Admiral has recently announced two significant changes to its popular MultiCar cover. MultiCar, which allows between 2 and 5 cars belonging to the same household to be insured on one policy and subsequently receive a discount, has been on offer since early 2006. More than 30% of households in the UK own more than 1 car and the cover from Admiral has always appealed to those motorists who own a luxury car as well as a car for everyday use. Each policy can cover up to 5 cars, as long as all the vehicles are solely for private use and are registered at the same address.

Managing director of Admiral, Sue Longthorn, has explained that the demand for MultiCar cover comes from the many motorists who have "an everyday car and a classic older car, which they drive for fun". Vehicles such as Aston Martins and Porsches have grown in popularity over the years, but frequently owners will use them "only for pleasure or on special journeys”. These motorists will undoubtedly be happy to hear that Admiral has increased the age of vehicles it is willing to insure, from 30 years old to 50 years old.

Drivers still have to be over 25 to qualify for this cover but Admiral has also discounted premiums for luxury cars such as Bentleys and Lamborghinis. The company have been able to reduce premiums by between 5% and 7% (those vehicles equipped with a TRACKER can expect an 8% to 11% discount) because the drivers have a relatively low accident record.

With the rising costs associated with keeping your car on the road, it’s not a great time to be a motorist in the UK. But more bad news was revealed in the weekend papers, with reports of criminals not only helping themselves to fuel from cars by draining their tanks, but now also stealing catalytic converters.

With some vehicles able to hold a hundred pounds worth of fuel at a time, it is a lucrative business for the thief. Catalytic converters can make crooks £60 each when sent overseas to specialist processing plants where the precious metals are extracted. Not only does the poor motorist have to fork out for more fuel or pay for a new catalytic converter (which can cost between £600 and £1500 taking into account the costs of labour), but thieves are not bothered about the damage done in carrying out their crime and this can add hundreds to the bill. If you claim on your insurance policy, you then run the risk of losing your no-claims bonus and will in all likelihood have an excess to pay.

The AA offers the following advice to motorists:

• If possible, park in a garage overnight.
• Be choosy about where you leave your car at other times – pay that bit extra for a car park with security staff or good lighting.
• Have your catalytic converter marked – this will help police trace it if it is stolen.
• Consider fitting your car with an alarm which goes off if motion is detected.
• If your catalytic converter has been stolen, do not attempt to drive your car as this could cause further damage.

Even though many disregard it, we all know that it is a criminal offence to drive using a mobile phone. However, how many of us have had a drink or eaten a sandwich whilst at the wheel? As of the 18th of Aug it is now illegal to do so, after a raft of new laws was introduced in the “Don’t drive distracted” campaign which aims to reduce the accident rate on our roads, as well as provide the muscle for courts to imprison drivers who cause death by failing to pay due care and attention at the wheel.

The measures have been welcomed by the insurance industry which already takes a robust view of drivers with convictions for careless driving. Around half refuse to insure those with hand held mobile phone or careless driving convictions whilst others increase the premium by up to a hefty 50%.

Direct Line has called for the new measures to be extended to those who drive without insurance, road tax or a valid licence, regardless of whether or not they cause a fatal accident. Currently under the new legislation drivers responsible for a fatality whilst driving unlicensed, untaxed or disqualified can be sent to prison for two years. It is estimated that 200 people a year are killed by uninsured drivers and with some 1.5 million of them on the road perhaps that is unsurprising. The fine currently imposed for driving without the proper paperwork is only £185 on average – perhaps not that much of an incentive for the criminally minded to abide by the law.