Car insurance dilemma

craignm

I wonder if anyone can help me out or has experienced similar to this....

I have been shopping around for car insurance over the internet on behalf of my girlfriend. Having played around with some options it seems I am getting hammered on prices because of a minor bump she had whilst being a named driver on my policy in April 2009. It was her fault and we went through insurance but the damage to the third party vehicle was only about a 4 inch scratch above the wheel arch. Our car had no damage. This confuses me slightly as my insurance premium went up on renewal because of the bump even though she is no longer insured on my vehicle. Is it right that we BOTH get penalised for a minor incident? It doesn't seem fair because we cant both be driving at the same time!

Another couple of things to point out is that she does not hold a full UK licence but a full EEC one which she has had for 8 years (incidentally without ever having any claims!) She has been in this country for just over a year.

If it is right that we both get penalised then does anyone know of any insurers that might be cheap? I have investigated all the price comparison sites.

Thanks in advance.

Hintza

You haven't given any indication of how much you have been quoted, for what car and how old you are. Last time someone was on here with a similar question the premiums were in the right ball park.

One thing to look at are the cash back sites such as Quidco. You should be able to get around £80 back as a cashback.

craignm

Thanks for the response Hintza and well pointed out on the things I missed!

We are looking at insuring a Honda Civic 1.6 1997 plate (Its insruance group 10) She is 28 years old and we have been quoted around £800 for third party fire and theft. Having fiddled with the options and removing the accident this goes down to £350 for third party fire and theft. It seems a big rise for a scratch which cost £100 to repair but I am now led to believe the cost of repair is not taken into consideration IE if she had written off 4 other cars the premium would still be the same.

I guess looking at it perspectively I would expect a new driver to be paying this much on a new car and she is effectively a "new driver to England" so you could be right! I am just shocked at the difference between the crash and non crash prices.

olly300

craignm wrote: »

Thanks for the response Hintza and well pointed out on the things I missed!

We are looking at insuring a Honda Civic 1.6 1997 plate (Its insruance group 10)

There lies one of your problems the insurance group of the car.

As she had a crash before she is at a higher risk of having another crash, if the car is not in a very low insurance group then you will be quoted a high premium.

craignm wrote: »

She is 28 years old and we have been quoted around £800 for third party fire and theft. Having fiddled with the options and removing the accident this goes down to £350 for third party fire and theft. It seems a big rise for a scratch which cost £100 to repair but I am now led to believe the cost of repair is not taken into consideration IE if she had written off 4 other cars the premium would still be the same.

I suggest you also look at full comp prices.

With older cars insurers know that people are unlikely to claim on them so the prices for insurance for those over 25 can be cheaper, the same or around £20 difference.

When I was playing around with quotes for an old car it was cheaper for me to take out fully comp insurance by about £200.

Even if it's a few pounds more it may be still worth taking out the policy. Go and ask on the insurance board as those who work/have worked in the industry can give you their views.

craignm wrote: »

I guess looking at it perspectively I would expect a new driver to be paying this much on a new car and she is effectively a "new driver to England" so you could be right! I am just shocked at the difference between the crash and non crash prices.

There lies another problem. She probably learnt to drive on the opposite side of the road.

Quentin

craignm wrote: »

This confuses me slightly as my insurance premium went up on renewal because of the bump even though she is no longer insured on my vehicle. Is it right that we BOTH get penalised for a minor incident? It doesn't seem fair because we cant both be driving at the same time!

The premium would go up because of the NCD you lost as a result of the claim.

If she is no longer insured to drive the vehicle, then there will be no premium loading as a result of her bump.