Northern Ireland car insurance under investigation
A report by the Consumer Council has confirmed the shocking find that car insurance in Northern Ireland is costing consumers in excess of £136 million a year more than any other area of the UK. On average it is estimated that an extra £300 a year is added to annual cover premiums with more and more of the population now unable to afford insurance.
Surprisingly, the hardest hit areas seem to be the rural and low-income parts of Northern Ireland where an alleged 33% of local customers claim they cannot afford the cover. This has potential financial and legal implications because car insurance is mandatory in Northern Ireland, as it is across the UK, with significant criminal and financial penalties.
While the consumer Council also confirmed that savings can be made by "shopping around" it would like answers to the question of why insurance is so expensive in Northern Ireland. Historically insurance companies may well have cited the ongoing conflict between religious groups in the region but over the last few years this has diminished markedly. Whether this report will prompt a review by the government remains to be seen but there would appear to be questions which need answered.
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