Cheap Car Insurance Issue

Don80

Hi

I know premiums were supposed to go up, but I'm confused. Last year I paid £460 for esure which was the cheapest. They sent me a renewal quote for £432 this year, I'm surprised it is a lower price! Not that I'm complaining though.

After I got that last week, I did all the price comparison sites, but they're all coming back at about £600! I've not added anything, just plain old comprehensive insurance. I had been hoping to get a cheaper quote to negotiate with esure hoping for a number starting with a 3. I did that with Admiral last year, and they did ask me for the quote details for esure, but they couldn't match it - so I don't really want to call esure without a better quote.

Any suggestions? Is it REALLY that expensive now? (I have a full clean licence, 3 years no claims)

Quentin

There is advice on how to reduce premium in the MSE cheap car insurance article.


(Link in the quick links section at the top of the page)

ryan121

I have 2 years no claims and 1 claim. My renewal quote is £487, £10 more than last year. The increase from 10% to 12% insurance premium tax was noted in the renewal. You seem to be finding the same that I am. Most companies seem to charge £600-£800. This seems to be the normal price in our situation but esure and the admiral group are just a lot cheaper than normal.

I think you will need to get to 5 years no claims before you see the prices you want. Also, the more expensive companies probably provide better cover and customer service.

Don80

Quentin wrote: »

There is advice on how to reduce premium in the MSE cheap car insurance article.


(Link in the quick links section at the top of the page)

Yes, I've followed this - I have done for the last few years! :-)

Quentin

That article covers virtually every tip to reducing the premium, so if you've adopted them without success then try local brokers (though avoid Swinton) and see if they come up with anything.

HornetSaver

I took the drastic measure of cancelling my membership of a very well known car breakdown company a couple of years back, and instructed my bank to block continuous payments. Was happy with what they were providing at the price I paid, but the price was due to go up and I know that they're notorious (stronger words would be appropriate) for taking payment beyond the terms of an agreement.

Ever since then, the same very well known car breakdown company has always come up as the cheapest insurer when I go on comparison sites. So far, I've managed to haggle my current insurer down to that price or below, but given that I have multiple bank accounts it's always an interesting final option.

My point for raising it in response to this thread is that sometimes there's a specific reason why a specific company will undercut others. Perhaps you fit the profile of the sort of customer they're after (for example, demographically most reasonable insurers would consider you a £600 customer, but it could be that they have the data to demonstrate that you're profitable at a lower premium, you have a high excess, they offer something else that people like you can typically be cross-sold, etc etc).