Travel Insurance – Avoid Becoming a Statistic

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We have all seen and read media reports and statistics about the perils of not taking out travel insurance. There is certainly plenty of information on the internet for travellers regarding the importance of insurance. Despite this, however, recent research by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) indicates that one in five British travellers still neglect to take out travel insurance for their trips and holidays.

The British Foreign Office and their ‘Know Before You Go’ service provides excellent and free travel advice and country information to assist travellers before they set off. They also warn of the potentially dire financial consequences for those who risk setting off without travel insurance.

It appears that despite all the warnings many holidaymakers are still either unaware of the risk they are taking, or prepared to take a chance. This is a case of false economy as the cost of travel insurance is very cheap compared to the bills that could mount up over problems that arise while travelling overseas.

The ABTA research has shown that younger travellers, mainly the 15-24 age group, are the most uninformed as they believe that if anything bad happens to them while abroad the government will pick up the cost and take care of it for them. This could not be further from the truth. Many young travellers go abroad with friends, or on adventure holidays, or for Hen or Stag parties so are at particular risk. However, it is important to remember that if intoxication or rowdy behaviour result in injury, fines, or arrest your consulate or embassy cannot pay the bills for you or secure your release.

The sad reality for the families or parents of young travellers who get into trouble abroad is that they are going to receive a desperate telephone call for help and will have no option but to come up with the needed funds. The British Embassy or Consulate will go as far as making calls and contacting friends and relatives for them and advise on the transfer of funds, but that is about the extent of their assistance. The government does not cover payments for hospital treatment, nor does it pay to fly anyone home (repatriate them) or provide funds if they run out of money, get arrested, or have all their money and possessions stolen.

If a traveller is seriously injured or ill and needs to be flown home by air ambulance the costs are truly frightening – running into thousands of pounds for those who do not have adequate travel insurance.

Single Trip travel insurance can be surprisingly cheap, and even the minimum amount of cover it provides can be vital. For young travellers Backpacker policies are very affordable and still provide the necessary cover for medical treatment, liability and legal expenses. There are, of course, terms and conditions as with any type of insurance and policies differ from company to company so it is important to check. Having that insurance policy tucked in your pocket or hand luggage is not a license to act irresponsibly, or put yourself in harm’s way. It is unlikely to cover incidents that are found to be related to the excessive consumption of alcohol or drug use.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides a level of cover for emergency medical treatment in participating member countries, and it is important to carry this (free) card, along with comprehensive travel insurance – but never instead of insurance. The EHIC does not cover anything much other than emergency medical expenses, and does not cover non-urgent or follow-up care. It also does not cover the cost of medical repatriation by air ambulance, if this should become necessary.

Repatriation costs can amount to as much as £45,000 from the East Coast of the USA, up to £16,000 from destinations like Tenerife, and up to £20,000 from destinations ‘down under’. Consider whether you have that sort of disposable money lying around? Most people do not!

Imagine suddenly finding yourself responsible for debt of this kind, either for yourself or for a travelling dependent. In these harsh economical times unexpected expenses of this kind would be totally devastating. Why take such a risk?

For the relatively small cost of insurance you are purchasing peace of mind and, with any luck, you may never need to use it. Consider that most travel insurance will cover costs for common and expensive travel mishaps, including:

Emergency medical treatment for injury or illness
Repatriation by air ambulance
Lost luggage or stolen money, credit cards and possessions
Personal liability (in case of a lawsuit for damage to property or persons)
Cover for Legal Expenses
Cancellation of your trip (for covered reasons)
Curtailment of your trip (cutting short your trip)
Scheduled Airline failure
Personal accident cover for death or disability
It is all too easy to spend a lot of time surfing the internet looking for cheap holidays or travel deals, but forget that it is equally important to take time to purchase travel insurance, and to check what it does and does not include. If unsure, always call and ask – don’t leave it to chance.

If you are not sure whether you might decide to go river rafting, bungee jumping or skiing on your holiday it is important to ensure that you will be covered for these activities and, if necessary, purchase additional cover.

Avoid being tempted to opt for the cheapest policy that you find on a comparison site. Take the time to check that you are getting adequate levels of cover for your money and that all your planned activities are covered. A very cheap policy may have cut the levels of cover where you most need it, or raised ‘excess’ levels (the amount that you contribute towards a claim) in order to tempt you with a cheap quote.

If you plan to make more than one trip in a year it is sensible to save money by opting for the Annual Multi-trip policy as this will work out cheaper in the long run.

Having an accident or mishap while on holiday is often unavoidable, and always inconvenient. However, facing financial ruin and becoming a statistic because you neglected to take out travel insurance is something that is completely avoidable!

Here’s Why You Need to Charge Your Electric Vehicle At Home

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It is no wonder BMW is at the forefront in making both stylish and functional vehicles that never compromise safety. Charging your electric vehicle with a home charging station has more benefits compared to public charging stations. With BMW’s electric model ranges, you will experience an entirely new driving experience. No feeling is better than gliding silently through urban and rural traffics. All of this is free of fumes and harmful emissions that impact the planet. Going electric with BMW is one of the best things you can do for you.

While BMW iX3 Charging Station is available in many places and shopping malls in Australia, it is a good idea to invest in home BMW charger as it offers a plethora of benefits. In fact, charging your electric car with a home charging station has benefits compared with public charging stations.

Here’s why you need to install BMW home charging station:-

Save money

Instead of buying battery power from a third-party source every time you need to charge your BMW, it is a good idea to pay a flat fee for a residential BMW charging station and have unlimited energy from the same source that keeps your house warm and other electric appliances running. Of course, you would see a spike in electricity bill. But, you’ll save money by saving yourself from frequent trips to the public station and paying for recharging your car. Home charging stations pay for themselves in the long run.

Finding your home charger is affordable too. There are many electric vehicles charging station providers in Australia from whom you can buy and rely on them for support. There are three different types of home chargers, including level 1, level 2, and level 3. Based on the type of charger you buy, the cost will be anywhere between $300 and $2000.

Convenient

On average, it takes anywhere from four to six hours to fully charge your BMW with a level 2 charger. Let’s imagine that you need to drive 50miles to attend a meeting and your EV is running low on battery. If you have to wait the whole night, take your vehicle to the nearby charging station, recharge, and then drive. Wouldn’t that consume your productive hours? The same scenario is much more manageable if you have the home charger installed. All you need to do is, plug the car in and go to sleep. By the time you wake up, you’ll have a fully charged BMW ready for the drive.

Safe

Charging at home is much safer than public charging stations for a range of reasons, including the safety of you and your vehicle. You’ll have to wait for a long time in the public charging stations to charge your EV, and there’s no safety, especially if you are in the middle of high way.

As you see, they’re less expensive, more convenient and completely safe as long as it is installed properly.

The Financial Benefits of Owning an Electric Vehicle

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Although electric vehicles are expensive, the long-term price of owning one is lower than compared to gasoline cars. Yes, trading in your existing diesel or petrol car for the long-term benefits of an electric car is a good idea. Not only are electric vehicles the future of road travel, but the government is considering a decent incentive who upgrade to electric. Both hybrid plug-in and fully electric vehicles can help improve fuel economy, lower fuel costs, and reduce emissions.

However, the cost is typically one of the major considerations for drivers deciding on what kind of vehicle to purchase. In fact, one of the top reasons that people hesitate to switch to an electric vehicle is the relative price compared to gas-powered cars. But, you must understand the fact that owning an electric vehicle offers more monetary benefits than gasoline vehicles. Take a look at some of the financial benefits you’ll reap by owning an electric vehicle:-

EV Owners Are Eligible For Tax Deductions

Yes! Going electric despite the higher upfront cost is considered as an act of being socially responsible. The more drivers switch to an electric vehicle, the less greenhouse gas will be emitted into the atmosphere and reduce its impacts on the environment. This, in turn, brings the global temperature down and contributing to make the world a better place to live in for us and our future generations. For these reasons, electric car owners are eligible for a tax deduction of up to $7,500.

However, the deduction amount varies from one state to another and based on the capacity of the battery used to power the vehicle. On the other hand, there are no tax deductions for gasoline cars, and from a tax perspective, going electric with Nissan is a financially smart option. All you need is electricity and Nissan leaf charging stations to recharge your vehicle.

Low-Cost Maintenance

Gas-powered vehicles consist of lots of complex moving parts and generally require more maintenance than electric vehicles. Petrol and diesel cars need frequent oil and transmission fluid changes, whereas, EVs don’t require it. Fixing gas-powered vehicles can take time and drives up labour costs from the mechanic. On the other hand, EVs come with regenerative brakes. Yes, they use the kinetic energy of the vehicle to decelerate. This, in turn, causes less wear and tear on the brakes, which result in reduced need for brake maintenance as well. Overall, the maintenance cost of EVs is less than petrol and diesel cars.

Costs Less To Power

Petrol and diesel rates are increasing day by day. One of the major benefits of owning an EV is that you don’t have to refuel it. All you need is Nissan leaf charger or Nissan leaf home charger to charge the car. You can charge your Nissan EV anywhere from the comfort of your house, office, or anywhere. It is as simple as that.

EV is the future of the automobile industry. Embrace it and reap the many benefits of being a proud owner of an electric vehicle.