Motor Insurance - Automatic Renewal

Mike313

Hi,

I need some advice on my motorcycle renewable if possible.

I insured my bike with Principal Insurance at the end of 2015. They then sent me a renewal letter last year, which I ignored - mistake on my part maybe - as I was too busy renovating my house and I hadn't ridden the bike for a couple of months.

My plan was to shop around, then call the insurance company to see if they could beat my cheapest quote. But eventually they sent me a couple of text messages, with a cheaper quote than they had initially given me for my renewal, and I planned to take their offer up in the new year.

However, looking through my D/D account earlier, I noticed that they had automatically gone ahead, and have taken 2 monthly payments out of my account.....one for December 2016 and one for January 2017. I thought this was strange as I hadn't agreed to use them this year or paid a deposit.

I have not received any proof of my ncbs, or any paperwork for me to sign and confirm that I wanted to authorise this....which is the usual practice I'm familiar with for my car insurance company.

I just wanted to know whether or not this was the norm for some companies, and where I stand in terms of cancelling the policy, or getting them to at least adjust the premium to the cheaper price which they texted me with?

Thanks for any info!

Tiexen

Did you SORN the bike for December?

FutureGirl

The quote you got in the post would have said you don't have to do anything and it'll auto renew. A lot of car insurers even work this way now.

As above, did you SORN the bike?

You should be able to cancel it, for a fee. They won't now lower the premium as you've accepted the quote in the letter by making the payments.

Mike313

No the bike wasn't. Its just a weekend toy that comes out on sunny days...and garaged for most of the year.

I'll double check the renewal letter, but as far as I remember, it didn't mention anything about an auto renew....which I thought was quite strange.

Mike313

Just looked at it again....Basically a 1 side of a4 entitled: About your policy.

Stipulates the start date.....the insurer, cover type and amount to be debited and start date.

Sounds silly, but at the time because there was no mention of the bike details, ncbs etc I just ignored it, and thought I would get in touch with them in the new year.
My gym did this to me once, but I had no idea insurers were doing this also!

forgotmyname

Most insurers auto renew, mine is the exception. I would prefer it to auto renew because so far they have always been cheaper than the comparison sites.

If you didnt SORN the bike them you would have had a fine from the DVLA for not having insurance or SORN'ing it. You need tax and insurance unless you SORN it.

Mike313

The bike was still taxed....due at the end of this month infact, so I dont understand how I would have got a fine through? I have received my tax reminder as normal.

Or do you mean if the insurance company did not do the auto renew, I would have been fined by the dvla?

dunstonh

mistake on my part maybe

No maybe about it. If you do not read your post and they say they are going to do something unless you tell them otherwise, you cant blame them when they do it.

Or do you mean if the insurance company did not do the auto renew, I would have been fined by the dvla?

If you do not SORN it then it has to be insured.

societys_child

Yup, continual ins or sorn.

Continuous Insurance Enforcement

Quentin

Mike313 wrote: »

Or do you mean if the insurance company did not do the auto renew, I would have been fined by the dvla?

If you don't insure (and don't sorn) then you do get a reminder first before you get fined. (As long as you don't get caught on the road uninsured)

mattk_180

Granted you would have had a reminder from DVLA before being fined/vehicle taken away, but sounds like they potentially saved you a problem considering you wasn't aware of the current enforcements regarding insurance and tax.


Sounds as though you just haven't read your policy properly and were unaware that they would automatically renew. Unfortunately, as you can't prove it was SORN or insured elsewhere, the only option is to keep it running or cancel it for a fee.