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18 Nov 2006
(source: Virgin Money)

00-7 THOUSAND POUNDS A YEAR TO INSURE BOND’S CAR

As an international superspy, James Bond has had more than his fair share of accidents and high-octane chases……And his daredevil stunts, scrapes and speeding mean he faces an estimated bill of £7,108.50 to insure the Aston Martin DBS V12 he drives in latest adventure Casino Royale (out Friday).

Virgin Car Insurance boffins calculated the quote using 007’s personal details – from age (38) to occupation (‘export consultant’). Their sums also had to include the ‘shaken not stirred’ man’s optional extras like ejector seats, rockets, bonnet vents, body kit, speed trap detector, sports harness and supercharger. And Bond’s famous write offs – including these six – were also accounted for:

Goldfinger – slammed into a wall speeding away from Goldfinger’s mob
For Your Eyes Only – car exploded as enemy security hit the self destruction tag with the butt of his machine gun
View To A Kill – car pushed into a lake with 007 unconscious in the back seat
Living Daylights – Bond crashed into a lakeside cabin trying to escape from the bad guys
Tomorrow Never Dies – car driven by remote control off a car park roof,, landing in a car rental shop
The World Is Not Enough – car spliced in two by helicopters with chain saws attached to them

Spokeperson Franklin, John Franklin, of Virgin Money said, “We were surprised at how low Bond’s premium would be bearing in mind the car he drives and his clear lack of a no claims bonus! It just goes to show that even drivers with an action packed driving record don't have to be Goldfinger to get great car insurance.”

17 Nov 2006
(source: Swiftcover)

Lib Dems support insurer's call to use the tax system to incentivise drivers into 'green' vehicles

Seven in ten drivers would consider swapping to 'green' cars if they were cheaper. Early Day Motion tabled to incentivise green drivers.

With seven in ten drivers prepared to help reduce the UK’s carbon footprint by converting to environmentally friendly cars, insurer swiftcover.com is today calling on the Government to provide positive tax incentives to get drivers out of high emissions cars and into green vehicles.

Swiftcover.com’s Going Green¹ reportsurveyed 1787 motorists and highlights motorist’s attitudes to ‘going green’. The findings show that having an eco-conscience spans all generations and regions, with 73% of drivers across all age groups stating they’d like to be kinder to planet.

Road transport currently accounts for around a quarter of UK green house gas emissions² and less than 1%³ of the UK’s 32 million drivers⁴ own an environmentally friendly car. In the wake of its findings, swiftcover.com is calling on the Government to give tax breaks to green drivers who currently pay around £5,000 more each for cars that do the least to damage the environment.

Andrew Blowers, Chief Executive Officer at swiftcover.com, said: “Our report’s findings should act as a massive wake-up call for the Government who has clearly underestimated the number of drivers who are prepared to invest in environmentally friendly cars if they become more affordable.

“There is an almost £5,000 difference between the cost of a Toyota Prius⁵, a hybrid⁶ car and a Ford Mondeo⁷, a standard family car. Providing a tax incentive on the environmentally friendly option would bring the cost more in line with standard petrol vehicles. This would make green cars a viable alternative to their gas guzzling counterparts.”

Concerned by the research findings, Chris Huhne Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in support of swiftcover.com’s call to give incentives to consumers to purchase low emissions vehicles.

Chris Huhne comments: "The trouble is some low emission vehicles find it difficult to compete on price with equivalent standard cars so motorists have no incentive to go green. If the Government is serious about meeting its Carbon reduction targets, they should reform Vehicle Excise Duty so that there are tax incentives to encourage motorists to opt for low emission cars.”

Andrew Blowers concludes: “The research sends a clear message to the Government: Britain’s drivers want to go green, it’s up to you to help them achieve it.”