Car Insurance - Safety First Child Restraints

September 2006 will see the introduction of new laws regarding child restraints in cars. Current laws state: - Children aged three to 11 (inclusive) and less than 150cm tall are permitted to travel in an adult seat belt if no child restraint is fitted. New legislation says: - Children aged three to 11 and under 135cm have to be seated in child seat or booster (designed to be used with an adult belt), suitable for their age and weight. Children taller than 135cm (4ft 5ins) or aged 12 or over must wear an adult seat belt where one is fitted. The driver is responsible for ensuring these rules are complied with until the child reaches the age of 14, when they must take responsibility for their own safety. The Department of Transport believes that, by making sure that children are securely restrained and not allowed to use adult seatbelts until they are sufficiently tall for them to work in the proper manner, 2,000 child injuries and deaths will be prevented. The penalty for failing to comply with these regulations will be a fixed penalty fine of 30 or, if the case proceeds to court, a fine of up to a maximum of 500. Exceptions will be allowed in emergencies, cars without seatbelts, and when children are passengers in taxis. Information on child-seat safety can be obtained from the Child Accident Prevention Trust, www.capt.org.uk or from the governments website www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk theres a question and answer section on government website which is very comprehensive and seems to answer every question you could think of. Theres a good choice of car seats available, and you should always ensure that they are made to conform to the European Union safety standards. For a young child its probably worth investing in a seat that can be adjusted as your child grows. For an idea of what youd have to pay for a seat that would take your child from 9 months to 12 years, the Recaro Start seat can be bought for around 200. Theres the Evolva 23 seat, from Britax, which is adjustable and suitable for children weighing from15kg to 36kg and up to 135cm (4ft 5ins). The back of the seat can be extended as the child grows, so that the head is always supported. This costs around 65. For a baby of up to 9 months, or around 13kg, a rear facing approved car seat is acceptable, fitted on either the front passenger seat or in the back of the car. It must no be used in the front if an airbag is fitted. Its extremely important that the seat is fitted properly, and many suppliers offer a fitting service. Do remember that its important that before you have the seat fitted; make sure it fits your child. The 18 September is the date that the Department of Transport is aiming for, so remember, after this date you need to comply with the new rules. These laws are to be taken seriously. Parents and regular carers are not the only ones who need to be car seat ready. You may occasionally take your, say 9 year old, grandchild out with you. The big difference there is that, prior to September 18; no special steps had to be taken. After this date youll need to equip yourself with a seat or booster. If you are in the unfortunate position of being involved in an accident, and if your child or children are not travelling in an approved car seat or booster, your insurance may not be willing to pay out, resulting in what could be a considerable personal claim against the driver, whose responsibility it is. Parents and (even occasional) carers please take note. Car Insurance mart is a specialist website that offers UK residents access to a href="http://www.car-insurance-mart.co.uk">Motor insurance. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Challiner

Car Insurance And A Bad Driving Record: Can You Still Save Money?

If you're worried about car insurance because of a bad driving record, there may be some things you can do to save money. Here are some tips. Consider raising your deductibles. While you work to improve your driving record, which takes time, you can ask for a higher deductible on your comprehensive and collision coverage to get a lower premium. Do you really need all of those features? The more features your policy has the more it will probably cost. Right now's a good time to consider getting rid of rental car reimbursement and towing coverage. Consider a less expensive car. If you drive a less expensive car, you may want to carry only collision coverage and not comprehensive coverage to lower your insurance costs. Improve your credit score. Believe it or not, insurance companies often use credit scores to help determine risk. The higher the risk you are to them, the more they will charge. One way to help lower your risk is to improve your credit score. Comparison shop. You'd be surprised at how car insurance costs can vary between companies. Do some comparison shopping by getting at least three different quotes. Make sure you are comparing the same coverages and features between quotes or your comparison won't be accurate. Be truthful about your driving record. Car insurance companies spend a lot of effort to combat insurance fraud and can find out if you've lied. This will only make things harder for you because they will probably cancel your policy. What's more, this may make it harder for you to get insurance from another company. Scott Lunt is a freelance writer with over 15 years experience writing insurance-related articles. You can compare car insurance quotes and find more tips on saving on car, home, life, health and long-term care insurance at LowerYourInsurance.com. The site also includes a handy worksheet to help you when shopping for car insurance. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Lunt

Car Insurance Rate Teen Give Them Something Safe!

Its probably safe to say that all teens look forward to their sixteenth birthdays so they can gain the privilege of driving. Driving offers freedom, responsibility, and an overall grown up feeling for teens. And its probably also safe to say that most teens not only want their own vehicle, but they want a cool vehicle, as well. After all, no one wants to drive to school in Dads old work truck, right? Regardless of whether you purchase your teen his or her own vehicle, or lend them the family car, one of the best ways to get a low car insurance rate for your teen driver is to make sure your teen driver is driving a safe vehicle. If you choose a safe vehicle for your teen driver, not only are you better protecting your teen and the passengers, but youre also protecting the vehicle itself. Insurance companies will look at how much its going to cost to repair the vehicle in the event of an accident, as well as how safe your teen and the passengers will be inside the vehicle in the event of an accident. Insurance companies will look at statistics such as crash test ratings and features such as air bags for both drivers and passengers, so you should research them as well when you head out to purchase your teens vehicle. So, once you head out to shop for a vehicle for your teen, keep in mind that car insurance rates for teens tend to be lower when you choose a sturdy vehicle with plenty of safety features. And if you plan to just loan one of the family cars to your teen? Opt for the safest one! By taking these steps, not only do you have a greater chance for lower car insurance rates for your teen driver, but youre also helping to ensure the safety of your teen as well as passengers.