New car, insurance and miles query

Lady_K

Sorry if this sounds confusing

When you buy a new car does the insurance company get a record of what miles were on the old car before it was scrapped? its just when the insurance was changed for the new car the miles were going to be increased but it was forgotten. So I'm just thinking as the next insurance is due in Sept its not a full year between now and then so its 9 months driving miles which probably wont reach the true miles per year in that time only if they don't put on record what miles were on the old car.

Does anyone know if they do or don't?

dacouch

Why don't you just ring them now and increase your annual mileage if you are expecting it to be more

Lady_K

They charge for any changes made, they have already charged for the change for the new car and if they dont take into consideration the old cars miles up to scrappage it will be ok for the rest of this year as its only 9 months driving from now to insurance renewal, just dont want to pay another charge if its not necessary

dacouch

You will have declared what miles you are expecting to do over the whole year irrespective of you changing cars.

If you are likely to exceed the declared mileage then it will be best for you to let them know and pay any extra which is likely to be minimal.

If you don't then you run the following risks.

When you put a claim in and they discover you have exceeded the miles, it will delay the claim while they sort out any difference in premium and ask you for a written explanation (Likely)

Some Insurers impose a much bigger excess for claims after you have exceeded the miles

Some Insurers ask your mileage as a guide and for instance may charge the same price for brackets of say 3000 miles, so if you declared 8000 miles they might not charge extra if you advise them it is now 10000

There are some Insurers that will pay the third party claim but not your claim if you have exceeded the mileage (Not very likely).

For the sake of paying an extra charge ranging from nil to probably £25 (Could be more if your mileage has really shot up) is it worth running the risk.

P.S When you ring them if say your expect to do 10000 miles try declaring 9999 as with a lot of insurers 9999 will be rated lower as it is 1 mile under

Lady_K

Thanks have just rang them and increased it, they let the amendment charge go this time as I said it was requested when I rang last week. They just charged me for the extra miles cover. Didnt remember to ask about the 1 mile below but will definitely remember that for September, thats very useful to know

dacouch

It's a good trick, it does not work with all companies, but is worth trying. The chances are when you ask for it over the phone the person you speak to will not even realise about thi trick and tell you they have learned something