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Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32666, 23 July 1971, Page 11

Car insurance I must say I pity any motorist who tries to “shop round” for car insurance by telephoning the various insurance companies. It is amazing how reticent many insurance companies are about giving their rates, and frankly I find the explanation: “Well, there are a lot of factors involved, you know," rather unconvincing when a company is asked to quote a specific rate for a specific case. The “tariff” companies, of course, all charge the same rate, so as far as they are concerned a motorist’s choice will presumably depend on the degree of service he does or does not get from those he approaches—or from the experiences related by friends. Companies not in the tariff group (of about 40 companies) have differing rates. If you do telephone round a few companies, you are likely to find the question: “Have you any other business with us?” cropping up frequently. Companies are generally not keen to take on motor-accident business, but they are more interested if there is more lucurative business attached to the deal. This, in my view, supports the contention that you are best to have all your insurance with the one company, and if you transfer it, for any reason, to transfer the lot. The reason most companies are not keen on motor business, of course, is that many, are losing money on it. And they are all looking at ways of making it pay without further premium increases. Balance problem

Modern cars are often particularly sensitive to wheel balance: a product of smaller wheels, higher speeds and independent sus-

would develop if one weight suddenly came off at speed. One of my expert friends confirmed this view, and my suggestion that the vehicle owner should go back to the tyre supplier and demand either a proper balancing job or new tyres which were correctly made and it) balance. He duly did, and now has cor-rectly-balanced tyres and very little lead on the wheel-rims. The experts tell me that no wheel and tyre should ever need more than eight ounces of balancing weights: if they do. either the tyre or rim is defective, or the man who did the balancing does not know his job.