Winter is a dangerous time for motorists. And homeowners know the problems that winter storms can bring, not to mention the opportunities that longer nights present to thieves. But a little common sense can go a long way to keeping you, your car and your home safe and sound.

Some rules for the road this winter;

And on the home front;

And if you ever need claims assistance (on the road or at home), ring us day or night on 1890 24 7 365.

Do you own a commercial vehicle for carrying your own goods (up to 2 tons)? Then we have great cover at great prices including up to 50% no claims discount, €5M cover for damage to other peoples property and a host of optional extras to give you even more cover. And if we also insure your private car you get another 30% off your premium. Ring us on 1890 28 28 20 and find out how much you could save!

How much is peace of mind worth? How about 8 cent a day? That's how little it costs to add motor rescue to your policy. Our 24 hour breakdown assistance service is only a phone call away and we include home start as standard. Our team will do all they can to get you motoring again and if this is not possible, we will get your car to safety and help you get to your destination (or home). Do yourself a big favour this Autumn/Winter, if you don't have it already, €29.99 is all it costs to add motor rescue to your policy. Ring us on 1890 28 28 22 and we can arrange it there and then.

We offer careful home owners great cover and a range of discounts depending on good security, your age and the number of years without a claim. These discounts can cut the cost of premiums by up to 30%. But if you also have your car, commercial vehicle or taxi insured with us, then we have another discount that can take another 15% off your home insurance costs. Ring us on 1890 28 28 20 and find out how much you could save by insuring your car and home with us.

Our travel insurance offers both single and multi-trip cover for you or your family. You can choose our value for money gold cover or buy even more peace of mind with our platinum package. Cover can be extended to include business trips, golf and winter holidays. And there's a 20% discount if you have separate private health insurance! Log onto www.axa.ie or ring us on 1890 608 808 and get cover in a matter of minutes.

If you need to make a claim for home damage, don't ring any Tom, Dick or Harry from the phone book. Ring Tim or one of our other claims experts (day or night) at 1890 24 7 365 and we'll fix things, fast! We will arrange for a trusted, qualified contractor to contact you and make all necessary repairs. There's no paperwork and all you pay is your policy excess. And for added peace of mind, all repair work is guaranteed.
		There are other advantages to using this service. Everyday inconveniences such as malfunctioning central heating boilers are not covered by home insurance. But if you want to get a repair that you can trust, ring us. Our qualified tradesmen will put things right. It's not insured under your buildings cover so you will have to pay them, but their rates will be very competitive and all work is guaranteed. So why spend hours on the phone when one call to AXA will get things sorted, fast.

Thank you for choosing AXA for your insurance. As a customer you're now able to avail of a customer loyalty programme that includes the highest no claims discount in the market. There are also additional product discounts available if you introduce family or friends to AXA or if you have other products with us. We'll also give you improved car insurance cover the longer you are insured with us.

AXA Plus We believe you deser ve more than just quality service and insurance products so we have developed AXA Plus. AXA Plus is our unique customer loyalty programme which allows you to save money with leading retailers on electrical items, DIY goods, holidays, car accessories, ferr y travel and much, much more! The best way for you to keep up to date with all the AXA Plus benefits and to see our entire range of partners is for you to go on-line and register your e-mail address with www.axaplus.ie. You will be kept right up to date with our regular e-newsletter. Alternatively, you can pick up an AXA Plus brochure in your local branch. Bigger Discounts We reward careful drivers with a maximum 75% no claims discount. But there's more; If you buy more than one AXA product you get another discount. For example, if you have motor insurance with us and you buy our home insurance too, we give you a 15% discount (on the house!). Or if you have a car policy with us and then buy our van insurance, we will give you a 30% discount. And if you recommend a friend to AXA, we will give you a €50 renewal discount (and your friend will get one too!). AXA Leisure Breaks Get renewed when you renew with an AXA Leisure Break. We have over 450 par ticipating hotels across Ireland, all available at a special rate for you as an AXA customer. All of the hotels are Fáilte Ireland or Nor thern Ireland Tourist Board approved. You can choose from hotel breaks, spa breaks, golf breaks, holiday homes and once you renew your policy you can avail of as many breaks as you like for the next year. You can even bring your family and friends along at the same special rate. You will receive your unique booking reference number with full details of how to book when you renew your policy. More information is provided in the enclosed leaflet. Book today and you can join the hundreds of AXA customers who book a break every week. Better cover With other insurers, if you want to drive someone else's car then their policy will give you third party "driving other cars" cover. So if you injure someone or damage their proper ty, they will cover you. But what about the car you're driving (that you don't own?). At the very minimum, telling your friend or relative you damaged their car is embarrassing. And more to the point, it could be very expensive if they look to you to get their car repaired. That's why we give our customers (with comprehensive insurance and subject to age and occupation) comprehensive "driving other cars" cover when you insure your car with AXA for three years.

If your car is involved in an accident, take advantage of the AXA Garage. We promise to; Reduce your accidental damage excess by €100. Provide you with a courtesy car if needed. Tell you how repairs are progressing. Give you a written guarantee on all work. Clean and vacuum your car before returning it. You can get claims assistance day or night. Just ring us on 1890 24 7 365.

The Government are planning some changes to drink driving legislation. These include;

• Reducing the drink driving limit from 80mg to 50mg (about one glass of wine or a pint of beer).
• Drivers who give a reading between 50mg and 80mg will not be banned from the road but will receive three penalty points on their licence for a threeyear period.
• Those who exceed the 80mg limit will continue to get an automatic ban for at least one year.
• Mandatory breath testing of all motorists involved in serious accidents.
• Learner permit holders, professional drivers (e.g. Taxis) and those who do not hold full Irish driving licences will also be the subject of new penalties for drink driving.

For more information, please contact the Department of Transport or An Garda Síochána. For our part, AXA welcomes any legislation that helps to save lives, reduces serious injuries and contributes toward lower motor insurance premiums.

In today's world of 24 hour media, social networking and ever increasing expectations, some parents find they simply cannot cope.

When they need help, or just someone to talk to, they can turn to Parentline.

Parentline is a national organisation that provides support, guidance and information to parents who are having difficulties in their role as a parent. And AXA are delighted to help with this important cause.

We have provided both material assistance and promoted Parentline across our branch network (where many parents come everyday to discuss their own insurance needs). To compliment this, we are working with Parentline to promote safety, both at home and on the road, among parents and children.

If you would like to talk to someone about your parenting issues please give Parentline a call at 1890 927277 or log onto www.parentline.ie

As the saying goes, it's good to talk.

In the year ahead, one in ten AXA customers will be involved in a road accident, need their windscreen repaired (or replaced) or find themselves with a vehicle that just won't move due to mechanical problems - including lack of petrol.

If you are the unlucky one in ten you will need help day or night. And fast. All the help you need is at the end of the phone with us on

There are real advantages to you in using this number first time, every time;

• Our highly trained staff (based in Dublin and Athlone) are there to help you day or night
• We'll have you back on the road fast (in no time at all if it's a breakdown or a broken windscreen and usually in less than 10 days if it's accident, theft or malicious damage )
• We will get you and your passengers safely home or on to your intended destination (whichever is nearer)
• You get a courtesy car for up to 7 days (whilst we repair yours) because we know life has to go on
• All repairs are to manufacturers standards and guaranteed for two years
• You pay a reduced excess (the amount you pay toward any claim for accidental or malicious damage to your vehicle)
• Claims for fire, theft, broken windscreens or the use of our breakdown assistance don't affect your hard earned no claims discount
• We even give your vehicle a wash and vacuum so it comes back to you in perfect condition
• There is little or no paperwork
• Eighty nine per cent of customers who had a claim would recommend us to family and friends for our speedy, helpful service. Look inside this newsletter for their comments, they say everything!

Do yourself a favour. Don't wait until something happens to you to search for the only phone number you need to ring. Inside, we're giving you a handy window sticker, together with details of a great competition that could see you winning a new car or a cash prize. Put it in your window today (we also suggest you put the number into your mobile phone). And, remember, whatever happens...

If you are in accident, the most important thing is that you and anyone else involved are safe and hopefully, uninjured. It's worth remembering that in such a stressful situation, people can forget the exact circumstances of the incident. We recommend you take some photos on your mobile phone. These could be useful in helping you explain what happened. They can be also be of use if you think the other driver is at fault or if you suspect fraudulent activity.

Picture this. You picked up your hire car at the airport. The person at the desk tells you that even though you bought cover for damage to your hire car (called Collision Damage Waiver or CDW cover in car rental language), you'll still have to pay an amount called an excess if the car is damaged, whether your fault or not. The excess will be something between €750 and €1500, but they tell you that you can avoid having to pay that if you pay them somewhere between €7 and €10 for each day you're hiring the car. You weigh it up - risk having to pay the excess if the car is even slightly damaged, or go risk-free by paying at least €100 extra for your two week rental.

Help is at hand. We offer up to €5,000 cover if you have to pay the rental company a car hire excess. You can buy this peace of mind for a whole year for as little as €56.08, depending on your age and where you are going to visit, so you could save money even on the first trip.

To buy your AXA car hire excess policy just log onto www.axacarhireexcess.ie and follow the simple steps. It only takes minutes to arrange and you can print your own cover details on the spot.

If you prefer, call us at (01) 8583568 and we'll get you on your way.

The wonderfully named Matchless motor cycle is a legend to those familiar with the early days of motorcycles. One of these iconic machines is now enjoying an active retirement thanks to AXA.

Built in 1923, an Irish registered Matchless Model J has had a colourful career. Used for business and pleasure, it also featured in the war film "Darling Lily" (shot in County Wicklow in 1968). In 1959, it was bought for L5 by Maurice Bryan (a well known name in classic car and motorcycle circles). Maurice has undertaken three separate restoration projects, the last one commencing in 1989 and involving more than 950 hours of work.

Today, it looks as good as the day it was built. And thanks to AXA it will remain in Ireland and continue to be seen at Classic Car shows the length and breadth of the country.

Main pic caption- Maurice Bryan in period clothing with the Matchless at last years Irish Vintage and Veteran Car Show (sponsored by AXA)

The Matchless down the years (including it's role in "Darling Lily").

		If you are in third level education (and aged under 26) then we have the policy for you. Our "Studentfirst" product gives you; - quality car insurance with no loss of no claims discount following windscreen claims - 24 hour claims assistance - interest free monthly instalments. But we really get top marks for the way we calculate your premium. For starters we give you a discount in recognition that you are working toward your qualification. Then (and this is the really clever bit), instead of increasing your no claims discount once a year, we increase it every three months. So your monthly premiums will fall during the year (and not just at each renewal) provided, of course, there are no claims on your policy (other than windscreen). We reckon that all this number crunching will see a saving of more than 40% compared to our standard product. To find out more, ring us at 1890 28 28 20 or call into your nearest AXA branch.

We all think we're great drivers. But the fact is, we can never know enough, especially when it comes to dealing with modern day issues such as motorway driving.

For this reason, AXA has developed an online driving skills awareness initiative.

This is an interactive programme. We invite people to look at one of six scenarios;

	Speeding
	Distractions
	General Awareness
	Motorway Driving
	Aggressive Driving
	Fatigue

We ask you questions based on Road Safety Authority best practice. If you don't get the right answer first time, feel free to keep trying until you do! As well as improving your driving knowledge, we will enter you into a free draw for a year's free cover (up to €500).

And as an incentive for young drivers starting their journey as motorists, when they get the answers to all questions right, they can print off a certificate that can be used to get a discount from AXA.

If you would like to know more, put yourself in the driving seat and log onto www.axa.ie.

We are delighted to tell you we are now offering quality insurance for shops (and a host of other retailers or franchises), offices and surgeries. Our standard policy gives you comprehensive cover for buildings, stock and other contents, maintains your income if you suffer property damage and protects you against injury or damage claims brought by employees or members of the public. And you can choose from a number of optional extras including increased goods in transit cover. You can pay over 5 or 9 months to help with cash flow and we reward careful retailers with discounts including a unique no claims discount (akin to your car insurance). To find out how much you could save give us a ring on 1890 273 372 or drop into your nearest AXA branch.

We know it can be difficult to get the driving experience you need to pass your driving test. You may know people with full licences who are happy to accompany you on the road. But if they need to drive your car (perhaps to demonstrate a driving technique or show you how to reverse park) how can you be sure they are insured to drive your car?

The answer for AXA customers is simple and in place from the time you get this newsletter.

We are giving our customers with a provisional licence FREE open driving. This means that other people are covered to drive your car (for the same cover you have on your policy) provided they;

	have your permission to drive
	are aged 25-70 and
	hold a full, clean driving licence.

When you get your full licence (after all, you will have plenty of driving practice), you must tell us so we can reduce your premium. If you want to maintain open driving an additional charge will be payable.

Please note we will not be issuing revised motor insurance certificates until you next renew your policy or make an alteration. In the meantime, provisional licence customers should contact their local AXA branch if they require a new certificate of insurance showing this additional cover.

If you have any questions, please contact us at 1890 28 28 22 or drop into your nearest AXA branch.

We welcome any views you may have on this Newsletter. Please write to the Marketing Department, AXA Insurance, Wolfe Tone House, Wolfe Tone Street, Dublin 1 or e-mail us at newsletter@axa.ie. AXA&You is the Customer Newsletter of AXA Insurance Limited, Registered Office Wolfe Tone House, Wolfe Tone Street, Dublin 1. Registered number 136155. Terms and conditions apply to all products and features offered within AXA&You. The views expressed are not necessarily those of AXA Insurance. For your own security and to help us improve customer satisfaction, we may record or monitor telephone calls. AXA Insurance Limited is regulated by the Financial Regulator.