Car Insurance Quote Higher Than Last Year

londoner2009

Just got my quote for my car insurance from Churchill - it's higher than last year. And due in middle of June 2020
I barely did 2,000 miles per year normally - now with the virus - not driven in 3 months, car is just sat on the driveway. I', thinking about SORNing it
So I doubt telling them I'll be driving less miles per year will get me much of a discount.
But before I do - what are the rules about needing to have the car insured?
And if I restart car insurance later will I pay a penalty for having  a gap with no insurance? 
I've got over 9+ years of no claims bonus although I've not made a claim for 20+ years so not sure why the papers only show 9+
I live in Zone 5 of London so in a normal year would have simply used my car to drive to the train station and shopping on weekends.
Now no work and shopping online or by bicycle locally.

Car_54

If you SORN the car it does not have to be insured, but you'll be at risk from fire, theft and accidental damage. There's no penalty for a gap, unless it's for two years in which case your no claims discount lapses. No insurer recognises more than 9 years (some less) and it doesn't increase much, if at all, beyond five.

When you get back on the road, make sure your insurance covers commuting for your drive to the station

roddydogs

Same here, esure have raised the premium considerably, but looking at compare the market, only 1 quote is cheaper, but with excess.

AdrianC

londoner2009 said:

I barely did 2,000 miles per year normally - now with the virus - not driven in 3 months, car is just sat on the driveway. I', thinking about SORNing it
So I doubt telling them I'll be driving less miles per year will get me much of a discount.

No - not least because very low mileage drivers are higher risk.

But before I do - what are the rules about needing to have the car insured?

If it's taxed, it must be insured. If it's not insured, it must be SORNed.

And if I restart car insurance later will I pay a penalty for having  a gap with no insurance?

No. NCB expires after two years unused.

I've got over 9+ years of no claims bonus although I've not made a claim for 20+ years so not sure why the papers only show 9+

Because virtually no insurers recognise anything over 9yrs. B'sides, once you hit about 4/5yrs, the difference is typically as little as 1% per year.

I live in Zone 5 of London so in a normal year would have simply used my car to drive to the train station and shopping on weekends.
Now no work and shopping online or by bicycle locally.

Have you ever worked out how much your car costs per mile across a typical year...? EVERYTHING included. Insurance, depreciation, maintenance, tax...

Scrapit

Shop around. Every year. Without fail.

Aylesbury_Duck

Virus or not, I'd consider getting rid of the car.  You live in a city with a decent public transport network and only drive 2,000 miles a year.  I suspect it's not economical to own the car in the first place, so probably pointless worrying about slight increase in insurance costs.

marlot

londoner2009 said:

..I barely did 2,000 miles per year normally - now with the virus - not driven in 3 months, car is just sat on the driveway. I', ...

My mum was doing a similar mileage.  With a little persuasion she sold her car and put the annual costs into a taxi fund.  She's not regretted it.