Updated Cheap Car Insurance guide - new system

MalMonroe

I've been quoted £203 by One Call, including breakdown cover and with only £100 excess charge. I'm going to take it. I've spent so many hours trying to find the very best bargain, and be smart and clever, I'm exhausted. I can't get any money back from a money back site because One Call isn't registered with them but that's okay. I reckon that's not a bad price for insurance, legal cover and breakdown cover. But some insurance companies are so greedy. And I'd not claim anyway if I could help it because of having to pay the excess. Talk about a racket. It's really time that we in the UK started a revolution.

sstjc

Don't know if this helps anyone but just got my car insurance renewal through. I checked comparison sites and the same company (LV) is 50 quid cheaper so I rang them and asked them to match the lower price which they couldn't. They said some discounts arn't available on their suystem.... BUT interestingly when I asked whats to stop me taking the same cover out via the comparison site they said nothing. Its ok to do that so thats what I will be doing.... This makes a nonsense of the whole thing so I told them to take me off auto-renewal and i'll renew via confused.... which I am :T:rotfl::j

codger

Hopefully the following will be of help to any Co-op motor insurance customer facing a renewal notice at a higher price.

It's Mrs Codger and a Co-op customer service rep in telephone conversation. Mrs C has told him she's received the renewal notice for our car's comprehensive insurance, March 2018 - March 2019. It's £65 more than we currently pay. Mrs C has also told him that another (major) insurer has just quoted -- remarkably enough -- £65 less than the Co-op is asking.

In summary: the other insurer has quoted the same price for 2018-2019 that we paid the Co-op for 2017-2018. So . . . can the Co-op do anything about reducing its renewal price?

Mr Co-op: 'I'm sorry, but the Co-op doesn't do price matching.'
Mrs C: 'Not even when we're talking about an identical policy?'
Mr Co-op: 'You're sure the terms are identical?'
Mrs C: 'Well, the other insurer is automatically including "Legal Assistance" cover. We'd never have bought it as an option because it's a waste of money, but seeing as it's included, fair enough.'
Mr Co-op: 'So what you're saying is, the other quote includes "Legal Assistance" . . . but the Co-op's doesn't.'
Mrs C: 'Exactly.'
Mr Co-op: 'Well, we can certainly add that to your 2018-2019 cover.'
Mrs C: 'Er, no-oooo. We do NOT want, we do NOT need "Legal Assistance" cover.'
Mr Co-op: 'If you change your mind though, we can do it for £25.50.'
Mrs C: 'I haven't rung to ask you to add things to the price. I've rung to see if you'd like to reduce the price in view of the rival quote.'
Mr Co-op: 'And you're sure, that quote provides for everything you have under your existing policy with us.'
Mrs C: 'Yes.'
Mr Co-op: 'But it also includes "Legal Assistance" cover.'
Mrs C: 'That's correct.'
Mr Co-op: 'And everything else, the NCD protection you want, the courtesy car if your own vehicle is in an accident and has to go away to be repaired: the other insurer is offering that?'
Mrs C: 'Yes.'
Mr Co-op: 'I see. You are aware that provision of a courtesy car is only on a limited basis? For example, if your car were to be stolen or written off, you wouldn't be able to have a replacement car in the meantime.'
Mrs C: 'I wasn't aware, but thanks for telling me. But that's not what I'm ringing you about.'
Mr Co-op: 'Let's see. I can add proper hire car cover to your policy, if you wish. It's called "Enhanced Courtesy Car Cover" and it's for up to 14 days hire.'
Mrs C: 'But I don't want "Enhanced Courtesy Car Cover"!'
Mr Co-op: 'We can do it for just £19. It's a good price.'
Mrs C: 'Look. Thank you for telling me all this, but all I wanted to know was, is the Co-op prepared to do anything in regard to the fact that one of its major rivals is asking £65 less for our car insurance than it is?'
Mr Co-op: 'Yes, I do understand.'
Mrs C: 'So where are we then? What's your position?'
Mr Co-op: 'Well . . . Your new premium is £305, so add £25.50 Legal Assistance and £19 Enhanced Courtesy Car, and that's, that's. . . £349.50.'
Mrs C: 'I'm really not following this.'
Mr Co-op: 'Yes, £349.50, including those policy enhancements.'
Mrs C: 'But I rang you to see what you can do about a £240 quote from a rival insurer. Are you telling me that your answer is, how about I pay the Co-op £110. . . MORE??'
Mr Co-op: 'I'm sorry. That's the best I can do.'
Mrs C: 'In that case, I'm sorry, too. We won't be renewing.'
Mr Co-op: 'I understand. That's your decision, and I appreciate you letting us know.'
Mrs C: 'Thank you.'
Mr Co-op: 'Of course, if you do change your mind about staying with us, well . . . Can I ask, have you considered our breakdown cover? It's only £65 a year, which compared to what you could be paying elsewhere -- '
Mrs C rang off.

Moral of the story: not every car insurer has the same understanding that MSE does of the meaning of the word: 'haggle'. . .
:):):)

Scotty12

Hi,
I am new to this but wondered if anyone has had any experience of Admirals multi car insurance. I have been with Admiral fo a couple of years and have just added two cars (kids!) to my policy as they advertise ‘an immediate’ discount as soon as you add an extra vehicle. When I asked what discount I would receive (after the usual 45 minute phone call) they said I didn’t qualify as I only had just over one month left on my policy. When I asked how much of your policy you need to have left to qualify they said ‘well it depends, it is system generated’
While I know it is only a short time but an advertised discount should mean a discount.
Anyone had a similar experience?
:mad:

fiscalfool

Insurance renewal at £1126, cheapest quote thus far £350! Biggest issue for me last year, was moving from Company Car to Private Car. There seems to be only a couple of insurers who consider "no claims" earned on company cars.

Redrosie

Just had a go at renewing my mum's (87 year's young) insurance. What a headache even using comparison sites. No-one does a good deal for this age group.

I got a reasonable quote from Direct Line then saw the offer of £45 voucher from Amazon if I did it via the MSE website. The quote came in over £100 more than before! That's a pretty crooked deal as I'd be over £50 worse off.

NickPlymouth

Hi all,

I'm looking for a bit of advice on getting company car insurance.

I am about to get a company car (through my own company). It's on HP so neither I nor the company will actually own it yet. It will be registered to the company.

Are there companies that will take into account my private no-claims-discount? I'm not keeping my old car so the NCD wont be 'used'.

Any advice on good insurance companies in this situation would be helpful.

Thanks,

Nick.

Willywombat64

Unless I missed it the buyers article doesn't mention that it's important to look at a policy's T+C's in relation to the charges they make when you make a change to your personal details. Some insurers make ludicrous charges for even changing your address details ..in some cases even when the new address is lower risk . Some may charge £50 for cancelling a policy despite you no longer being a risk for them ..the list goes on and it's easy to get snared by a cheap policy then pay a fortune for minor alterations. If a MOD reads this perhaps my point can be included in the article ( unless it's already there.)

Willywombat64

MalMonroe wrote: »

I've been quoted £203 by One Call, including breakdown cover and with only £100 excess charge. I'm going to take it. I've spent so many hours trying to find the very best bargain, and be smart and clever, I'm exhausted. I can't get any money back from a money back site because One Call isn't registered with them but that's okay. I reckon that's not a bad price for insurance, legal cover and breakdown cover. But some insurance companies are so greedy. And I'd not claim anyway if I could help it because of having to pay the excess. Talk about a racket. It's really time that we in the UK started a revolution.

Double check what their legal cover and breakdown covers ...iirc it's very limited but hopefully not , also watch out for horrendous charges if you need to change any details.

roadki11

Went from £465 a year's insurance +£17 a month breakdown with the AA to £228 DirectLine with Greenflag premium cover.
The AA offered to cut it to £330 if I remained with them.... I think not.

Ford CMax, 20+ years NCD and licence.
The price comparison sites were comparable with DirectLine but not as good a deal on the breakdown cover.
:beer: £30 a month saving covers some of this!