Why is car insurance so ridiculously expensive!

unholyangel

zagfles wrote: »

Rubbish. The roads are far safer today than they were in the past, and far safer now in this country than in most other countries. Just google some stats.

The main reason insurance is much more expensive for young people than in the past, or in other countries, is because this country is infested with ambulance chasing scum.

Isn't most of that down to changes in law (such as making seatbelts mandatory) and making cars safer?

ie is it just the risk of injury/death thats been lowered or have the number of traffic incidents decreased?

zagfles

unholyangel wrote: »

Isn't most of that down to changes in law (such as making seatbelts mandatory) and making cars safer?

ie is it just the risk of injury/death thats been lowered or have the number of traffic incidents decreased?

Whichever - cars being made safer reduces injuries, so should reduce claims for injuries, even if the number of accidents remains the same.

For instance, whiplash is far more likely in a car with no headrest - 20 years ago loads of cars had no headrests or only had them in the front. Yet the number of whiplash claims has more than doubled since 20 years ago.

unholyangel

zagfles wrote: »

Whichever - cars being made safer reduces injuries, so should reduce claims for injuries, even if the number of accidents remains the same.

For instance, whiplash is far more likely in a car with no headrest - 20 years ago loads of cars had no headrests or only had them in the front. Yet the number of whiplash claims has more than doubled since 20 years ago.

But what I mean is, is it possible that the number of collisions has increased (due to higher volume of traffic on the roads) despite the number of injuries/fatalities decreasing (due to cars being more safe)?

Anyway, I meant to suggest a solution to OP's problem. OP, might it be cheaper to have someone else on the policy with you? When I started driving I was added as a named driver on my dads policy. It was cheaper to insure both of us than it would have been just to insure me.

I think insurance companies were clamping down on it as some people were abusing it (putting the person as a named driver despite them not owning or using the car just to get cheaper premiums) but it might be something to look into. Or what about a black box (dont think anyones suggested that yet)? I've heard they were quite popular with new motorists as a way to get their insurance down.

Bear in mind, a lot of the risk assessments might not be something you have any influence over - such as theft/claim rate in your postcode/area. The average payout (because despite you having a cheap car/being on low earnings, any person you're involved in an accident with may not be).

Thats all car insurance is - a premium based on a complex series of averages from general data rather than a premium based on how you personally drive. The NCB is really the only part thats factored on your personal history and thats a discount off the premium rather than being factored into the premium itself.

SamsReturn

Would your insurance be any cheaper if you got a 'black box' fitted ?

Unimaginativeusername

I've looked at a few black box insurers, a few of them only cover up to the age of 24/25. A few I have had quotes from have still given quotes of £2300+ so there's not really much difference in it.

I've also tried putting my flatmate on as an additional driver, he's been driving for 6 years and the price went up!

loskie

what about something like peugeot just add fuel. will this work out cheaper

Unimaginativeusername

Not with my credit rating!