Insurers hike premiums for winter tyres

Bargin_bunny_2

I think I will take to AA's advise

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/winter-tyres-in-the-uk.html

Insurance implications?

If you fit winter or all-season tyres in place of your standard 'summer' tyres then there should be no need to inform your insurer – even though the speed index might be lower than the standard tyre specified by the car maker.
The lower speed index is still likely to exceed all national speed limits by a considerable margin – with the exception of some German autobahns – and is not checked as part of the passenger car MOT test.
Fitting different wheels would not be considered a notifiable modification either provided they are not oversized.
If you follow the standard European practice of keeping two sets of wheels, one fitted with winter tyres and one with summer tyres, then there will be no need to tell your insurer so long as the winter tyres are fitted to correct specification steel wheels or to alloy wheels of a similar specification to the car's original equipment.

Wig

MrRedundant wrote: »

I suspect their justification will be that anyone fitting winter tyres/snow chains and so on have no intention of heeding police warnings to avoid driving and thus will be more of a risk by continuing to use their cars or attempt to use their cars in these conditions.

So why not have the insurance co.s make a public announcement that they are withdrawing cover for all cars during the police warning periods? That's one way to clear the roads of traffic, and the councils could save a packet by not salting the roads. Great idea

Bargin_bunny_2

MrRedundant wrote: »

Insurance prices are based on risk; Winter tyres may be better but it doesnt necessary reduce risk if you are driving twice as much as someone with summer tyres who doesnt drive at all in snow.

your logic makes no sence why would you drive twice as much as someone with summer tyres? I have to drive and go to work no matter what tyres I have on my millage won't increase because I have winter tyres.

Wig

Couldn't those who have had a premium hike refer the matter to the FSO as an official complaint?

MrRedundant

Bargin_bunny wrote: »

your logic makes no sence why would you drive twice as much as someone with summer tyres? I have to drive and go to work no matter what tyres I have on my millage won't increase because I have winter tyres.

Because it suggests that they need to drive more and are determined not to be snowed in.

I know most of my office havent driven since Sunday because of the snow. I wonder if we all had winter tyres if that would be the same. I suspect not hence the added risk.

mikey72

MrRedundant wrote: »

Insurance prices are based on risk; Winter tyres may be better but it doesnt necessary reduce risk if you are driving twice as much as someone with summer tyres who doesnt drive at all in snow.

So they're weather forcasting as well now are they?
More risk if it's going to be a mild winter, less risk if they forcast a really bad one?
Didn't we just have massive increases because of accidents in bad weather last winter as the justification? Surely it should be cheaper by your method?

mikey72

Wig wrote: »

Couldn't those who have had a premium hike refer the matter to the FSO as an official complaint?

That sounds like an excellent idea.

chigley

In Germany (any maybe other european countries) if you do not fit 'winter tyres' during the specified period of winter, then you can actually find your insurance invalid.

I can't believe the attitude of the insurance companies mentioned here :mad:

Bargin_bunny_2

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?p=779150

if you read the end of this thread the guy got his money back and as he is with the same insurance company as me I think I will take the risk.

I am not more likely to drive or more determined to drive base on my tyres it just means when I drive I am safer.If weather is too bad like everyone else I won't drive.

I think people just need to use common sence

MrRedundant

Bargin_bunny wrote: »

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?p=779150

if you read the end of this thread the guy got his money back and as he is with the same insurance company as me I think I will take the risk.

I am not more likely to drive or more determined to drive base on my tyres it just means when I drive I am safer.If weather is too bad like everyone else I won't drive.

I think people just need to use common sence

Or sense...

Sadly as is proven winter after winter this country has more than its fair share of idiots who think their car is invincible to snow and ice.