Why would a quote for a 1.0 be the same as a 2.0 ?

charlotte99

Thinking of getting rid of my 10 year old  2.0 passat estate (diesel and auto) and getting a small run around. Retired now so I dont need a big car and mostly do local trips,  been looking at smaller cars, maybe a Hyundai i10 or a Volkswagen up. However checking out some quotes across comparison sites, the insurance on the small car is coming out the same as the passat, around 350. None of my circumstances have changed, got a clean licence and accident free, long ncb. I do live in one of the outer London boroughs, would that be why ?. I was really expecting when I downsized I would get some saving on the insurance,now I'm thinking what's the point. The passat is comfortable, low mileage and trouble free, maybe I should do a motorway run once a month and keep it.

neilmcl

It's a newer, more desirable car to steal and yours is a big, old heavy diesel estate.

ElephantBoy57

When you drive a different car, there is more risk, because you are unfamiliar with it. Maybe first year will be more expensive, then cheaper the year after. If they are both family type cars, there is no change.

Aylesbury_Duck

Just run the VW into the ground.  There will be other factors having more influence on insurance costs than engine size.
I think you're idea of giving it a decent, hard run every now and then is a good one.  It may need that more regularly than monthly though, particularly if it has a DPF.
The potentially money-saving option is public transport, considering you live in a well-served area?  Then just hire a car on the odd occasion you really need one.  Or even an electric vehicle?

Goudy

Insurance premiums are based on risks.
Whoever is quoting you obviously don't see a change in risk for you between an older large engined car and a newer smaller engined car.

You could try a few comparison sites (along with Aviva and Direct Line), some might consider you and the smaller car less of a risk, plus you should get a lower premium as a new customer (even though you might already be a customer) as they tend to discount new customer quotes a bit then walk the price up every year when you renew.
 

dannyrst

You say you're retired, so I assume you're not 18-30. The younger you are, the more likely a larger engine in a car (generally meaning faster) will contribute to an accident. As you grow older, the size of the engine almost becomes irrelevant.

AdrianC

There's several factors setting premiums.

You losing control because you're going too fast is a small one for a driver with plenty of experienc, but may be a major one for a 17yo. That's the bit that engine size vaguely affects.

In London, there's a large chance of somebody anonymous hitting it while parked and doing a runner, or it being nicked. Exposure there is the vehicle's value. You've just gone to a more valuable car.

Herzlos

Sounds like it could be your insurance is about as low as it'll get anyway, after a point the car itself isn't a large factor.

daveyjp

Because i10s and ups are bought by young new drivers and they have lots of claims.

Nuggy96

check the insurance group of the car, also changing your job title slightly can drop your insurance price

Ectophile

I have found that there's a point in life where you are sufficiently old, experienced enough, and with a long enough NCB.  At that point, the insurers don't really care what you drive any more, unless it's something stupidly fast or valuable.

A while back, I sold my Mazda MX-5 and bough a Fiat Panda.  It made no difference to the premiums.  My Freelander 2 is bigger, heavier, and more valuable than the Fiat, but I pay pretty much the same amount to insure both.