Smokers paying higher premiums?

Motorists in the UK have been warned that they may be paying higher premiums for their car insurance if they smoke.

Non-smokers sometimes benefit from reduced premiums because certain insurers view smokers as a higher risk group. These providers believe that drivers who smoke could be distracted on the road when they light up and are therefore more prone to accidents.

The Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA) recently urged legislators to ban smoking behind the wheel, stating that it is a distraction to motorists, much like mobile phones are. The LARSOA says that "trying to light cigarettes and the dangerous practice of throwing them out of an open window in the path of a car, bicycle or motorbike is far too distracting and could easily lead to accidents".

In response to the call from LARSOA, Aron Thompson, head of car insurance at independent online price comparison and switching service uSwitch.com, told drivers that smoking could have an increasing noticeable effect on car insurance premiums after July 1st.

"With the new smoking laws coming into effect on July 1st, which will ban smoking in public places, it is quite possible that more people will smoke in their vehicles to get around the ban," he explained, before warning that drivers could already be paying higher insurance premiums because they smoke.

"uSwitch.com is currently one of the few price comparison websites that asks drivers if they smoke as several insurance providers consider smoking to be a rating factor when it comes to pricing a motor insurance policy. Once the smoking ban is implemented, it will be interesting to see if more providers jump on the 'higher premiums for smokers' band wagon," he said.

Mr Thompson also suggested that a ban on smoking could be the first of many further such actions if it is passed: "The introduction of a fine and points on your licence for using mobile phones whilst driving recently came into effect as it is difficult to argue that this isn’t a dangerous distraction - does the same apply to smoking? If so, should we also ban CD players in cars, hands-free mobile calls, satellite navigation systems – the list goes on."

uSwitch.com is advising smokers to keep a close eye on their premiums, and urges those that see an increase in the cost of their insurance renewal after July 1st to find out precisely why.

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