Shocking car insurance

mansa

Hi
My car insurance came up for renewal in August, I've been paying between £300-£400 a year, got 9 years no claims, never had an accident, clean license, no points, etc., etc., so this year I was kind of hoping it would go down a bit at last - but my quote came through at a staggering £890. I really thought my broker was having a laugh until I did the rounds on all the comparison sites and could find nothing cheaper than their quote.

Reading around, the pundits have been predicting a rise in car insurance this year because of the rise in whiplash claims, fraud etc., but a 100% rise in car insurance seems completely out of order. Is anyone else experiencing this or is this specific to the lucky people of Birmingham?

Thanks
Alessandro

dunstonh

Is anyone else experiencing this

You just need to check the 3-5 threads a week we are getting in this forum on the same subject to see they are.

Its not unexpected and the reasons are valid.

lalli_pickle

I can see why there's so many uninsured drivers!
If mine went up to £890 there's no way I'd afford it, however as I work an hour or more drive from my home I would have to continue driving in order to get to work.
Valid reasons or not, is this not an example of shooting oneself in the foot? Less people insured + same amount of accidents = less money coming in, more claims on the uninsured driver pool, insurance companies going out of business? And to be frank, if you're not insured you can't get tax so why bother, then if you're going to do that there's no point getting an MOT so you'll drive an older car or one that's more likely to be dangerous and disposable if crushed ie £50 spares and repair jobs that run but aren't legal and if you lose your licence it won't matter because you only need it if you want insurance etc etc etc it's a slippery slope!

Not that I'm condoning any of this but I know so many people who have done exactly the above, and all they've received is a fine of a few hundred and a ban and their cars crushed. For a total cost of £50-100 per car plus £300 fine even if you get caught 3 times a year you're still better off, it's quite ridiculous.

I can see the reason for universal insurance requirements, but I don't know how to fix the problem with high costs.

It's a bit like being fat and depressed, so you comfort eat and then gets fatter, which makes you more depressed so you comfort eat some more if you see what I mean?

McKneff

Try CIS, (cooperative Ins. Co) they arent on any comparison site.

I have a one year old 1.2 Corsa, full no claims, for about £220
worth a ring.

Hope that helps.

lisyloo

If mine went up to £890 there's no way I'd afford it, however as I work an hour or more drive from my home I would have to continue driving i order to get to work.

Does this not make you want to look at the way you plan your life and where you live/work?
You are exposed in that you can only get to work by car, but you can't afford even quite small rises in costs.

I made sure I moved near a train/bus station that I can walk to or even cycle to work if necessary.
It doesn't sound to me like you've planned very well in living so far away and not near any public transport.
Could you consider moving?
The transposrt costs must be cripling.

Not that I'm condoning any of this but I know so many people who have done exactly the above

Fortunately I think most people are not like that.
Most people won't break the law simply beacuse they want something.
I don't know anyone who would do that I'm glad to say.
So no I don't think it would become widespread.

theturtle

Hi there

I just got a letter from my insurers last week, they wanted to increase the policy £100 and with 7 years no claim bonus I thought there was no reason for the increase. I went to confuse.com and inserted my details there and got it for £5 ponds cheaper than last years premium. There are a lot of comparison websites out there you just need to try one or more.


There are 4 things I would look out for:

1. Once you have put your information in there it will give you a list of companies and prices, choose the biggest companies that are the cheapest, I wouldn't go for a small unknown one.
2. Make sure you fill in the information correctly and be as precise as you can.
3. When you choose a company they will send you to their site make sure you check all your information again as some of it for some reason does not come across.
4. Finally check the paperwork once you receive it that all your details are correct.
   

It sounds a little long winded but worth doing.
Hope you get a good deal, good luck
theturtle

WhiteHorse

lalli_pickle wrote: »

IValid reasons or not, is this not an example of shooting oneself in the foot? Less people insured + same amount of accidents = less money coming in, more claims on the uninsured driver pool, insurance companies going out of business?

You've hit on a good example of the 'British disease'.

This is how it works ...

Takings down. Don't reduce prices. Instead, put prices up in order to keep turnover the same. Result, even fewer customers. Go bust. Prop up bar at Golf Club complaining about customers and 'lack of government support for business'.

dunstonh

Takings down. Don't reflect on how to get more people through the door. Don't reduce prices. Instead, put prices up in order to keep turnover the same. Sell shoddier goods. Result, even fewer customers. Go bust. Prop up bar at Golf Club complaining about customers and 'lack of government support for business'.

Takings are not down. Cross subsidy is down and solvency requirements are up. The effects of claims has had an impact of course, but to a lesser degree than the other things.

Amanita_2

lisyloo wrote: »

Does this not make you want to look at the way you plan your life and where you live/work?
You are exposed in that you can only get to work by car, but you can't afford even quite small rises in costs.

I made sure I moved near a train/bus station that I can walk to or even cycle to work if necessary.
It doesn't sound to me like you've planned very well in living so far away and not near any public transport.
Could you consider moving?
The transposrt costs must be cripling.

Doesn't work out like that. In my own case I moved from Hampshire to Somerset to be near my new place of work. I live opposite a bus stop so yes I could take the bus to work - it is 8 miles and will take 45 minutes and cost me £10 a day ( rural bus service).

My employer then relocates me AGAIN to another town 40 miles away. To get to work by public transport I'd need to catch the bus into town ( see above). Take the train into nearest city. Change trains to my new workplace city. Catch a bus from the station as close to the business park as possible and then face a 20 minute walk.

Even catching the first bus in the morning at 6.30 I'd not be in the office until 10. Compare this with an hours drive. No contest.

The last move has cost me 10s of £1000s of pounds if I compare what my Hampshire house is now worth compared with my Somerset one.

worried_jim

I just did a quick price check and mine has gone up 15% which fortunately is only £30.

lisyloo

Doesn't work out like that. In my own case I moved from Hampshire to Somerset to be near my new place of work. I live opposite a bus stop so yes I could take the bus to work - it is 8 miles and will take 45 minutes and cost me £10 a day ( rural bus service).

My employer then relocates me AGAIN to another town 40 miles away. To get to work by public transport I'd need to catch the bus into town ( see above). Take the train into nearest city. Change trains to my new workplace city. Catch a bus from the station as close to the business park as possible and then face a 20 minute walk.

Even catching the first bus in the morning at 6.30 I'd not be in the office until 10. Compare this with an hours drive. No contest.

The last move has cost me 10s of £1000s of pounds if I compare what my Hampshire house is now worth compared with my Somerset one.

Sounds all a little unfortuante the way it's worked out.
But I don't think anyone can expect insurers to run their businesses at a loss either to subsidise problems elsewhere.
They are just trying to run a business and they aren't greedy or profitable in fact they've been loss making (I don't work in insurance BTW and never have, just looking at the facts rather than doing what some do which is looking for someone else to blame).

Yes, it's unfortunate. We are all seeing rising costs with pretty much the sole exception of mortgages.

But I still don't think it's anyone else's fault if people cannot afford private motoring however much I might sympathise with their circumstances.

There are people in worse circumstances like the disabled who don't ahve the options of walking or cycling or even perhaps getting on a bus.

I'd really struggle to cycle 14 miles to work. But I'd do it if I had to and my livelihood depended on it.

Yes costs are going up. It's the same for everyone.
We just have to get on as best we can, no point whinging.
But if you want sympathy, then I sympathise with everyone in the world affected by economic issues.