Motorists living in the north of England have seen their insurance premiums rocket to three times the rate of inflation and beyond, according to an article in the Daily Telegraph this week.
The research revealed that Bradford saw the quickest rise in insurance premiums in 2011, with an annual increase of 17.1%, more than 13% the national average. Oldham and Manchester fared little better, with a respective 14.8% and 14.4% rise in premiums over 2010 figures.
Insurance premium rises will be of great interest to customers looking at cars on finance, as they look to budget for their new car. The average premium paid across all age groups for comprehensive car insurance is now £844, while ‘third party, fire and theft’ customers endured an annual increase of 10.2% in 2011.
Of course, the prices can vary significantly between age groups, although prices based on gender will soon be a thing of the past thanks to a recent EU ruling. This rise in insurance costs shows that it’s well worth shopping around for better deals to suit your budget.
It’s also worth looking at smaller, more inexpensive cars when looking at your next car finance deal. Smaller cars will mean cheaper car insurance and lower running costs, such as tax and fuel. Toyota is keen to exploit this market with their new Yaris hybrid, which has been revealed ahead of the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show.
The new Yaris has a similar power-train to the larger Auris, though it’s been scaled down to fit into the smaller Yaris packaging. The hybrid system is coupled with a 1.5 litre petrol engine, and a battery pack which is 20% lighter than the batteries in the Auris. The resulting performance is 98bhp, and a tiny amount of CO2 emissions – perfect for people looking for green cars on finance deals.
There are further clever additions to the Yaris design as well. As the smaller battery pack fits snugly under the rear seats, the Yaris hybrid has the same interior and boot space as its petrol and diesel sisters. A previous drawback to hybrid or electric cars was a loss of space inside as designers struggled to find space for the extra technology. If a Toyota Yaris hybrid sounds like the perfect match for you, it’ll be available via car finance deals in the UK this summer.
Another car due to make its début at Geneva is a new generation Kia Cee’d. The current model has been a big hit for the Korean car maker, and has been popularised by hit TV show Top Gear, as the car used for the ‘Star in a reasonably priced car’ challenge.
The new Cee’d features updated styling and will be available in a variety of body styles, including three and five door hatchbacks as well as an estate. Kia’s improved quality and design, as well as an unrivalled seven year warranty, ensures that the Cee’d will be well worth considering on a car finance deal. It’ll be available to order in the spring, with deliveries commencing in June.