Whether you’re about to become a parent for the first time or your teenage son or daughter has just passed their test, it’s important to think about how this can impact the car you drive. Admittedly, it might not be on the top of your to-do list – especially if your family has just welcomed the arrival of a baby boy or girl – but it is worth your attention.
The majority of households have at least one car these days, and if you think about it, it’d be difficult to manage things like the weekly supermarket shop and the school run without one. Of course though, not all vehicles are suitable for families – two-seater sports cars, for example – so it’s worth getting something that will transport you, your partner and children around comfortably.
That’s not to say you ought to get rid of a sports car altogether, but it’s worth having something more child-friendly as well.
As is the case with all road vehicles, when it comes to family cars it’s important to have a sufficient level of cover. Here are just some of the things you ought to think about.
Type of car
We’ve already said a two-seater sports car isn’t a great choice of family vehicle, not least of all because they can be expensive to insure, but what makes a good one?
As the type of car you drive is one of the biggest factors that will impact on your insurance costs, this is something you ought to think about carefully. Space is a vital consideration and not only will you want your kids to be able to sit comfortably while you drive, but if you have babies or toddlers you’ll need plenty of room to fit a child seat. Five-door cars are easier to place these seats in compared to their three-door counterparts, which is just one reason why estates are a popular choice for families.
However, if you’ve got a particularly large brood or you often ferry your children’s friends, you may want to get a people carrier. These can fit up to seven passengers, though if every seat is occupied there might not be too much room left for luggage in the boot.
It’s worth seeking out a model that has a high standard of safety features. A vehicle that is highly accredited under the Euro NCAP crash safety ratings can serve as an indication that you’ll be well protected in the event of an accident, which in turn can reduce your insurance costs.
Level of cover
Although you have a number of options when it comes to the level of car insurance you can get, it’s a good idea to seek out fully-comprehensive cover. That way, you and your family will have complete peace of mind that you’ll be completely protected in the event of suffering a mishap.
Should an accident mean that your vehicle is out of action for a while, a thorough level of cover will ensure that your family’s life shouldn’t be disrupted too much. You’ll get a similar courtesy car as it is being fixed, although if it turns out to be beyond repair you will be financially compensated. Having a comprehensive plan means that you will agree with your insurer on a value for your car from the moment you take out policy and if it ends up being written off at a later stage you’ll get this amount in full.
If there’s more than one car in your household, it’s also worth seeking out family fleet insurance. This is designed for those with a range of cars and, as all your insurance costs are consolidated into a single policy, it can be cheaper and easier to manage. Instead of having to pay a number of companies for cover each month, you will only have to deal with one!
Whether you’ve just one vehicle for transporting your entire brood in or have several motors that you, your partner and teenage children drive, what have your experiences of getting insurance for family cars been like?