Extortionate car insurance in in my late thirties

cd36uk

I am edging 40, I have had a full licence since 18, I had a few cars of my own which I ended up selling on, then I drove my parent's cars for about 10 years. I clocked up around 2 years NCB of my own over the years, but that was more than 3 years ago. I have not driven at all for around 18 months.
My parent has offered to buy me a cheap little 'run around' car...something small and cheap with a small engine.
I have just been on several insurance websites, including those which compare, and are targeted at female drivers, and their quotes are averaging out around £800 (almost as much as the cost of the car).
I was astonished, it is common knowledge that younger drivers are hit hard, but at my age surely not? Apparently my past NCBs are no longer valid. What is this all about?

GemBlueTopaz1984

Hi OP,

NCB do become invalid if you don't use them its just the way it is. You price isn't unreasonable, look around this section of the forum you will find new drivers are paying around 2-4K atleast for insurance. I have 7 years no claims and am 26 and my renewal was £500 when 2 years ago with 5 years no claims i could get it for £250, insurance is expensive right now for everyone. Best bet is to shop around and if possible use cashback websites ( i used quidco for £30 off the cheapest policy i could find which was with Aviva)

Gem

bouncydog1

Have you tried third party or third party fire and theft if it is a low value car? The value of the car is not really what insurers are interested in unless it is a vehicle of very high value. The cost to them will be any third party injury costs, which they will be liable for if you are involved in an accident causing same. These costs can now run into £ms.

Insurance will also depend on your occupation, postcode etc. Have you tried putting another driver on the policy to see if the quote comes down a bit? £800 for someone with no bonus is not too bad to be honest.

cd36uk

Wow this is certainly an eye opener, I recall my dad telling me when I was young how when I was over 30 I would enjoy the luxury of cheaper car insurance...instead it is getting higher.
I was getting quotes on third party fire and theft. I have never been involved in an accident, and assumed (now I know wrongly) that I would be classed as a safe driver and be rewarded as such.
I guess I will have to stick to buses then, with the rip off costs of petrol as well, how can anyone on an average wage afford to run a car these days?!
I am currently jobseeking and some jobs have been out of my reach due to location, I think that this is why my parent is offering to help me out. I am a lone parent so unable to add anyone else to the policy.

bouncydog1

In general you would have enjoyed the luxury of cheaper insurance - but you don't have any no claims bonus. Why couldn't you put one of your parents or a friend on the policy - an additional driver doesn't have to live with you.

You may be able to find an insurer who would give an introductory bonus - who were your parents insured with when you regularly drove their vehicles - might be worth approaching them if that's within the last couple of years although you haven't driven for 18 months.

cd36uk

Unfortunately, as one of my parents has now passed, and the other has surrendered her driving licence it is not possible to add on there, and there is no one else willing or able to do so for me, so it would have to be a solo policy for me which I now know I simply cannot afford.
I thought the over 30 reduction my Dad used to speak of was relating to be older and wiser, more sensible driver, rather than having clocked up x amount of NCB, unfortunately not it seems.

I will hang on to my Oyster card for now then!

forgotmyname

Sounds cheap to me, I am older but my recent quotes were £600- £700 with 10 years+ of no claims.

£800 sounds like a bargain.

cd36uk

Cheap insurance is what my late Dad paid..... £200 per year, £800 is not a bargain!!!!

lisyloo

I was getting quotes on third party fire and theft.

Try fully comp with a high excess.
The high exces doesn't matter as you'll never claim from an £800 car.

It might sound crazy that a policy with more coverage could be cheaper, but the fact is that some companies don't offer 3rd party F&T so you will currently be excluding some comapnies.
Do a search for fully comp and you'll include more companies and that might mean a cheaper quote (use false email and phone number of you don't want to be hassled).