Car Insurance

Price comparison sites are all well and good, but they are ultimately designed for the inherently lazy and of course, 'cheapest' doesn't necessarily equate to 'best'. Clueless makes the important point that the companies which show up are only acting as agents and thus the results you get are not necessaily the best deal available - only the best from those which have 'signed up' to such sites.

It's always worth checking for whom these companies are acting as agents. Take Tesco for example, who seem to pop up on every comparison site.

Tesco car insurance is actually provided by UK Insurance Ltd., and UK Insurance Ltd., are themselves owned by RBS. If, as I did, you put your details into Tesco's own website you'll get a car insurance quote - in my case £246.75. If you then go to the RBS website and enter those exact same details, you'll get another quote - this time mine was £234.15p. OK so it was only a saving of £12.60 but, as Tesco themselves say ..... 'Every little helps' ':skp:

 

What makes me smile is "Direct Line's" "We're not on any comparison sites."

Of course you're not, as they'd come nowhere near the top on any list!

 

Different companies go after different groups of people. It is cheaper for them to assess risk if they only have to do so for a subset of society.

For example, there are insurers such as Sheila's Wheels that only want women on their books, and there are ones that like young drivers, older drivers, drivers of classic cars, etc. They rarely actually turn down someone who isn't their target, but typically hike the prices up tremendously to scare you off if you're not who they're after.

I remember when I first passed my driving test. I wanted third party fire and theft cover, limited mileage, no commuting on my M reg 1.3 litre Ford Escort. KwikFit insurance asked for £2400. I laughed at them as I hung up the phone. The very next year they were the cheapest. Nothing had changed except that I'd been driving for a year by then, but suddenly I must have been their target group because they only charged me about £400.

 

I am suspicious of the claims of people like Sheilas Wheels. Any good insurance company will give you a quote based on their experience with a subset of people, eg women only or young people or retired people. Thats why they charge more for young drivers. So I don't think that Sheilas Wheels does anything different - except perhaps have an edge in publicity.

The only group that may benefit from a specialist company is a group that is so small that normal companies can't give a proper quote because they don't have enough in that category. For instance if you drive a McClaren F1 roadcar, ordinary companies can't assess the risk if they don't have another on their books. But there is no shortage of women, pensioners or young people with ordinary cars.

 

Know this is a bit late, but boy do I agree with you. Last year, buying the car, it cost me £300. This year it is just over £400. I asked why, when I have another years no-claim, the car isn't used much, is garaged at night etc? Yes, the usual spiel, I got an introductary offer from a new insurer etc. However, I did use comparison websites as well as using individual ones and there wasn't much difference.

How can that be? I know prices increase but the value of my car decreases every year, (quiite a lot with the scrappage scheme), diesel prices, not many miles done, no commuting et al. So at least it should be the same cost not more.

What to do???

cheers