• Protect Your Car From Theft

    Protect Your Car From Theft

    This article was published on 18 August 2025. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us.

    Car theft in the UK remains a real problem with over 61,000 vehicles were reported stolen in 2024. That’s around seven cars an hour, according to DVLA data obtained by What Car?  While this represents a modest 6% decrease from the previous year, the figures remain alarming.

    For members of the British Armed Forces and your families, your lifestyle often means parking in a mix of locations – on secure bases, at home, in public car parks, or even leaving vehicles behind during deployments. While military bases often offer a higher level of security, no location is completely risk-free. That’s why it’s important to take simple, effective steps to protect your vehicle wherever it’s parked.

    Keyless Cars: Modern Convenience, Modern Risk

    If your car has keyless entry, it’s worth knowing it can also be more vulnerable to theft – especially from relay attacks. Thieves can use devices to clone the signal from your key fob and drive off in seconds, without breaking a window or forcing entry.

    Here are some simple but effective steps, as recommended by Thatcham Research, to help protect keyless vehicles:

    • Update software: Check with your car dealer about any security updates.
    • Disable key fobs: Some key fobs can be switched off when not in use – ask your dealer how.
    • Use a signal-blocking pouch: Also known as a Faraday pouch, this can stop the signal being stolen.
    • Store keys safely: Keep them away from doors and windows – don’t leave them in easy-to-reach spots.
    • Be alert: Keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour, especially around car parks or your driveway.

    Everyday Tips to Prevent Car Theft

    Whether your car is keyless or not, there are everyday steps that can reduce your risk:

    • Always lock doors and close windows, even if stepping away for just a moment.
    • Never leave your car running unattended – not even on cold mornings.
    • Keep valuables out of sight or remove them from the vehicles.
    • Park in well-lit, secure areas when possible.
    • Use visible security devices like steering wheel locks or gear stick locks.
    • Consider a car alarm or tracking system – some may also reduce your insurance premium.

    Secure Your Driveway or Parking Space

    Even at home or on base, extra protection helps. Here’s how to make your vehicle less attractive to thieves:

    • Install a home CCTV system. Basic home systems are affordable and can deter opportunists.
    • Use motion-activated lights. Thieves prefer the dark – keep your space well-lit.
    • Be cautious with key storage. Avoid leaving keys in obvious places like hooks near the front door or in view when you’re out and about.

    Remember, the more layers of security you have, the less appealing your car is to thieves.

    Car Insurance that understands Military Life

    At Forces Mutual, we understand the demands of military life – frequent moves, deployments, or secure base living. That’s why Forces Mutual Car Insurance is designed with serving personnel and your families in mind – Cover comes with features you won’t typically find in standard policies. T&Cs apply.

    Learn more about Forces Mutual Car Insurance offering here or call 0151 363 5290 to speak with our friendly team.

    Forces Mutual Car Insurance is provided by ERS.

    Tereza Macegova

  • Smart Ways to Cut the Cost of Motoring

    Smart Ways to Cut the Cost of Motoring

    This article was published on 20 June 2025. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us.

    Running a car in the UK isn’t cheap. According to NimbleFins, the average annual cost in 2025 is over £3,350. But with a few smart strategies, you could reduce your motoring expenses—without compromising safety or performance.

    Whether you’re stationed in the UK or preparing for deployment, here are some practical tips to help you save money on your vehicle.

    1. Save on Servicing

    Regular servicing keeps your car running smoothly and helps avoid costly repairs down the line. But you don’t have to pay over the odds:

    • Shop around for competitive servicing quotes.
    • Stick to the manufacturer’s service schedule to maintain performance and resale value.
    • Keep a full service history—this can boost your car’s value when it’s time to sell.

    2. Look After Your Tyres

    Tyres are vital for safety and fuel efficiency. Here’s how to extend their life:

    • Check tyre pressure regularly—incorrect pressure increases wear and fuel use.
    • Inspect tread depth and remove debris like stones.
    • Get your wheels aligned—misalignment can double tyre wear.

    Remember: UK law requires a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. Many experts recommend replacing tyres at 3mm for better grip and safety.

    3. Lighten the Load

    Carrying unnecessary weight—like kit bags, tools, or sports gear—can increase fuel consumption. Clear out your boot and remove roof racks or boxes when not in use to improve fuel economy.

    4. Drive Smarter, Save Fuel

    Your driving habits have a big impact on fuel efficiency. Try these techniques:

    • Accelerate and brake gently.
    • Maintain a steady speed—most cars are most efficient between 30–50 mph.
    • Avoid idling—use start-stop tech if your car has it.
    • Use air con and electrics sparingly—they increase fuel use.
    • Change gear early but avoid straining the engine.

    You can estimate your fuel usage using free online calculators like those at Fuel-Economy.co.uk.

    5. Choose a Car with Lower Emissions

    If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, consider one with low CO₂ emissions:

    Cars over £40,000 attract an additional annual charge of £425, unless they’re zero-emission and registered before April 2025.

    6. Prepare for Winter Driving

    Cold weather can be tough on vehicles. Get ahead of the season with these checks:

    • Lights – Clean and check all bulbs.
    • Screenwash – Use a winter-grade mix to prevent freezing.
    • Battery – Cold weather drains batteries faster—test or replace if needed.
    • De-icer and scraper – Keep them handy for frosty mornings.
    • Winter tyres – Optional in the UK, but useful if you’re driving in snow or abroad.

    7. Review Your Car Insurance

    If you’re not already insured with Forces Mutual, it might be time to switch:

    • Spread the cost monthly at no extra charge.
    • Switch anytime—we’ll cover cancellation fees up to £125 from your current insurer.
    • Tailored cover for armed forces personnel.

    Learn more about Forces Mutual Car Insurance here.

    Forces Mutual Car Insurance is provided by ERS.

    Sarah Blair

  • Car & home insurance – how do you make sure you get the best value for your needs compared to the cost?

    Car & home insurance – how do you make sure you get the best value for your needs compared to the cost?

    This article was published on 2 June 2025. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us.

    Price increases and rising inflation are putting a lot of pressure on household finances. Many people are actively reviewing their finances and cutting back or eradicating expenditure where possible to make savings.

    Payments and prices will come under the spotlight. But it’s not always a case of searching out the lowest cost, you need to consider your personal needs and the value you want your policy to provide.

    Take insurance premiums for example. Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, but home insurance isn’t. So, at the extreme, someone could risk not insuring their home to save outgoings. But what a risk! Damage to the house structure or loss of home contents could be incredibly expensive to redress.

    So, how could you manage the amount you pay for your insurance whilst making sure it is still adequate for your needs? Options to look at could include opting to pay a higher excess in the event of a claim, or not covering your home contents for accidental damage. When considering options like this you would need to consider how you would cover any additional costs that might arise in the event of a claim. For example, consider if you could afford to pay the higher excess in the event of a claim, or how you would replace items subject to accidental damage if you decided not to take that level of cover out with your policy. 

    Some insurance policies may promote a lower headline cost, but either not include certain elements that you personally would find useful or need, or make you pay extra for elements that you want to make use of.

    Examples include:

    • You might want to consider a car insurance policy that provides a courtesy car. If as a result of a claim your car needs to go in for repairs you would need to make arrangements to remain mobile for the period that your car is being repaired.
    • You might want to consider a home or car insurance policy that doesn’t charge to make changes during the time you hold the policy with the insurer. Changes you may need to make during the year could include mileage changes, address changes, insured driver changes and provision of duplicate documents. If your job or occupation changes, you might need to change your home or car insurance cover, for instance, if you become self-employed and work from home. If your policy charges for amendments these can add costs to your original premium paid.
    • You may want to review what policy extras you actually need, being mindful that you would need to consider how you would cover any additional costs arising if you decided to exclude policy add-ons.
    • Specialist Military car insurance policies may or may not include cover on or off base, or laid up cover, just in case you get called up for duty and need to lay up your car. If you are serving military personnel, you may want to make sure your policy covers you for this.

    So, it pays to look beyond the headline cost and get a policy that works for you and your specific needs.

    Reviewing your policy could make sure you have a policy that meets your individual needs and help reduce the chances of you being hit with any unexpected costs.

    If you are reviewing your insurance premium costs as part of your household finances review, you may be interested to know that you don’t need to wait until your renewal date to review and switch your insurance policy.

    Even if you took out an annual policy paid upfront as a lump sum, you may be able get a refund on some of your premiums and switch to a new insurer of your choice. However, some insurance companies may apply a cancellation charge for moving away from them during the term of the policy. You can help protect yourself from these charges by moving to an insurer that will pay some or all of the cancellation fees charged by your old insurer.

    We don’t currently offer home insurance, but if you moved your car insurance to Forces Mutual, any cancellation fees charged by your old insurer up to a maximum of £125 will be paid. So, you can move straight away without waiting till renewal time. To give you an idea of cancellation charges, the average cancellation charge levied in 2024 (after the 14-day cooling off period) for car insurance was £55.[1] Your existing policy documents should tell you what your exact cancellation charge would be.

    You can check out Forces Mutual Car Insurance here.

    Forces Mutual Car Insurance is provided by ERS.

    PMGI Limited, trading as Forces Mutual is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 114942. Registered in England & Wales No.1073408. Registered office: Brookfield Court, Selby Road, Leeds, LS25 1NB. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

    [1] Average Cost to Cancel UK Car Insurance (2024) | NimbleFins

    Sarah Blair

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  • Electric Vehicles – a quick guide

    Electric Vehicles – a quick guide

    This article was published on 13 December 2024. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us.

    With the UK Government pledging to reinstate the 2030 ban on the sales of new internal combustion engines (ICE) or put more simply, petrol and diesel cars/vans, we thought it would be a good idea to give you a quick guide on electric vehicles (EV).

    What is an Electric Vehicle (EV)?

    The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology official description is:

    Electric Vehicles use electric motors to drive their wheels. They derive some or all of their power from large, rechargeable batteries. The distance an EV can drive between recharges is known as its range.

    Let’s have a look at the different types and some of the names you might have heard of:

    • All-electric EVs – where the battery is the only power source. The range (distance they can travel) will vary, according to driving style, terrain and the use of auxiliary equipment such as heating/air conditioning.
    • Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) – can switch between running on electricity, petrol or diesel. They typically have a smaller battery, and therefore a lower battery powered range of between 10-40 miles. However their maximum range is equivalent to a petrol or diesel car. Both Plug-in Hybrid and all-electric EVs are recharged by plugging them in to the electricity grid.
    • Hybrids (HEVs) – which do not plug in, such as the Toyota Prius, have a much smaller battery which is recharged while driving. HEVs can drive in electric mode for a few miles and then revert to using petrol or diesel.
    • Fuel Cell Vehicles – generate their own electricity on-board from a fuel such as hydrogen, and do not need to plug in to the electricity grid to recharge. Re-fuelling is similar to a petrol or diesel car.

    Which type of EV is best for me?

    This is a personal choice and will be dependent on a number of factors including, affordability, the type and distance of journeys you make and charging infrastructure where you live.

    According to a UK Government report, 99% of car journeys in England are under 100 miles, so most could be made by an EV without needing to recharge.

    How much do EVs cost?

    Currently EVs cost more to buy than a comparable petrol or diesel vehicle. While they have less mechanical parts than a conventional vehicle, battery prices are a substantial cost. Many modern EVs use lithium-ion batteries and it takes a lot of time and effort to turn raw lithium into something that can be used. Some manufacturers offer incentives and lease plans for the battery, so include this in your car purchase research.

    As EVs become more popular and manufacturers produce more vehicles and models, plus technology improvements, prices are anticipated to reduce.

    Vehicle range

    While vehicle range isn’t an issue with hybrids, as they will run on petrol and diesel, in addition to electric, vehicle range has always been a concern for drivers. It’s therefore encouraging to hear that according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the average electric range for new EVs launched in 2023 was nearly 300 miles, compared to 210 miles in 2020. Of course, some of this will be reflective of the driving conditions, roads and the way you drive, plus use of aircon and technology within the vehicle.

    Charging points

    The term “range anxiety” describes a very real fear of running out of battery and knowing where to charge it up.

    While you can have a charger fitted at home, clearly there will be times when you need to recharge when out and about.

    The good news is that, the number of charging points is increasing. According to Zap Map the number of charging points grows by the day and at the end of October 2024, there were 71,459 electric charging points across 36,060 charging locations (UK only). This represents a 38% increase in the total number of charging devices since October 2023.

    In October 2024, 1,025 new charging devices were added to the Zap-Map database. You can view local ones to you or your journey at zap map live – you might not have even known they were there!

    What about insuring your EVs

    Do I need specialist insurance?

    The simple answer is no. Whilst you can buy specialist insurance for your EV, most major insurers now cover electric cars.

    Does it cost more to insure an EV?

    This can depend on the EV you choose, but according to wepoweryourcar.com, on average, insurance is more expensive than petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK.

    This could be linked to expensive parts, higher repair costs and the availability of garages with qualified mechanics. While electric cars have fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel vehicles, some components like the lithium-ion batteries are very expensive to repair if damaged.

    As EVs become more commonplace this may change, but also remember that electric cars may benefit from other savings, such as congestion charges and zero vehicle road tax, but it is worth noting that from April 2025, EVs will pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).

    Car insurance from Forces Mutual

    Forces Mutual Car Insurance offers policies for a range of EVs. You don’t need to buy a special EV policy and you can get a quote in the usual way.

    You can either call us on 0151 363 5290 or go online at www.forcesmutual.org/car

    Forces Mutual Car Insurance is provided by ERS.

    PMGI Limited, trading as Forces Mutual, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 114942. Registered in England & Wales No. 1073408. Registered office: Brookfield Court, Selby Road, Leeds, LS25 1NB.

    For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

    WC CI WEB 0003/0004 v 2 29.11.24

    Tereza Macegova