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Martin's Quick Briefing
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 The new Continuous Insurance Enforcement says from spring (exact date TBC) all cars, bikes & motor homes must be insured - even if no-one drives 'em. Beware of yours lapsing while on hols or in hospital.
The only way out is to apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declaring it's not in use.
The aim's to crack down on 2m uninsured drivers bymatching a database of cars to insured drivers. If there's no match, it'll warn people, then fine 'em (see car insurance rules).
From a MoneySaving perspective, this means search for the new cheapest BEFORE renewal, or you'll end up auto-renewing to stop a fine.
Beat this year's 40% avg car insurance hikes
Many have renewals due as it's new car reg month, though be prepared for a shock - the AA's calculated the average annual price rise is 40%. Here's how to beat it:
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Combine comparison sites: Each site searches different providers. Our calculated combination for max coverage is MoneySup* AND GoCompare*.
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Check ones they miss: Big insurers Direct Line* and Aviva* are not on comparison sites, always check them too. Also try First Direct, which promises to beat renewals by 10% (with some caveats, feedback is mixed).
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Try for cashback: Once you've checked the cheapest policy is suitable, see if cashback is available. Beatthatquote* and Moneyexpert* comparison sites offer £25 and £40, more's possible via cashback sites.
Step-by-step car insurance system in the Full Guide: Car Insurance Related Insurance: Home, Van, Bike
Women's car insurance to rise
Last week's EU court ruling - that from Dec 2012 gender can't be a factored into insurance prices - means, as women under 40 pay much less than men under 40, they need to expect gradual rises until then.
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It helps us spread the word, helps them save and you get the credit!
To get it themselves they can just go to moneysavingexpert.com/tips |
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ISA watch! New 3.3% easy access tracker
It pays 3.3% and promises to rise if UK do in the next year. Or new 3.35%, no tracking
Tick-tock! Less than 4 weeks until the 5 April ISA year ends and the rate-war's heating up. Cash ISAs are simply tax-free savings accounts, and if you haven't used this year's £5,100 allowance you lose it! All these accounts have the usual £85,000 Savings Safety guarantee and intro bonuses, so diarise to ditch and transfer when that ends.
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Stop Press! Top 3.3% easy access ISA: Santander* Flexible ISA (Issue 3) pays 3.15% AER, however it's confirmed this Fri the rate will increase to 3.3% AER even if you already have one, and it'll track base rate for a year (some existing cust can get 3.5% AER with Loyalty Flexible ISA from Fri). It's likely it's a response to Mon's Barclays launch of its 3.25% AER Golden ISA (incl 1% bonus & tracks UK rates for a year). You must apply in branch for it, except existing Barclays online* customers. Neither accept transfers.
- 3.35% easy access, no rate guarantee: You can grab a tad more interest to start off, with The AA's Internet Access ISA - it pays 3.35% AER (min £500) incl 1.65% intro bonus for a year - but doesn't promise to rise if base rate does. It allows unlimited free withdrawals, but no transfers in from previous years' ISAs.
- 3% for transfers / consolidating old ISAs: The top easy access deal that takes new money and lets you transfer old ISAs (check your rates - these can be pitiful) is Halifax's* ISA Direct Reward Issue 4, which pays 3% AER for a year (some existing customers get 3.2% AER).
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3.1% for Nationwide cardholders: If you opened Nationwide's* e-ISA after 1 Feb, it's upped your rate to 3.1% AER (was 2.9%). This incl a 1.35% bonus until 31 July 2012 (transfers allowed).
For FULL info and highest FIXED RATES see the Updated Guides: Top Cash ISAs, ISA Transfers & How ISAs work
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Urgent! £20 to spend at ASOS.com for £9. Breaking news - today only buy a £20 ASOS voucher for £9. Valid on everything except sale items. It's valid until 10 April '11. 50,000 available. See the Deals Note: ASOS discounts
£50 specs code £7. Online retailer Lensway is giving away 5,000 codes for 'free' pairs of prescription specs, add in p&p and handling charges and it's £7. Find how to get one in the Deals Note: Cheap Glasses
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Free house price valuations
27 online tools! From valuing your home to zooming in on local crime hotspots
Whether you're buying, selling, renting or staying put, a wealth of house price info tools are available instantly, for free. As new ones pop up all the time, this is our fully re-written and re-researched guide to top property price tools. New tools include:
- How much did that 3-bed go for? There are a number of free sites listing 'sold' prices of UK homes. Yet that doesn't help answer the question "No. 23 Acacia Ave. went for £210,000, but was it a derelict bedsit or an immaculate 3-bed with an Aga and walnut floors?" A new tool matches up sold prices with old property ads, including pics, asking prices, descriptions and floor plans.
- Crime maps, schools and more. The new police crime mapping website shows local crime hotspots and breaks down recorded crimes, eg, burglary, robbery and anti-social behaviour (eek!). Elsewhere there's free information on school league tables and even the nearest pubs.
For a full run down of all the 27 tools see the Updated Guide: Free House Price Valuations Related: Cut Council Tax, Cut Home Insurance, Free Remortgage Booklet |
£6.79/mth line rental - cheapest EVER
Save £80/year over BT! Or add eve & weekend in for just £7.99/mth
BT standard line rental is £13.60/mth including weekend calls, yet you can now nearly halve it. You need a BT line (ie, all but cable or Kingston Comms).
- New £6.79/mth line rental. Until 4 April sign up to Primus's new Line Rental Saver* (via HomePhoneChoices) and it's £6.79/mth - though there are no inclusive calls so it's best for low users. Alternatively its Home Phone Saver* is £7.99/mth and gives free eve & wknd landline calls for £7.99/mth. Cut call costs on both with override numbers, see Cheap Home Phones.
- Stick with BT for £10/mth: If you prefer BT, its Line Rental Saver* lets you pay £120 for a year upfront, equivalent to £10/mth incl weekend calls, compared to £163/year at its monthly rate.
- Line rental & broadband £12/mth (incl £50 cashback). New TalkTalk Essentials customers pay £12.30/mth line rental and £3.49/mth for eve & wknd landline calls AND broadband (for 85% of UK). Also sign up via SimplifyDigital* before 31 March for £50 cashback. Over the year's contract it's an avg £11.60/mth.
FULL details plus pros and cons in the Updated Guide: Cheap Home Phones
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