Northern Ireland drivers making a claim on their motor insurance policy with an unprotected no claims discount (NCD) could see the cost of their premiums go up by nearly three-quarters.

Research by Money Supermarket suggests a car insurance policy-holder in Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK who had five years' unprotected NCD would have their premiums hiked from £528 to £911, an increase of 73 per cent.

In contrast, motorists with five years' protected NCD making a claim would only see an 18 per cent rise in the price of their average premium, from £590 to £694.

The comparison site's Steve Sweeney affirms that Northern Ireland motor insurance customers who build up their NCD over a number of years can avail of "a valuable commodity" and trim the cost of their premiums significantly.

"But be warned, if you protect your policy but don't make a claim for a number of years, you could find that you are eroding any potential savings," he adds.

Northern Ireland car insurance customers are also reminded that some providers allow multiple claims on protected policies without penalty, while others will allow only two claims.

Experienced motorists in Northern Ireland are welcoming the launch of a new car insurance product aimed directly at their end of the market.

The arrival of AXA Car insurance also comes on the heels of the latest AA British Insurance Premium Index, which highlighted the biggest-ever jump upward in the cost of UK car insurance during the last three months of 2009.

Motorists in Northern Ireland who have been claim-free for eight years or more can benefit from a no claims discount of up to 90 per cent from AXA – that's the highest level available in the market at the moment.

Another attraction boasted by the new motor insurance product is a courtesy car in instances of fire and theft. Furthermore, £1 million Driver Injury Cover – an add-on priced at £34.99 per year – provides protection against medical costs and loss of earnings for motorists injured in accidents that are their own fault.

Tina Shortle from AXA, who notes that experienced drivers make up "well over a third" of the driving population, comments: "At a time when prices are rising sharply in this market, we felt that drivers with a proven track record deserved more."

Northern Ireland motorists aged 80 and older are still often discriminated against when they seek car insurance quotes, according to research by Age Concern and Help the Aged.

The charity's study suggests that half of motor insurance providers automatically exclude drivers in that age bracket who approach them for a quote – regardless of the health status of the vehicle owner in question.

Andrew Harrop, head of public policy at the charity, explains that the research was released to coincide with the publication of the Government Equalities Office's response to a consultation entitled "Ending Age Discrimination in Goods and Public Services", in relation to the Equality Bill.

In it, the Office recommends the continued use of upper age limits and the insurance industry's refusal of quotes, something that Age Concern and Help the Aged claim endorses – and possibly increases – age discrimination across the sector.

He adds that the decision confirms older people as "second-class" consumers: "The insurance industry must wake up to the fact that more of us than ever are living longer, healthier and more active lives.

"Continuing to discriminate against our ageing population is not only bad for older people, it is bad for business."

Car insurance costs across Northern Ireland and the wider UK surged in the last three months of 2009, with even the cheapest quotes going up by over 11 per cent. The car insurance analysts behind the latest AA British Insurance Premium Index say it's down to the growing frequency of personal injury claims and sharp rises in settlement costs, as well as increases in fraud.

According to AA Insurance's data, young drivers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have been worst hit by the growing expense of car insurance premiums, though costs are also on the up for parents aged between 40 and 49 because they put children as named drivers on their policies.

Simon Douglas from AA Insurance reveals that the average quoted premium for comprehensive car insurance had accelerated by 18.7 per cent by the end of 2009.

Despite a drop in the number of accidents on the nation's roads, the cost of accident damage has also been rising steadily, he notes.

While Douglas doesn't rule out a continuing increase in the cost of car insurance over the coming months, it may be contained by legislation changes allowing for the issue of electronic insurance certificates.

Car insurance customers in Northern Ireland have extra reason to be vigilant on the roads during the winter since just two accidents can double the cost of their premiums, the latest research affirms.

According to data uncovered by Confused.com's motoring experts, there were increases of over 200 per cent among hundreds of motor insurance quotes they analysed before any accidents were recorded and again after two accidents had been reported.

"When you consider the average premium in 2009 was £400 that's a lot of money to lose and let's face it, there are far better things you could be spending it on," remarked the comparison site's Will Thomas. "In a year when we expect premiums to rise anyway, ensuring you shop around and don't just accept your renewal will absolutely help."

In addition to the latter recommendation, Northern Ireland car insurance customers are urged not to drive in bad weather unless they "absolutely have to", to avoid braking sharply on icy roads, approach corners at lower speeds and apply their brake gently and for longer when decelerating.

In flood conditions, the advice is to take puddles slowly and avoid them altogether if you're unsure of the depth.

Northern Ireland car insurance customers have been reminded of the costly effect that speeding convictions can have on the price of their premiums, though the region pales in comparison to other parts of the UK when it comes to housing boy racers.

In its analysis of almost three million motor insurance quotes over a year from people with driving convictions, comparison site Money Supermarket found that Scotland, Swindon and Sheffield are home to the most speeding convictions across the nation. Their research revealed that over half of speeding convictions in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland belong to male motorists aged between 17 and 21.

"It is telling there are no female drivers anywhere near the top of the table in our analysis of speeding convictions, and unfortunately this is reflected in the price of premiums for men when compared to women," said the site's Steve Sweeney, who warned that motorists in Northern Ireland and the wider UK convicted of speeding could see their car insurance costs almost double.

Furthermore, he noted, "serial speeders" will eventually find that fewer car insurance providers are willing to offer them cover at all, and if they do it will be at an increasingly high cost.

The attention of car insurance customers in Northern Ireland and the wider UK is being drawn to the tendency of some employers to put their staff at risk of driving uninsured by encouraging them to use their own vehicles for work, without warning them they need business use cover on their car insurance to do so.

Research reveals that 72 per cent of workers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have used their own wheels for business purposes in the last year, but over a third don't have business use cover on their motor insurance policy.

Gocompare.com also uncovered that only 38 per cent of workers say their boss has discussed the need for business use cover on their car insurance when they take their own vehicle on company business such as travelling to a training course, going to the bank or driving to another office.

"Companies shouldn't assume that workers with private car insurance are covered for driving their vehicle while at work," says the site's Lee Griffin. "Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that vehicles used on company business are safe to use – this includes being fully insured for business usage."

Car insurance customers in Northern Ireland may want to avail of an offer of free cover from Direct Line as it's revealed households in the region have the highest weekly spend in the UK.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics highlight that from 2006-08 Northern Irish families spent more, on average per week, than their counterparts in other UK countries. They shelled out an average weekly sum of £479.70, compared to £465.20 per week in England, £432.80 in Scotland and £406.70 in Wales.

The most notable categories in which Northern Ireland households surpassed the rest of the UK were food and non-alcoholic drink and clothing and footwear.

From now until the end of March, motorists in Northern Ireland can benefit from 52 days of free car insurance cover from Direct Line – an offer aimed at helping cash-strapped drivers tackle their finances for 2010. As well as the free cover, drivers can benefit from up to 65 per cent off their car insurance policy as a no claims discount.

The offer applies to motorists in Northern Ireland and the wider UK taking out a new policy and quotes made during the offer period are valid for 90 days.

Car insurance staff at provider swiftcover.com have revealed they spent nights away from home and hired 4×4 vehicles to get to work as some of the measures aimed at ensuring they were in their Kent offices to deal with "unprecedented levels of calls" during the heavy snow across the country. They say claims for car insurance soared by nearly 75 per cent in the course of the weather-induced chaos.

According to swiftcover.com's figures, 90 per cent of its car insurance claims handlers made it to the office during the cold spell, though most had to leave their cars at home and walk some or all of the way to work.

Four-wheel drive vehicles were hired to collect other workers, while a handful of car insurance experts stayed several nights at a hotel to be near the office.

Robin Reames, swiftcover.com's director of motor insurance claims, commented: "Claims during the winter months are usually 21 per cent higher than the rest of the year, and the first working week of the New Year is traditionally a peak as an extra 14.5million cars hit the rush hour as schools and many people return to work for the first time after Christmas."

Many car insurance customers in Northern Ireland and the wider UK have been looking to invest in a "snow mobile" during the cold spell, it has emerged. Figures from Money Supermarket highlight a rise in motorists looking to buy car insurance for a 4×4 vehicle since the snow started falling.

According to the comparison site's analysis of over one million car insurance searches, the five days since 5 January have seen searches for 4×4 motor insurance increase by 42 per cent on the same period in December. By last Thursday (7 January) car insurance searches on 4×4 models had peaked, with over three per cent of all car insurance searches on 8 January being for such a vehicle.

Steve Sweeney, head of car insurance at the site, suggests it's down to many car insurance customers in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK concluding their cars simply can't cope with such extreme weather conditions.

However, he concludes, the advice when severe snow and ice cause unpredictable driving conditions is generally to stay off the roads entirely: "Having a more able vehicle for driving in the snow is not a guarantee that your journey would be any safer or less eventful."