Which insurance would you choose??

gilbert_and_sullivan

I work up the price list until i alight upon a company i've heard of, or rather haven't heard bad things about, or had bad experince with.

Agree with DCFC79, out of those i'd go for the banks, but in preference i'd rather a proper named insurer unless the cost is ridiculously higher.

Yolina

Also check the Defaqto star rating - that way you're more likely to compare like-for-like level (but still check all the small print for each policy!)

When my renewal comes in, I always manage to get my insurer to match or beat by a few £ quotes from others in the same 5 star rating group I could get cheaper insurance but it's lower rated products and I am not actually prepared to switch to these.


Edit: forgot to say that you need to check the exact name of the policy when looking at the star rating as some companies have several products that end up in different groups.

im-lost

It really doesn't matter does it, they'll all try to shaft you if you make a claim, if someone claims against you, then who cares if they're the cheapest and !!!!, it's not your problem

londonTiger

lol, what exactly do "premium" insurers cover exactly? Do they send a masseuse around your place to rub your back after an accident or something?

They all more or less cover the same which is the minimum they are responsible for under the law. Sure there are some budget insuers that will try to cash in on repairs and refer you to a dodgy claims handler. But you're not out of pocket they just fleece the third party insurer.

Doshwaster

I always say that it's silly to pay too much for insurance but it's absolutely crazy to pay too little. If you ever have to make a complicated claim then £20 extra on the premium could be well worth it if everything is handled properly and efficiently.

I've been with many insurance companies over the years and have made a few claims. The worst claims handling service I had was from the AA and the best was from More Than (though they did try to double my premium the following year for a no fault claim so I moved away from them)

Yolina

londonTiger wrote: »

lol, what exactly do "premium" insurers cover exactly? Do they send a masseuse around your place to rub your back after an accident or something?

They all more or less cover the same which is the minimum they are responsible for under the law. Sure there are some budget insuers that will try to cash in on repairs and refer you to a dodgy claims handler. But you're not out of pocket they just fleece the third party insurer.

I've just randomly picked 2 - one 5* and one 3* - so for example loss/theft of keys will see you one cover you for up to £1000 for replacement, the other up to £100; one will transport you from the scene of an accident, the other won't; one covers children car seats but not the other, etc.


Obviously there's a minimum that they must all provide, then after that it's up to each person to decide what to go for. My point was more that if you're trying to haggle with your existing insurer, you're unlikely to get them to match the price of a policy that doesn't offer the same benefits. Defaqto ratings are useful as a quick reference but it's not the be all and end all either as all policies are slightly different and need checking individually anyway.

bigjl

lloydyyy wrote: »

For windscreen replacements with Swiftcover, you wouldn't be eligible for an increase in your NCD at renewal time. Looks like the cheapest isn't the best after all! I'm quite surprised!

Getting more common that one.

Doesn't affect me as i can't get any higher NCB

Can see there point though some windscreens are £1000 a pop

knightstyle

Thanks all, decision now made, we will stay with Hastings.
Their renewal quote was £208 and the on comparison site Hastings and Peoples choice plus Churchill on another site came in at just over £250.
So I rang Hastings to stop the automatic renewal and after negotiating now have it for £148.
This is for insured and spouse, comprehensive and includes windscreen, NCD protected and 90 days european cover etc.