Car insurance.

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by rustyroots, Jan 30, 2013.

  1. pamsdish

    pamsdish Total Gardener

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    Some weeks after my O.H. died last June, I got around to sorting the car out, when i rang the insurance company, my O.H. mostly went with LLoyds T.S.B., I informed them of his death and the policy was cancelled, as he was principal driver.
    They then inquired how I was going to insure, so they gave me quote, full N.C.B.was given to me, we had added our neighbour 6 months before for convenience,

    So 2 lady :heehee: pensioners full N.C.B. fully comp, car is getting on, but as we have had it from new, well looked after, the policy was 30 pounds more, as I was still not functioning properly I just accepted it, but be assured I will be shopping around this renewal, and with age of vehicle considering 3rd party.
     
  2. Jiffy

    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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    You may find it's not that much cheaper than comp
     
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    • pamsdish

      pamsdish Total Gardener

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      Will get quotes for both then ,thanks.:dbgrtmb:
       
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      • Fidgetsmum

        Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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        I've been with the same company for my car insurance for about 5 years however ... each year I do a few checks with other reputable companies, see what they're offering for the same cover then ring my company, use phrases to the effect that ' ... you're 'avin a larf aint yer?' and promptly get my premium reduced to match!

        There's nothing wrong with changing your company, but you do have to be a bit careful not only to ensure you're getting the exact cover you want/need, but you also need to know who you're actually dealing with in terms of underwriters. I once went with Direct Line, within weeks of taking out the policy I received a letter to say that the company I was with had been taken over by someone else, then a few months later another similar letter arrived and so it went on to the extent that by the end of that year, I had absolutely no idea who I was actually insured with. Thank heavens I didn't have to make a claim.
         
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        One of the 'phone line' insurance companies that I got a quote from were offering £20 cash back per policy as soon as you booked with them. They guaranteed to send the cheque within a week. The insurance company that they were doing it through was the one I was already with and my broker could get it £10 cheaper. When I spoke to my broker he told me to sign up with the 'phone line' firm and then cancel it a week later and then he would transfer the policies to him. (He really doesn't like phone lines :rolleyespink: )

        He said I should get my cheques (three policies) and that the 'phone line' firm won't ask for the money back. He was right :blue thumb:. All's fair in love and insurance :heehee:
         
      • moonraker

        moonraker Gardener

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        Hi, just thought i'd tell you what happens here in france ref car insurance
        if your wife has a full licence then she (by law) is put on the insurance policy free of charge, its only the wife thats put on the husbands policy and not the otherway round.

        Its handy even if she has her own car, if i need the wife to drive my car ive no insurance problems,
        The french have a simular idea with the TV licence, if you have more than one home in the same council rated area, ie we have the home we live in and a gite we rent out in the summer, both have tv's in them but you only pay for one licence and this licence fee comes included with your rates bill, so they're not having vans running around trying to catch unpaid tv licence offenders, but if you dont have a tv you just fill in a form give it to the rates dept and the fee is not taken or added to your rates,

        I think both these ideas are simple save a lot of time and stress for some people.
        But ref the uk & car insurance, i lived up a track in mid wales (BALA LAKE) one mile from the nearest public road, through two gated cattle grids and my insurance went up for the car, when i asked why i was told because its a high risk area for car theft!

        One good thing ref here in the countryside of france is the house rates /insurance & car insurance are a lot less than we paid in the uk and i still drive the same car here as i did then.
        RIP OFF BRITAIN;
         
      • Madahhlia

        Madahhlia Total Gardener

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        Yes, this always works, it's just that I don't see why the heck I should have to do this! What about the poor people that don't ask for a price-match, they just get ripped-off blind!

        No matter what insurance you buy there's no protection against this but AFAICS the new company honours the old policies, after all it will be the same operatives working under a different name.

        One big problem I have with online comparison sites is that it is much harder to work out if you are buying exactly the product you need and what you are getting for your money, especially if you throw in extras like roadside rescue. I end up having to phone them anyway just to check.

        Why is car insurance cheaper if you add an extra person? It makes no sense to me as you are potentiallly doubling the risk.
         
      • moonraker

        moonraker Gardener

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        You are in my mind 100% right, after all i thought the idea was that the insurance company looked after their customers that had stayed loyal them for years!
        As ive said rip off uk.
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        Only one person can be driving at any time so adding another drive doesn't double the risk. If the additional person is in a lower risk group then (from the Insurance companies' viewpoint) that lowers the overall risk, hence why insurance companies give a discount.

        In practice you can add on someone in a low risk group and they never actually drive your car then you win and the insurance company loses. Good idea to play them at their own game :)
         
      • Julie D

        Julie D Gardener

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        I often wonder whether I am paying too much for car insurance but until last year I was a named driver on my dads. Didnt realise it would be cheaper to have me as the main driver until my dad gave up driving. Then it was £20 a month cheaper. We have been with the same insurer for over 20 years and pay £500 for 3rd party fire and theft on a 11 year old vauxhall with full breakdown cover.
         
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        Julie, that sounds quite expensive to me. I'd shop around if I were you. :blue thumb:

        You'll need quite a bit of info to hand. They'll, naturally, ask age, address, how many years driving etc and Reg of car, date it was first registered, how many years no claims you have, details of any accidents/claims in the last five years (sometimes they anly ask for the last three years), names and age of drivers, any driving convictions etc.

        They are likely to ask you what you are paying now but, politely, tell them you just want a quote from them and that you are shopping around. They may ask you how much excess you want to pay on the car in case of a claim (the more you're willing to pay the lower your insurance) but they may just have a fixed amount (ask them what it is if they don't tell you).

        They may include a courtesy car if you have an accident and/or breakdown cover. Check this with them. They may also try to sell you claims protection cover (they handle a claim for you) and other covers such as lost key protection etc.

        The best thing to do is write out a chart with headings for all these things and then you can just tick boxes or add extra premiums into those boxes and put their quote in the last column. Then write the names and phone numbers of the companies down the lefthand side. Then sit at the phone and start calling (I much prefer to phone than to fill in an online form) as it's usually much quicker and you're able to ask them questions.

        It usually takes me between five and ten minutes per call and there can be a considerable difference between quotes. I usually set aside about an hour, make a cuppa and start dialling. If you don't have their phone numbers you can Google them.
         
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        • Fidgetsmum

          Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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          I wondered that since, in taking off someone (i.e. my husband who's seldom here), seemed to make sense. 'No ....' I was told by two separate companies, ' ... putting on another named driver means there's someone to take over should the policyholder become tired - thus reducing the risk of an accident'. Yeah I know it doesn't make any sense - my husband has never once driven my car and which of us is the less tired? He who has just spent at least 8+ hours on an aircraft, or me who's been up since 6 a.m., done a day's work then driven to Heathrow to collect him? :dunno: Tis daft - but hey, it brings my premium down so I'm not complaining!
           
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          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            When asked by one insurance company/broker why I wasn't renewing, I told them it was because they'd never sent me the free pen they promised with every policy!

            Don't forget to checkout cashback sites like Quidco or Topcashback to get a possible £70 or so cashback in addition to a lower premium.
             
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            • Madahhlia

              Madahhlia Total Gardener

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              Yeah, and I never got the free meerkat toy they promised me last year, neither. Robbers!
               
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              • Jack McHammocklashing

                Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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                My daughter got the toy Sergie then got £48 for him on ebay :-)

                Simples

                Jack McH
                 
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