Fortis (Insurance, UK) has announced the full launch of Fleet Guard to its brokers, the latest edition to its expanding commercial portfolio. After a successful pilot last year with 670 of its intermediaries, broker feedback has been a key element in the development of the product, enabling Fortis to offer a competitive proposition in terms of both price and quality.
Incorporating Fortis' expertise as the third largest car insurer in the UK* the new product is designed for businesses with between 3 and 50 vehicles (made up of both private cars and commercial vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight) and recognises the individual risk characteristics, claim frequency and claim costs.
The new product has a maximum legal claims limit of up to £100,000 for non-fault claims, including like for like replacement vehicle and physiotherapy following an accident. Additional competitive features include:
- Full EU and EEA cover;
- Statement of fact - no proposal form;
- Occasional Business Use cover available for employees using their own vehicles on the customers' business**; and
- UK based dedicated contact points backed by Fortis' award-winning 24-hour claims service.
Fleet Guard also allows brokers to transact business more easily, with the facility to generate cover notes online, if required, allowing swift access to documentation.
Fleet Guard pilot broker, Andrew Wallace Managing Director of Direct Fleet Insurance Services comments: "We find the cover offered by Fortis to be one of the best in the market and they are prepared to compete for the better risks. This enables us to go after quality fleets in the knowledge that we have a good chance of picking up the business. Once the fleet is on risk, the documentation is produced in a timely and efficient manner. They [Fortis] are a very good addition to the market".
Andrew Rigby, Director, Rigby Insurance also piloted the new Fortis product: "The Fortis Fleet Guard product provides complete peace of mind for my clients. Not only is the policy flexible and competitive, it is backed up with excellent claims service. The electronic policy documentation makes the product even more appealing to me as a broker, making adjustments feel almost instantaneous compared with other insurers in the market. I would have no hesitation in recommending this product."
Adam Clarke, Underwriting Director, Fortis comments: "I have been delighted with the feedback from brokers on the pilot of our new fleet proposition and am pleased to announce the much anticipated full launch. At Fortis, we have been making significant progress in the implementation of our commercial strategy through increasing the depth and breadth of our proposition for our brokers. Fleet Guard is another example of our commitment and approach, which we believe will continue to add value to our brokers and customers."
The implementation of Fortis' commercial lines strategy is already delivering significant growth. In the 2009 interim results (01 January to 30 June 2009), the company reported a year on year growth in commercial lines Gross Written Premium of 40 per cent to £53.6 million.
* Based on number of cars insured, source: EMB analysis of FSA Returns 2008 (published August 2009). The addition of the Tesco Bank and Toyota GB motor book in 2010, will move Fortis to second largest car insurer in the UK.
** subject to exposure information and charge.
-Ends-
About Fortis
Fortis (Insurance UK) is a leading provider of award-winning personal and commercial lines insurance solutions in the UK. Fortis has two main divisions, manufacturing both non-life and life products, which are distributed through a range of channels including brokers, IFAs, intermediaries, affinity partners and the Internet, as well as various wholly or partially-owned companies (RIAS, Fortis Insurance Solutions, Affinity Solutions, Text2Insure and InsureTECH Systems).
Insuring around 7 million customers and working with a range of partners, Fortis is recognised for delivering consistent and high-quality customer experiences. It employs almost 3,000 people with a head office based in Eastleigh and others in Belfast, Bournemouth, Gloucester, Haywards Heath, London, Redditch, Reigate and Stoke-on-Trent.
Fortis (Insurance UK) is part of Fortis, a global insurance group of significant scale with over EUR14bn turnover, 20 million customers and 10,000 employees worldwide.
Press contacts:
Natalie Shale
T: 023 8035 2754
E:
Louisa Barnard
T: 023 8031 3147
E: