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Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Number of council-owned disabled parking spaces dwarfed by blue-badge holders
The number of council-managed blue parking spaces is significantly dwarfed by the number of blue badge holders, new data shows. According to a study from Swindon Borough Council has 69 dedicated blue badge parking bays, but there are 15,641 blue badge holders. This means that for every 227 permit holders, there is one blue badge space in council-managed areas. According to Swindon Borough Council, the report only focuses on dedicated spaces that belong the the council, but misses the others available in the town. They said: 'To suggest there are only 69 dedicated blue badge parking bays in Swindon is not the case as it ignores all the spaces in supermarkets, private car parks and out of town shopping centres. Disruption after unexpected road closure surprises residents and council 'Waterfalls' spotted on iconic town centre landmark 'left to rot' Five guilty of GBH after 'excessive' defence against knifeman in brawl 'It is also worth noting that, in Swindon, blue badge holders can park in any one of the 876 spaces in our surface level car parks that are not allocated for blue badge parking for as long as they want - for free. 'Holders can also park in a resident bay with their badge on display, with no time restriction, as well as limited waiting bays. And, providing their badge and clock is displayed, blue badge holders can park on double yellow lines for three hours.' According to the same report, there are "3.2 million blue badge permit holders in the UK, in comparison with 63,000 local authority blue badge parking bays". It also seems that the demand for accessible parking is increasing, with there being a 31% increase between 2022 and 2024 for new applications. During the 2022-2024 period, there were nearly 250,000 applications rejected. In England, there are 43,604 parking bays for blue badge holders but 2,635,428 permit holders. Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at car insurance, said: "Blue badge parking spaces are essential for millions of drivers across the UK—but our latest research shows how easily that system struggles. "This is especially highlighted when there isn't enough availability, and other drivers take advantage of the spaces. 'Shockingly, for every one blue badge parking bay in the UK, there are 52 permit holders who need access to it. "If you're using a blue badge space without needing one, even for just a few minutes, you could be stopping someone from being able to work, shop, or attend a medical appointment. "It's clear that more needs to be done—both to increase the number of accessible bays and to prevent misuse. "And if you're caught using a blue badge space without a permit, you could receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) costing between £70 and £100."
The Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Car insurance code that could be the key to finding cheaper insurance when you buy a new motor
A LITTLE-KNOWN code could be the key to unlocking cheaper car insurance. The average cost of motor insurance has fallen in recent months - from £621 in the final quarter of 2024 to £589 between January and March, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). But it always pays to cut costs where possible, starting with the model you choose. You may not have heard of the car insurance grouping system which places vehicles in certain cohorts and gives you an indication of what you're likely to pay for your premium. But how exactly does the system work, and how does your car insurance group affect what you pay? Here's what you need to know. What are car insurance groups? The car insurance grouping system was established by the ABI, which represents insurers, and Lloyds Market Association (LMA). These two bodies meet regularly to decide which insurance groups car and vans should be put into. The system is used by insurers to assess the risks associated with insuring a vehicle. Every time a new car gets a rating, it's added to the Group Rating System, managed by Thatcham Research. Car insurance groups are determined by a number of factors, including a new car's value (the showroom price) and the cost of replacement parts. How long it might take a mechanic to repair a vehicle after a crash and the type of brakes it uses are also used to decide what group it goes in. Five ways to cut your insurance costs Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at explained: "What group your car sits in depends on things like its value, security and safety features, top speed and acceleration, and potential repair costs. "Higher value cars with higher speeds, which are generally more costly to repair would be considered 'riskier' than others, and would therefore be in a higher insurance group. "Equally, those with anti-theft features, or more advanced safety features imply they're less likely to be involved in an incident, or stolen, which would put them in a lower insurance band." How groups affect what you pay and how to check what you pay The car insurance grouping system sees vehicles assigned a number from 1-50. Motors in the lower groups are the cheapest to insure while those in group 50 are the most expensive. According to insurer Allianz, a lower end Citroen C1 or a higher end Fiat 500 will likely be in groups 1-10. What is car insurance? Consumer reporter Sam Walker talks you through what car insurance is and what it covers you for... Car insurance pays out if your vehicle is stolen, damaged, catches on fire or is involved in an accident. As a minimum, it protects you against any damage you case to other road users, the public or their property - these are called third parties. You only need to claim on your car insurance when an accident is your fault. If another motorist is to blame, their insurance should pay out instead. Car insurance, unlike home insurance, is a legal requirement and if you don't have it you can be fined up to £1,000. You can also have your vehicle seized and destroyed. However, you don't need to insure your car if it is classed as "off-road", or holds a statutory off road notification (SORN). The vehicle has to be kept on private land and not a public highway though. A lower end Land Rover Discovery or higher end Porsche Boxster will be in groups 41 to 50. Of course, how much you'll pay for your car insurance is also dependent on other factors like your age, where you live and your estimated mileage. However, numbers crunched by comparison website MoneySupermarket show you could end up paying £640 more per year based on what group the vehicle is in. The figures below are based on policyholders who: are aged between 30 and 39 have no penalty points have held a licence for one year or more have a vehicle with just one person insured on it have an estimated mileage of 5,001 to 10,000 miles have no modifications on their vehicle use their vehicle for socialising and commuting Letters (suffixes) are also assigned alongside a vehicle's car insurance group number which tell insurers about a vehicle's level of security. The better level of security, the lower your insurance premium is likely to be. These are the suffixes and what they mean: A: Acceptable and meets the standard requirement for the car insurance group D: Doesn't meet requirements for the group, meaning the car has been placed in a higher group than normal E: Exceeds requirements for the group, meaning it's been placed in a lower group than normal P: Provisional, meaning not enough data was available when the car went on sale to rate the car's security level U: Unacceptable, meaning the car falls below security requirements and insurers may require an upgrade to security features before insuring it G: Grey import, meaning the car has been imported and will require extra checks to ensure it's legally okay to drive on roads There are a number of free-to-use tools where you can find what car insurance group a vehicle fits into, such as MoneySupermarket or Major change from early 2027 Thatcham Research is in the process of rolling out a new car insurance rating system, known as the Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) system. It officially launched in September 2024 and applies to all vehicles registered after August 1, 2024. However, if you have a car registered before August 1, 2024, it will keep its old Group Rating. Meanwhile, both the Group Rating (1-50 scale) and new VRR scores are currently being provided to insurers, while only the Group Rating system can be seen by motorists online. Thatcham Research says the new VRR system will be the only rating system used for both insurers and motorists from early 2027.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
For every disabled parking bay there are 52 Blue Badge holders as scheme is exploited and oversubscribed
There are increasing concerns the Blue Badge scheme for people with disabilities is both oversubscribed and 'shockingly' exploited as cases of misuse spiral in recent years. For every disabled parking bay in the UK, there are currently 52 permit holders, according to estimations in a new report published by This is based on almost 3.3million Blue Badge holders and just 63,000 parking spaces across the country. And demand for permits continues to rise with the rate of new applications increasing by 31 per cent between 2022 and 2024. In total, 1.3million new applications were made over the three-year period - and that's on top of the 1.5million renewal applications requested by existing holders. Of these 2.8million applications in total, just 245,566 - around 9 per cent - were rejected as the scheme continues to be overwhelmed. The report follows the release of figures that revealed that reported misuse cases relating to Blue Badge misuse have increased by over 1,000 per cent in less than a decade, highlighting a 'serious and growing problem of fraud and abuse'. The comparison site said the oversubscription issue is also being exacerbated by other drivers wrongly using disabled parking spaces when they shouldn't. According to a Freedom of Information request to 207 UK councils (of which 182 responded with data), 705,310 penalty charge notices were issued for misuse of disabled parking bays between 2022 and 2024. In a poll of 2,000 UK drivers, a third (36 per cent) of those who have a blue badge (11 per cent) said they've turned up somewhere needing to park, only to find someone without a permit using designated spaces. A similar volume said there aren't enough accessible disabled spaces where they live. Two thirds said they are often left with no other option but to park in a standard-sized bay, which do not provide access for wheelchairs or to those with mobility issues, while two in five have been forced to drive elsewhere to find suitable parking provisions. Last month, the nation's parking trade association vowed to crackdown Blue Badge fraud having seen instances of misuse spiral. Instances of reported abuse of the scheme have grown from hundreds per year in 2016 to over 3,500 cases by 2023 in what the British Parking Association (BPA) called a blatant 'undermining of the integrity' of the scheme. Permit thefts are also becoming a bigger issue, with the number of Blue Badges stolen in London alone spiralling by 400 per cent between 2014 and 2023. Blue Badge misuse is deemed a criminal offence that could lead to a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge. It can also result in court prosecution, and legal action may also be taken in circumstances where false information has been provided to acquire a Blue Badge. Rhydian Jones, commercial director at said the study highlights that the 'system is struggling' due to an imbalance of permits versus parking spaces - and other drivers abusing the rules. 'It's clear that more needs to be done - both to increase the number of accessible bays and to prevent misuse,' he said. The British Parking Association has warned there is a 'serious and growing problem of fraud and abuse of the Blue Badge scheme' Borrowing Granny's badge... The range of permit abuse identified by National Blue Badge - an enforcement agency working on behalf of local authorities to identify misuse - between 2016 and 2023 included a range of issues, from intentional theft, organised fraud, producing and selling counterfeit badges online, and using deceased people's badges. However, the most common type of abuse is the often presumed 'innocent' act of 'borrowing Granny's badge' just for free and convenient parking. 'For every badge being misused, a space has been denied to a genuine badge holder, potentially preventing them from attending appointments, socialising and being able to get around independently,' the BPA said in its May report. It went on to call for local authorities and councils to be given greater ability and mechanisms to effectively tackle the issue and put a stop to this ongoing abuse. 'Perpetrators are currently not deterred by the limited consequences for their action,' the trade body said. The most common type of scheme abuse is the often presumed 'innocent' act of 'borrowing Granny's badge' just for free and convenient parking, the BPA said Alison Tooze, policy officer at the BPA, said: 'The statistics around the level of Blue Badge misuse and fraud are shocking. 'We cannot continue to ignore this issue, especially when the victims are some of the most vulnerable in our society. 'Badge holders rely on accessible parking to carry out their day-to-day activities and for many it is a vital part of living an independent life. 'Perpetrators of blue badge misuse and fraud deprive genuine badge holders of this right to freedom, whilst costing ordinary taxpayers millions every year. This must stop.' This is Money raised the statistics with the Department for Transport. A DfT spokesperson said: 'Exploitation of the Blue Badge scheme is completely unacceptable – it is a vital resource helping many people travel with confidence. 'We are supporting the police to tackle this issue by working closely with local authorities and have strengthened their powers to help them tackle fraud and misuse.'
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
How to get cheaper home insurance: Our top tips to save money
Many people across the country will be wondering how to get cheaper home insurance given that premiums have been increasing sharply over the last few years. Home insurance prices have shot up in part because of an increase in adverse weather events. High inflation has also played a role, with repairs costing more now than they did several years ago. So if you're looking at an increased bill at renewal, here are straightforward steps you can take to make your home insurance cheaper. Quick links: Save money on home insurance It's quick and easy to save money on home insurance by using a comparison site to compare the best buildings and contents policies. You'll need to know your home's rebuild cost for buildings insurance and details of previous claims or subsidence. For contents you'll need to know the overall sum to be insured and any high value or special items. Remember the cheapest policy isn't always the best, so compare features carefully. Results and prices are likely to be similar across most comparison sites but may differ enough to make it worth checking a couple. We suggest checking: MoneySupermarket * * Uswitch * Also check Direct Line, which does not always appear on comparison sites. *Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare home insurance quotes Comparing quotes and switching insurer is often the best way to get cheaper home insurance. If your monthly bill has been going up every year, shop around to see if you can get a better price. It's likely your policy is set up so it renews automatically each year. Auto-renewal keeps customers insured continuously, but it also takes advantage of the fact that many prefer the convenience of sticking with their current home insurer rather than shopping around and switching. And while Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules mean that home and motor insurers can no longer charge renewing customers more than new ones, other providers may still be able to offer a better price. This information can help you negotiate with your current buildings or contents insurance provider for a reduced price if you want to stick with them, or you can go ahead and switch to a new home insurance policy. Just make sure your new policy starts as soon as your old one finishes so you're not left with a gap in your cover. Comparing quotes mid-term could still bag you a cheaper deal Standard home insurance policies last for 12 months. You may have to pay a fee to cancel your policy mid-term and switch to another provider, but you could still save money overall if you find a deal that undercuts your monthly bill significantly. If you've paid annually for your home insurance and haven't made a claim, your insurer should refund you for the months you haven't used when you cancel. Keep in mind that if you have made a claim, you won't be given a refund. Pay for your home insurance policy upfront You can usually choose to either pay your home insurance in one go when you take out the policy or spread the cost over 12 monthly instalments. Spreading the cost is often more expensive because some insurers charge interest when paying monthly. This means your policy will probably be cheaper if you can afford to cover the premium upfront. If you'd still rather spread the cost, comparing the monthly price from a few home insurers is the best move – different insurers charge different interest rates and you may find one that doesn't charge interest at all. Check you have the right level of home cover It's important to accurately estimate how much it would cost to replace your belongings or rebuild your property so you have the right level of cover. Being underinsured is worse than being overinsured, because having too little cover could lead to your insurer refusing to pay out or only paying a fraction of your claim. Being overinsured means you're paying for cover you don't need. Your insurer should pay out in the event of a claim, but your premiums may be more expensive than necessary. Check your policy documents to find out what level of cover you have for your buildings and contents insurance. If the figures seem too high or too low, carry out a fresh valuation of the cost of replacing your belongings or rebuilding your property – and update your insurer. What happens if you're underinsured? When you're underinsured the original level of home cover you purchased may not be enough for the insurer to fully pay out in the event of a claim. You'll be out of pocket because you'll need to cover more yourself. Underinsurance has been a big topic over the last few years. Inflation has been pushing up prices, meaning it costs more to rebuild a property or replace belongings. You could also be underinsured when you buy new things and don't update your cover. What's more, policyholders can be caught out by the average clause. Where this applies, insurers won't pay out in full even if you're claiming for less than the level of cover. For example: You've estimated the rebuild cost of your home at its market value of £300,000 when it would really cost £500,000. A storm hits that causes £30,000 worth of damage to your property. You're underinsured by 40 per cent, so the insurer will only pay out £18,000 (60 per cent of £30,000). All this means it's worth reviewing how much it would cost to rebuild your property and the value of your possessions each year at renewal. Underinsurance and market value vs rebuild value It's common to insure a home for its market value rather than its rebuild value. But this can lead to underinsurance, as in the example above. While expensive, the best way to work out your home's rebuild value is to hire a chartered surveyor. Otherwise you can use this calculator from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). You have to sign up to use it and keep in mind it won't be as accurate as a survey. Consider combined buildings and contents cover If you own your home and want both buildings and contents insurance, consider getting a combined quote. It can sometimes work out cheaper to buy both from the same insurer because it cuts their costs. Compare all your options – buying two separate policies from separate insurance providers may still work out cheaper. Renting your home? You won't need buildings insurance – this is your landlord's responsibility. But it's not your landlord's responsibility to cover your possessions, so you should still think about buying contents insurance. Choose to pay more excess Increasing your voluntary excess can net you cheaper premiums. There are two types of excess you'll need to pay when making a claim on your home insurance: Voluntary excess: Set by you when you get a quote for home insurance. Compulsory excess: You can't change this because it's set by your insurer. Voluntary excess is only voluntary in the sense that you can choose the level at which it's set. If you were to claim, you must be able to afford both. When comparing quotes, check how much cheaper your home insurance would be at different levels of voluntary excess. You can choose the sweet spot between a cheaper premium and your ability to pay the excess in the event of a claim. Cut down on add-ons Add-ons increase the cost of your home insurance policy, so you should check whether you still need them. Add-ons are sometimes worth the extra cost if they're important for your peace of mind. For example, if you have children, accidental damage can reduce worry about spillages and other mishaps. But if you've bought extra protection for a bicycle you no longer have, for example, removing it from your policy should make it cheaper. And triple-check that add-ons actually cover what you want them to cover. It's no good to pay extra only to find out you can't make a claim anyway – for example, some accidental damage policies exclude damage caused by pets. > Could you save money on your mortgage? Check the best rates based on your home value Boost your home security It's good practice to review your home's security and check that everything matches what you told your insurer and is up to its standards. For example: Do you have the right locks on windows and doors? If you told your insurer you have a certified burglar alarm, is it working properly and do you set it every time you go out? Are you storing particularly valuable items in a safe? Keep in mind security measures like installing burglar alarms don't always make your home insurance cheaper, because each insurer works out risk in different ways. It's most important to make sure that everything you've told your insurer about your home's security is accurate. This can avoid problems when it comes to making a claim. And either way, the right security reduces the risk of your needing to make a claim in the first place – and should give you peace of mind. In a similar way, you should check that your fire alarms are working, guttering is tidy and water pipes are insulated. While all of this won't necessarily make your home insurance cheaper, measures like these reduce the risk of damage to your property. Common questions about home insurance What does home insurance cover? There are two main types of home insurance: Buildings insurance: protects the structure of your property, such as the walls, roof and windows, plus other permanent fixtures. Contents insurance: protects non-permanent items in your property such as the furniture, curtains and white goods. A useful rule of thumb is that if you can carry an item out of your property it would be covered by contents insurance rather than buildings insurance. When it comes to exactly what home insurance covers, all policies vary. You should read the policy documents carefully when deciding on what cover you need. What is the average cost of home insurance? The average cost of combined buildings and contents insurance for Q4 2024 was £403 according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). This was down from the previous quarter but £39 higher than Q4 2023. How much your policy costs depends on a whole range of factors, including the type of property you're insuring, where you live and the level of cover you're after. Do you have to have home insurance? You're not legally required to have home insurance. However mortgage providers usually require you to have buildings insurance as a condition of lending. Buildings insurance can be essential even when you own your home outright. Paying out of your own pocket isn't possible for most due to the large sums involved. It's also important to think about buying contents insurance, because the cost of replacing your clothes, furniture and other belongings quickly adds up.
