Car Insurance Advice | Cool Cars & Bikes

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4 Things You Car Tyres Are Trying To Tell You

By Jodie

When was the last time you took a long, hard look at your tyres? They can tell you more about your car’s condition than you think. Your tyres are one of the most important aspects of your vehicle. The wear down quickly and many drivers don’t take the time to care for them. New drivers are particularly oblivious to their tyre condition. Did you know, for example, that there’s an optimum tyre pressure that you must stick to? Did you know there’s a legal limit when it comes to tyre wear and tread depth?

These are the things you should be looking out for on your vehicle. The tyres themselves also reveal some deeper secrets. They can help you diagnose problems in the steering alignment, and even the suspension. The state of your tyres indicates the first signs of trouble within the car. In this post, we’ll show you how to pay more attention. We’ll teach you to understand exactly what your tyres are trying to tell you.

1. Heavy central wear

When the tyres are heavily worn down in the centre of the tyre, it means just one thing. Your tyres are overinflated. It means that only the central part of the tyre is coming into contact with the road. Overinflation is bad for a number of reasons. First of all, it gives you a distinct lack of control over the car. The less contact there is with the road, the less grip you have on the tarmac. Secondly, it can seriously impact the efficiency and performance of the vehicle. Always stick to the recommended inflation pressure.

2. Heavy outer wear

As you would expect, lots of wear on the outer parts of the tyre suggest the opposite problem. Your tyres are significantly under inflated. You’re running close to flat. All the strain of the car is being forced to the outer part of the tyres, causing excess wear. Running on flat tyres puts a lot of pressure on the engine. Just think about how hard you have to pedal when biking on a flat tyre. Your engine is under the same strain. This is a clear example of how the tyres can indicate a much bigger problem developing under the bonnet.

3. Cracks and bulges

Cracks along the outer wall of the tyre usually occur as a result of under inflation. When the tyres aren’t pumped up, the structure of the tyre collapses, causes cracks to appear at the edges. If there is also heavy outer wear, you’ve got a serious case of under inflation. This makes it much more likely that damage from road bumps, kerbs, and debris will occur. If there is serious impact damage, you’ll see a bump or bulge under the rubber. Unfortunately, there’s only one solution, and that’s a replacement! You can buy tyres from your local garage or online via a type shop such as tyre-shopper.co.uk

or visit a reputable dealer to carry out the change. Type specialists such as National Tyres are the UK’s No.1 fast fit retailer for car tyres so if you have any problems or questions then head to our nearest garage.

4. Feathering and cupping

Lastly, look out for uneven wear, as it spells trouble inside the system. Cupping is when there is ‘mountainous’, up-and-down wear. It means the suspension is in trouble. Feathering is when the edges of the tread are smooth, but the inside is raised. It means your alignment is drifting.

As you can see, your tyres tell you a lot about the condition of your car. Learn to read them, and take action.

Severe wear on just one side? You’ve got trouble! Image Source

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Cheapest Cars to insure revealed

By Mark

With the cost of car insurance being higher than ever, more and more people are researching which cars are cheap to insure before they decide to buy. The cost of insurance is fast becoming the deciding factor when choosing the right car so here’s a heads up about which cars won’t burn a hole in your pocket when it comes to insurance.

Toyota Aygo 1.0

The Toyota Aygo falls into insurance group 2 and is one of the cheapest cars to insure. It’s a cool city car that can be bought new from £8,535 and is as cheap to run as it is to insure. Its compact size makes it perfect for nipping into tight parking spaces so it’s an ideal first car for new drivers. It’s also surprisingly spacious inside and a good, reliable first car.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.0

It’s no surprise that the Vauxhall Corsa has been one of the UK’s bestselling cars for over 20 years. Not only does falling into insurance group 2 make it one of the cheapest cars to insure, it’s also a reliable car with affordable running costs.

Its affordability makes it a popular choice among young buyers and its newer versions are more economical and have lower carbon emissions than ever. The new version can be bought from around £9,495 and despite not being the most exciting car on the market, the Corsa’s dependability still makes it one of the UK’s favourites.

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta has long been one of the UK’s bestselling cars and also falls into insurance group 2. It’s a reliable car that’s cheap to run thanks to a good mpg. New Fiesta models also emit less carbon and have sharper steering with the feel of a big car on the motorway. Overall this is a great car to drive that is stylish inside and out and doesn’t cost too much to run.

Citroën C1

The Citroën C1 is another cheap car to run, making it perfect for young drivers and families on a tight budget. This great city car has compact dimensions that make it easy to nip into tight parking spaces and affordable prices across the range. It also has a low running cost – managing 65mpg from the petrol engine – and low carbon emissions. This means the C1 won’t fall victim to road tax increases that punish high carbon emissions.

Ford Ka

The Ford Ka has been one of the UK’s favourites ever since it first went on sale in 1996. It’s a small, practical car that falls into a low insurance bracket and is cheap to buy and run. It can struggle on the motorway but it’s still a reliable car that is surprisingly spacious inside. Its small size is perfectly design for town driving and it provides a smooth ride that soaks up most bumps in the road.
For information visit Unicom insurance.

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Legal and financial implications of owning a cool car

By Jodie

Owning the latest model of your favourite car manufacturer or the newest sports car is an important part of life for some. Taking to the open the road in your prized possession is an exhilarating experience, though it is also important to consider the legal and financial implications of owning a cool desirable car.

No one likes to dwell on the possibility of road accidents, though all car owners should be equipped with sufficient knowledge in the event of an occurrence. Even for smaller incidents like whiplash claims legal advice will often have to be sought, so finding a trusted and professional legal firm is essential.

Many owners of desirable and luxury cars will have invested a substantial amount of their earnings into the purchase, so receiving the right kind of insurance cover is important. Vehicle insurance is a requirement for all cars on the road, and third party insurance is the legal minimum, which covers you in case of an accident causing damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property.

However, this level of insurance is not enough to cover any other costs like repair to your own vehicle.
Many companies do not offer insurance packages for cars over a certain value, so owners of luxury vehicles are advised to use a specialist insurance firm.

Classic cars are also a specialist area and as such, owners of vintage models often require a specially tailored insurance package. As the cost of premium car insurance can be hefty, you may wish to seek the advice of an insurance broker who will work to find the most cost effective insurance protection as well as offering advice on how to make a claim in the case of an accident.

If you are involved in a road traffic accident you will have to provide your name and address as well as vehicle registration number to your insurance company at the time of the incident. If not, and in more serious incidents, the police must be contacted within 24 hours. Your insurance company will then be able to provide you with further advice and steps you need to take.

If you are involved in an incident with an uninsured driver, you should inform the police immediately. Although this can sometimes complicate the situation, it is still possible to receive compensation in some cases. This will involve contacting the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and you should remember that if you decide to start legal proceedings against an uninsured driver you must give MIB notice in writing within 14 days after those proceedings are issued by the court.

Compensation after any kind of road accident may be possible by seeking the assistance of personal injury solicitors. The amount you can claim will depend on a number of factors: the pain suffered as a result of injuries, how this has affected your day to day life, and any loss of earnings as a result. You may also have incurred extra expenses, like travel or medical costs, which you may be able to claim back.

Owning a luxury car can be a source of great pleasure, though your vehicle’s high worth means that extra steps have to be taken to ensure you receive suitable insurance and legal support in the case of an accident.