While Toyota embark on an epic safety recall programme for certain models of car, insurance companies have re-assured the customers affected that their policies will remain valid as long as they return their vehicle to a Toyota dealer for the necessary upgrade to be made. Owners of the specific models known to have had problems with the accelerator pedal will be contacted by Toyota by letter, but those who choose to ignore the recall may find their car insurance policy could be rendered invalid.

Toyota have increased their staffing levels and extended service centre opening hours to ensure those motorists involved are not expected to wait long, thereby causing unnecessary inconvenience or worry, and the upgrade itself is likely to be completed in around 30 minutes. Those targeted customers who have not actually experienced any problems are still advised to have the prescribed safety checks carried out, if only to guarantee peace of mind and prevent any relevant car insurance policy being placed in jeopardy.

Toyota are naturally keen to minimise the impact this safety issue is likely to have on future car sales by re-assuring potential customers that new cars are not affected, neither are used-cars purchased through official Toyota centres. And if you own a pre-2005 model you will not be required to return it as part of the recall programme, although it could follow that many Toyota owners will be seeking guidance and reassurance whether their car falls within the recall criteria or not.

If you’re expecting to compare car insurance quotes and find a huge increase in the price of cover for Toyota vehicles, it’s unlikely to happen in the near future, which is good news for anyone who is affected and whose policy is due for imminent renewal. But as car insurance premiums are based partly on claim rates it remains to be seen whether or not the cost of cover will rise significantly in the years to come, when it is as yet unknown how many – if any – claims will be made in respect of the identified Toyota problems.

These are trying times for the average motorist because of rising unemployment, rising fuel prices, and road tax, not to mention the cost of borrowing. As if the cost of motoring wasn’t high enough Sainsbury’s car insurance has confirmed that the biggest cost increase this year is attributable to car insurance quotes which saw a rise of 13% compared to 2008.

According to Sainsbury’s who calculate the cost of running a car each year the average motorist will spend around £2,338 this year compared to an estimated £2,277 last year. This represents a rise of 2.68% with car insurance premiums responsible for the biggest increase followed by Government road tax, which went up by 8%. At the time that these figures were produced fuel costs in this report were shown as slightly lower than 2008, however, in the last month the average price of petrol and diesel has risen dramatically with the average price of petrol and diesel hovering above £1.10 a litre.

If this news isn’t bad enough, compare these figures to 2007 and the total cost of motoring has increased by 11% with car insurance costing a whopping 23% more in 2009 followed closely by road tax, which has increased by 22%.

Apart from the success of the car scrapping scheme which some feel was rather too little too late, the outlook is rather bleak for the average motorist in terms of the costs associated with running a vehicle. In addition, it is evident that the huge increases in both car insurance and road tax witnessed over the last two years, coupled with a severe recession, are leading to more uninsured drivers which results in more claims the cost of which is passed on to us motorists in higher premiums.

When will the costs of motoring start falling? Answers on a postcard please!

According to research undertaken by Moneysupermarket.com, in certain cases female only insurers such as Diva, Diamond, Ladybird and Women on Wheels maybe more expensive when it comes to buying insurance cover than ordinary car insurance companies. In addition, it is claimed that these specialist insurers may be more selective in the type of insurance risk they are willing to take on. For example, driving history and no claims bonus may determine whether you are even eligible for a quote.

The research looked at the average of over half a million women car insurance quotes and then looked at two scenarios such as a female teacher aged over 30 and over 45 and compared quotes between women car insurance companies and ordinary insurers. The average cost of a premium from the specialists was found to be £733 which is significantly more expensive than policies offered by traditional car insurers.

Whilst this research is sure to grab headlines, it is true that all insurers are selective regarding the risks they take on and this ultimately determines whether they are competitive for individuals seeking quotes. Also, as Moneysupermaket.com point out, women only insurers also provide additional cover such as handbag cover and priority assistance during emergencies as well as useful information regarding driving safely. Lastly, if motorists shop around for car insurance quotes at renewal, it is worth considering that the levels of cover may differ significantly in addition to payment options.

As the recession bites deeper, an increasing number of motorists are failing to renew their car insurance policies in a bid to reduce the annual costs of keeping their vehicles on the road. Research by AA Insurance reveals that premiums are becoming more and more expensive, prices rising at a rate that is too fast for many UK drivers to keep up with. With the cost of car repairs as well as personal injury claims and associated legal expenses also on the increase, car insurance premiums are likely to continue escalating in price, ultimately leading to a disastrous number of motorists who will persist in driving while failing in their duty of responsibility to their own – and other road users’ – safety.

A worrying 1.6 million UK drivers are believed to already be driving without car insurance in the UK, which may be saving money on their own motoring budget but is adding to the cost of premiums for those who are paying for cover to the tune of around £30 extra per policy. Fraudulent claims are also helping to push-up prices of car insurance, average quotes in the past year showing that premiums have risen by as much as 11%.

Young drivers are being the hardest hit, according to the AA, car insurance proving to be beyond the financial capabilities of many under 21’s, even at a ‘third party only’ level. But under new laws that could come into effect in 2011, uninsured drivers of all ages could suffer a blow to their bank account when they will be faced with paying a fixed penalty fine and possibly see their car crushed. It will become an offence to simply keep an uninsured car, let alone drive it, and with a computer system that will allow the Motor Insurance Bureau and DVLA to cross-reference data in order to identify those breaking the law, hopefully those who consistently drive without car insurance will be forced to change their habits.

Even though “driving without due care and attention” is an offence that over 25,000 UK drivers are guilty of committing each year – earning them a £60 fine and three penalty points – it has not been common practice for insurers to check that motorists seeking to buy or renew a car insurance premium have incurred such a conviction. That is steadily changing now, with more stringent measures being introduced by many leading insurers that effectively penalize “careless” drivers by increasing the cost of cover or refusing to provide it entirely.

Distracted behaviour while driving constitutes a CD10 offence, and as activities such as eating, drinking, changing a CD or even arguing with a passenger could all, potentially, divert attention away from driving, then there could be a sharp increase in car insurance premiums for more motorists as an increasing number of people are proved guilty. Spy camera cars may be the new way of monitoring extra-driving activities, along with police stops to hand out on-the-spot fines, and for anyone with existing driving convictions, sipping water or tuning the radio could cost them more than a massive increase in their next car insurance premium.

While it’s likely to become normal practice for an insurance company to ask questions about CD10 offences, a growing number of drivers seeking cover direct from the insurer or through comparison websites could suffer price increases of up to 40% on car insurance quotes. Others may not be able to find affordable cover at all, so insurers are being urged to offer premiums on an individual basis, which still may not provide much comfort when, in a recent survey, over half of all UK drivers have admitted to eating at the wheel!