|
On the other hand, men are more likely than women to place the reliability of a car and the make and model higher. Men are also more likely to be won over by the manufacturer’s brand reputation and how the car affects their personal image.
For women, once they have found the right car, they are more likely to hold onto it for a longer period of time (69 per cent of women hold onto their cars for over three years compared to 60 per cent of men). Meanwhile men are more inclined to go for a change within a three year period (39 per cent compared to 29 per cent of women).
Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian’s Automotive division, said, “The older the car, the higher the chance of it having some sort of history that would affect a person’s decision to buy it. It is important for women to protect themselves, because they are more likely to buy older cars.
“Men are just as vulnerable if they are more inclined to base their decisions on what the car means to them. Buying a car can be an emotional process, especially if the car buyer has gone through a lot just to find the right one.
“A lot of people are reluctant to let a potentially ‘perfect match’ slip through their fingers, but this is exactly the fixation that fraudsters rely on.
All too often we hear about innocent used car buyers, who see a car advertised privately, it appears to be legitimate and they are persuaded into parting with their money only to later find that it had a hidden history.
|
|
Motorists have been dealt another blow as car insurance costs have reached record levels, reveal new figures.
Car insurance premiums have risen by almost 6 per cent between July 2007 and June 2008 – with the average annual car insurance bill now costing £514.36, according to figures released by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance.
It is the first time that the average premium has exceeded £500 since Sainsbury’s began compiling figures.
Worst hit are motorists aged over 65, who saw their average insurance quote grow from £334.65 to £368.09, equivalent to a rise of 10 per cent.
Drivers under 25 saw their premiums increase by 2.47 per cent, although this age group still pays the most for their insurance with an average cost of £1,249.
“Given that car insurance premiums are rising and the cost of driving is at its highest for a number of years, it is all the more important for motorists to shop around for competitive insurance”, said Joanne Mallon, Sainsbury’s Car Insurance manager.
Rising costs for personal injury claims, car repairs and the large number of uninsured drivers were all to blame for the increases, the report added.
|
.gif){kind=small}