The Easter holidays are just a couple of weeks away, and if you’re heading overseas it’s vital to protect yourself financially in case your break doesn’t go as planned.
Here, we highlight five things to check when buying travel insurance for your holiday. Remember that it’s always worth shopping around for cover so you can find the right cover to suit your needs, at the right price.
1) Buy cover early
If you’ve already arranged your holiday but haven’t yet bought travel insurance, make sure you do so as soon as possible. Jason Whelan, spokesman for Multiptrip.com, said: “As people are booking holidays now, please don’t forget to buy your travel insurance at the same time so that you have cancellation cover if you fall ill and can’t go. There are no savings to be made buying it at the last minute.”
2) Remember the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
If you’re going on holiday in the EU this Easter, it’s worth applying for a GHIC before you go. This will entitle you to medically necessary state-provided healthcare – treatment that can’t wait until you return to the UK – when you’re away, so it’s well worth packing one. It will also cover you in some other non-EU countries such as Australia and Switzerland.
It usually takes around 10 days for the card to arrive once you’ve applied for it, so if you don’t already have one, you may be able to get one in time for Easter. You can apply for the card free of charge at NHS.uk. If you have an existing European Health Insurance Card, this will still be valid until the date shown on the card.
3) Check you’re covered for wintersports or other adventurous activities
If you’re heading off skiing this Easter holidays, it’s vital to check that your travel insurance has winter-sports coverage. The same goes for any trip where you’re planning an adventurous activity so, for example, if you’re going on a scuba diving holiday, you must let your insurer know in advance if you want to be certain your policy will protect you.
4) Do you already have cover?
The last thing anyone wants is to find they’ve paid for cover twice, so make sure you don’t already have insurance in place before you buy. A spokesman for Defaqto said: “Check your bank account – if it is one you pay a monthly fee for, travel insurance may be one of the benefits provided. You may also have existing annual travel policies in place, so check that they will cover all aspects of your next trip. For example, if you weren’t originally intending to go skiing when you brought the policy but now you are.”
5) How much is the excess?
The excess is the part of any insurance claim you must pay yourself, so when buying travel cover, it’s essential to check how much this is. If it’s particularly high, this could wipe out much of the benefit of making a claim, so you need to ensure you choose a policy with an affordable excess. If you’re buying travel insurance from a comparison site such as MoneySuperMarket, Go.Compare or Comparethemarket, you can usually set the excess to the level you want.
]]>Around 200,000 vehicles are seized and impounded by UK police forces in a year, with the most common reason being driven or parked on public roads without insurance.*
According to the MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau), there are an estimated 1 million uninsured drivers on UK roads.**
The police can give out a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points if a driver is caught driving a vehicle they’re not insured to drive. With the potential for the severity to escalate to an unlimited fine, disqualification from driving and even the cease and destruction of the vehicle – should the matter go to court.***
As of January 2022, a car insurance rule change by the FCA meant that insurers could not ‘walk up’ your insurance premium when it came to renewal time, they must give all customers, not just new customers, access to the most competitive offers. With these changes came updates to the auto renewal process, making it easier for people to opt out or cancel their automatic renewal.
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It’s therefore never been so important for drivers to remember when their car insurance policy needs purchased again or this could lead to an increase in drivers unaware their insurance has expired.
Quotezone.co.uk analysed a sample of over 5000 impounded vehicles throughout 2023, with the average driver found to be 35 years old, with no prior claims or motoring convictions. The team at Quotezone.co.uk also noticed a surge in demand for impound insurance across the last quarter, up 33% from August to September and up a further 12% from September to October.
Responding to the research, impound insurance expert Lee Evans from comparison site Quotezone.co.uk, says: “Driving without insurance is one of the most common motoring offences in the UK, with around one million uninsured drivers across our roads.
“Interestingly, the data suggests the issue could simply be an oversight in many cases, with lapsed or out-dated insurance paperwork, given the average culprit has no prior offences.
“It could be that recent changes in renewal legislation earlier this year are beginning to have a knock-on effect. It’s important to double check important documents regularly or set reminders for key dates such as insurance and MOT renewals and driving licence expiry, to ensure details are up to date and that you are fully insured on the road. Worryingly, one of our recent surveys found 39% of people don’t read their insurance terms and conditions in full.
“For those caught without insurance, they could face fines, disqualification from driving, impound charges and penalty points – which can increase insurance premiums by 5% for three penalty points and 25% for six points if they’re starting from a clean licence. Plus, they’ll need to take out additional ‘impound’ insurance in order to have the vehicle released from the pound.
“Although car insurance premium prices are continuing to surge, with the 35-44 year old age group seeing a spike of approximately 14% this year to an average of £712, comparison sites can help drivers compare products and find savings. Plus, there are ways drivers can help keep costs down, such as parking their car in a private driveway, keeping mileage to a minimum and avoiding modifications.”
Lack of insurance is not the only reason vehicles can be impounded, other issues such as stolen, involved in a collision, driving without a licence, parked illegally, untaxed, involved in a crime, driven in an anti-social manner, causing an obstruction or danger and abandoned after an incident involving the police – can all see the vehicle impounded.
Drivers won’t be allowed to reclaim their impounded vehicle without impound insurance, a short-term motor insurance policy that is intended to cover your vehicle for at least 30 days. They’ll also need to take ID, proof of vehicle ownership, a valid driving licence and proof of MOT to the pound to collect it.
If drivers opt not to take out impound insurance then they won’t be allowed to reclaim the vehicle but they’ll still need to go to the pound and ‘disclaim’ it – a process of formally declaring that they don’t want to reclaim the vehicle, this means they are no longer responsible for tax and insurance and the vehicle will be scrapped or sold at auction immediately.
Quotezone.co.uk helps households find savings on all sorts of products such as van, courier and motor trade insurance.
References:
*https://www.driving.org/over-210000-cars-seized-in-the-uk-these-are-the-most-common-reasons-vehicles-are-impounded/
** https://www.mib.org.uk/media-centre/news/2016/september/one-million-uninsured-drivers-still-too-many/
***https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-without-insurance
This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.
]]>Motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk have named seven fines’ motorists could incur if they don’t declare certain information as the registered keeper of a vehicle.
Many motorists are unaware that they risk hefty penalties for failing to update the DVLA on specific matters and withholding details.
There are a range of things that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency need to be notified of, including common medical conditions and address or name changes.
Penalties for not doing so are serious and could set drivers back up to £1000 and 6 points on their licence.
If a driver is involved in an accident and has failed to declare the information, they could also be prosecuted.
As well as informing the DVLA, failure to keep the insurance company up to date with all relevant information could invalidate the policy leading to serious consequences.
Helen Rolph, car insurance comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “Motorists should always keep the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency up to date with any changes.
“There are a few things that car owners must tell the DVLA, and anyone that doesn’t risks a huge fine, or even being taken to court.
“It is easy to think some of these details, like a change of address, is insignificant and therefore forget to notify them, but there could be serious and expensive consequences.
“If you are registered as the official keeper of a car, you have the responsibility for official communications with the police, the DVLA and your insurer.
“If you’re unsure what the DVLA need notifying of, double check by visiting their website.”
According to Quotezone.co.uk withholding these seven pieces of information could result in hefty penalties:
Any individual who the DVLA has registered as being the owner of a vehicle that is alleged to have committed an offence, will be guilty of failing to provide driver details if they fail to name who was driving the vehicle at the time of the offence. The penalty for failing to provide driver details is six points and a fine of up to £1,000.
Drivers must inform the DVLA if their eyesight deteriorates or if they have visual impairments such as cataracts or glaucoma. Their rules state that drivers must be able to read a number plate at 20 metres, which can be with the help of contact lenses or glasses, and that if required, these must always be worn whilst driving. Unfortunately, those whose eyesight does not meet the minimum requirements could risk a fine of up to £1000 and 3 penalty points on their licence if caught driving. Those with poor eyesight could also get their driving licence revoked by police with immediate effect, if they think they are a risk on the roads.
Those who don’t declare a medical condition could fall foul of a fine of up to £1,000 and, if the driver is involved in an accident, they risk prosecution. The DVLA has an extensive list of over 110 conditions that can affect driving, so some motorists may be unaware of all these conditions or the extent to which they say can affect someone’s ability to drive.
Some of the most common conditions that may need to be disclosed include Diabetes, Vertigo and Sleep Apnoea, but there is a whole list on the website that can be checked. In extreme medical cases, the DVLA says drivers must give up their licence if they don’t meet the correct standards of driving.
Not informing the DVLA of a legal name or gender change could land drivers a £1,000 fine. Newlyweds should watch out as failing to inform the DVLA is breaking the law, even when the process is free of charge. Drivers should send off their old licence and any supporting documents so that the driving licence and vehicle log is updated accordingly.
All cars need to be insured and taxed, so anyone not currently using their car must apply for a Statutory Off-Road Notice (SORN). Any keeper of a vehicle which is not going to be in use for a long period of time should declare it as SORN, so they don’t have to pay for it. This vehicle then cannot be used and must be kept in a private driveway or garage because leaving it on a public road is breaking the law.
After being registered as SORN, if the car is used on the road for any other reason than for a booked MOT or testing appointment, the keeper could be prosecuted and fined £2500.
Drivers need to update certain changes made to their vehicle on a V5C registration and send off evidence. The DVLA must be told about most changes made to a vehicle, such as if the chassis or bodyshell is modified or adaptations to the exhaust or number plate, or if the car is wrapped in another colour.
The DVLA will be in touch if they need to inspect the change made to the vehicle to check it is roadworthy. If they need to conduct tests and it fails, the car could be taken off the road until changes are made, or owners could be given a fine or court summons.
Even if it’s not permanent, the DVLA need to be informed of any address changes so they can always reach the vehicle owner. The vehicle logbook and driving licence must always be up to date, whether permanent or temporary, and can be changed online. Drivers can be fined up to £1000 if they do not tell the DVLA of an address change.
Quotezone.co.uk helps millions of drivers every year find savings on car insurance and essentials including energy comparison, and niche items such as courier insurance.
References:
The Differences Between The Registered Keeper And Owner Of A Vehicle
https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving
https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-details-registration-certificate
This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.
]]>The Office for National Statistics has worked out a new way to measure how fast prices are rising. It’s called the Household Costs Index (HCI) and it shows that in the 12 months to December, prices rose by 5%. That’s higher than the headline figure of 4% that politicians prefer, and is the one quoted in the news based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). It’s down from a high of 11.1% in October 2022, but even at 4% is still double the 2% target that the Bank of England is supposed to achieve.
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Statisticians recognise that the CPI is flawed. It’s based on the total amount households spend. But better-off people spend more than those with less money so it is biased towards their spending patterns, not those of less well off people. The new HCI reflects the actual spending of real households. However, the latest figures reverse the trend that previously has shown the better off you are, the less inflation hits you. Now, the lower income group faced HCI inflation of 4.5%. But the increase felt by higher income was 5.6%. A year earlier the figures showed a large difference in the opposite direction. The Office for National Statistics is cautious about them: “The latest inflation rates do not necessarily reflect experience over a longer period of time.” It seems to be due to particular factors such as a fall in domestic fuel prices and a rise in mortgage payments. These costs are included in the HCI but not in the CPI, driving up inflation for people with mortgages to 6.3% in 2023. Owner occupiers without mortgages have seen their prices rise just 4%. For people renting, inflation was 4.9%.
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This new HCI has only been produced for six months and is still experimental, so the Government currently ignores it. The ONS has worked out that since December 2019, prices have risen by a quarter. If your income has risen by less, you’ll not just feel poorer, you’ll be poorer, because you can buy less than you could four years ago. Knowing how your personal rate of inflation differs from the average could be useful in your planning; work out yours at ONS.gov.uk and scroll down to “Personal inflation calculator”.
]]>Although the National Insurance cut means an annual saving of £349 for someone earning £30,000, increasing to £749 for someone earning £50,000, thanks to the freezing of tax allowances in recent years, both the lowest and highest earnings will end up paying more tax overall.
According to calculations by Interactive Investor, someone earning £20,000 will face an extra tax burden of £81, rising to £1,064 for someone earning £100,000.
Alice Guy, Head of Pensions and Savings at interactive investor, said: “Despite the National Insurance cut, many families will still feel poorer than a few years ago as frozen tax thresholds and rising living costs erode the value of the National Insurance tax cut.
“Pensioners won’t benefit from the National Insurance cut as pensioners don’t pay National Insurance on their income. A pensioner with income of £20,000 will pay £230 more tax next year due to frozen tax thresholds, with nothing to mitigate the extra cost.”
Child benefit reforms
Whilst the Budget gave pensioners little to celebrate, there was more positive news for families with children, with changes made to the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) that was introduced back in January 2013.
Under current rules, this tax charge applies to anyone with an income over £50,000 who gets Child Benefit – or whose partner gets it, and increases gradually for taxpayers with incomes between £50,000 and £60,000. It is equivalent to one per cent of a family’s child benefit for every £100 of ‘adjusted net income’, so once an individual’s adjusted net income is over £60,000, the charge is equal to the total amount of child benefit claimed.
From 6 April 2024 the threshold will increase to £60,000 with an extended taper so that the Child Benefit will only be fully repayable once your income is over £80,000. The current system will also be moved to a “household income” based system from April 2026.
However, Paul Falvey, at tax partner at BDO warned: “While the proposed reforms will address a longstanding unfairness which discriminates against households where there is just one higher earner, there will be significant practical challenges in changing the system so that it takes account of household income.
“While the transition measures are only due to last two years, we wouldn’t be surprised if they are extended beyond this date to allow time for HMRC to overcome these difficulties.”#
Saving Inheritance Tax: Inheritance Tax on Savings (hl.co.uk)
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No changes to Inheritance Tax
Prior to the Budget there was plenty of speculation that the Chancellor would announced reforms to Inheritance Tax (IHT), but he left the threshold at which IHT becomes payable unchanged at £325,000. It has been frozen at this level since 2009.
However, buried in the Budget small print there are changes outlined which could make it easier for Inheritance Tax to be paid before probate.
Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown said:
“Rumours that inheritance tax would be changed have been rife in recent months, but they were noticeably absent in the speech. However, a trawl through the background documents shows that IHT changes could still be on the table with moves to ease the payment of inheritance tax before probate or confirmation.
“The documents say that from 1 April 2024, personal representatives of estates will no longer need to have sought commercial loans to pay inheritance tax before applying to obtain a ‘grant on credit’ from HMRC. This could help deal with the issue where families can’t distribute the estate until they’ve paid IHT, and they can’t pay IHT until they’ve got access to the estate. We look forward to more detail, but it has the potential to be a change that can do much to ease financial stress at the most difficult of times.”
]]>New official figures show that nearly one in four couples in England and Wales who live together are not married nor in a civil partnership. The 6.8 million people in cohabiting couples, including 2.6 million aged 40 or more, are taking big financial risks from which married couples or civil partners are protected.
SEPARATION
When married couples and civil partners in England and Wales break up, they normally each get half of all property and money owned by the other, including the value of any pensions due from past employment. This does not apply to separating cohabitees. One of them may be able to argue in court for a share from the other, but the process is difficult and uncertain. The law in Scotland does give some rights to separating cohabitees but not equality with married couples.
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DEATH
People in a married or civil partnered couple can leave all their money and property to their spouse free of Inheritance Tax. Cohabiting To receive emails with our latest news and offers, visit radiotimes.com/email couples cannot do this. When one dies, their partner is liable for tax at 40% on anything they leave over £325,000. In some parts of the UK that is less than the value of a typical home. Any children may suffer, too: when a widow (including widower or bereaved civil partner) dies, their heirs normally benefit from double allowances before Inheritance Tax is due. No such doubling occurs on the death of the second cohabiting partner.
Unmarried partners with children can now get bereavement support payments totalling £9,800 if they are under pension age when their partner dies. But if they have no children, they are not entitled to the £4,300 payments that a childless widow or bereaved civil partner is entitled to.
TAXES
A married or civil partnered couple where one has an income too low to pay income tax can save their spouse up to £252 tax a year by transferring some of their tax-free personal allowance to the other. (One piece of good news for some unmarried couples: those with two homes are not liable for Capital Gains Tax if one of the homes is sold; a spouse would be liable.)
Drivers have been warned not to splash pedestrians or else face fines of up to £5000 plus penalty points on their licence.
Motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk are urging people to drive with caution during the wet weather, as many regions throughout the UK struggle with surface water brought by a rapid succession of storms.
Splashing pedestrians is actually illegal under section three of the Road Traffic Act, 1988 – and is considered to be driving ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road’.*
The Highway Code also reflects the law by explicitly stating that motorists must not drive ‘without due care and attention’ for pedestrians.**
Driving through puddles and splashing other road users may result in a fine of £100 and three penalty points on the licence. However, in some cases, fines can reach as much as £5,000 for driving without reasonable consideration for others on the road.***
Drivers should be sure to navigate carefully when the roads are wet or when bad weather is due, and should use dipped headlights, increase following distances and slow down.
Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “With unusually wet weather set to hit the UK throughout the winter, drivers must be aware of the rules of the road to help keep everyone safe and avoid mishaps like splashing pedestrians, which could end up costing them thousands or adding points to their licence.
“Motorists need to be extra careful when travelling in the rain, slowing down to allow more time to react to unknown situations and doubling the following distance from the vehicle in front to four seconds, as the vehicle will take longer to come to a stop on the wet road.
“Keep in mind that puddles may be deeper than they initially seem so keep an eye out for standing water on the road edge and be ready to react – it’s also sensible to test your brakes regularly when there is surface water.
“If the car aquaplanes, it’s best to avoid hitting the brake and ease off the accelerator gently with the steering wheel held straight and steady until you can feel contact with the road again.”
Here are Quotezone.co.uk’s tips on driving in wet conditions:
As soon as it’s time to switch on your wiper blades, you should also drop your speed – stopping distances at least double when the road is wet so you need to leave more room between you and the car in front.
Be sure to double-check your tyres, ensuring they have adequate treads for good grip on the road. Use the 20p test if you are unsure – you shouldn’t be able to see the outer band on the coin when it’s inserted in the tread, if you can then your tyres could be illegal and unsafe – you must see a qualified professional.
Rather than switching on the full beam, using dipped headlights when driving in rainy conditions will allow for as much visibility as possible for yourself and other road users.
Especially when driving through built-up areas when visibility is reduced because of the rain, remember that more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists will be harder to see. Take extra care when driving nearby to avoid splashing them or you could end up with points on your licence.
Turning on the air con whilst driving in wet conditions will help prevent the windows from misting up due to condensation. If the windows lose visibility you could be charged with failure to have full view of the road, resulting in a fine of up to £1000 and 3 penalty points.
Quotezone.co.uk helps households find savings on all sorts of products such as van, courier and motor trade insurance.
References:
*https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/3
**https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158
***https://www.theukrules.co.uk/news/homes-and-lifestyle/cars-splashing-pedestrians-law/
This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.
]]>Free Wills Month takes place this March, giving anyone aged 55 or over the opportunity to write their will for free, or to update an existing will if they already have one.
One in three over 55s say they do not have a will, despite the fact this could mean their loved ones won’t end up inheriting the things they want them to.
According to research by Canada Life, the main reasons people don’t write a will include believing that they do not have enough assets or wealth to warrant making one, and not being able to afford to make one. However, if you sign up for Free Wills Month, you can get a solicitor to draft a will for you without having to pay a penny.
To take part in Free Wills Month, you need to submit your details on the Free Wills Month website. You’ll then be offered access to details of local participating solicitors who you can contact directly to arrange a time to write your will.
Free Wills Month is arranged in conjunction with a range of UK charities including the Samaritans, Guide Dogs, the NSPCC, Mind, Shelter and Mencap. Charities depend on gifts in wills for up to half their income, and although you’re under no obligation to leave a gift in your will to one of the Free Wills Month charities, it is hoped that many people will use it as an opportunity to help the causes that are close to their hearts.
It’s worth noting that if your estate is likely to be liable for Inheritance Tax, leaving a gift to charity in your will could help keep your tax bill down.
Olly Cheng, associate director at Saunderson House, part of Rathbones Group, said: “Leaving any sized financial gift to charity is exempt from inheritance tax, so it’s certainly worth considering as a way of reducing your bill. If 10% of your net estate is left to charity, the rate of inheritance tax applicable on death is reduced to 36% from 40%, meaning the taxman would take a smaller cut of your estate. It also means you can leave a portion of your wealth to a good cause.
If you’re interested in getting your will written, don’t wait until the end of the month to act as appointments are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis. That means once they’ve run out, no more will be allocated, even if this happens before the end of the month.
Bear in mind too that you will only be able to get a ‘simple’ will written for free, so if your affairs are more complicated, you may have to contribute, but your solicitor should let you know how much at the outset.
Having a will in place ensures that your wishes will be carried out when you die, and your property and possessions will go to who you want them to. If you die without a will, then intestacy laws apply and your estate will be distributed in a set way, and not necessarily to who you want.
It’s especially important to write a will if you have a partner but you aren’t married to them, as even if you’ve lived with them for years, they have no automatic rights under the intestacy rules. That means a will is vital if you want peace of mind that your assets will go to your partner.
]]>Motoring experts are calling on the government for guidance on how drivers should navigate pothole ridden roads.
With research revealing some potholes are taking over 18 months* to be filled, the experts from Quotezone.co.uk say motorists need to know what they can and can’t do to avoid costly damage to their vehicles.
A recent survey by Quotezone.co.uk showed 90% of drivers had issues with potholes in their area – with 60% saying they or friends and family had suffered damage to their vehicles.
Many drivers are being forced to slow down or stop sharply to prevent unnecessary damage – others are having to drive round or swerve potholes in a bid to avoid costly repairs.
But the experts claim these actions could see drivers penalised, disqualified from driving or have between three and nine points added to their licence for careless or inconsiderate driving.**
Drivers could be fined up to £2,500 if their attempts to avoid potholes are seen as driving without due care and attention.
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There are no clear answers as to whether avoiding a pothole could be viewed as an exception to the rules.
And with motorists being forced to make dangerous manoeuvres to avoid potholes, experts are calling on authorities to create clearer guidance.
Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “With the cost-of-living crisis pushing insurance premiums up, costly damage to vehicles due to potholes is the last thing drivers need. We are calling for there to be more information on how drivers should tackle problematic potholes in their area.
“Pothole related damage to vehicles is becoming more expensive as parts, paint and repair costs all soar, meaning drivers are having to lose their no claims bonus to claim for repairs. It’s one of the key reasons that car insurance costs are on the rise, a surge in claims is escalating insurance premiums right across the UK.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more potholes across our roads, and they pose serious safety risks for all road users. With the current poor weather conditions and a lack of adequate funding, our roads are deteriorating, and many drivers are left frustrated with the never-ending issue.
“As potholes around the country go unfilled for months, many drivers are unable to take their normal routes without needing to amend their driving to avoid hitting them, cheaper insufficient materials are reportedly being used to cut costs, meaning the repairs are often only a temporary solution.***
“Driving over potholes can cause damaged suspension components, bent steering parts, damaged shock absorbers, tyre damage and even broken wheels.
“However, if you have an accident while swerving round a pothole, it is likely you who will be held criminally liable. This means you could be charged with a number of wrongdoings, from driving without due care and attention to even harsher offences.
“Perhaps it’s a case of temporary speed reductions in problematic areas or alternative route diversions to reduce the risk of incidents and stop roads from deteriorating further. This problem isn’t going away in the foreseeable future, so we need manageable solutions and practical information to protect all road users from harm and safeguard their finances.”
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Drivers who experience damage from potholes can also contact the road authority in their area and appeal for compensation if they have evidence the damage caused is related to a pothole.
For savings on all sorts of breakdown and motoring insurance Quotezone can help https://www.quotezone.co.uk/car-insurance.
References:
*https://www.libdems.org.uk/press/release/roads-plagued-with-potholes-taking-over-18-months-to-fix
Survey – Quotezone.co.uk’s findings are based on a randomised survey of 600 UK drivers in January 2024, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.
This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.
Around the end of February, pensioners should get a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions setting out how much their pension will be from the second week in April, when it is increased. If you look at the figures and get out your calculator you may be puzzled. The Chancellor promised that the state pension would rise with the increase in average earnings last September, under the so-called triple lock. These rose by 8.5 per cent. But your pension may well have gone up by less than that. Because this year there is a two-tier rise.
The basic state pension – the old one paid to people who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 – will go up by the full 8.5 per cent, rising by £13.30 a week to £169.50. And the standard amount of the new state pension for younger pensioners will also go up by 8.5 per cent – a rise in their case of £17.35 to £221.20 a week, just over £11,600 a year. But most old state pensioners get extras added on to their pension, such as State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (Serps) or additional pension – or graduated retirement benefit (earned between 1961 and 1975) and an extra amount if they deferred their claim beyond pension age. None of these extras are covered by the triple lock. Instead they’ll just rise with prices, which increased by 6.7 per cent last September. It is the first time since April 2021 that the whole pension will not rise by the same percentage.
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More than six million people on the old state pension receive more than the basic pension – some get over £300 a week. Although their basic pension will rise as promised by 8.5 per cent, all those extra amounts on top will, again, increase by just 6.7 per cent. Only around a quarter of new state pensioners get anything extra on their state pension – but if they do, those amounts will also rise by just 6.7 per cent. Teachers, nurses, police officers and others who worked in the public sector may also be disappointed. The pension they get from their job will go up by 6.7 per cent because the triple lock does not apply to these pensions. But with inflation around four percent – and expected to fall – that could still be a generous rise.