Green is the new black. Scorching heatwaves and flash floods are becoming more and more frequent here in the UK, as we come face to face with the very real consequences of climate change. And most of us want to do everything we can to mitigate the impact on our planet.
So if you’re planning a road trip soon and wondering about the consequences for the planet, we have some great ideas to help. No, we’re not talking about an endless supply of snacks (although that’s never a bad thing). We’re talking about green car insurance: the sustainable option that’s paving the way towards a better future.
Okay, we know what you’re thinking. Car insurance? Sustainable? Sounds like an oxymoron.
So, why should you consider green car insurance? For starters, it’s designed to be environmentally friendly and offset (some of) your carbon emissions. With green policies, you can reduce your carbon footprint and give back to the planet we call home.
Interested in finding out more? Keep reading. And, for ease, we’ve included a clickable table of contents below to help you get the info you need quickly.
- Green Insurance: Sustainable Protection for a Better Future
- What is green car insurance?
- Why is sustainabilability important in the insurance industry?
- How does sustainability help the future?
- How can the insurance industry shape a more sustainable future?
- What are the advantages of a green policy?
- Why should you consider eco friendly car insurance?
- What does eco friendly car insurance cover?
- Green car insurance: how does carbon offsetting work
What is green car insurance?
Before we delve deeper into this topic, it’s important to get clear with our definitions. What is green car insurance? What does it look like? What could it look like?
For years, the term “green car insurance” has simply referred to an insurance policy designed to cover hybrid or electric vehicles. These types of specialist insurance policies still exist. But, the idea of a green car insurance policy has started to evolve and include many other factors.
Companies like Zixty, for instance, are leading the way by offering short term car insurance that is both transparent and environmentally friendly. With Zixty, each day’s driving is carbon-offset for up to 100 miles when you enable the free Zixty Miles add-on. So whether you’re driving a petrol car or a brand new EV, your carbon emissions are offset.
But what could green car insurance look like in the future? As technology advances and more people become conscious of their impact on the planet, we could see even more innovative options for green car insurance. With Zixty, we already have a policy in place that incentivises green driving by looking at your habits when you enable Zixty Miles.
As technology evolves, this could become even more advanced. And eventually, all car insurance might be subsumed into the green car insurance sector. One futuristic theory suggests that a time may come when all cars become electric, self-driving, and with built-in car insurance too.
How does sustainability help the future?
Before we get into why sustainability is important and how it can help shape our future, let’s define it. Put simply, sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet their own needs. In other words, it’s about finding ways to survive and thrive that don’t deplete natural resources or harm the planet.
So, how does sustainability relate to driving? Electric cars, which are a great example of the evolution of sustainable transport options. Not only do they emit zero emissions, but they’re also increasingly affordable and accessible. But it’s not just about EVs.
There are so many other steps we can take to be as sustainable as possible when we get behind the wheel. We know transport is a massive emission generator so it’s down to us to take steps to curb this. That can be done through adopting more eco-conscious ways
But what about your car insurance? That’s where green car insurance comes in. By opting for an insurance provider that’s committed to sustainability, you can help to drive positive change in the industry. Many green car insurance companies walk the talk. They don’t simply offset your carbon. They adopt green policies at all levels of their operations to help make a positive environmental impact.
But why is it so important to adopt sustainability within the car insurance industry? Let’s find out.
Why is sustainability important in the car insurance industry?
It probably won’t shock you to learn that transport is, by far, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the UK. The ONS reported that 28% of all emissions in the UK come from transport. And over half of all domestic transport emissions come from cars.
You might say: well, people should take the bus more! But that’s not always an option. In fact, the same ONS publication found that 4 in 10 adults said the lack of regular and convenient public transport is a serious barrier to using more eco conscious modes of transport. So, for better or for worse, many people are “stuck” driving. And they must insure their cars to do so.
As such, it’s on the car insurance industry to recognise its role in contributing to climate change. Car insurance policies allow people to drive their cars safely and legally. But given that the car insurance industry facilitates driving, it makes sense that, in a world where driving is a major contributor to climate change, car insurance companies do their bit for sustainability.
Green car insurance policies are one way to achieve this. They are designed to offset carbon dioxide emissions helping people reduce their overall carbon footprint. The average person in the UK’s carbon footprint is about 10 tonnes. For context, a single tonne of CO2 looks like four double-deckers stacked together. That’s a lot of CO2.
Car insurance companies embracing sustainability are showing they understand their responsibility to curb the effects of climate change. And that’s why sustainability is so important in the car insurance industry.
How can the car insurance industry shape a more sustainable future?
The car insurance industry is, in many ways, responsible for shaping a more sustainable future. But what should that look like?
A robust green car insurance product is one way to achieve this. This can include initiatives like carbon offsetting your journeys, for instance. Planting more trees is a great way to make the planet a little greener – literally. But car insurers understand that this alone will not be enough. After all, cities are now warming up by 0.5°C a decade on average, an increase attributed primarily to human activities. So there is an urgent need to change our habits.
In many ways, shifting the focus from car ownership through traditional annual policies to car sharing through temporary car insurance is a step in the right direction. By making green temporary car insurance policies accessible and quick to arrange, insurers can help shift consumer habits altogether.
If people feel empowered to ditch their cars and take part in the sharing economy, then that can make a significant contribution towards lowering carbon emissions on a bigger scale than short term measures like carbon offsetting ever could.
So the insurance industry has the power to make small changes to our environment now; and potentially shift consumer habits for the better over the long term too.
What are the advantages of a green policy?
Now, let’s talk about all the benefits of opting for green car insurance. Driving can be expensive, and harmful to the planet, but did you know that green car insurance can actually save you money in the long run?
Firstly, with a green policy, you’re incentivised to drive less. How, you might ask? Well, green car insurance like Zixty is totally flexible and lasts only as long as you need it to. So you pay for what you use. This means you’re more likely to take alternative modes of transportation like cycling or walking, rather than having to borrow your friend’s car. This will help you reduce your carbon emissions and do your part in protecting the environment.
But green car insurance also has other benefits. With a green policy, you can embrace car sharing and the sharing economy in full. You could borrow a friend’s car when you need it, knowing that cover is easy to arrange. You don’t need to buy a car that’ll only sit on your driveway most of the time anyway.
Finally, by choosing green car insurance, you’ll also be supporting charities and organisations that dedicate their efforts to protecting the environment. So not only will you be saving money and doing your part in reducing your carbon footprint, but you’ll also be contributing to a greater cause.
There are lots of other benefits of eco friendly car insurance. We delve into many of them in more detail in our article on the advantages of green car insurance here.
Why should you consider eco friendly car insurance?
We’ve talked about the advantages of green car insurance at length. But how do you know whether green car insurance is right for you? Well, that depends. How much do you care about the impending climate change apocalypse? Just kidding. Sort of.
But the fact remains that, by definition, green car insurance is better for the planet. By taking out a policy, you’ll usually be going that extra step to carbon offset your emissions. And who doesn’t want to do their bit for the environment?
It’s also worth considering eco friendly car insurance if you’re concerned about your carbon footprint in general (which, we all should be). By choosing a policy that offsets your carbon emissions, you can drive without having to worry about the impact you’re having on the environment.
Plus, if you don’t own a car or plan to give up car ownership altogether, a temporary car insurance policy with a commitment to sustainability could be a great way to borrow your friend’s car occasionally. And if you were thinking about ditching your car and adopting the #wfh life, then this is your sign to do so today.
Ultimately, whether or not eco friendly car insurance is right for you will depend on your personal priorities and values. But if you’re someone who wants to make a positive impact on the environment and save money on their car insurance, it’s definitely worth considering. And who knows, you might even end up taking out a policy with Zixty.
What does eco friendly car insurance cover?
Eco friendly car insurance is similar to traditional car insurance in many ways. For instance, with Zixty, you’ll get comprehensive cover similar to the type of cover you might get with an annual policy. When we talk about comprehensive cover, we mean a policy that provides protection against a range of risks. This can include accidental damage, theft, and third-party liability, for example.
However, the benefits of green car insurance don’t stop there. Many eco-friendly policies also come with handy optional add-ons, such as breakdown cover and excess protection. These add-ons can give you added peace of mind knowing that you’re covered in a range of unexpected situations.
But one of the biggest benefits of eco-friendly car insurance is that it is designed to be green. As we mentioned earlier, temporary car insurance is often more eco-friendly than annual car insurance, as it discourages unnecessary journeys. Plus, with policies like Zixty that carbon-offset your driving, you can do your bit for the environment while also protecting your car.
So, there you have it, eco-friendly car insurance doesn’t just provide comprehensive cover, it also gives you the opportunity to drive responsibly and make a positive impact on the planet. Also, the right eco friendly car insurance doesn’t need to break the bank. There are lots of ways to find cheap temporary car insurance.
The bottom line is: you don’t have to compromise the level of cover you get just because you want a green policy.
Green car insurance: how does carbon offsetting work
We’ve talked a lot about carbon offsetting throughout this article. But how does carbon offsetting work in general? Basically, when you drive a car, it emits carbon dioxide (CO2) which contributes to global warming. Carbon offsetting is a way of balancing out the CO2 emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove equivalent amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere.
There are lots of different ways companies can offset your carbon. We’ve covered some popular (and emerging) methods in our detailed carbon offsetting article here, so check it out if you’re interested in learning all the ins and outs.
So, how does carbon offsetting work at Zixty?
Well, when you take out a temporary car insurance policy with Zixty and opt into Zixty Miles, we offset up to 100 miles of your daily journeys by investing in tree-planting with our partner, Eden Reforestation. We calculate the CO2 emissions from your car’s manufacturing and driving and fund the planting of enough trees to balance out those emissions.
Now, you might be thinking, “But I drive an electric car, so how does that work?” At Zixty, we believe every little bit helps, so even if you’re driving an eco-friendly car, we will still offset your emissions at a default rate of 25g/km. Every driver, no matter how environmentally conscious, can play a part in combating climate change.
And we’re not just planting any old trees – Eden Reforestation are experts in reforestation and have already planted nearly a billion trees around the world. Not only do the trees absorb CO2, but they also provide habitats for wildlife and help prevent soil erosion. Every driver can do their bit for the planet, and at Zixty, we’re here to make that as easy as possible.
Going green with Zixty’s eco friendly car insurance
At Zixty, we’re all about recognising and rewarding environmentally conscious driving. When you take out a temporary car insurance policy with us, you’ll have the option to enable our free Zixty Miles add-on. This add-on offers plenty of features that will help you drive in a more eco-friendly way.
One of those features is the Zixty Miles eco-Score. Our app rates your driving from 1-10, based on data your phone sends us from the app, including your speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering. By driving well, you’ll achieve a higher score, which means that your journey is more likely to be carbon negative. So the better you drive, the more you can brag about reducing your carbon footprint.
But that’s not all. When you switch on Zixty Miles, you’ll be helping to save the planet one gear change at a time. We’ll plant a tree for every policy taken out, and we’ll carbon offset up to 100 miles of each day’s journey when you’re insured with us. Plus, we’ll even offer eco-driving tips to help you save fuel.
At Zixty, we are working towards embodying sustainability in everything we do. That’s why we’re a certifiably green car insurance company. So why not join our community of green heroes and show the world that you care about the environment? With Zixty’s eco friendly car insurance, it’s easy to make a positive impact on the planet while still enjoying the freedom that comes with driving.
