Not worth the paper it’s printed on!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Jack

Young drivers are being warned by authorities to check the credentials of their insurance provider before parting with money for motor cover after a company from Leicestershire duped customers into buying bogus policies.

Aston Midshires Insurance, based in Enderby, Leicestershire, targeted the young driver market to offer cheap car insurance policies online. However, Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards team have launched an investigation into the firm.

Apparently, the website has disappeared and the phone number is no longer being answered. Trading Standards officers are worried that there could be thousands of motorists on the road, who think they are fulfilling their legal responsibility, when actually they are not insured.

The company’s headquarters were listed as being based at Grove Business Park in Enderby, however it now appears that they have never actually had dealings at that address.

Sadly, there is unlikely to be any immediate redress for drivers who bought policies from Aston Midshires Insurance, but the City of London Fraud Squad is now involved and it is hoped that some money may be reclaimed.

In the meantime, customers are being warned that they must purchase new policies for their cars as they are not covered to be driving on the roads at present.

For more information, please contact Leicestershire Trading Standards or to get a quote from insurethebox please click onto our homepage at www.insurethebox.com

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Telematics car insurance and more info than you can shake a stick at

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Jack

Here at insurethebox we are constantly updating our website so that young drivers, low-mileage drivers, in fact, all drivers, can get up-to-date news and driving information as well as great deals on telematics car insurance from a company which does nothing else besides – no grocery shops, no funeral parlours, no travel insurance and definitely no cover for chinchillas.

At insurethebox we just sell telematics car insurance, with everything from initial quote to printable insurance documents available online, and we specialise in giving competitive quotes for young drivers and those who only drive a low mileage each year. Plus, we reward safe drivers rather than penalising the not-so-safe ones, so if you’re a good driver you’ll ultimately feel the benefit.

Also, our website has all sorts of information to help drivers understand what telematics is all about and there’s even advice on important topics such as the rules of the road and why you shouldn’t drink and drive.

There’s really useful information for new drivers. For example, click here if you want some great vehicle maintenance tips.

Or, click here for lots of information on telematics and low-mileage car insurance.

And there’s even some lighthearted articles such as Five things you can’t do on a bicycle (or why you need a car) and Dangerous hairstyles and low-mileage car insurance.

So, why not take a look around our site to see if insurethebox’s telematics car insurance would be the ideal cover for you and even if it’s not, you’re sure to find something interesting.

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Hazard warning – Mobile phone in use

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Jack

I was driving along a dual carriageway yesterday when I noticed that the car ahead of me was driving with his hazard warning lights flashing. He was driving pretty erratically, weaving about the lane and slowing down then speeding up. I decided to safely overtake him in the outside lane.

When my vehicle drew alongside his, my passenger looked over to see the driver merrily chatting away on his mobile phone, hazard lights still flashing and seemingly with no intention of stopping.

I passed his car, pulled back into the left hand lane which was clear ahead and when I checked my mirrors, moments later, his hazard warning lights were off, both his hands were again on the steering wheel and within seconds he had accelerated and gone past me!

Now, we know that using a mobile phone is an offence, but this driver’s use of his hazard warning lights was also questionable. So I decided to check my facts with the Highway Code and this is what I found out:

Rule 116 of the Lighting Requirements section – Hazard warning lights.

  • These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.

So, now we know!

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There’s snow tests today!

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Jack

What do you do if you wake up on the day of your driving test and there’s a blanket of snow which has fallen overnight, or you get out to your car and find ice on the road?

If local weather conditions are dangerous there’s a good chance that your practical driving test may be cancelled, but to be sure you need to check with your test centre.

Here’s a handy video which explains exactly what to do if you are unsure whether your test will go ahead.

It may be frustrating if your test is cancelled, but the bottom line will always be safety in the test centre’s decision to postpone an exam and it would be so much more difficult to perform well in difficult conditions anyway.

So, if your test doesn’t go ahead, at least you’ll get the chance to try on a day when the roads will be safer and easier to negotiate.

Good luck! Stay safe!

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Useful stuff for young drivers

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Jack

I’ve been searching around on the internet for information for young drivers and one of the most useful websites I’ve found is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) site.

There’s all sorts of useful stuff on their home page, particularly if you’re a new or young driver who’s gearing up for a practical test, but even if you’ve already passed your test you will almost certainly find something interesting or of use there.

There are links to various services including:

  • Online applications for driving licences;


  • Online theory test bookings;


  • Online driving test bookings;


  • Online vehicle taxing;


  • Statutory Off Road Notifications (SORNs);


  • Information on personalised registrations (number plates);


  • Car fuel data, CO2 emissions and vehicle tax tools;


  • Online MOT status and history checker; and


  • Other online links and services including a journey planner.

There is all sorts of information for drivers on items such as legal responsibilities of drivers and vehicle keepers, and what to do if you are suffering from a medical condition which may affect your driving. There’s even a section on consumer advice for buying a car and how to fight vehicle crime.

And for young drivers in Wales, there’s a version of the site in Welsh. Go on, have a look today, you might just discover something you didn’t know which will help you become a better, safer motorist.

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New driver basics

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Jack

Over the Christmas break, I got talking to some younger people about driving and I was amazed by some of the misconceptions they had about learning to drive. At least one 15-year-old thought it was okay for him to drive a car as long as his brother, who owned it, was with him, because his brother had young driver car insurance!

So, without further ado – here are some driver basics to put the record straight:

  • To drive on a public road in the UK you must be 17. You must hold a provisional driving licence and the vehicle you intend to drive must be covered by suitable insurance. Reputable driving schools will have all their vehicles properly insured, but if you are learning to drive in a friend or relative’s car, they will need to inform their insurer that you, a named driver, holds a provisional driving licence and that you intend to drive the car. There may be an extra cost involved in covering a learner driver.


  • You can book and take a theory test as soon as you have your provisional licence, so you could start to study before your 17th birthday and as you can apply for your provisional licence up to three months before your birthday, you could even have the theory test in the bag before you are able to get out on the road.


  • To book a driving test, you must hold a provisional licence and have passed your theory test. A practical driving test can be booked online by visiting the Directgov website (also the best place to book a theory test) or by calling 0300 200 1122.


  • If you pass your driving test you will receive a pass certificate and your full licence can be sent to you automatically. You can drive unaccompanied straight away and you don’t have to wait for your licence to arrive – just keep hold of the pass certificate.


  • To drive in your own car, unaccompanied, you will need to inform your car insurance provider before you take to the road. For many newly qualified drivers car insurance is very expensive, but new types of insurers, such as insurethebox, use telematics technology which monitors driving behaviour and can help to reduce the price of cover.


  • If you fail your test, you have to wait ten working days (which includes Saturdays) before taking another one – there is no limit to the number of attempts you can have in trying to pass.


Happy learning, happy driving all you young and new drivers!


Image © Stuart Chalmers via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Choosing a new supermini in 2012 – It’s a difficult question

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Jack

It has been said that superminis are ideal cars for young drivers who are looking for cheap car insurance (as long as the engines are not too big and they don’t have sporty additions like high horsepower). So, it is good to see, from the Whatcar review of new cars for 2012, that there is going to be a healthy injection of these little cars onto the market.

The review starts with the Audi A1 Sportback, but we’re guessing the insurance price tag for this would be on the high side. However, the third-generation Fiat Panda gets a good review and offers a genuinely good option for those lucky enough to be able to get a new new car in 2012.

Then there’s news on the new Ford Fiesta, the Hyundai i20 and the MG3. “The MG what?” we hear you ask – well it’s a “Chinese-built, UK-designed supermini” said to rival the Fiesta and the Skoda Fabia. It’s already on sale in China, and UK versions will be launched in the winter of 2012.

The arrival of the Mitsubishi Mirage supermini is mooted as being the replacement for the Colt, while the Peugeot 208 – hailed as a “radical” replacement of the 207 – is reviewed alongside three new models from Renault to include refreshed Clio and Twingo models plus the brand-new electric Zoe, which goes on sale in October.

Seat join this supermini slog with a face-lifted Ibiza and the Mii city car while Skoda launches the Citago in June, at the same time as Toyota’s hybrid Yaris, but they may just be playing catch up to Volkswagen whose VW Up goes on sale in January.

All in all the future looks bright for little car buyers, or should we say, those who wish to buy small cars. But, if it’s cheap car insurance you’re after, always check the car insurance grouping before committing to a purchase, because even the smallest cars can have additions and qualities which make them more expensive to insure.

If you need a car insurance quote, why not click on the insurethebox Get a Quote button now and your quote will be available for you to buy for up to a month.

Image © [F]oxymoron via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Highway Code tweets about the weather

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Jack

Recent statistics have revealed that once motorists pass their practical driving test they very rarely check out their copy of the Highway Code ever again.

However, the Department for Transport has announced that the Official Highway Code has joined Twitter and Facebook to enable reminders about the rules of the road to be shared easily with users.

So, for instance, this morning 5 January, as it’s very windy, the Twitter feed from HighwayCodeGB said:

“In #windy weather, keep well back from motorcycles if they overtake a high-sided vehicle. #HighwayCode rule 233″

And this might just be enough to prevent a young driver who hasn’t had much time on the road from getting involved in a potential accident.

There are also other ways of getting the messages, such as email alerts, an RSS feed or a website widget so that you can share road safety reminders with visitors to your site.

As a confirmed Facebook user, it seems like a good idea to me. Sometimes it’s those fleeting reminders about something that can save the day and when weather conditions are crazy, like today, a quick nudge about the correct way to drive safely wouldn’t do anyone any harm.

Just remember, only check your Twitter and Facebook accounts when it is safe to do so, and never while behind the wheel of your car.


Images © 7son75 and marcopako  via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Safe driving in 2012

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Jack

So it’s time to look forward to some New Year driving resolutions and there’s only one for me ‐ drive more safely.

However, it’s not quite as simple as that, is it? All new drivers need a little bit of help when they first get on the road, but even when you’ve got a few years of driving under your belt, you will still need to stop and think about how you’re behaving every time you take your car out on the road.

With this in mind, I’ve searched around for the top five safe-driving tips from organisations and these are going to form the best part of my resolution:

  1. Concentrate – A road safety spokesman at the British School of Motoring, Robin Cummins (BSM) says that young drivers should be focusing their attention on driving and nothing else. So mobile phones should be switched off and friends should respect the driver’s need to be attentive to the road at all times.

    He said: “Drivers need to be able to concentrate on the road and other road users at all times and avoid being put off by other passengers in the car.”

  2. Peer pressure is pointless – Insurers say that too many passengers in a car can have dangerous consequences. Although they may be relying on you to get to where they want to go, if they tempt you to break speed limits or take unnecessary risks, then the whole group is put in danger, as well as other road users.

  3. Watch your speed – Chief Inspector Diane Pennington, deputy head of road policing in Northern Ireland warned in 2010 that there was a disproportionate number of young drivers aged between 17 and 24 killed in road accidents in Northern Ireland – and not only there but throughout Ireland, the UK, Europe and, in fact, all over the world

    She said, “Such tragic loss of young life is an issue police are addressing, but it’s an issue we cannot address alone, so we are appealing for young drivers in particular to slow down, wear a seatbelt, pay greater attention while driving and to never ever drive after drinking or taking drugs.”

  4. Drink and drugs are dangerous when added to a driver – It’s obvious really, but Trevor Wedge, chief driving examiner from the Driving Standards Agency warns against the dangers of alcohol, over the counter medicines and illegal drugs, saying that all can impair the functions you need to drive safely.

    He says, “Using illegal drugs is highly dangerous. Never take them if you intend to drive; the effects are unpredictable and may result in fatal or serious road crashes.”

  5. Learning for life – You may think that when you pass your driving test, that’s it, you’re done! But driving is a lifelong learning experience and young drivers especially will benefit from taking extra driver training.

    Pass Plus is a great course for new drivers and completion of it may even help you to get a discount on your young driver car insurance.


So, that’s it, my New Year’s tips for safe driving. I hope you have a great, and safe, 2012.

Happy New Year folks!

Image © jerhoyet via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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Driving home for New Year

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Jack

Aaah well, another Christmas has come and gone – another turkey carcass is safely out of the cat’s way and I am apparently, according to my mates, the New Year’s eve designated driver this year.

Oh well, I got to drink last year and I guess someone’s got to do it.

So, I’m gearing up for a long night of orange juice and lemonade, and the ability to recall the entire evening the next morning – what could be better?

But, on a serious note, young drivers all over the UK really should think hard about travel plans for the New Year, because it’s a long old night to get through if you’re really wishing you could be joining your mates in beer drinking and alcohol-fuelled antics, and if your resolve hits a low patch, the consequences of even one drink can be devastating.

However, if the venue you’re going to really makes public transport or a taxi a difficult option, then designated drivers have to be found.

And it’s no good forcing someone be the DD if they really don’t want to because they’ll probably just end up having a drink anyway and then you’re stuck getting a lift home in the car of someone who could be impaired by alcohol, or you have the same, but now entirely unplanned, problem of getting home somehow and it’s not always easy in the wee small hours of the 1st of January to find transport.

So, I’ve taken my commitment seriously and I am not going to have so much as one drink – not even as midnight strikes. It’ll be odd, and a definite challenge, but I really don’t fancy making the New Year headlines as the driver who caused a fatal crash. I’m hoping that this young driver will have a safe and happy 2012 with a long and happy driving future ahead of me.


Image © melalouise via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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