Advice on car insurance

Sandyloui

Hi, I need you good people advice on understanding car insurance!
We were supposed to get an old car from my partner's mum but after looking at insurance quotes we've decided not to as the minimum they wanted to charge us was £600!
Would anyone know why it is so high? Is it because we have no bonus built as we've never owned a car before or because the car 9from 1993) would sleep in the street?
I'm really confused as all the people I know pay around £250 and for better cars than we would have had!

Any advice appreciated!

lisyloo

There are numerous factors that affect the price including the ones you've mentioned.
Two major ones you've not mentioned are age and postcode.
Gender of the main driver is also another factor.

Another factor is level of cover.
Are you looking at fully comp?
How much is the car worth?
If it's old you might be better of going 3rd party fire and theft.

There must be some difference between either the cover or the circumstances.
What about excess levels?

Sandyloui

lisyloo wrote: »

There are numerous factors that affect the price including the ones you've mentioned.
Two major ones you've not mentioned are age and postcode.
Gender of the main driver is also another factor.

Another factor is level of cover.
Are you looking at fully comp?
How much is the car worth?
If it's old you might be better of going 3rd party fire and theft.

There must be some difference between either the cover or the circumstances.
What about excess levels?

Thanks for replying!
We're both 33 and I was only looking at Third Party cover.
Postcode might be a reason as it's SE18.
Main driver would be my partner (male). Would it be less if it was me even if I have an EU licence?
The car is worth max £500 and we would only use it for leisure.

lisyloo

Are you searching for 3rd party only?
I know it sounds crazy but not many companies offer that and therefore you might find it more expensive just because the cheaper companies might not be quoting at all.

If this is the case, then I suggest you search for 3rd party fire and theft which may well come in cheaper even though it's more cover.

Sandyloui

lisyloo wrote: »

Are you searching for 3rd party only?
I know it sounds crazy but not many companies offer that and therefore you might find it more expensive just because the cheaper companies might not be quoting at all.

If this is the case, then I suggest you search for 3rd party fire and theft which may well come in cheaper even though it's more cover.

Thanks, I'll give it a try!

iceburn

also other thing is the EU driving licence. Can you convert it to UK licence that can reduce the premium quite a bit.

Quote

Sandyloui wrote: »

I'm really confused as all the people I know pay around £250 and for better cars than we would have had!

Any advice appreciated!

Don't believe what anyone else says they pay for car insurance.

Quentin

And the £600 premium you have been quoted when it gets a full NCD would come to around £250.

Rolandtheroadie

Quote wrote: »

Don't believe what anyone else says they pay for car insurance.

We pay A TOTAL of £450 for my car and my wifes car. Mine is a 2.0 TDCI Mondeo on a 55 plate, wifes is a 1.4TDCI on an 03 plate. Both fully comp, wifes got business use on her policy. I have protected no claims and we both have the basic excess only (no additional excess used to reduce premium). I'm 34 and my wife is 31.

As far as the OP is concerned and has been mentioned, try for TPFT if you havent already, there will be more insurance quotes avaliable to you or cheaper quotes if your trying fully comp just now.

The problem looks to be more the lack of no-claims bonus. Has any of you had a car insurance policy in the past 2 years? You could reinstate that discount if you have.
Or named on anyone elses policy (partners mothers)? Drive a vehicle at work?
Other options to try and get it down.
There also used to be companies that allowed you to insure a car for 6 months and gave you a years no-claim bonus on renewal. Dont remember who they were, but they might not exist any more anyway.
Good luck.

dacouch

It may sound silly but try getting quotes for comprehensive cover as this is often cheaper than third party or third party only as a number of insurers do not offer these covers.

You could also try comprehensive with a big excess as you only pay the excess if you want to claim for your repairs / you car from your insurers. You do not pay your excess if just the other party is claiming with you (Except with some really down market companies)

Hope this helps.

P.S If your partner had insurance in her own country if it was with in the last 2 or 3 years and she can get confirmation from them in writing (Preferably in English) a number of Insurers may be prepared to accept this as no claims bonus. If you can get this I would recommend you get a quote through a broker as they will know the Insurers who accept this