>From 1st July 2007 the UK bans smoking in enclosed public places with as many as 600,000 people forecast to quit smoking as a result. This article looks at if charging people to drive will have similar results for the Motor Trade.

In The Beatles classic song Taxman the lyric goes, “We’ll tax your feet”. Whilst the government hasn’t yet decided to do this it seems the introduction of “pay as you drive” schemes may soon be hitting the roads of the UK but what impact (if any) will this have on the UK Motor Trade.

Well there appears to be a few factors that road users might want to consider:

1. If you’re a driver who drives infrequently or at less busy times you could end up paying less. 2. Or you might drive an average number of miles but due to you driving at rush hours (on you way to/from work or school) you will end up paying more money 3. You may want to use public transport more often 4. You and your friends may set up a car pool scheme so you take it in turns to drive 5. If you spend a lot of time on the road travelling to see friends and family maybe you won’t be able to visit them as often as before 6. If you spend time travelling for work maybe you won’t be able to visit customers as much or worse still increased transport costs may mean your less competitive or jobs have to be cut

And what about people in the Motor Trade itself?

If the smoking ban just announced makes people stop smoking then maybe forcing people to pay more to drive will mean people will simply drive less often. Therefore less cars are needed, less people are needed to service and repair them and jobs are lost in the Motor Industry.

Of course these are all what if’s as nobody really knows what impact this decision will have on the transport system, the motor trade or indeed modern life.

If maybe a positive move with a journey to work being halved due to less vehicles on the road. It may mean a change in the opening hours for businesses or schools so not everyone is fighting to get to and from work as the same time as the school run is being done.

It may mean more money is invested in public transport so we have buses, trains, tubes and other forms of transport that are reliable and we’d be happy using.

Or of course it may mean nothing changes apart from the fact that we have less money in our pockets.

If the results of this survey conducted by Northern Counties Insurance Brokers are anything to go by.

People were asked what impact will having to pay per journey have on you?

- 40% said no impact as they couldn’t live without their car

- 13% said they would stop driving altogether

- 6% said they would drive less often

- 21% said they would use public transpoty more often

- 11% said they would car share to cut costs

- 5% said they would walk more often

- 3% said they would still drive as often but at different times

Whatever your thoughts are on the governments new “pay to drive” schemes the chances are it will happen and the impact on the motor trade could be massive

Many companies offer services for car hire in Murica or at the airport. San Javier airport in Murica is located at the northern shore of the Mar Menor. Since 1996, this airport has experienced tremendous growth in flights for tourists. This has resulted in more car hire companies operating in and around the airport.

Car Hire Murica Planning

Consider the size of the car you will need. An economy car is cheaper in terms of rental rates as well as fuel costs. A smaller car will get better gas mileage. If you are travelling with your family or a larger group, you may need a larger vehicle. Otherwise, a compact is a good choice.

Consider insurance when you are planning a car hire. You may have coverage with your car insurance or credit card company. Check with your broker before your tip. If you are already covered, you can save between $5 and $10 per day on your rental costs.

Book in advance for any car hire. You will pay more if you don’t reserve in advance. In addition, your choices may be limited. If you are travelling in the busy season, which is summer, you may not get the car you need. In the very busy weeks, you may not be able to get a car at all.

To hire a car, you will need the proper documentation. Most companies will ask for your driver’s license, proof of insurance and a credit card. Find out in advance which cards are accepted. Many companies have a minimum age requirement for rentals.

Inspect the car before you leave. Take not of any scratches, dents or areas where the paint is chipped. Call these to the attention of the company’s representative. Be sure all damage is noted on the rental agreement. If possible, take pictures with a digital camera to record the damage. You don’t want to be blamed later for damage that was already there when you picked up the car.

Comparing Companies for Car Hire Murica

The rates for the same car can vary considerably from company to company. Compare basic rates and the fees for extras. Some offer all inclusive rental packages, while others charge for extras. These extras can include insurance, mileage, the cost of additional drivers, airport taxes and other fees.

Find out what is included in the price you are quoted. If the company charges a basic rate with add on fees for extras, have the clerk calculate all expenses at the time you are given the quote. This will give you a more reliable comparison.

Get the agreement in writing and be sure to get a confirmation number. You don’t want to go through all the work of comparing prices only to end up paying a higher price later. A quote in writing with a confirmation number for your reservation will help you avoid headaches later.

Compare the cost for picking the car up at the airport or renting in the city. In many cases, there is no real difference in cost. In other cases, you may save money by hiring a car in the city. Most companies will provide transportation to and from the airport. In general, it is cheaper if you pick up and drop off the car in the same location, whether it’s in the city or at the airport.

Compare daily and weekly rates with each company. The weekly rates are often cheaper. If you are staying five days, it may still be less expensive to reserve the car at the weekly rate. You can still return the car early and save money.

Look for coupons or discounts for your car hire. If you book your flight through a travel agent, you may get a discount on a car hire. Organizations such as AAA or travel clubs often offer discounted rates to members. Travel magazines sometimes contain coupons for rental fees. Find and use any discount you can to save money.

A Torrevieja car hire is the best way to travel around the Costa Blanca. A car allows you to travel on your own time table without relying on the schedule for public transportation. If you plan to travel into the country or from city to city, a car is the best way to go.

You can hire the car in the city or at the Alicante airport. If you are travelling in the summer, be sure to reserve your car early, as they sell out quickly. Reserve the car at the same time you book your flight and hotel. This way, you will be sure to have the car you want at a good price.

Discount Prices on a Torrevieja Car Hire

The easiest way to comparison shop for a car is on the internet. You can compare the prices from several companies. Some websites allow you to compare deals side by side for an easier and more accurate comparison.

Be sure to compare the total package and not just the price. One may appear more expensive, but if it includes things like an extra driver, taxes and unlimited mileage it may be the better deal. Read the fine print and ask questions about what is included. Ask the cost of extras that are not included to give you a more accurate comparison.

When dealing with larger companies, call the local agency in Torrevieja. Most have a multi lingual staff, if you don’t speak Spanish. Sometimes the local agency may be running a special that won’t show up online. If this is the case, you may get a better deal than the one you found on the internet. It doesn’t hurt to call and check.

Things to Consider in a Torrevieja Car Hire

Consider the size of the car you need to rent. An economy size is the least expensive. These are cheaper both in terms of the rate you will pay and in fuel efficiency. If you are travelling with a small group, an economy will be sufficient. If you are travelling with a family or larger group, you will need a larger vehicle.

Economy cars sell out faster than other sizes. Reserve an economy, as you can always upgrade later. If the company runs out of this size, they will upgrade you to a larger vehicle. If this is the case, most will give you the upgrade for the price of the economy.

How long will you keep the car? Most companies charge either daily or weekly rates for a car hire. In most cases, paying the daily rate is more expensive than the weekly rate, if you are keeping the car for more than two or three days. You may actually save by paying the weekly rate, even if you are only keeping the car four days.

Ask if there are a minimum number of days that you must keep the vehicle. Some companies will charge the daily rate if you don’t keep the car for a minimum of five days. Read the fine print and ask about this. Other companies don’t care if you return the vehicle early.

Do you need the insurance? The cost of insurance through the car hire agency can be quite high. You may wonder if this is necessary. Before you leave home, contact your insurance company. Some do cover rental cars. If your policy covers the car, there is no need to spend the additional money on the car hire insurance. Ask your insurance agent about any conditions or limitations on your coverage. You want to save money, but be sure you are covered.

Some major credit cards offer insurance as well. Call your credit card company to find out if you are covered. Again, ask about any conditions or limitations on the coverage. If the credit card covers the rental, you are wasting your money on the insurance fees.

Statistics say that 10,000 bikers in the UK cancel their insurance policies over the winter months every year.

Many bike owners will lock away their two wheels but unfortunately, even when locked in a garage, their bikes remain at risk.

Thieves are quite aware that many motorbikes are stored in garages over the winter months and over 600 bikes are stolen every month.

If you have cancelled your policy and your bike is stolen you cannot make a valid claim. However, it should be possible to reduce the cover, save money and still maintain the essential minimum cover against fire and theft over the winter.

An annoying feature of existing motorbike insurance policies is that discount bonuses are not able to be accumulated over time. You may be able to get some form of discount should you remain claim free for a certain period with the same insurer, but this is a rare occurrence.

There are a few types of motorcycle insurance policy, Specified Rider Policy, Specified Bike Policy, Third Party Insurance and Comprehensive Insurance. A specified rider policy will specifically cover the rider and not the bike. The benefit of this policy is that it will allow you to ride any motorcycle up to a specified size.

A specified bike policy is directly the opposite and will only cover the motorbike and not the rider. This would be a suitable policy if you wish to insure a number of riders on the same bike.

Unfortunately for motorbike riders, particularly younger riders, they will have to pay higher premiums for their insurance policies due to the increased risk of their chosen method of transport.

Third Party is the legal minimum type of insurance and the cheapest. The ‘third party’ is any person you might injure or property you might damage. You will not be paid for anything else and you will still have to pay the excess.

Comprehensive Insurance is the most expensive and the one that pays for repairs to your motorcycle if it is damaged in an accident. It also means that if the accident was not your fault you do not need to wait for the other party’s insurance to come through as your insurance will pay anyway. However, you will have to pay the excess but you will get it back when the others party’s insurance reimburse your insurance company. These policies often include extras such as breakdown cover included.

Some of the key factors affecting premiums are age. Young motorcyclists have an alarmingly high accident rate and, according to statistics, are far more likely to be involved in an accident than more mature riders. The damage they can cause to themselves is very often costly and long lasting.

Occupation is also a deciding factor of premiums. Workers who spend many hours on the road travelling from one location to another will be subject to much higher premiums the more hours that are spent on the road the more likely accidents occur.

If you have made any claims in recent years for driving related accidents you should expect this to be reflected by a higher than average premium. Security devices such as immobilisers, alarms, steering locks and other security devices are only useful if they are activated. However their presence will result in a significantly lower premium, particularly in inner city areas.

As with any motor insurance, the more powerful the bike, the higher the premium is likely to be. The make of the bike may influence the premium also. Expensive bikes are also likely to attract higher premiums.

As with cars, most motorbikes will depreciate quite rapidly. In the event of a material damage claim, insurance companies will only pay the current market value of your bike. In these circumstances it may not be worth paying the additional premium for comprehensive cover over third party, fire and theft only.

If you get points on your license for speeding, dangerous driving etc your premium will go up, if you are disqualified for a period you will find insurance is very expensive when you get your license back.

You can sometimes get discounts because of the training you have done, passing an advanced test will usually get you a discount.

All of the above affect your premium, but it will also vary when the insurance companies are trying to balance their risks and you will usually find big differences in prices. Do your research though and don’t just go for the cheapest as sometimes, insurance company’s try to reduce premiums by reducing the cover.

Remember it is illegal to ride without insurance and always remain honest with insurance companies. If they were to discover that you have not told them something that they should have known, you may find that your insurance is invalid. Aside from the fact that they would not pay a claim, this could also leave you to prosecution for driving without insurance.