Article: The Importance of Pass Plus in Car Insurance

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The cost of motoring is on the up, with both car insurance and fuel prices spinning out of control. According to the AA, the average driver paid 40% more for car insurance in 2010 than in 2009 with this figure expected to increase further in the coming years.

Young drivers have been the worst hit by this, with the average newly qualified 18 year old male driver with a basic 1.25 litre Ford Fiesta standing to pay about £5,000 per year. This is hideously out of proportion with prices paid by other motorists, with the average driver now paying just £791 per year. However there are things you can do to help address this problem, one of which is pass plus.

What is Pass Plus?

Pass plus is an advanced driving course which is available to drivers with a full UK licence within the first twelve months of them having passed their test. It is primarily designed to help newly qualified motorists build up experience quickly. This helps them to become more complete drivers and therefore reduces the statistical likelihood of them being involved in an accident.

The pass plus course consists of six modules which include:

• Driving in adverse weather conditions
• Driving in a town
• Night time driving
• Driving on country roads
• Dual carriageway usage
• Motorway usage

Contrary to popular opinion there will be no test at the end of the course, but your chosen driving instructor will assess you through out the duration of the course so as to ensure that you reach the required standard in order for you to be eligible for a pass plus certificate.

What are the benefits?

Pass plus courses offer many advantages to newly qualified motorists, with boosted experience levels of particular significance. This helps make newly qualified motorists safer on the road, with a qualified instructor observing pupils on lessons and making suggestions for improvement. Additionally the pupil will be given the opportunity to experience elements of the road which they may not have been exposed to before (i.e. motorway driving) with the instructor providing guidance, creating a much safer environment in which to learn.

This leads onto another benefit of Pass Plus for newly qualified motorists, with their enhanced experience levels making them statistically less likely to be involved in an accident and make a claim. This is recognised by insurance companies in the form of cheaper car insurance premiums, as the drivers risk profile will be reduced.

The total saving possible will vary depending on the insurance company, with each insurer assigning different levels of importance to it. Some insurers will only offer savings of 5%, while others will offer a discount of up to 35%. This translates into a total insurance saving of between £250 and £1750 for the average 18 year old male on the Ford Fiesta mentioned earlier which demonstrates that initial investment of paying for the pass plus course is very much worth it financially.

Not a man only club

Traditionally male drivers have paid more for insurance than females, with this reflecting the fact that men are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident and make a claim.

However, from the 21st December 2012 it will be illegal for car insurance companies to discriminate on the grounds of gender. This date has been set in order to give the insurers sufficient time to be able to adapt their policies and procedures.

It is expected that female car insurance prices will rise by as much as 50%, with male prices only decreasing by 10%. Any newly qualified female driver could therefore be shooting themselves in the foot by not taking up the pass plus option in light of the impending car insurance changes.

Source : www.ineeddrivinglessons.co.uk    [ Top ]