Mobile phone driving laws can up car insurance

Using your mobile phone while driving can now cost far more than the £60 fine, as three points on your licence can also up insurance costs.

From today, as well as a fine the police can add three points to your licence if you are caught using a mobile phone while driving, and figures from comparison site Insurancewide.com show this can add £150 to car insurance premiums.

"All types of driving offences have huge implications for motor insurance premiums and these will become more severe with the introduction of new mobile phone laws," said James Harrison, Insurancewide chief executive.

"The new laws will bring the impact of convictions on insurance premiums into sharp focus as thousands of careless motorists start to receive penalty points and find themselves paying far more than they're used to for their annual policies."

And research released today by Liverpool Victoria shows that Britain's motorists could well be caught out with the new laws.

Almost one driver in four (22 per cent) claim they are not distracted by using a hand-held mobile phone while at the wheel, despite figures showing motorists are four times more likely to have an accident while using a mobile.

But there is hope for convicted drivers.

"There are already companies out there who specialise in insuring drivers with all types of convictions but you have to know how to find them," Insurancewide's Mr Harrison said.

"Comprehensive comparison sites in general are a good place to do your research, even if you end up actually buying the policy over the phone after a more detailed conversation with your chosen insurer."

Click here to compare car insurance

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