Car insurance for the entertainment industry

Jesta_2

Hi, I'm new on this site so I hope this is all ok!

I'm having terrible trouble with car insurance right now. I need to renew by Tuesday 11th Nov. I've read Martin's articles and went through all the comparison sites in order etc. in plenty of time to be organised, and thought I'd just activate the top quote nearer the time.

When I tried to activate it today I discovered that because I work as a Technical Manager in the Entertainment industry Halifax and Churchill's won't insure me full stop. :mad: Having spent the last 6 hours on the internet and phone I can't find anyone that will insure me for a reasonable amount (ie below £400) because of my job. Many won't insure me at all, which I feel is incredibly discriminatory. I am a good driver, I've never had an accident , I have a fixed place of work and I don't understand why the underwriters are so prejudiced against me. I've never had a problem getting insurance before so I'm rather confused about why suddenly companies seem to be so unwilling to play!

When I have put that I work in an exhibition center (the next nearest thing I could think of) the prices dropped dramatically. But in reality work as a technical manager in an arts centre with 2 theatres, a gallery, a college and evening classes. How far can I deviate my official job title for the purposes of insurance? I certainly don't want to be dishonest. The last insurance company I spoke to said they would check my circumstances with the company and get back to me on Monday... but were talking about the difference between around £700 or £350!

I have a 3 door, 998cc, Nissan Micra 1999, 3 years no claims bonuses and I'm 28... I also live in London which doesn't help!

I'd be really grateful if anyone has any suggestions, advice or information that could help... it's getting a bit desperate!

Thanks for reading!

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

By "entertainment industry", Insurers usually mean film directors, editors, actors and the like. The reason they will not insure you is not that you are a bad risk; it's that they think there is an increased risk of someone famous being a passenger in your car. If you hit a brick wall whilst David Tennant is a passenger in your car, the cost of his claim against you would be much higher than if the passenger was, say, your mum.

It's the same for sportsmen & women; all the while you are an appentice at a football club, your car insurance is fairly standard. As soon as you go pro (and from the insurers point of view, run the risk of having 4 other pro footballers in the car), the price goes through the roof.

What you need to do is pick the closest thing you can that describes your job. Exhibition centre sounds close enough to me. Not sure what others think

maclean2

Hi try www.victorcknight.co.uk who specialize in actors and show biz cover.

Jesta_2

Thank you so much for that guys... I'll try the recommended website, or just put myself down as an electrical engineer or something I guess.

These underwriters should really research the industries they're discriminating about! I don't think any celebs would want to travel in the back of my Nissan Micra, and if I did that for a living I'd surely be classified as a 'driver' or 'chauffeur'! :rotfl:

Thanks very much for your help! :T