Supercars, Hypercars and Megacars often require a much higher level of cover than standard motors due to their value and specialist nature. These high-value vehicles are not only well regarded due to their status, more notably, they also house a complex network of sophisticated technology with intuitive designs and world-leading features. With this whole new class of cars, the quality of cover surely needs to reflect the quality of the vehicle. We take a look at the key differences between high-value and standard car insurance to demonstrate how a policy tailored specifically to high-value vehicles measures up. Coveted vehicles High-value cars are often highly sought after which means they’re at an increased risk of theft due to their prestige and worth. There are a number of underground gang networks who steal luxury cars to order and either ship them out of the country or strip them into parts to sell them on. To counteract this, the cover for theft of high-value cars is often unlimited, whilst this may not necessarily be the case for standard vehicle insurance. Agreed value policies It’s a well-known fact that cars depreciate in value from the moment you buy them. Most insurers will only reimburse the market value of your car at the time of the insurance claim if your car is written off at a total loss. That is unless you have purchased an Agreed Value Policy. These policies cover you for the depreciation value of the car by paying out for a fixed amount as agreed on when the car is purchased, and not the amount the car is worth at the time of your claim. This ensures that you can claim back enough money to buy a replacement car of a similar value. These policies are rare for standard car policies and tend to only be available for more specialist and high-value vehicles. Security There are a number of insurers who won’t insure high-value car owners if their car security doesn’t meet their pre-set conditions. This usually exceeds the requirements for standard car insurance. The type and level of security will differ on an individual basis between insurers. For example, some may require an approved tracking device, whereas others may stipulate a CAT 5 tracker only. High-value car owners may subsequently find that their initial outlay costs are higher due to their requirement to purchase the tracker and have it professionally fitted, however, the presence of these devices could lower their quote overall. Vehicle value There are a number of factors when it comes to calculating the cost of car insurance, and whilst the value of the car does play a part, it’s not the defining factor. For example, if a young new driver with a £300 car obtained an insurance quote, it would be higher due to their lack of experience, age and perhaps the questionable safety of the vehicle. Conversely, if an experienced driver with a long history of safe driving and no claims with a £300,000 vehicle obtained car insurance, this would impact positively on their overall premiums. How much of a factor the value of your vehicle you drive will depend on the individual insurer. Repair cost It’s worth taking into account the repair amount of your vehicle which will also be a major influence toward the cost of your car insurance. Many Supercars are finely tuned to perfection, and therefore the repair costs following an accident would clearly be much higher than a more standard vehicle. For example, causing serious damage to a Lamborghini Aventador would require a specialist technician trained in repairing carbon fibre, a much more difficult and costly feat compared to fixing it at the local garage. Even a small dent or scrape on this type of car can easily run into thousands to repair. This means that insurance for high-value vehicles typically has a higher limit for repairs and a longer initial period of time where you will be able to get a new replacement for your vehicle. You will also be able to choose your own repairer, rather than being coerced into using an approved repairer from your insurer. Courtesy Car If your vehicle will be out of action for an extended period of time, it’s common for you to be offered a courtesy car to keep you on the road; this applies across both standard and high-value car insurance. The difference between the levels of cover then lies in the type of car you can hire. For those who drive powerful status vehicles, it’s not ideal to be presented with a standard hatchback to cover your journeys for the time your own vehicle is being repaired. However with the right insurance for high-value vehicles, your policy would cover the additional cost for you to hire a vehicle of a similar spec to your own. If you’re looking to insure your own high-value vehicle, we can arrange a policy which is suited to you and your car.  We understand the requirements of these specialist motors and with our seamless claims process, we’ll get you back onto the road as quickly as possible. Call us on 020 8294 1040 or email info@anamiagencies.co.uk.

A CAT 5 tracker is the best GPS tracking device on the market to date, certified by the insurance industry, with the most active security features above any other device. Your high-performance vehicle deserves the finest of protection and what better than one of the most advanced motor security devices on the market currently? Whilst some motor insurers will insure you without such a device present, many will require the installation of a CAT 5 tracker to protect your motor vehicle. If you live in a city or an area with high crime rates, your insurance company will likely insist you have a CAT 5 tracker installed. How does it work? A CAT 5 tracker is usually installed by Thatcham Approved Fitters and many insurers will insist that the device is installed by a registered professional. This device uses GPS and GSM to communicate the vehicle’s position throughout Europe. You will receive two Advanced Driver Recognition (ADR) tags which you will need to keep in your pockets when you intend to use the vehicle. The tracker will then trigger an alert if the vehicle is started, with or without a key, if the car is used by a person not in possession of the ADR tags. This means that if your vehicle is driven by someone without the ADR tags, your providers will alert you of the activity. If the vehicle hasn’t been stolen and the driver has simply forgotten the tags, no further action will be taken. However, if it has been stolen, the providers actually have the means to immobilise the vehicle, rendering it unusable to the perpetrators. You will have the ability to track it yourself with an app on your phone. If your vehicle is stolen you will then be required to inform the police, obtain a Crime Reference Number and provide the information to your tracker providers. The average recovery time of a stolen vehicle fitted with a CAT 5 tracker is 34 minutes. Additional peace of mind The obvious benefits of this device are that you will be updated on the whereabouts of your vehicle following a theft and your provider will have the means to immobilise it. Yet, this device can also contribute toward ensuring your personal safety. You may be tempted to keep your car keys close by at all times; indeed some owners have even taken to keeping their car keys in their bedrooms at night so that thieves cannot easily access them should a break-in occur. However, this could put you in a much more dangerous position. It’s safer for everyone in your home to store any keys by the front door so that potential thieves can take them without needing to access any other areas of the house. The CAT 5 tracker means that even with possession of the keys, the device will still notify your provider should your car be stolen and any thieves will be scuppered as quickly as possible. Playing thieves at their own game Due to the presence of GPS tracking devices, thieves are often implementing ‘Pinch and Park’ systems, which means that after they steal a vehicle, they leave it parked in a safe place for several days in case it’s being tracked. This means that there’s a good chance that many high-value car owners who are victim to car theft will get their car back unharmed if they have a reliable tracking device fitted. The Home Office Report investigating this method stated: “This would suggest that boosting the number of vehicles with tracking devices might reduce the ‘rump’ of more organised vehicle theft that remains.” Driving down the cost of your insurance Whilst the installation of these devices is often required for high-value motors, they can serve to bring down the premiums for your insurance as they’re mitigating theft risks. If you want to discuss insuring your high value vehicle, or wish to know more about how a CAT 5 tracker could affect your premiums, contact the Anami Luxus team. Call us on 020 8294 1040 or email info@anamiagencies.co.uk.

Keyless technology has meant that gangs are now increasingly targeting high-value cars with gadgets that are easily available to buy through the internet.   Police data statistics have recently revealed that in the past three years there has been a 30% increase in car theft, particularly aimed towards high-value cars with keyless technology. It’s now at the highest rate it has been in a decade.  London appears to be at the greatest risk, with 26,496 vehicle thefts reported in 2016 alone.   Why is car theft on the rise? Steve Launchbury of Thatcham Research suggests that this dramatic upsurge in vehicle theft is due to vehicles being more digitally connected which is putting them at an increased risk. He believes that this new technology is openi ng up new types of criminality. In 2017, detectives began to investigate a spate of thefts in London which saw criminals driving cars away from owner’s homes without needing to break in further to the property.   How thieves infiltrate the vehicles These criminal gangs appear to be finding new ways to exploit weaknesses in the technology that enables cars to be unlocked by simply touching a button, namely, ‘keyless’ technology.  Thieves use gadgets which strengthen the signal between the car and the key fobs in order to trick the vehicle into thinking the owner is nearby. Yet, don’t be fooled into thinking this means that only keyless cars are in danger of theft. Police also found that thieves were implementing other strategies such as using key programming technology, blank keys and a tool for picking car locks. What happens next? It’s believed that gangs are stealing cars to order and often drive them straight into containers which are then shipped out of the country. For certain models they break the vehicles up into their constituent parts and sell them in worldwide auctions. Police have suggested that just by selling the parts of a car, gangs could earn up to £10,000 per vehicle. Statistics show that only 1 in 10 car thieves are caught which means that thieves are becoming increasingly confident that they can operate without a high chance of being brought to justice. Nationally, 77% of vehicle thefts are closed by the police without having identified a suspect. Protecting your vehicle No matter how technologically advanced your high-value motor is, these features won’t necessarily prevent it from being stolen, and could even act as a hindrance to the security of the vehicle. RAC's Pete Williams suggested that drivers revert back to traditional security methods to protect your vehicles suggesting: “Think about where you park your car, try and park in a well-lit area and if it's an area known for car crime or vandalism, try and avoid it.” It’s wise to ensure you don’t leave valuables on display in the car and consider physical locking devices such as steering wheel locks or a PedalBox, which works by securing your car pedals in a tough steel box. This type of security not only acts as an increased layer of protection for your car but it can also act as a deterrent for criminals looking for easy access and a fast getaway. It’s also worth considering tracking technology, which is increasingly becoming a compulsory requirement for insurers to cover high-value vehicles. These come in different categories of protection and enable you to locate your vehicle and potentially disable your engine in the event of theft. With the risks of high-value vehicle theft increasingly present, it’s wise to ensure that your insurance is up to par. To discuss any queries or concerns you may have contact the Anami Luxus team. Call us on 020 8294 1040 or email info@anamiagencies.co.uk.

If you own a high-performance vehicle, we see little reason to drive in fear of every corner. Fitted winter tyres can mean confidence regained in wet, snow or ice conditions. [caption id="attachment_294" align="alignnone" width="768"] Winter tyre[/caption] Certain your Porsche Cayenne will be a doddle to handle in the snow? Think you can battle with your Nissan GT-R in the rain? Or willing to give your McLaren 720S a go on ice? It’s predicted almost a half of all UK drivers are mis- or totally uninformed when it comes to winter tyres. With a more open tread, winter tyres are not simply designed for snowy and icy conditions, but for all-round winter weather.   Performance and safety combined When summer tyres fall below 7°C, the rubber begins to harden and the performance you experience will drop. This could increase your braking distance by up to 12%. It not only affects the performance of your vehicle, then, it also increases the chances of an accident happening. You’ll no doubt take special care of where your vehicle is stored in the winter months, but such care should be extended for when you’re out on the road.   So what do winter tyres do and how are they different from summer tyres? Winter tyres have more natural rubber and silica in the compound, giving extra elasticity in treacherous conditions. Usually, winter tyres are expertly designed to maintain a performance you’ve been used to. These tyres are optimised to produce less noise, reduce rolling resistance and improve fuel consumption. Often, your manufacturer will offer exclusive winter tyres purpose-built to fit the model of your vehicle. With this, you’ll probably find stability, comfort, performance and the overall driving experience much more enjoyable than generic winter tyre providers, so it’s wise to consider your options fully.   The statistics At the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, Porsche tested some of its models, the Macan and the Boxster GTS on low friction surfaces. Braking with ABS from 49mph to 0mph, in 3°C on a wet road surface, the test found that the car with winter tyres fitted had a 12% shorter braking distance. In the snow—again braking with ABS—from 24mph to 0mph, the car with the winter tyres had a 19% shorter braking distance than the car with summer tyres fitted. Put into context, this distance could be the difference between safely coming to a stop and something disastrous. Again, if you own a high-performance vehicle, the difference is no doubt augmented, financially and other.   So, why are we so liable to risk it? Whilst the cost of winter tyres may play a part, many leading manufacturers offer a bespoke service for winter tyres, often including full fitment, safe storage of summer tyres and fitment of them once the winter period comes to an end. If you have already fitted winter tyres and want to discuss your insurance, or would simply like advice on your available options from a team of car insurance experts, just give us a call on 020 8294 1040.

As of 2016, there were almost 26 million licensed cars on the road, and adults get on average between two to four colds a year. That means that millions of us could be getting behind the wheel with decreased concentration and drowsiness, and even setting ourselves up for moments of driving blind during a sneezing fit. Research from Halfords Autocentres showed that sneezing, blowing your nose and looking for a tissue accounted for 2,500 accidents a week in the winter, with nine percent of drivers admitting to taking their eyes off the road when suffering from a cold or flu. Perhaps when put into the context of travelling 50 feet with your eyes closed involuntarily due to sneezing, staying at home and sleeping off a cold isn’t such an overly dramatic measure. As bad as drinking According to Cardiff University’s Common Cold Centre, our concentration drops by over half when driving with a bad cold or flu, which is the equivalent of downing in excess of four double whiskeys. Most of us wouldn’t even contemplate driving after drinking this much alcohol, and ignorance is not an excuse. “Driving a car with such symptoms would certainly be irresponsible and could be held as an aggravating factor in any accident that led to a death or serious injury, laying the driver open to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving,” warned PC Steve Rounds, of the Central Motorway Police Group. And taking medication can only make matters worse. Anti-cold or flu medicine can contain anti-histamine to help control runny noses and sneezing, and codeine to relieve aches and pains, both of which can have sedative effects. One in seven motorists have suffered side effects from such medication while behind the wheel, according to research from Confused.com and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which again could result in a disqualification under the charge of ‘driving whilst unfit through drugs or alcohol.’ Looking out for yourself and other motorists The AA urges drivers to check any warnings on medication taken to alleviate cold and flu symptoms as they may advise you not to drive due to drowsy side effects, and to lower your speed so you can better handle a coughing or sneezing fit. Cardiff University Common Cold Unit found that drivers with colds and flu were a third more likely to hit the roadside kerb due to poor reaction times and alertness. In light of the potential dangers, Halfords Winter Driving Expert Mark Dolphin suggests avoiding driving altogether. “You shouldn’t drive if you are not feeling well. The best place to be when you have flu or a heavy cold is at home, but if you really must go out, get someone else to take you and avoid driving. “Other drivers should be aware of those around them and if they see someone sneezing be prepared for the unexpected to happen and increase the distance between vehicles.”