Direct Line Car Insurance!

swift_gti

I can't stand insurance companies that charge an earth in premiums for little return if you actually have an accident.
That coupled with rediculous policys eg;
My girlfriend drives a 56 plate Skoda Fabia only a little 1.2, she didn't like the steelies and hub caps it came with so we have just bought set of genuine Skoda Fabia alloys (basically come from the next trim model up from hers) and thought we'd be ok since they are Skoda wheels.
I told her to let the insurance company know so she phoned up Direct Line today, and even though they are proper Skoda alloys which would have been fitted to the car if she'd bought a different trim model they said they won't insure her...
Apparently they class it as a modification even though they are OE wheels... !!!!!!!?!

pulliptears

Been there with Tesco insurance and PT Cruiser Alloys. We put them on ours, and even though they were an option from new Tesco wanted an additional £80 to cover us.

We switched to Norwich Union who didnt want any extra for it.

penrhyn

Makes sense, Tesco car insurance is Direct Line

swift_gti

Well when she phoned earlier to tell me I was fuming, I said 'fine we'll switch to someone else..' but then I remembered she paid up front (not monthly) so I she goes somewhere else she won't have the cash upfront so would end up paying interest, and I bet those robbing scumbags charge a fee to get out before the years cover is up.. grrr it makes me so mad!

pulliptears

Im sure they refund the premium. When we did it there was a charge for cancelling, but it still worked out cheaper to leave them!

Ironically when it happened to us we got quotes from the website for a PT with the Alloys and one without and guess what? The price was the same. Still they couldnt justify why an £80 increase.

We printed everything out and went to the ombudsman who was worse than useless, though they did agree it was "unusual".

darwin-rover

penrhyn wrote: »

Makes sense, Tesco car insurance is Direct Line

Almost but not quite . All Tescos finance products are provided by RBS . Their car insurance is underwritten by UK Insurance Limited , owned by RBS . Direct Line is owned by RBS and they use UK Insurance Limited as their underwriter as well .

Fruitcake

Different insurance companies often target different criteria in order to be competitive. SAGA target the over 50s rather than the specific type of car, so when I insured a car with lowered suspension and sports air filter there was no extra charge.
Carole Nash specialise in classic cars and motorcycles rather than the driver, so my Roller with a dirty grat V8 costs less to insure with them than my 1.2L Cleo would.
It sounds like Direct Line may tailor their insurance policies so that factory standard cars are cheaper than the competition, but a modified vehicle will cost more. It's not the fact that you could have bought the same spec car and the insurance would cost the same, it's the fact you are modifying the car you bought.

Obviously I am generalising here but all companies are cheaper in some way than others. Some will charge extra if you change cars. Mine includes breakdown cover and a curtesy car but is dearer than another company that does not. Personally this is more important to me than saving say ₤20 per year on the overall cost.

The only thing you can do is shop around to get the best cover that fits your requirements.

Fruitcake

You Only Listen To Me When I'm Wrong

mandarinduck

Nat West, Churchill and Privilege also come under UKI. And Lloyds TSB have their insurance underwritten by UKI also! Yet there's still a surprising array of quotes from the lot.

There's nothing like false competition after all.

jonboy31

I have a Mini with an aftermarket exhaust and it's been chipped. The only insurer I found that would take it on with no increase in premiums was Liverpool Victoria. I was told so long as the engine size does not increase, and you tell them of modifications they will cover at the same price.
The good news is that they were the second cheapest quote too

John

swift_gti

My girlfriend has phoned around a few places and done a couple of online quotes.. nothing touches direct line they are all around £290 more expensive, because both her parents have direct line cover too.. so she gets a discount.
Now we're suck with a set of wheels we can't fit !

outlaw777

swift_gti wrote: »

I can't stand insurance companies that charge an earth in premiums for little return if you actually have an accident.
That coupled with rediculous policys eg;
My girlfriend drives a 56 plate Skoda Fabia only a little 1.2, she didn't like the steelies and hub caps it came with so we have just bought set of genuine Skoda Fabia alloys (basically come from the next trim model up from hers) and thought we'd be ok since they are Skoda wheels.
I told her to let the insurance company know so she phoned up Direct Line today, and even though they are proper Skoda alloys which would have been fitted to the car if she'd bought a different trim model they said they won't insure her...
Apparently they class it as a modification even though they are OE wheels... !!!!!!!?!

I'm with direct line and Ive got a Honda Civic and Im thinking of putting genuine Civic alloys on the car, do u think they will say the same to me?