Car insurance thread

dojoman

CitySlicker wrote: »

Hi all, here's my understanding of BR on car insurance.

Broadly speaking - as far as I am aware - insurers don't give two hoots if you have been BR or not when it comes to car insurance. This is different from household insurance and the only logic I can apply to this is because they think once someone's BR they're more likely to inflate/doctor household claims and you cannot doctor car insurance claims in the same way you potentially could a home policy. (Of course I think we're all in agreement the insurers using this argument is questionable to begin with).

That shouldn't affect your bottom line premium. What is more likely is if a credit check is than ran on you if you pay by monthly instalments then they increase your APR. I haven't come across this though before in a real life experience.

If you have followed my thread on insurance you'll probably remember it's my partner not me who was bankrupt, so this is an area she will have no influence on. In 2009 my car insurance was a smidgen under the £200 mark for the year, and was under £200 for the previous couple of years. Last year I couldn't get it below £240. My renewal has come in this year at £260 but a quick search online has shown it's back to about £200 (and I can probably get it lower if I put work into it). I'm one of the really keen buyers using Martin's guide to thrash the comparison sites, take into consideration cashback and consider screenscraper deals too.

So I can only illustrate on my personal experience that car insurance spiked quite badly percentage-wise last year and BR had no bearing on it.

Hope this helps you all.

Thanks for your input CS, much appreciated and pretty much mirrors what I have posted as well:)

wayforward_2

I have been BR for over 2 years and just renewed my car insurance. I didn't find the premium affected by they wouldn't offer me monthly premiums - i didn't bother to ring them as i didn't realise they could override the system and set up a DD! Luckily i have an accommodating father who pays the annual amount and i pay him back by STO monthly.

cp7

hi, i just checked tesco site for car ins and this year they have added a question in the 'can you answer yes to these questions' before they offer a quote :-

'i haven't been declared bankrupt or have any unsatisfied court judgements'

i called them and asked if it meant bankrupt at the moment or have ever been br - was told 'ever'

not so good news

Tupperware_Queen

I am just doing my car insurance now, and I am going with the broker I always use, he has been really helpful, and had rung a number of underwriters to find one that is not increasing premiums. I am ending up only paying about £40 more than last year, which is on a par with what friends have said when renewing.