Lost job, renewal coming up

Atasas

Kim_13 wrote: »

Can you do some voluntary work until you get a job? You could then legitimately put yourself as a volunteer, which should be lower than putting down unemployed.

Renewal in 10 days time, OPP in 12 (10'th), very tight for time of an option...

mattk_180

Forgive me if I'm being dumb, but when you say opp, are you implying that you are having an operation? If so, unemployed due to medical reasons/disability may not go against you as badly as if you are just generally unemployed.


Apologies if I've got the wrong end of the stick though.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

So assuming you have just lost your job and are sensibly considering your outgoings until another job is lined up...good thinking!

Firstly, do not lie or expect to get found out by the increasingly smart insurance companies! You can't afford to see a claim turned down or have your insurance cancelled due to dishonesty!

Secondly, consider of you need the car right now - or need it as much? Cutting the annual mileage you will do / honestly declare, opting for a higher voluntary excess, removing nice to have extras like courtesy car are possible ways to cut your premiums while you don't drive so much.

If you can get away without a car and look for a job just as well - then for sure parking it legally off road, ideally on a private drive, in a secure garage (even a family member's) should see a lower premium - but declare where it is to your insurer.

Or even ask your insurer for ideas? They would prefer you are a customer for life and as you suggest this is hopefully temporary situation, they may even be helpful! If not - use your unwanted free time to follow the advice on this website for cutting your premiums (mostly research!).

You have not just become a bad driver - but insurers do see more claims from people who maybe distracted by life's issues, struggling to maintain their cars in perfect order and sadly see more fraudulent claims the longer term unemployed from. So they have a reason why they put their premiums up - even if it feels unfair and if none of that would apply to you.

Then don't forget when you get another job - let your insurer know so the premiums come back down :-) Good luck!

Atasas

mattk_180 wrote: »

Forgive me if I'm being dumb, but when you say opp, are you implying that you are having an operation? If so, unemployed due to medical reasons/disability may not go against you as badly as if you are just generally unemployed.


Apologies if I've got the wrong end of the stick though.

Thank you!
Unemployed as simply contract finished and has not been extended, meanwhile medical condition was getting worse and not that big, but operation is weeks and a half time, which will render me unfit for a couple of months.

From their perspective, with my small accident last year £600 is fair.
From my perspective- suddenly very dear already.

Miles I don't do many at the best of the times, but now, I have considered, if I am forced to sell the car, I'll get no more than 1/3 paid two years ago...:( and I might get away without one for a couple of months, that'll make impossible get another and insurance.

Atasas

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

So assuming you have just lost your job and are sensibly considering your outgoings until another job is lined up...good thinking!

Thank you, although, seems to me as I have fallen in to free-fall on a car situation

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Firstly, do not lie or expect to get found out by the increasingly smart insurance companies! You can't afford to see a claim turned down or have your insurance cancelled due to dishonesty!

Suspicious already, as renewal was late to come through anyway (two instead of mandatory 4 weeks, before renewal)
Canceled insurance- scary prospect indeed.
Claims- I don't expect to make any, unless someone else would bump in to me.

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Secondly, consider of you need the car right now - or need it as much? Cutting the annual mileage you will do / honestly declare, opting for a higher voluntary excess, removing nice to have extras like courtesy car are possible ways to cut your premiums while you don't drive so much.

Other premiums came without as many bells and whistles at about thousand pounds already. (TpFT even dearer, than fully comp)

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

If you can get away without a car and look for a job just as well - then for sure parking it legally off road, ideally on a private drive, in a secure garage (even a family member's) should see a lower premium - but declare where it is to your insurer.

Get a garage is near impossible task, parking in front of the house- impossible, but perhaps last option.

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Or even ask your insurer for ideas? They would prefer you are a customer for life and as you suggest this is hopefully temporary situation, they may even be helpful! If not - use your unwanted free time to follow the advice on this website for cutting your premiums (mostly research!).

Not much success in those ventures...

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Then don't forget when you get another job - let your insurer know so the premiums come back down :-) Good luck!

That'll be in the next year premium, as changing a policy half term, even in decreased "risk category", will increase, due to the change...

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Hmm.. as you say lots to handle at once.

If the renewal notice came through later than the 4 weeks it should, that is unhelpful for sure as it gives you less time to look elsewhere. Hopefully, not their intention ;-)

I agree selling your car to buy another soon after is going to cost more than the £600 from the sounds of it. Unless you are a savvy motor trader. So it is worth trying to hold onto it if you can.

If you mostly do contract work - then your insurer may be more tolerant of that kind of "temporary between contracts situation" expecting there to be gaps in between. A good % of us all work like this. Worth asking ... apologies if you have already.

So it sounds like you could not work even if you wanted to post-operation - so I agree with the other poster - that your insurer may view this more favourably...can't promise or prove it but worth a phone call asking "how that would affect things?".

And again as suggested paying by instalments, if you are not already, may help.

If you can move your car "off road" then the insurance should be a lot cheaper if NEVER driven and you can even get a road tax rebate. But, I am not sure if you will need your car more soon after the op - make sure your doctor is happy you are driving.

I think I would investigate / think about the parking possibilities, immediate need for any car post-op and write down these things to run through with your insurer, so you are both clear and the options / costs known and call them... Good luck.

Atasas

Jeez, just run few quotes (as unemployed)... those coming up starting £1500 with the excess of £450... when the car, if to sell wouldn't fetch £2500 and I did put mileage at 4000 miles per year, installments increasing by another 30%..

Then road tax almost £280...

Got to park up, clearly the best option, just a question where...

Can not imagine living without one, but seems- that'll be it.

dacouch

Try entering your job as follows.

Occupation : Enter your normal occupation

Type of Employment : Where it offers such as Full Time, Self Employed etc try entering this as "Unemployed" if it's an option.

Also try adding a female to the policy especially if it's your partner as it often reduces the premium

ThinkingOutLoud_2

dacouch is right - unemployment is not your chosen profession! I wonder if you actually spoke to your insurer if they would be so penal?

Eek - but those are shocking premiums. Beyond what I was imagining :-(

I am guessing you live somewhere urban. Given you may not need the car for a couple of months - do you have any relatives who live even a hour away? Maybe parking at theirs or even outside their home where they could keep an eye on the car might be better? (but tell your insurer this is where it is).

I do think if you are up front with your insurer - they may be willing to help.

Atasas

dacouch wrote: »

Try entering your job as follows.

Occupation : Enter your normal occupation

no such option

dacouch wrote: »

Type of Employment : Where it offers such as Full Time, Self Employed etc try entering this as "Unemployed" if it's an option.

Also try adding a female to the policy especially if it's your partner as it often reduces the premium

She's only had hers license for 3 years and paying for a Micra £700 a year already

Thanks for the thought and intension to help, but combination of BMW 2.2l engine; where I live; that stupid bump (no damage to my car in Nov 2014- my fault- settled claim); forthcoming opp and current UNEMPLOYED makes bad situation truly desperate