AXA Insurance Blog Rotating Header Image

New car sales rev up in February

New car sales up 33% in FebruaryThe latest Central Statistic Office figures released on Monday show that car sales in February up 33 per cent compared with the same period a year ago. Some 11,707 new cars were licensed in the month of February. The majority of which were diesel cars (58.1%; 6,804) and 4,317 (36.9%) were petrol.

In 1986 Peter Gabriel penned the following lyric in the song ‘Mercy street’ which aptly applies here -  ‘All of those cars were once just a dream in somebody’s head.’ A new car for me is still just a dream but for many people in Ireland they purchased their dream car last February.

So what sold in February?
The highest number of new private cars licensed last February were……….. Drum roll please!!

  • Toyota (1,663)
  • Volkswagen (1,460)
  • Ford (1,402)
  • Renault (1,094)

For more details on February car sales check out the RTE  or the Central Statistics Office websites

If you splashed out on a new car last month, remember AXA offers new car replacement on its car insurance policies. To find out more about new car replacement, have a look at page 18 of our online policy document.

Also if you have availed of the government scrappage scheme check out my blog ‘Bangers and Cash’ on the €100 discount for new & existing AXA customers.

Facebook Faux Pas

Facebook“What’s on my mind?” – every time I log onto Facebook, I’m asked this question. Considering the eclectic mix of family, friends and work colleagues that I’m ‘friends’ with, I’m reluctant to spill the beans. My mam doesn’t need to know about last nights shenanigans any more than my boss does. So, when it comes to social network updates, I’m in the “less is more” camp. It seems however that I’m in the minority. People just love to hear the sound of their own keyboards these days. Nothing is too farcical for Facebook or too trivial to tweet.

BurglarHowever you might be surprised and more than a little unsettled to know that there are people out there listening to your updates with more sinister intentions. When you tweet to your friends “Yay – just arrived at the airport!!!” someone else is thinking “Great, now where do you live and will your plasma screen fit into my van?”

The Digital Criminal Report highlights the rise of criminal ‘sofa stake outs”, where thieves surf social media channels to search for their next victims. The report throws up some worrying trends

  • with 38% of social media users posting their travel itineraries;
  • 23% doing so “wall to wall”, i.e. outside the privacy of their own page; and
  • 5% including their home address in their visible personal information.

So maybe when you’re planning your next holiday you should also consider taking a short break from Facebook. Wait until you’re back home safe and sound before you upload the photos and tell us all what an amazing holiday you just had.

If you’re concerned about the safety of your personal belongings, your home and your car while you are away, perhaps it’s time you considered AXA’s Home Insurance or Car Insurance products. And if you are lucky enough to be heading away somewhere nice this year, make sure to check our new AXA Travel insurance product online.

Third of all road deaths work related

Work related road deathsStudies show that people who drive company cars have between 30% and 40% more collisions than ordinary drivers and this risk increases for those who drive more than 40,000kms a year. And as the startling headline confirms, approximately a third of all road deaths (75 people) involve drivers who are using their vehicle for work, according to new figures revealed by the Road Safety Authority.

So why are these work related deaths happening? Are people rushing to and from their offices? Seems unlikely given the gridlock at rush hours but you never know. The stats probably relate to those who spend a considerable amount of their work day on the road. Yet, the report includes the remarkable fact that more than four in 10 companies do not issue driving guidelines. If we hope to change people’s attitude to driving, perhaps it’s time that companies became more active in this area. What do you think?

For those of us who live close to work, maybe it’s time to consider the bikes to work scheme  and for those of us who will always need a car, be sure to check out AXA’s comprehensive car insurance.

Put your hoverboards away, the DeLorean is back!!

DeLorean carThe DeLorean car made famous in the 80’s classic movie ‘Back to the Future’ is BACK. One proud owner of the new De Lorean is US TV host, car enthusiast and wannabe Marty McFly, Jay Leno.

The DeLorean DMC-12 first rolled off the assembly line in Northern Ireland back in 1981. Around 9,000 DeLoreans were produced at the facility in Dunmurry, a suburb of Lisburn. With its distinctive stainless steel body and gull-wing doors, it became an iconic head turner.

However the DeLorean’s time was shortlived and unfortunately its founder, John DeLorean went bankrupt in late 1982 bringing production to an end. Jay Leno commented “A lot of people in Northern Ireland put their hearts and souls into the vehicle — and they got hurt.”

Three decades on, Steven Wynn (a Liverpool businessman) has now taken the DeLorean name and decided to bring back the original car, reviving it from merely being something gazed upon at classic cars shows. Armed with spare parts (from around 500 cars left over when production stopped in 1982), Wynn’s team have put this show-stopping car back on the road. The design of the exterior remains unchanged; most of the changes have been made to the engine, suspension, chassis etc…Find out more, look online at Times newspaper in UK

The estimated cost of the new DeLorean will be around $57,500 (or €42,500). Still interested?…..I don’t think I’ll be rushing out just yet with my confirmation money and SSIA to get one. I’ll have to stick with my current car for now, poor me! But to make myself feel better, I might nip up to Halfords at the weekend (who unfortunately don’t stock ‘flux capacitors’) and pick up a few things to jazz my car up a bit, maybe an air freshenser, new windscreen wippers, seat covers – what an exciting life I lead!

Don’t forget, if you have car insurance with AXA you can use your AXA Plus card to get 15% off most stuff in Halfords – to find out more about our customer loyalty programme, click on this link for AXA Plus.

Bangers and Cash

100_EuroOld car

You can’t move these days without seeing or hearing an ad about a car scrappage scheme. What I can tell you is that AXA is giving a €100 discount on car insurance to all existing and new customers, who avail of the government ‘Scrappage Scheme’. It really is ’money for old rope’.

Colm McGrattan, Director of Business Operation at AXA says “As a strong supporter of road safety in Ireland, AXA welcomes any scheme that will take old unsafe cars off our roads and encourages people to buy new safer cars with a high NCAP rating”.

What do I need to know about the Government scrappage scheme?
This scheme kicked off on 1st January 2010 and will run for one year. Here are just a few things about the scheme that might be of interest: Continue reading →

A stitch in time, saves Valentines

Valentines Day Gold heart

It’s that time of the year again, a time that the majority of Irish men dread…..Yes, it’s Valentines Day and it’s this Sunday!!

For many guys – myself included – this Valentines will involve a last minute drive to the local petrol station to grasp the only available card left on the shelf. Next step will be to pick up a bunch of flowers or some chocolates, maybe even both, if she’s lucky – what can I say?….I’m a generous guy!

There will, however, be a rare breed of man that will push the Valentines boat out and splash out on some jewellery. Some may go even further and get the most elusive piece of jewellery in the catalogue, YES……an engagement ring. Research from the UK found that engagement rings account for 10% of the jewellery bought for Valentines Day, the remainder being watches and other gifts.
Wedding_and_Engagement_Rings

What most of these potential Cassanovas will not consider is whether or not their Valentine’s gifts will be covered on their beloved’s home insurance.

So if you do receive an expensive piece of jewellery this Valentines it is worth making sure that it’s covered both inside and outside of your home. If you currently have home insurance with AXA simply check your existing cover. And if you are unsure about your cover you can give us a call or drop into a local AXA branch.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!!

Dublin city speed limit now 30kph

dublin speed limit now 30kphLife begins at thirty?
A new 30km an hour limit came into effect on 31st January in the Dublin city centre in an effort to improve road safety and save lives. In a report by Dublin City Council ‘pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable if involved in a collision with a vehicle.’ It also mentions research which states that ‘the percentage of pedestrians killed when in a collision with a vehicle travelling at 50kph is 45% but reduces to 5% when the vehicle speed is 30kph.’

So where does the new extension apply to?
Continue reading →

Speed control…but not as you know it

System developed to control the speed of your car

System developed to control the speed of your car

If I said to you I could guarantee that you would never get any penalty points on your licence for speeding ever again, would you believe me? 

 

Well, it could be your lucky day! New technology may soon be on the way which could  control the speed of your car to ensure you do not break the speed limit.A report in Northern Ireland has recommended the introduction of such a system to ensure that drivers do not break the speed limit.

 

So how does it work? – The system would be linked to the engine and braking system of your car and would control your vehicle’s speed so it doesn’t go over the speed limit;

Continue reading →

Winter driving tips when ice and snow hit the roads

Snow in Ireland 2010It is only when we start complaining about the fact there are no more seasons and that we never get any more snow during the winter that it suddenly starts falling.  This usually makes most people happy at first, it is snowing, everything becomes white, there’s a lovely christmas feel and children are making snowmen in the garden.

Unfortunately, after a day or two, reality kicks in and snow becomes the reason why there is ice on the road, why there are many traffic jams, why buses can’t run any more, why getting to work suddenly becomes very challenging. Basically, getting somewhere takes a lot more time and for many, this can become tiresome.
Continue reading →

How safe are Irish drivers?

As a nation of drivers, how safe are we?  We at AXA Insurance, recently carried out a European road behaviour survey, which examined key questions on road safety and driving behaviours, and we would like to share our findings.  Feel free to share your views too!

 Most people would say they are ‘road safe’, have you every heard the driving expression- “Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule”?!  In other words the car in front must be at least 2 seconds ahead of you to be a ‘safe’ distance.   95% of Irish drivers feel that driving fast a few metres behind the car in front is dangerous.  Have you ever been tailgated?  Share your experiences with us here – good or bad.
Continue reading →