Welcome to my WebFlickers Article Directory

Although those illegally using a mobile phone whilst driving will be fined, this may be just the beginning of their motoring related money pressures.

This is the claim of AA Insurance, who highlighted that consumers who choose flouting the law by talking on the phone while driving will be fined with a fixed-penalty notice of 60 pounds. And although some people may think that this punishment is enough in itself, for those using a mobile while in motion the financial services firm implied that such drivers will be charged higher motor insurance premiums. It was also indicated that drivers who are guilty of using a mobile phone while behind the wheel will discover their insurance costs rise by around 40 pounds over the course of 12 months - with increases over the 3-year period that the offence lasts for indicated to be “well over” 100 pounds.

Although rising the annual cost of insurance by 40 pounds is in itself a substantial rise, many drivers could discover that being caught with a mobile while driving may have even more serious financial consequences. Out of a panel of 8 insurance companies, AA pointed out that the providers questioned may increase yearly costs anywhere between 4.2 and 18.1 per cent for those with just 1 mobile offence. One firm, it was also claimed, will refuse to provide cover altogether.

As a result of increased car insurance costs, it is also possible that drivers will come under more pressure to manage other aspects related to their vehicle such as fuel and repairs. This could in turn have an impact on their ability to handle other financial commitments such as credit cards, personal loans and household bills.

Drivers caught driving whilst using a mobile phone could also be charged with careless driving. This offence, it was claimed could lead to a ban. On top of this such consumers could discover that they are refused insurance, with half insurance companies claiming they would not offer them a premium, with the other half charging an extra 50 per cent.

Director of AA Insurance, Simon Douglas said: “Driving whilst using a hand held mobile phone places you more at risk of being involved in an accident - it slows your reactions reactions and makes you less able to control your vehicle. Insurance companies are correct in taking such offences seriously. Most offenders are unaware of the insurance and hope that by raising awareness of this extra penalty we will force people into thinking twice about chatting on a hand held mobile while driving.”

He also claimed that as a result of a road traffic accident police automatically check mobile phone records as a part of their routine investigations to see if a mobile phone played a role in the accident occurring. As a result, when drivers are either looking to take out a new policy or renew their existing one, Mr Douglas advises them to be totally honest with insurance companies when dealing with any endorsements on their licence. If this not be the case however, it was claimed that they may find that their insurance cover is not valid.

When looking to buy a new car, using a cheap loan could prove to be cost effective. By doing so, borrowers may find that they can purchase the vehicle of their dreams and are left with a lower rate of monthly repayments to make. The extra assistance a loan provides could may help when buying a comprehensive motor insurance policy. A loan for this purpose is even more useful for those wanting to buy a convertible car, after a recent study by Confused revealed that insurance for such vehicles is an average of 11 pounds more expensive than for other cars.