Car Insurance Renewal Timing.

davetaller

Having read on here, that the optimum price- point for obtaining car insurance, is three weeks prior to policy commencement, is there any good reason, on the comparison site, if I only have a week or so to go, why I should not artifically advance the start date by 3 weeks to obtain a better price. Having achieved that (good) price, I phone that chosen company, and say I made a mistake on the commencement date, and I want it to start in e.g.. a weeks time. I realise that the 3 week figure is not cast in stone, but I can believe the closer to the date that you get, the more you can be held to ransom.

Thanks in anticipation. 

paddyandstumpy

When you call to amend the start date, they will simply re-rate the risk on the amended information, plus then charge an admin fee for the pleasure. 

davetaller

I will get the quote off Moneysuperdooper and then phone the insurer to tell them of my error with the start date.
If they agree that new start date, I would then pay them by debit card. 

chrisw

Try it. You have nothing to lose.

davetaller

chrisw said:

Try it. You have nothing to lose.

But perhaps lots to gain!
Many thanks to both, I will post back with results.

Og_Troff

I just renewed with Swindon. The quote was 170 but I got the date wrong (earlier) by 3 days. I did a new quote but couldn’t get a similar price so phoned them and they quoted me £45 more for the later date. No thanks. I went back online and bought the earlier policy.  I will call my old insurance company and tell them to cancel just to avoid the overlap. 

MovingForwards

Og_Troff said:

I just renewed with Swindon. The quote was 170 but I got the date wrong (earlier) by 3 days. I did a new quote but couldn’t get a similar price so phoned them and they quoted me £45 more for the later date. No thanks. I went back online and bought the earlier policy.  I will call my old insurance company and tell them to cancel just to avoid the overlap. 

Then you had better double check how much NCB you have declared with the new policy as you won't get any for the year you are cancelling and may also have a hefty admin fee for cancelling it too.

Og_Troff

MovingForwards said:

Og_Troff said:

I just renewed with Swindon. The quote was 170 but I got the date wrong (earlier) by 3 days. I did a new quote but couldn’t get a similar price so phoned them and they quoted me £45 more for the later date. No thanks. I went back online and bought the earlier policy.  I will call my old insurance company and tell them to cancel just to avoid the overlap. 

Then you had better double check how much NCB you have declared with the new policy as you won't get any for the year you are cancelling and may also have a hefty admin fee for cancelling it too.

Thank you.  I already have maximum in any case.  Frankly, they can cancel it or not as they wish, I shall not be paying, but informing them. It is not illegal to insure twice, just to commit fraud.  I have cancelled a policy before and the company told me I had to pay to do that, but it was all wind and I never heard anything more after telling them what I felt about their suggestion. 

davetaller

davetaller said:

chrisw said:

Try it. You have nothing to lose.

But perhaps lots to gain!
Many thanks to both, I will post back with results.

Right;  phoned the insurance company to bring the start date forward. No issues, and at the same price.
Hope this helps someone in the future.