of us have left our vehicles running or with the keys in the ignition while we ‘popped’ in somewhere? It is always better to err on the side of caution by removing keys from the ignition. We also recommend to avoid leaving them lying around the motorhome. Insurers are unlilkley to pay out in the event of a claim where keys have been left in an unattended vehicle.

Safety tip

Consider storing your keys in a secure pouch to protect against keyless entry and loss of keys.

4. Immobiliser

While some motorhomes come with an immobiliser already installed, it is crucial to ensure your vehicle is equipped with one. An immobiliser can protect your vehicle from moving once turned off, even in the event of being hot-wired by a thief without a key.

Insurance tip

Make sure your immobiliser is Thatcham category 1 in order to meet most insurance requirements.

5. Alarms

The installation of a motorhome alarm can be one of the simplest yet most effective deterrents of theft. Whilst most motorhomes now-a-days come with an alarm already installed, it’s important to ensure your vehicle is equipped with one.

Safety tip

Find out whether your vehicle has an immobiliser and alarm in your vehicle handbook.

6. Security cameras

While the installation of security cameras may not prevent the act of motorhome theft, they are hugely beneficial in helping to figure out who is responsible for it.

7. Enhanced door security

As most motorhomes are built with lightweight bodies, upgrading the security of your motorhome doors can greatly help prevent thieves from using simple tools like screwdrivers or lock picking devices to gain entry to your vehicle.

8. Safes

Unsure of where is best to store your valuables such as money and jewellery? Investing in a safe to store in your motorhome can help add another layer of security to your vehicle, especially when travelling for long periods of time.

Safety tip

It is recommended to not take valuable or sentimental possessions on trips as thefts from campsites can occur frequently.

9. Display deterrent signs

Displaying deterrent signs and stickers of the security measures in place in the window of your motorhome acts as an effective warning to prevent potential thieves.

10. Find motorhome insurance that protects you

We have the privileged position to not only offer access to fantastic rates and competitive mo torhome insurance deals from our panel of some of the the UK’s leading motorhome insurers, we also guarantee a first-class customer experience with our friendly and personal team.

Be confident that your home on wheels is competitively and comprehensively insured and protected with David J Miller Insurance Brokers.

Safety tip

Although it’s imperative you get insurance cover for your motorhome, it is just as important to ensure you put the necessary security measures in place to prevent theft of/from your motorhome.

Looking for the best quote on your motorhome insurance?

Find out how we can help! Call us now for a no obligation quote or advice on insurance for your motor home.