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Make car insurance work for your business

February 22, 2012 By F Allan

Everyone knows that you need decent vehicle insurance for your business. Not only is it a legal requirement for any vehicle that you or your company own to be insured in order to be on the road, but it’s also a way to protect the employees who use the vehicles and the cargo they are transporting.

You may be tempted to choose the slightly cheaper option of naming drivers on your insurance policies over paying a little more for an ‘any driver’ policy. It may seem worth saving a little here and there on policies where you can, and if for the most part, there are just two or three of the people in the company who drive the vehicle. However, you quickly lose out if you have to insure any temporary employees who need to use the vehicle while employed by your company.

It will cost you more to do this for a couple of weeks a year than to pay a little more on an annual premium and make it ok for any driver to drive your business vehicles.

Similarly, if you are ready to buy a new work vehicle, it’s worth checking out the insurance costs associated with the vehicle you are considering before you go ahead and buy it. Each vehicle will belong to a different insurance group and the cover can vary dramatically.

And the type of fuel may make a difference, too. For example, some insurers might offer lower rates for low emission cars and hybrids as they have an eco-policy. Other insurers may consider these cars more costly to replace and repair, so might increase the premiums compared to conventional cars.

Often, 4×4 cars like a Honda CR-V or similar vehicles have higher premiums attached to them as although they will provide their driver and passengers more protection in a collision, because of their solid manufacture, they may cause more damage to any pedestrian or damage to another vehicle in a collision.

The best way forward is, as with most things in life, to do your research before making any costly decisions you may regret.

Filed Under: Business Transport Costs Tagged With: , , , ,

What’s solar power capable of doing?

January 23, 2012 By F Allan

Many of us have the vaguest idea of what solar power actually is, but the reality is that it’s a great alternative energy source which could soon do everything from heat water to power different modes of transport.

In a close coupled solar water heating system, the tank storing your water is mounted just above the solar collectors on your roof or even on top of your car garage. Hot water rises without the need for a pumping system into the tank through a process called thermosiphon flow.

A pump circulated system is slightly different. Here, the storage tank is on the ground or floor – and is located below the collectors’ level.  A pump circulates the water and heat transfer fluid between the tank and the collectors.

Using either of these systems, you can pretty much get enough hot water for the year. During some cold spells in winter though, it may be that there’s not enough solar heat gain to heat the water sufficiently.  Most systems have a booster powered by gas or electricity to provide a back up way of heating the water during these times.

Once you’ve installed one of these solar water heating systems, you can carry on just as before – taking showers and getting out the Pantene whenever you want to. There’s no danger of the hot water running out mid-hair wash, when you’re up to your elbows in Fairy Liquid doing the washing-up or even rinsing off your car.

The payback period for a solar water heating system in Britain is around 18 years. So, if you’re thinking of moving home anytime soon, it’s probably not worth fitting this kind of system. However, if you’ve decided to stay put for life, then the quicker you install a system like this, the sooner you’ll reap the benefits – both for your pocket and for the planet!

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , , ,

The best worst car I ever owned!

January 17, 2012 By F Allan

What’s the best worst car you ever owned? And what do I mean by this?

Let me explain; did you ever have a car in your youth that you kind of loved but which was basically rubbish? That’s certainly my experience – and I’ve owned lot of cars over the years. But the one I had the biggest love-hate relationship with had to be the old MGB GT.

Mechanically, this car was a nightmare. But what it also was, was beautiful and characterful in the way of many other old classic British sports cars.

And that’s always the paradox with such vehicles. Driving it felt like driving a go-kart. It stunk of petrol, rattled like mad, and you could never be sure you’d actually arrive at your stated destination due to one mechanical problem or another. To say the car was temperamental would be like saying Adolph Hitler was somewhere to the centre right of the political spectrum!

Checking the oil and water was a twice-weekly activity. I think the oil must have been refreshed in whole on a monthly basis. But when you were purring along in overdrive, with the quarter lights open and the summer air blowing in – there was nothing quite like it. The car was absolutely superb at those times.

So I suppose it was a little like beautiful but moody girlfriend overall; a roller coaster ride when you’re young enough not to mind the quirks, but not something I’d want today.

Today, when I step into my Honda, which hasn’t needed any work for years and with which the bonnet is something of a “sealed unit”, I look back on the old MG with wistful fondness. But I don’t quite want it back in today’s world of super efficient eco cars with five times the mpg and no fumes

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , , ,

The new Civic; sports or saloon?

January 7, 2012 By F Allan

The new Honda civic 2012 offers a little bit of everything for those of us whose day to day needs mean we have to have a practical car, but whose hearts still yearn for that sports car look and feel.

And that’s what really sets the Civic 2012 apart from the crowd for me. Its main rivals such as the VW Golf, the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, and even the BMW 1 Series just don’t have the same sex appeal as the new look Civic.

And when you out that look together with Honda’s unrivalled and proven reputation for reliability, it makes it the perfect car for those with a foot in both the practical and sporty camps.

The new Civic comes in three different engine options; there are two petrol versions, a 1.4 litre and a 1.8 litre version (the latter offers 142hp, 42hp more than the 1.4) and a 2.2 diesel which looks like being the most popular choice.

The diesel version will set you back around £20,095 but it’s worth it for the extra oomph and for its on-going economy. The annual road tax is just £20 thanks to a low 110g/km CO2 emissions and the amazing fuel economy of 67.3mpg.

The diesel’s performance feels effortless, particularly at higher speeds as it delivers 150hp at 4,000rpm and has a 258 lb/ft boost of torque from 2,000rpm.

The new Civic is currently available in four trim levels: SE, ES, EX and EX GT. Honda has confirmed that it has no plans for a hybrid version of the new car as there are plenty other hybrids available in its range via the Insight, the Jazz Hybrid or the CR-Z, for example.

All in all, it looks like being the best version yet of this legendary Honda model.

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , ,

The ninth generation Civic

January 6, 2012 By F Allan

The first Honda Civic was rolled off the production lines in 1972, and went on to become one of the most widely sold Honda cars ever. In 2006, over 16.5 million Civics had been sold, and 7.3 million of those were in the United States.

The ninth generation of one of Honda’s most popular cars comes in a variety of models, and customers in the States can choose from five different models. The whole of the civic 2012 range has improved fuel economy compared to the previous generation, with the Civic Natural Gas getting 27 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.  The Civic Hybrid is only available in the States so far, and gets 44mpg on the highway and in the city.  UK Honda hybrid devotees are currently restricted to the Insight, the Jazz and the CR-Z, but the Civic hybrid may make its way to UK shores in the future.

The Civic HF is an all petrol engine that delivers impressive fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon on the highway, and is a great option for those who want fuel efficiency without going down the hybrid route.

The Civic Natural Gas has already been named Green Car of the Year 2012 by US car mag Green Car Journal, and can offer fuel cost savings of about a third compared to the petrol engine. Drivers can fill up their gas tanks at commercial stations in about five minutes, or with a slow-fill system at home that takes several hours.

Along with better fuel economy, the Civic 2012 generation retains the familiar shape and styling of the Civic, and the Si offers a sporty look and feel with its six-speed manual transmission. All the Civics benefit from the ECON button to improve fuel efficiency on all in-car systems as you drive. EcoAssist allows you to monitor your eco-friendly driving with blue and green bars on either side of the speedo. Stay green by not straying into the blue bars!

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , , ,

To hybrid or not to hybrid?

January 5, 2012 By F Allan

If you’re in the market for a new car, is it wise to go for a hybrid, or maybe even an electrically-powered vehicle, or is it better to wait as the technology improves and the price gets relatively cheaper?

If the “ayes have it” – and it’s best to jump now – then the argument goes that the technology associated with hybrids has already advanced sufficiently to make the concept a reasonably priced reality for many of us. Some hybrids, like the Honda Insight, have now been around for a very long time and the technology is tried and tested. The same can be said for rechargeable electric cars, which can’t really be considered cutting edge any more.

But on the other side of the debate, new technology does tend to get both better and cheaper over time. Think back a dozen years or so when the real explosion in computers for the home truly took off alongside the internet and remind yourself what that PC could do – and how much you probably paid for it – and you’ll understand what I mean.

Today, for probably less than half the price, you get an infinitely superior computer. Whether the same will happen with alternatively fuelled cars is harder to tell. The technology isn’t evolving quite as quickly as it did with things like PCs. But it is developing.

So it boils down to motivation. If you’re really looking to go green, then money isn’t the main consideration and there’s no real excuse to wait. But if you’re looking to be frugal, with a view to going greener in a couple of years, then it’s probably still best to look out for tempting new car offers or good used cars which are petrol or diesel-powered and to bide your time for a couple more years and watch how prices and technology develop.

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: , , , ,

To lease or buy a company car

November 10, 2011 By F Allan

If you’re thinking about getting a new company car, you should first consider what you will be using it for and who will be driving it. It may be that it is a better financial decision to lease or buy, depending on what kind of journeys the car will be used for.
Purchase
Obviously, the main advantage of buying a car is that the vehicle belongs to your business after payment.  You will be free to sell it in the future, and some businesses offer their employees the right to buy company cars after a set period of time at a reduced price.
However, purchase can put a big dent in business cash flow, whether you pay for it in monthly periods or in a lump sum, especially if you buy more than one vehicle.
You’ll also have to set aside money for insurance and maintenance. Make sure you compare all the different new car offers that are available before deciding which make and model you buy.
Leasing
The main advantage in leasing a car is the reduction in payments compared with buying a car.  You can often roll maintenance and insurance costs in as optional extras, and these will be cheaper than if you were organising this for a car that you own.
The disadvantage is that you never actually get to own the car, but then you can upgrade more often at the end of each contract, meaning that your business vehicle is always up to date.
It’s worth considering tax implications of company vehicles.  If the car that you choose is one of the low emission cars that are now available, you will pay less tax.
Many leasing companies now offer hybrid vehicles as well as conventional cars, and these can save your business money in terms of reduced running costs.  A hybrid burns far less fuel as it has an electric motor that provides power to assist the engine through acceleration. Of course, you can always buy a hybrid for your business, and gain the same savings in running costs.

Filed Under: Buying A Company Car, Cars Tagged With: , , , ,