TOP 20 insurers control 85% of the UK insurance market. But despite the auto insurance market being dominated by only a handful of leading industry players, the products, services, and benefits these firms provide vary significantly. According to Beinsure Media Report Best Car Insurance UK, insurance companies last year recorded a Net Combined Ratio of 96.6%. Insurance premiums written in the United Kingdom approx £16 bn. While over a 1000 companies sell car insurance in the UK. The rising cost of UK motor insurance has added to the cost-of-living pressure experienced by Britons. With average premiums now costing £877, price rises in car insurance have outstripped inflation for the wider economy at 10.7%. The surge has been expected following the ban on price walking.
A driver's license - a document that in the United Kingdom confirms identity and can replace a person's passport - is needed to drive a car and any car-related transactions (insurance, rental). This document is issued for 10 years, after which it is necessary to reissue it (the validity period of the certificate is indicated in paragraph 4b, and not 11, as many people think!). In addition, it must be replaced when changing the place of residence (and urgently, the fine for failure to comply with this requirement is up to 1000 pounds). The address must also be changed in the vehicle's registration book.
The procedure for replacing licenses for UK citizens is simple: you need to contact the DVLA by submitting an application online or by mail, and wait for a letter with a new license. It is possible to drive. Upon receipt of a new card, the old one must be cut with scissors and sent to the DVLA. In some cases, documents can only be sent by mail, for example, when changing a surname or replacing a photo, but this does not greatly lengthen the process.
The cost of reissuing a license varies. It is changed free of charge when changing address or after the owner turns 70 years old. An expiration license renewal with online application costs £14 and a mail-in exchange costs £17. Reissuing a lost or damaged license will cost £20.
Interestingly, it is not necessary to have a driver's license with you while driving. Under the Highway Traffic Act 1998 (Section 164), if a police officer requests a license, the driver has the right to present it within 7 days at any police station of their choice.
In 2019, 10.3 million vehicles were sold in the UK, of which more than three-quarters (76%) were used cars. Thanks to the fact that car history data has become public in recent years, a significant part of these transactions are in small garages or carried out by individuals, since their prices are more affordable, and the ability to get detailed information on demand allows you to make a purchase with peace of mind.
Of course, the easiest thing is to buy a new car in the showroom of a car brand: you can understand nothing about cars and not worry about possible problems with documents or mechanisms. The salon or the trader will prepare all the documentation and, in case of any problems, will correct the shortcomings, if any, are found shortly after the acquisition.