Are Zurich a good insurer?

Herzlos

I've just being doing some comparisons for upcoming car insurance renewals and the cheapest I'm getting is Zurich (about £15 quid cheaper than swiftcover).

I always assumed that Zurich was one of the more 'premium' insurers, though it's the first time I've seen a quote from them so they can't be that near the top of the results lists.

So are they a good insurer? Should I be jumping to them rather than, say, getting Elephant/Admiral to match the price?

InsideInsurance

Zurich is a massive entity and has a vast range of products from the basic to middle market with 3 to 5 * products.

Admiral Group policies are probably going to be more basic (theirs is 3 star), particularly if you have a car under 12 months old, but Car insurance is so commoditised until you get to the point of having fleets of prestige marks that there is little point paying any extra for anything (again excluding new cars under 12 months old).

Stoke

I had Zurich car insurance in my first year of driving. Found them far too expensive for what they really offered and switched after a year to DirectLine. I've been with them ever since...

londonTiger

i am surprised to hear that zurich are direct selling insurance. I thought they would be the sort of banks that lend money and underate the insurance brands and work behind the covers.

InsideInsurance

londonTiger wrote: »

i am surprised to hear that zurich are direct selling insurance.

Like most insurers, the do direct and indirect sales. I assume they affinity partnerships too but cant think of any off the top of my head

Aretnap

One thing to be aware of with Zurich (and Admiral for that matter) is that they have a rather draconian drink/drugs clause which allows them to recover from you, as policyholder, any money they have to pay out as a result of an accident where the driver is over the alcohol limit.

Doubtless some people will just say that you shouldn't drink and drive, which is true of course, but it does mean that (a) you have to be very sure that you're not going to make the common mistake of driving the morning after a skinfull and (b) you have to be very confident that nobody else who drives the car is going to drink and drive either. Your liability is unlimited, so this would not be a good way to find out that your wife is a bit of a secret alkie or that your teenage son does the sort of dumb things that teenagers sometimes do.

Herzlos

I actually think that's a sensible policy. But then I don't drink and I'm pretty much the only driver (my parents are on the policy but only use it if both of theirs are off the road or I've borrowed one).

The car in question is 11 years old and worth ~£1500 on a forecourt on a good day. The value Vs excess (£200 more than the trade-in value) is such that I probably wouldn't even claim if it was a total loss.

So should I just stick with whoever offers the lowest quote?

londonTiger

i dont drink and im the only driver on my policy, I think the policy is wrong. I understand it's not fair on the insurance company to cover up the drivers illegal habits. But that should all come part en parcel of working in the insurance game.