If you thought that penalty points and a £60 fine were the only punishment for using a mobile phone behind the wheel, then think again. It can also have a serious affect on your car insurance premiums.
Research from the AA, on the second anniversary of the introduction of a statutory £60 fine and three penalty points for using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel, reveals that 100,000 drivers continue to flout the law every second.
However, while they may brush off the punishment given to them by the police, they may think twice about their actions if they realise the effect it can have on their car insurance policy.
Offenders will find their premiums increase by around the price of the fine itself and that it will be in place for around three years - meaning that you are effectively paying a fine four times over.
Finding cheap quotes elsewhere is also unlikely. The AA examined quotes from eight of its panel of insurers and found that on e refused to quote for a single mobile phone use offense, while others increased premiums ranging from 4.2-18.1 per cent.
If you think the chances of being caught are slim, then think again. If you are involved in an accident, police will now routinely check mobile phone records and quickly find out whether it was a contributory cause.
The message to drivers is simply to avoid using their mobile phones while driving. If you are involved in an accident then it could not only cause injuries but also seriously harm your wallet - if you're forced to make a claim on your car insurance you will lose your no-claims bonus.
If you have been fined already for using a mobile phone then you should compare car insurance online. Some car insurance companies are more lenient on offenders than others, so this is your best chance of getting a competitive deal.
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