The AA has scored rather badly in a survey of roadside breakdown firms coming just seventh out of eleven. The poll included 32,000 drivers and rated breakdown firms on value for money, friendliness, helpfulness and overall service. GEM Motoring Assist came out top with Churchill coming bottom. In response the AA has said that 95% of people would recommend the service to family and friends. Personally when I have used the AA I have also found the service to be very good.

The full list, in order of overall rating, was:

1. GEM Motoring Assist;
2. Autonational Rescue;
3. RAC;
4. National Breakdown;
5. More Than;
6. Green Flag;
7. The AA;
8. Norwich Union;
9. Tesco;
10. Direct Line;
11. Churchill

I read this article the other day that suggests its worth shopping around for your car insurance. Apparently lots of people fall into the trap of staying with the same insurer rather than looking for a better rate. The problem is that often the insurance company will only offer its best rate to new customers so people, who stick with the same insurer year after year, tend to lose out and often end up paying more. The only problem I have is finding the time to look around for a better deal. Comparison websites such as www.autoinsurance-4u.com can save quite a lot of time. You just have to enter your zip code and the website brings up a whole list of cheap auto insurance companies in your area. Then you just fill in the online form to complete your quote.

If you play a lot of golf you might want to consider getting some golf insurance especially as there are around 12,400 golf related injuries every year. Golf Care offers a package that covers you against damage to property, personal injury and personal liability. It also covers you against the theft, loss or damage of you equipment. The prices start from only £29.99 a year for their bronze package which includes cover for equipment of up to £1,250 and personal accident cover of up to £50,000 as well as cover for third party equipment and dental treatment.

If you are purchasing any electrical product it is likely you will be offered an extended warranty but it could just be a waste of money. That’s according to this article. It suggests that in many cases there is no reason to buy an extended warranty and that you are often able to purchase cheaper cover elsewhere. Most goods already come with a years guarantee but extended warranties usually cover you for three to five years. However, it is often cheaper to purchase extended cover from another insurer as the in store policy includes a commission for the shop. In many cases when buying cheaper goods taking out extra insurance proves pointless, as it often works out cheaper to purchase a new product should it go wrong.

If you are looking around for van insurance you might want to check out Autonet Insurance Services. They offer van insurance for commercial use meaning you are insured to drive in any EU country up to a 3.5 tonne van. The Autonet Insurance Group has a reputation as a low cost, high quality insurance provider so should be able to give a Cheap Van Insurance quote. The company has formed relationships with many of the UK’s leading insurers so they can offer you the best possible rate. If you do manage to find a cheaper quote elsewhere for the same level of cover they also offer a full money back guarantee.

Tesco are to launch a comparison website called tescocompare.com. The website will allow users to compare insurance from a range of providers. Whilst initially geared towards car insurance, the website will also cover other financial services such as mortgages, homes loans and credit cards in the future.

Many things affect the cost of your insurance but the main reason you are paying more could be your post code. I was reading this article that suggests residents in South Norwood pay more than three times as much for building and contents insurance as someone who lives in Barnstaple. The website also provides a post code checker so you can see how the area in which you live affects what you pay. The results show you a typical annual premium for a house in your area, as well as where it ranks in the country. My breakdown was as follows:

Your postcode breakdown:  
•    Your league position: 1365 out of 1659
•    Your premium: £190.25
•    The national average is £169.45

If you are a vegetarian you might want to get your life insurance from Animals Friends Insurance. They are offering a 6% discount on their life cover for vegetarians. This is because medical evidence suggests that vegetarians are less likely to suffer from major illnesses, than people who eat meat. Meat eaters can also take out the policy, just at a higher price.

The recent floods here in the UK are likely to push up the cost of insuring your home. Insurance companies are currently facing a bill of around £2.5 billion. This means that they will need to offset the cost of the flood claims against a general rise in household insurance. The average premium is £200 for buildings and £150 for contents. This has remained unchanged for the last ten years but it now likely to go up considerably.