| With annual car insurance premiums jumping a | | | | 5,920 - a 4% drop. |
| massive 20% - the biggest motor insurance hike | | | | It's thought that a large increase in personal injury |
| ever recorded - motorcycle owners are also set to | | | | claims from people egged on by 'no win, no fee' |
| notice an increase as they prepare to cover their | | | | lawyers are partly to blame for the jump in |
| bikes this spring. Bike riders' premiums have already | | | | premiums, along with fraudulent claims and accidents |
| been on the rise and average prices are expected to | | | | caused by uninsured drivers and riders. |
| jump further - even though bike-related accidents are | | | | With Britain still struggling to step out of recession, |
| declining. | | | | money is tight for the majority of UK residents - but |
| The average car insurance premium in the UK is now | | | | despite the high premiums, any thoughts of |
| more than £1,000 following total increases of | | | | potentially going without bike insurance should be |
| £2.1bn over the past year and motorbike premiums | | | | quickly quashed. The ramifications of being caught |
| have already seen an average spike of 6.3%. | | | | without cover just aren't worth the risk; and besides, |
| In terms of age groups, under-30s motorcycle users | | | | it doesn't matter if you're looking for Honda, |
| suffered a 10% rise in the their premiums - and, as | | | | Kawasaki or Suzuki motorbike insurance - despite the |
| you'd expect, the youngest group had it even worse; | | | | general increase in premiums there's a good deal out |
| market research specialist Consumer Intelligence | | | | there for everyone if they shop around online. |
| figures put the average policy for under-20s at | | | | There are also steps that consumers can take to |
| £617, up from £90. | | | | lower their premiums. One way is to set a higher |
| The news comes despite the fact that official | | | | excess level; although buyers are advised to keep |
| Department for Transport statistics actually have | | | | excess at a sensible level as any increase will |
| motorcycle casualty figures down 4% in the 12 | | | | obviously mean more outlay in the event of a claim. |
| months to the end of September 2009. | | | | Parking motorbikes in a locked garage or driveway |
| The latest Road Casualties Great Britain report states | | | | rather than on the street will also have a positive |
| that all casualties in the time period amounted to | | | | effect. Most importantly of all, pay annually rather |
| 21,080, down from 21,934 in the previous 12 months. | | | | than monthly if you can afford to cover the cost in |
| Fatal and serious casualties also fell, from 6,185 to | | | | one lump sum. |