I am not sure. I last had an accident when I was 24 (I am nearly 51 now), so I would hope the insurance company view this as a slighly isolated incident.

I will be genuinely sorry to see the BMW go as I have owned it from new and really enjoyed it but it is a 530iSE Auto Touring, does 23mpg (if you are lucky), is insurance group 34 and road tax £280. But for all that a great car and still comfortable today and steering and acceleration all feel really good,

The Mokka 1.7 Techline 4x4 does 58mpg, has 4x4 (which I need in my part of Scotland), is insurance group 12 and road tax £0 in first year and £105 thereafter. It also has a 100,000 warranty and a lot of kit (incl standard bluetooth and satnav)

I am very unexcited about the Mokka (in fact I bought it without a test drive although I did sit in it and it is quite roomy and probably better value than a Yeti). I now commute 70-80 miles a day and the petrol cost of the BMW is a killer - so a head decision not a heart one.

The insurers have picked their own repairer and I get a courtesy car for the period of repair. I also have Excess insurance and will recover that.

Yes it was an accounting decision not particularly a green one (although the two go together now). I am often paying about £100 per week on petrol (and this is far too much). That is not the only cost - I just had an inspection 2 service (£450 at an independent garage) and road tax is £280 and insurance obviously at Group 34 is high. So servicing for the Mokka will be cheaper, road tax will be cheaper and I will be paying for group 12 insurance.

I was recently on the Mokka Owners Club website and a lot of them seem to be getting 50's mpg and 600 miles on a tank (music to my ears).

The main comfort though is this 100,000 mile warranty - so I will not be burdened with unexpected repairs.

I did seriously look at getting a second hand Yeti Se 140bhp 4x4 but a lot of them still seem around £18-£20k and I have got my new vehicle with metallic paint and winter pack for £17,700 with 3% finance