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Car Insurance - Unknown Mileage?
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GSMAnon
Posts: 92 Forumite
What if you're not entirely sure of what your annual mileage is going to be?
When I last drove I had a different address and went to a different University, I didn't live with my girlfriend, and did a lot less "driving for fun" because the car was an old bucket that was liable to break-down or kill me in an accident!
Now I live closer to my new university, live with my girlfriend and don't need to drive to see her every other day, closer to the shops, and my next car will be something decent - something I might like to drive more often for leisure or even for weekend trips away. I also don't know if I'd commute to my University or get the subway instead (depends on whether or not I can get a place in University parking).
As I result, I'm not entirely sure what my annual mileage might tot up to when I do get my car.
So what do I do? Do I give a random mileage, get a feel for my mileage in the first few months, and then phone up to tell the insurer that it might be higher than I originally posed? Or do I put on a figure that's overly-cautious (i.e. such a high mileage that I definitely won't surpass it)?
When I last drove I had a different address and went to a different University, I didn't live with my girlfriend, and did a lot less "driving for fun" because the car was an old bucket that was liable to break-down or kill me in an accident!
Now I live closer to my new university, live with my girlfriend and don't need to drive to see her every other day, closer to the shops, and my next car will be something decent - something I might like to drive more often for leisure or even for weekend trips away. I also don't know if I'd commute to my University or get the subway instead (depends on whether or not I can get a place in University parking).
As I result, I'm not entirely sure what my annual mileage might tot up to when I do get my car.
So what do I do? Do I give a random mileage, get a feel for my mileage in the first few months, and then phone up to tell the insurer that it might be higher than I originally posed? Or do I put on a figure that's overly-cautious (i.e. such a high mileage that I definitely won't surpass it)?
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Comments
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make a sensible guess and use that, e.g. how many trips to uni/work, to friends, to shops, just driving etc, in a typical week and multiply it, and if you do any annual long trips e.g. UK holidays then add in those too.
dont over estimate it, as a lot of companies your premium will go up unnecessarily, but equally those short trips nipping out for beer/wine/milk etc, do add up too.0 -
Put a couple of values in and see what difference it makes to the premium, I doubt it will be much - say 6,000 and 12,000 miles.0
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Put a couple of values in and see what difference it makes to the premium, I doubt it will be much - say 6,000 and 12,000 miles.
You have to be careful as its called Quote Massaging and many people do it to 'find the best price' without being 100% honest about their circumstances.0 -
make a sensible guess and use that, e.g. how many trips to uni/work, to friends, to shops, just driving etc, in a typical week and multiply it, and if you do any annual long trips e.g. UK holidays then add in those too.
dont over estimate it, as a lot of companies your premium will go up unnecessarily, but equally those short trips nipping out for beer/wine/milk etc, do add up too.
Loving the priorities here!
It's difficult to guess.
Just did a bit of playing about with Google maps to factor in commuting, shopping, visiting parents, two one-off 200 miles trips, etc, and it came to under 4,000 miles. I'd say double that for leisurely driving and other miscellaneous driving, bringing me to about 8,000.0 -
You have to be careful as its called Quote Massaging and many people do it to 'find the best price' without being 100% honest about their circumstances.
Well, yes, some people do that. But some people, like myself, are just uncertain about their circumstances, or would genuinely drive less if it was significantly cheaper.
If it halved my premium to drive a few thousand miles less each year, I'd probably make an effort to cut those miles out for the sake of savings!0 -
Loving the priorities here!
It's difficult to guess.
Just did a bit of playing about with Google maps to factor in commuting, shopping, visiting parents, two one-off 200 miles trips, etc, and it came to under 4,000 miles. I'd say double that for leisurely driving and other miscellaneous driving, bringing me to about 8,000.
hehe
I don't drink milk, so if I need anything at all it will be wine.:beer:
At least this way you have used some logic, you can review it after a year and see how accurate it is!
Wish mine was that low, I do 12000 pa just getting to that place called work - mind you that is much lower than prev years.0 -
Need to be careful getting quotes with less mileage than you are going to actually cover, They can easily check
from the old MOTs if you make a claim.Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
The difference between 6,000 and 12,000 is about £160.
Hi, this figure must also be related to the risk factor you represent to the insurer !!
As an example , whether I put 6000 or 14000 makes no difference to my quotes !!0 -
i am a very low risk driver, female (allowed to say that any more with insurance), mid 40s no accidents full bonus, lowest postcode district, low group vehicle, and I did get a difference in quotes depending on mileage, (which wasnt massaging, was potential change in job). I guess it depends on the insurers criteria as whether they load for it or not. Granted my mileage is higher than average anyway.0
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