New Car.. GAP Insurance, Ceramic Coat, SMART protect plus, Service Plan??

victor2

Chimera wrote: »

I am wrong in thinkng if I have fully comp insurance, guaranteed/protected no claims then it wouldn't effect my insurance premium? That's kinda what I thought it was worth taking out the no claims protection? Never had to use insurance for anything so don't really know?

Protecting your No Claims Discount is useful in the event of a claim significantly above your excess. Your premium will go up after any claim unless it's totally covered by the third party.
My brother had his car keyed and claimed for the repair off his insurance. Come renewal time, the premium went up hugely despite having protected his NCD. All his insurance company said was that he should see the price without his protected NCD!

Flyboy152

Chimera wrote: »

New Car (Kia Rio 2, 1.4).. GAP Insurance, Ceramic Coat, SMART protect plus, Service Plan??

So, just put a deposit down on New Car and got offered all of the above.

Seems like a good idea, but said I would decide over weekend. Service plan seems good, as I'll not have to worry come service time.

GAP insurance, had never heard of before, but seems like a good idea. Have had a quick look though, and it appears to be a lot cheaper online - do any car insurance providers offer this as an option?

Ceramic Coat - yes please, £299 from dealer, good buy?

SMART protect plus - sounds like a good idea, prices were 1 yr £199, 2 yr £299, 3yr £399... worth it or not?

Would value any advice, as I've never been in a position to do this before, as I've only had old old cars.

Thanks

Gap insurance-Yes, but how much are they asking and who is the insurer?

Paint and upholstery protection-Yes, but don't pay £299 for it. £149 is more realistic.

Smart protect-No. It will cost your less to have the work done individually, than paying four hundred pounds over three years.

Flyboy152

vikingaero wrote: »

If you are normal and wash your car every week/fortnight and wax it once in a blue moon, you don't need any snake oil protectant. With all due respect it's a Kia Rio, not a Lambo or Ferrari.

Sorry, have to disagree. It doesn't matter how much waxing and washing you do, it will not protect the paint form UV degradation. Besides, why would you need to wax with SupaGard/DiamondBrite etc.? The upholstery will remain fresh and new as well. When Flyboy12 and Flyboy10 were sill in car seats, it was invaluable on the beige velour upholstery.

Flyboy152

Chimera wrote: »

I'm not normal, my car rarely gets washed, maybe should just wash it?? lol Perhaps I will wash it more with a new car

I live in country so is often covered in mud..

All the more reason to protect the paint work and upholstery, I would have thought.

Flyboy152

Gloomendoom wrote: »

You will only need gap insurance if you are buying the car on finance. As has been said, most insurers will replace a new car like for like in the first year. Admiral/Elephant are one exception, I believe.

You can buy the paint and upholstery protection from specialists that probably charge half what the dealer charges and are likely to be the very same people who would do the job if you arrange it through the dealer.

The dealer is just acting as an agent and takes a very large commission. You will certainly find better deals by going direct to the supplier.

The service plan may be a good idea though, maybe not.

Not if you want to replace old for new if it gets written off or stolen. GAP or Guaranteed Asset Protection, to give the product its full title, covers the difference between what the insurance company pays out and the original invoice price of the car.

There are now varying products on this theme, some that offer a "return to invoice" cover and others that offer to pay the remaining balance of any outstanding finance. Some finance companies provide this cover for free.

Flyboy152

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Thank you for supporting my point. All of these dealer profit makers will not add anything when it comes to sell.

A car that has been SupaGarded will always fetch a few pounds more than one that hasn't.

Kilty_2

Just bought GAP insurance from EasyGAP.co.uk - cheapest I could find at £109 for VRI with a £5000 claim limit. £9.08 a month over 12 months 0% instalments

Chimera

Flyboy152 wrote: »

Gap insurance-Yes, but how much are they asking and who is the insurer?

Paint and upholstery protection-Yes, but don't pay £299 for it. £149 is more realistic.

Smart protect-No. It will cost your less to have the work done individually, than paying four hundred pounds over three years.

The GAP insurance I'm looking at is RTI from aka.co.uk for £74 foe 3 years!!

Paint and upholstery protection, can I do this myself or does it need to be done professionally?

Flyboy152

Chimera wrote: »

The GAP insurance I'm looking at is RTI from aka.co.uk for £74 foe 3 years!!

Sounds quite reasonable to me, many dealers will charge considerably more. However, I would recommend you do your homework on the insurer.

Paint and upholstery protection, can I do this myself or does it need to be done professionally?

It can be done yourself, but personally I would rather get someone to do it for me. An experienced valeter will be able to apply it correctly and not overdo it and will administer it more evenly than I can do it. Also, many of the applications come with a warranty, it may be better to deal with if you can prove it was applied by a professional. But do not get ripped off, the materials do not cost the dealer very much and the labour costs of a valeter is not as high as the dealer wants to charge. I'd say you should try to negotiate a price of about one hundred and fifty pounds.

Kilty_2

Chimera wrote: »

The GAP insurance I'm looking at is RTI from aka.co.uk for £74 foe 3 years!!

Paint and upholstery protection, can I do this myself or does it need to be done professionally?

I'd suggest VRI instead of RTI.

Bearing in mind the Rio is about to be replaced with a new model and you're getting a substantial amount off list, just as I did with my Picanto, it might not be as easy to buy another car for the amount you end up with using RTI.

Flyboy152 wrote: »

It can be done yourself, but personally I would rather get someone to do it for me. An experienced valeter will be able to apply it correctly and not overdo it and will administer it more evenly than I can do it. Also, many of the applications come with a warranty, it may be better to deal with if you can prove it was applied by a professional. But do not get ripped off, the materials do not cost the dealer very much and the labour costs of a valeter is not as high as the dealer wants to charge. I'd say you should try to negotiate a price of about one hundred and fifty pounds.

Paint protection is easy - wash, clay, polish, 2 coats of wax the first time (probably £60 for materials that will do a lot more than one application) and then regular washing with a reapplication of wax every now and again.