In-car entertainment

Enhance the pleasure of driving your car with the latest in-car entertainment systems while making sure your investment is protected with car insurance from Direct Line.

Whether you use your car for short commutes or longer trips in the UK or abroad, having some audio company on board can make a huge difference to the quality of your trip.

Radios, tape players and CD systems are the norm in cars – radios in cars have been around since the 1930s – but with the new trend for digital devices and MP3 downloads, the in-car entertainment market has even more to offer.

Today, you can match the personal audio equipment you already have – your MP3 player, digital radio or even laptop – with gadgets that connect them directly to a sound system in your vehicle. No need to carry around huge cases of CDs. Simply plug in your handy portable device and continue listening to the tunes you were checking out at home or while walking down the street.

In newer, more sophisticated vehicles, built-in MP3 players have even become standard. At the top end of the range some vehicles even come with built-in DVD players located in the back of driver and passenger seats. For some parents whose kids have become bored with traditional car journey pastimes like ‘I spy’, sticking on a video to keep them occupied for a few hours has become a welcome treat! Such advanced technology is not for everyone – especially for those who still value the art of conversation – but it does show just how far in-car entertainment has come.

Choosing the right device for you

When there’s so much on offer the choice can seem daunting, so here are three of the most popular types of in-car entertainment systems that could suit your needs:

• If you have a built-in tape player in the car...
  Go for a device such as car adaptor kit from a brand such as Sony. These slot into your tape player like a normal cassette but also plug into the headphone socket of your portable MP3 player. These have been around for a while, are cheap at about £5 a go and great if you are on a budget or drive a more classic car.
• If you have a built-in radio in the car...
  Go for a personal FM transmitter such as the Griffin iTrip. These have also been on the market for a while but were previously illegal. They were legalised by Ofcom in December 2006. Essentially you attach the pocket-sized transmitter to an MP3 player such as an iPod and set the frequency on this to the same frequency on your radio. As if by magic, you can then play your tunes ‘through your radio’! This is also another cheap and easily portable option currently retailing at around £20. Most cars – old or new – have a radio built-in so it’s a good device to use from car to car. Plus you can use it at home if you have a radio there.
• If you want state of the art MP3 control...
  Consider upgrading your current car stereo to one of the latest MP3 player dock devices – Alpine does one that works with an iPod that retails at around £200. You simply click your MP3 player into place and choose the tunes to suit your mood. With some models you can even arrange it so that you can operate the device through the car’s head unit so that you are free to keep your hands on the wheel. Some cars also now come with equipment like this built-in.

Where to buy?

Check out local audio or visual stores, motor shops or department stores for the latest devices. Or if you want to shop from home, the following online shops offer a range of in-car entertainment gadgets and systems:

• www.caraudiocentre.co.uk
• www.caraudioplus.co.uk
• www.incarexpress.co.uk
• www.halfords.com
• www.motor-world.co.uk
• www.amazon.co.uk

Protect your investments

At Direct Line we want to help make your car journeys as enjoyable as possible. If you invest in in-car entertainment systems then you should also insure your purchases. We can help you do this with third party fire and theft or comprehensive car insurance.
Just tell us about any entertainment systems you have when you apply for a policy.

Cover under these policies is provided for permanently fitted in-car audio, TV, telephone and electronic navigation equipment up to £1,000 if the loss or damage was caused by fire, theft or attempted theft. If the equipment forms part of the car specification and was fitted by the manufacturer or the manufacturer's approved dealer, the amount is unlimited.

If you already have a car insurance policy with us then you need to tell us about any modifications or upgrades you make, too, as this could affect your premium. It’s easy to amend your details online or just give us a call. Remember, we have your best interests at heart, so if damage or loss does occur we can at least help you recover the cost of any expensive investments you have made. For more details see our car insurance policy documents online.

To hear how Direct Line car insurance can be music to your ears apply for a car insurance quote today.