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Car insurance, as well as home, pet, private medical, boat, business and travel insurance - plus a great deal more - are available from the Saga group who claim to offer value for money and high quality, concentrating exclusively on providing services and insurance for the over fifties.

Saga is part of the Acromas group, which includes companies such as the AA, ConfidentCover, DirectChoice insurance, Drakefield Insurance, Great Getaways, MetroMail and the Spirit of Adventure. Saga's origins date back to the 1950's when Sidney De Hann started out offering holidays solely for older people, and in 1987 Saga Services were established to give insurance and investment services to their customers. Saga Investment Direct was launched in 1996 to offer Saga customers a selection of investment and savings opportunities. When roger De Hann, the founder's son, announced his retirement in 2004, the Saga Group was sold to the private equity group Charterhouse for ?1.3 billion. After this all Saga motor insurance was underwritten through Saga Insurance Company Limited.

In 2007 Saga's business included financial services, cruises, insurance, magazine publishing, holidays and other products designed for people over fifty, when they merged with the Automobile Association (the AA) to create a ?6.1 billion UK motor and insurance conglomerate. Saga is able to offer individuals over fifty cheaper premiums because they believe they are less likely to make a claim than younger motorists. On visiting the website there are usually other incentives to buy car insurance - such as competitions when you complete an online quote and additional entries for taking out a policy within a certain time limit. You are given the chance to spread your payments over the year and you can protect your no claims discount even if you have made a claim within the last two years.

There are several benefits included as standard that some other companies do not offer, for example European cover does not cost extra and if your car is less than two years old, you are the first registered keeper and it has a mileage of less than 12,000, then you will get new for old cover. If you have an accident and your car is being repaired at one of Saga's approved garages, you will be provided with a replacement car for up to fourteen days. This also includes a "get you home cover" that allows you to either claim for hotel expenses or costs to get home up to ?300.

Though sometimes a rather bleak piece of forsight, there is some special tailoring for the older driver. For example, if you have a medical or motoring emergency, Saga covers any person to drive your vehicle home, as long as they have a full licence.

You do not have to buy Saga car insurance from the website because there is also a phone number for your convenience - though even my 80-year-old gran is web savvy these days. However additional introductory discounts are available when you buy online at www.saga.co.uk (www.saga.com is a completely different company) and if you choose to extend your cover with either Personal Accident or Legal Protection, then you will also receive a discount on each of these as well.

As always, keep a good eye on the terms and conditions and remember that specialised over-50's cover, as with specialist women's insurance, does not mean that they are definitely giving you the best price you could get, just that the insurance itself is more likely to be tailored to fit their clientelle better. †

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Your Comments on Saga:

22/02/2010 Saga advised me of a 97% increase in my buildings insurance with no explanation.When I eventually got through on the phone I spoke to 3 members of staff apparently in a hieracy of seniority but they were all unable to give me a satisfactory explanation. I have cancelled and moved to Santander achieving a big saving and more articulate staff

03/02/2010 What most people in the comments below do not realise is that (as with most insurers) when buying Home isurance from Saga, they are only the broker, and are not responsible for the claims service, this is dealt with by the individual underwriter. This was clearly explained to me when i purchased my policy, and clearly states this on the documents. Dont hold Saga unfairly to blame for something that isnt their fault. i have only had good service.

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