Insurance - beware of the traps

Don’t get caught out paying over the odds for your insurance. With so many products and packages on offer, do your homework before signing on the dotted line.

Travel insurance
Travel agents will often try and sell you travel insurance when you book your holiday. Don’t automatically accept as they will generally charge more for a policy than if you buy it direct from the insurer or a broker. Save yourself money by shopping around for yourself. Do your research online using the Tiscali Insurancewide Travel Wizard which looks at a wide range of insurance companies to find the right travel insurance at an affordable price.

‘Free’ Travel insurance with bank accounts and credit card providers often offers limited cover and effectively leaves you under-insured. Travel to the US, winter sports and hazardous activities are often excluded. Being under-insured on holiday could end up costing you thousands of pounds in the event that a claim is refused.

Car Insurance
At car insurance renewal time, shop around for alternative quotes before you accept the renewal premium offered by your existing insurer. The competitive nature of the car insurance market means insurance rates are constantly changing and there are good deals out there if you know how to find them. The fact that your insurer offered you a good premium last year does not necessarily mean they are offering the best value this year. Having enticed you with a low premium in your first year, insurers often bump up the price after 12 months. Always compare quotes on a like-for-like basis, checking the small print for exclusions. The Tiscali Insurancewide MotorWizard will help by sending you to suitable insurers for your driver profile.