City drivers less likely to claim on insurance

Drivers in Sunderland are less likely to run into trouble than those in other areas, new figures suggest.

M oto r i s t s i n th e a rea have an above-average insurance claims record – one every 6.8 years – according to an analysis by the price comparison site comparethemarket.com.

This was longer than the UK avera ge o f 6. 5 yea r s , based on inquiries made by customers between May 2018 and July this year.

Dan Hutson, head of motor insurance at the company said: “Lots of factors are taken into account when calculating a driver’s risk profile but having a longer no claims could be a good indicator that someone takes care while on the road.

“Having more years with no claims could mean that your risk profile is lower, and that you could be offered lower premiums as a result.”

Drivers in the North East as a whole went an average of 6.8 years without making a claim – the longest of England’s nine regions.

Newcastle’s road users fared the worst in the region, only going 5.9 years without a claim, while those in Northumberland came out b e s t , at s eve n years.

Of the 20 areas where drivers have the lowest average number of years with no claims, 15 were in London.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said the number of years without a claim “isn't just a result of our own care and attention”.

He added: “Much is down to the risks around us and the behaviour of others. So, it is not surprising to see rban areas associated with lower levels of no-claims."