Insurance and pension costs hit by ECJ gender ruling

Insurers cannot charge different premiums to men and women because of their gender, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. The decision means that women can no longer be charged lower car insurance premiums than men, and the cost of buying a pensions annuity will change.

The change will come into effect in December 2012, although customers could see premiums alter in the interim.

The court was ruling on a challenge by a Belgian consumer group Test-Achats. It had argued that a current exemption for insurers contradicted the wider European principle of gender equality.

"Taking the gender of the insured individual into account as a risk factor in insurance contracts constitutes discrimination," the ECJ said.

The requirement for unisex insurance premiums and benefits will start on 21 December 2012, giving national governments and the European insurance industry time to adjust.

For the full story from the BBC click here...

source: BBC

Government to review MOT test frequency

Transport department whip Earl Attlee has said that the Government will review the need for annual MOT tests for cars and vans more than three years old.

In a written reply he told Tory Lord Marlesford that the issue would be looked at later in the year. Under EU rules, cars and light goods vehicles must be tested no later than four years after first registration and then at least every two years.

The BVRLA supports the idea of a review and is also lobbying for a change in legislation that would remove the need for one or two-year-old heavy commercial vehicles to have an annual test.

To visit the BVRLA website or to become a member click here...

source: BVRLA

BVRLA's Block Exemption Views

The BVRLA has submitted its response to the European Commission's consultation on the future of the motor vehicle sector's block exemption from aspects of competition law. As with its previous statements on the subject, the association has called for:

• Preservation of car rental and leasing firms' end-user status with regard to leased and rented vehicles
• Affordable access to manufacturers' data to facilitate repair, service and maintenance of vehicles.

For the BVRLA's position on European Block Exemption Regulations click here...

source: BVRLA

Age Rules Exemption Sought

The BVRLA has responded to the European Commission's proposals for an Eu-widw ban on unjustifiable age discriminination for the provision of goods and services.

Given that the UK is also looking at a similar law , the BVRLA believes it is imperative that the EU law does not prevent the UK from exempting the vehicle rental sector.

An exemption would protect rental firms from being forced to rent to young drivers, and allow them to apply risk-based, age-adjusted pricing - reflecting the variations in incidence and severity of road accidents for different age groups.