Ouch! £227 increase in car insurance policy just for moving house!

Sazzzle

Happily took out a car insurance policy recently at £393.86 - brilliant as I've been paying £600 the last couple of years!

I called yesterday to change my address as I'm moving in a few weeks, and was told that the new post code was a denied post code by my underwriter/insurer and so they would promptly be cancelling the car insurance and I would have to seek a new insurer.

A few gocompare/moneysupermarket/confused/aviva/directline searches later and the cheapest I could find it was £619.66!!

I'm moving from a quiet cul-di-sac near Wakefield where the car is kept on a drive... to a sleepy part of Huddersfield where the car will be parked off-road - except this wasn't an option and the closest option I could find was also 'on a drive' (flag stones at the back of the house on 'my' private property).

How is the difference so much? It's not even a rough part of Huddersfield, as far as I'm aware....!! On what grounds do car insurers deny certain post codes? Wish I'd never said anything now but I refuse to tempt fate and want to keep it all above board.
Last time I changed an address on a car policy I had to pay £50 -£45 admin fee and £5 car fee! :eek: Ridiculous, who are these clowns making up prices like this?!? :-( Is there any way around this? I'm guessing not..... £227 though, yowee!!!

P.S. This is with 8 YEARS No Claims Bonus...... pffff.

Captain_Shambolic

You say a sleepy part of Huddersfield but we need a bit more info, is it a new build property? Any areas (like a football stadium or pubs/nightclubs) that could cause issues? Is it a busy road? What specific reason did your insurer give for not covering the post code? (as that is a red flag in my eyes)

The main thing to consider is insurers won't just look at crime rates for areas, they look at potential for claim rates and the average cost of repairs for claims in the area as well (this is the reason I give to people who express concern at prices going up for moving to rural areas, it's on average going to be higher payout for LandRovers than it will for a little 206)

_Andy_

"Ridiculous, who are these clowns making up prices like this?!?" - people who have stats on claims in that area and therefore know the risk. Unlike yourself.

dunstonh

_Andy_ wrote: »

"Ridiculous, who are these clowns making up prices like this?!?" - people who have stats on claims in that area and therefore know the risk. Unlike yourself.

Andy, Andy, Andy. You should know by now that you shouldnt let logic and common sense get in the way or a unqualified rant.

Barney30

Wow what a difference. I'm just about to change my car, hope mines not going to be a big increase. I don't understand how they work it out!

Captain_Shambolic

Again, they'll use same statistics for people changing their car. They'll weigh up stats they have for claims made between the two models as well as average cost of repair and the usual engine size and BHP. Insurance companies don't pluck figures out of thin air.

elaine28

my daughter has just moved from a south wales address to a london sw16 and her premium has just increased by £600!!!! thats from march to 1st august. is there anything she can get or do to the car to decrease this payment security wise. the car is an audi A4 cabriolet and will be parked off-road on a driveway. the car is parked in a hospital carpark during the day as she is a doctor, any help appreciated, thanks

kingstreet

If you think you might move house during the policy year, it makes sense to do some dummy quotes (using assumed details - not your own!) to see what the cost difference might be and to ensure the insurer you plan to use will still insure you and your vehicle.

It's the same thing with learner drivers. See what the premium will rise to with a test pass. It might be better to go with a more expensive quote now, to save money later.

elaine28

thanks for post, she did do a comparison website earlier and premiums £1200 and over, hers in wales was £500!!! so adding the £600 they asking for it pans out...

demystified

Who on earth and what on earth are insuring/insuring with? My car cost £176 for fully comp with legal cover yesterday and I thought that was expensive...

without more information that was little more than a pointless rant...

elaine28

ins company we used last august is sheilas wheels car as in earlier post audi A4 cabriolet 55 plate full no claims bonus, age of driver 28 ��