Northern Ireland car insurance customers are again being reminded to plan their journeys carefully as they prepare to head back to work after the Christmas and New Year break. According to the Highways Agency, use of its website – which provides live travel updates – increased by 400 per cent over the festive period as icy conditions swept the UK.

As well as planning journeys before departure, Denise Plumpton, director of information for the agency, recommends allowing plenty of time for them and checking for updates during breaks.

"Journey planning can help cut congestion, increase fuel economy and reduce emissions, so there are lots of benefits to us all," she notes. "It is reassuring that so many people have been checking our website for live traffic updates during the severe weather and we hope this is something they continue to do all year round."

Plumpton points out that, although salt spreaders and snow ploughs will continue to operate for as long as the cold weather continues, road users "have a part to play too".

"Even when roads have been treated it is important to drive appropriately for the conditions," she concludes.

With over two-thirds of motorists across Northern Ireland and the wider UK now going online to buy insurance, new guidance has been published to help them identify the right car, van or motorbike policy for their needs.

The "good practice guide" has been produced by industry body the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which developed it with the help of consumer experts Which? and a selection of leading car insurance comparison sites.

Commenting on the guide, Nick Starling, director of general insurance and health at the ABI, acknowledged that using the internet can help Northern Ireland car insurance customers obtain "the best policy at the most competitive price".

"But the ease and speed of going online must be balanced with ensuring that people understand the terms, conditions and cover of the policies they are comparing," he noted.

Some of the areas covered by the guidance include help for car insurance customers with reviewing key features of a particular policy, clarifying what features are being sold as add-ons and understanding the level of any voluntary or compulsory excess. A referrals section directs customers who have been refused a quote to possible alternative sources of help, such as specialist providers.

Almost a fifth of home and car insurance claims are made in the first two months of the year, suggesting the worst weather could be yet to come for motorists in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. As a result, car insurance experts have reiterated their calls for drivers to plan ahead and prepare for harsh conditions.

"The recent bad weather has already had a massive impact across the country, with people becoming stranded in their cars because they weren't prepared for the heavy snow," observes James Hillon from the Co-operative Insurance. "Preparing for the winter weather doesn't need to be costly or time-consuming, there are a few simple steps which everyone can take to protect themselves, their homes and their cars."

He advises Northern Ireland car insurance customers to check their vehicles' anti-freeze levels, carry de-icer and an ice scraper on journeys, check tyres, lights and wipers before setting off, top up windscreen washer fluid and use a mixture containing de-icer.

Preparing an emergency kit for cars is also recommended, including a torch, blanket, first-aid kit, ice scraper and water bottle.

"Our simple advice isn't rocket science," concludes Hillon. "It's more about common sense and forward-planning."

Northern Ireland car insurance customers keen on a new set of wheels are being directed towards used-car websites ahead of January's new tax rate, which is set to push up the price of new models.

According to one retailer, the move from a 15 per cent to a 17.5 per cent rate of VAT will add £250 to the cost of a new car with a £10,000 pre-tax price tag. Furthermore, representatives for Autoquake point out, a number of car manufacturers have already raised prices moving towards 2010.

"Ford's prices have gone up no fewer than four times in the past 12 months. While the pound remains weak against the euro, increases by other manufacturers can't be ruled out," notes Fredrik Skantze, the site's founder. "With the scrappage scheme likely to run out of money in February, many buyers will once again find a new car is just too expensive."

Although VAT applies to the invoice price of every new car, in the used market the selling dealer normally only pays VAT on profit margins. VAT-qualifying cars are valued by trade guides in the same way as other used cars, minimising the theoretical impact of January's VAT increase on prices.

Car insurance customers in Northern Ireland can now avail of an iPhone application aimed at helping them to understand what to do if they are involved in an accident. The mobile app for the Apple smartphone was launched by AXA Insurance after research suggested only a third of drivers are sure how to deal with details at the scene of a crash and beyond.

For Northern Irish motorists who aren't AXA customers, the free app can be used to store personal and policy information, capture photos of any damage following an accident, enter details of witnesses and exchange details with other drivers. It can also record key information such as the location and time of an accident via GPS technology.

AXA customers get the added benefit of being able to locate and contact the closest approved repairer to come and collect them and their vehicle if it is un-drivable.

THe insurance firm's research revealed that 84 per cent of drivers say they would swap insurance details with the other driver in an accident, but in reality only 15 per cent of drivers carry their motor insurance details on them. Three per cent of motorists admitted not having car insurance.

Northern Ireland car insurance customers have again been reminded that getting behind the wheel after a festive tipple "just isn't worth it". As well as facing heavy penalties on their motor insurance premiums, drinkers found driving – or attempting to drive – could end up with a year-long ban from the roads.

According to Money Supermarket, drink drivers in Northern Ireland who are caught can expect their annual car insurance premiums to go up by 75 per cent on average. However, some motor insurance providers won't even quote to insure individuals with a conviction.

"Of course we all want to get into the Christmas spirit at this time of year but drink driving costs lives," said Steve Sweeney, head of motor insurance at the comparison site. "The rules of the road are there for a reason; motorists who get in a car having consumed alcohol will find that their reaction times, co-ordination and judgement will be impaired – making them a danger not only to themselves but also to other motorists and pedestrians too."

Research suggests that hitting the road after consuming twice the legal limit means a motorist is 30 times more likely to cause a crash.

Yesterday (21st December) has been dubbed White Monday by car insurance experts, with motorists across Northern Ireland and the wider UK making twice as many claims as would be expected on a normal winter Monday.

As blizzard conditions swept many parts of the nation, AA representatives reported being "flat-out" as car insurance customers battled with the elements through the evening.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, said the organisation's roadside patrols described their "busiest day for years", with over 16,000 calls taken by 3pm.

"Fortunately, most accidents are at a relatively slow speed so we're not getting reports of injuries," he continued. "But an accident is always distressing and on ice can be very frightening."

Last Friday (18th December), the Cardiff motor claims office of AA Insurance reported a 31 per cent increase in the number of claims received compared with a normal winter Friday.

Claims included some from drivers who had lost control on bends and gradients, hit lamp-posts, road signs, fences or parked cars and motorists who crashed after failing to stop at a junction because of icy conditions.

The advice for Northern Ireland car insurance customers is not to take cars out "unless it is absolutely essential".

As more safe winter driving tips emerge from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), car insurance customers in Northern Ireland and the wider UK have revealed that skidding on ice is their main worry when it comes to hitting the road in freezing conditions.

The IAB's motoring experts issued their advice in the wake of snow and ice warnings for the weeks ahead, with most of Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK set for a prolonged festive cold snap.

Peter Rodger, IAM chief examiner, recommends getting your speed right when you get behind the wheel during a snowy spell: "Not too fast so that you risk losing control, but not so slow that you risk losing momentum when you need it – and brake, steer and accelerate as smoothly as possible."

He continues: "Start gently from stationary, avoiding high revs. If you get yourself into a skid, the main thing to remember is to take your foot off the accelerator and steer, never use the brake."

Other winter driving reminders for Northern Ireland car insurance customers from the IAM include planning journeys around busier roads as they're more likely to have been gritted.

Northern Ireland car insurance customers have been reminded to run background checks on used vehicles they're considering buying, following research showing nearly 40 per cent of motor finance fraud cases between July and September this year were carried out by people selling cars they did not own.

Figures from trade body the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) also highlight that around a quarter of fraud instances involved applicants giving false information on their finance application forms.

However, Paul Harrison – the association's motor finance head – reassures Northern Ireland car insurance customers that, so far in 2009, motor lenders have prevented at least 8,500 fraudulent deals worth £100 million.

He notes that motor finance companies are constantly working to save car insurance customers money, make the country's roads safer and stop criminals by tackling fraud, although the recession has led to an increase in the number of people selling vehicles before they settle their outstanding finance.

"Whether fraudulent or mistaken, this kind of car sale can cause distress for the third-party buyer," he observes. "I would urge anyone interested in buying a used car to run a car background check to ensure it is free of finance before purchasing it."

A 150 per cent rise in the number of fatal road accidents in Northern Ireland's Foyle district in the past year has prompted police to step up safety reminders to drivers in the region.

Following similar warnings from Northern Ireland car insurance experts, motorists are urged to "take heed" while driving in winter weather conditions. Speed is identified as the primary culprit in the fatality increase, along with "inattention, talking on mobile phones, and distractions including interacting with children in the back seat".

Road safety education officer Constable Stuart Crutchley tells the Londonderry Sentinel that "even one death on our roads is one too many".

"Our strategy to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads is based around education and enforcement," he adds. "Throughout the year we speak to schools, colleges and universities in an effort to educate young drivers about responsible driving."

Accidents among Northern Ireland car insurance customers would be "greatly reduced", he concludes, if all road users slowed down, left enough time for their journeys and paid attention to the road while driving, in addition to obeying speed limits and refraining from using a mobile phone behind the wheel.