Car insurance - trustworthy companies?

James_Lahey

Hi there, apologies if this has been asked many times before. Insurance renews 4th October and looking for quotes now. Never had fully comp before but looks to be a similar price to my usual TPF&T. Been though the steps as directed in MSE article and have some prices as follows-

Swift Insurance (cheapest but really bad reviews online)
1st Central (+£1)
Quote me happy (+£5)
Shelia's Wheels (+£28) [thought this company was just for female drivers?]
Privilege (+£30)
Sainsburys (+£34) [free breakdown cover for 12months]
Endsleigh (+£36)
eChoice by Moreth>n (+£45)
Aviva (+£45)
LLoyds/TSB (+£49)

Hopefully I will never need to claim and haven't had an accident in nearly 20 years. My last car did have several stone chips on the windscreen and although I drive much less now it would be nice to be covered in case of this happening again. It is possible/likely that I could change vehicle during this policy.

Are any of the above good choices (i.e. won't gouge me if I change car or give problems in event of windscreen/accident claim.) Obviously cheaper is better but would rather pay extra than have worthless cover.

I have 8 years NCB and have read online that aviva and maybe other only count and later provide proof of 5 (although sounds like an internet myth?)

Thanks

InsideInsurance

Have a look at Defacto ratings for the product quality and Which? for customer service ratings.

At the end of the day some will go on pure price where as others prefer knowing they can phone someone or having Driving Other Cars cover etc

James_Lahey

Thanks InsideInsurance great post - looks like sainsburys are actually esure who score well on Defacto although have some bad reviews on review center for customer service.

As a mainly Sainsburys customer who doesn't have breakdown cover they seem like a decent choice for me, any more feedback would be welcome. Shelia's wheels also has a good star rating and provide free handbag cover (although I'd need to buy a handbag at my expense )

DCFC79

re what you say about aviva yes its true, i thought it was an error when i did a quote with them but apprently not.

Im with direct line and its been fine,

James_Lahey

Thanks DCF, Aviva are one of the highest scorers on defacto but do not want to lose NCB and be tied to using them.

Direct line are asking +£60 over cheapest but certainly not counting them out thanks for recommendation.

DCFC79

James_Lahey wrote: »

Thanks DFC, Aviva are one of the highest scorers on defacto but do not want to lose NCB and be tied to using them.

Direct line are asking +£60 over cheapest but certainly not counting them out thanks for recommendation.

I did try sainsburys for a quote and it was more than the quote from DL even with discount for being staff taken off and it was a like for like quote, might have been the quote that i disclosed.

What about tesco insurance, churchill ( I think these are underwriters for tesco and rbs group but could be wrong), liverpool victoria or post office.

Who is your house/contents with as they might give a discount if your currently a customer.

James_Lahey

Churchill are highly rated and about £55 above cheapest. Tesco for some reason are +£90. I currently rent and don't have contents insurance (or indeed any other insurance.)

Looks like Sainsburys are now RBSI/Halifax who score top stars on defacto but not listed as recommend by which?

DCFC79

Not trying to state the obvious but Id go with 1 thats highly rated on teh defaqto listing but also the reveiews on the net along with a price your ok to pay.

Have you looked at LV ?

McKneff

Have you looked at Cooperative Insurance Society,

dauphin

I don't think there are any companies you won't find plenty of bad reviews for, though certainly some on that list worse than others!
If by Swift Insurance you mean Swiftcover, I feel obliged to redress the balance a little. Last year my meanness got the better of me and, with some trepidation, I took up their very competitive quote. I have got to say everything went smoothly, though fortunately I never had test their claims-handling skills. The policy was set up without issue, I carefully checked all documentation and it was in order. When it came to renewal, they sent me a clear auto-renewal email in good time. I actually wanted to add another driver with effect from renewal and went into their online system to get a quote. As it happened, they were unable to quote (I guess due to it being a high-performance car) so I phoned them to tell them not to renew. Qucikly got through to a very pleasant and sensible guy who asked me the reason for my non-renewal, said he entirely understood why I wasn't renewing, and in due course, as promised, I received written confirmation that the policy would lapse at renewal.

I know it's just a very limited experience, but I have to speak as I find and I had no complaints at all (and I can be pretty picky!)
I also liked that they offered misfuelling cover at a nominal cost.

I know what you mean about the disappearing NCB years, but so many companies only seem to count 5 or 6 years now that if you restrict yourself to those that count more, you rule out a large part of the market. I have stopped worrying about it as I find it makes no discernible difference in practice - once you get to that level of NCB other factors seem to affect the price more. For what it's worth, Swiftcover gave me proof of 6 years NCB when I left them (having declared 5 years when I insured with them as that was all I could prove, despite having many more years under my belt)

If you play everything by the book, I doubt whether Swiftcover would be worse than any of the others you mention and, like me, you may be pleasantly surprised.

James_Lahey

LV @ +£110
Co-op @ +£100
Both are highly rated on which for customer service and have high stars for cover. Am now cross-referencing the two sites to see if any are cheaper and listed by both.

edit: thanks for input dauphin, previously I have always taken the cheapest available and never had reason to regret it.