Car insurance - change in name spelling = big difference in premium - can I do anything?

nicki_moo

Hello all
I've bought a new car which I'm collecting tomorrow and I'm trying to sort out my insurance.  I've been using the big comparison websites (and some of the smaller ones too!) and got what I thought was a reasonable quote.  I then realised that I was using my preferred name (Nicki) on the application as opposed to the name on my driving license (Nicola).  I updated the details and the insurance premium has risen on all the quotes by about £100.  It seems totally crazy, all other details are the same.  Has anyone had anything similar?  Any advice?
(NB my current car insurance company was well over £100 more expensive prior to this).

Car_54

Prices rise as you get near to the start date. You’ve left it very late.

nicki_moo

Car_54 said:

Prices rise as you get near to the start date. You’ve left it very late.

Car_54 said:

Prices rise as you get near to the start date. You’ve left it very late.

I only bought the car yesterday.

Car_54

nicki_moo said:

Car_54 said:

Prices rise as you get near to the start date. You’ve left it very late.

Car_54 said:

Prices rise as you get near to the start date. You’ve left it very late.

I only bought the car yesterday.

So they know you’re getting desperate ....

tasticz

Welcome to MSE forums. It costs £36 to change your name via enrolled deed poll. Have a good weekend

nicki_moo

nicki_moo said:

Car_54 said:

Prices rise as you get near to the start date. You’ve left it very late.

Car_54 said:

Prices rise as you get near to the start date. You’ve left it very late.

I only bought the car yesterday.

I'm also not sure what difference this will make to the spelling of my name!

Aylesbury_Duck

I'm not sure what advice anyone can give.  Your name is your name, so be truthful and get the most suitable insurance you can (which probably won't be the cheapest).

LiGhTfasT

I guess the cheaper quote is the name on electoral register?

chrisw

I wouldn't have thought the name mattered particularly, as long as it's obviously you and you can be contacted if necessary and you've not changed it for fraudulent purposes.

I tend to use Chris on pretty much everything apart from formal documents like passport and driving licence. It's never caused me any issues so far.

AdrianC

nicki_moo said:

Hello all
I've bought a new car which I'm collecting tomorrow and I'm trying to sort out my insurance.  I've been using the big comparison websites (and some of the smaller ones too!) and got what I thought was a reasonable quote.  I then realised that I was using my preferred name (Nicki) on the application as opposed to the name on my driving license (Nicola).  I updated the details and the insurance premium has risen on all the quotes by about £100.  It seems totally crazy, all other details are the same.  Has anyone had anything similar?  Any advice?
(NB my current car insurance company was well over £100 more expensive prior to this).

Nicki got a quote days before the inception date of the policy, but didn't take it up.
Nicola got a quote immediately before the inception date. That quote was higher than Nicki's...
Different people, different quotes - and, yes, could well be entirely due to the proximity of the start date. Bizarre, but it happens.

So why doesn't Nicki take the quote up...? The difference in spelling of name won't make any difference to the validity of the policy. I mean, you're giving them your driver number when asked as part of the quote, right?

Aretnap

LiGhTfasT said:

I guess the cheaper quote is the name on electoral register?

This may well be it - if they can't find you on the electoral register under the name you've given that may well affect the premium. The computer may suspect that you are using a false address to get a cheaper premium, So are you on the electoral register as Nicki?

In any event I agree that you can legitimately use any name that you are actually known by on your policy. It would not necessarily have to match the exact name and spelling you use on your driving licence (or your bank account, or your passport) so long as there is no doubt that it refers to you.

(Thinking out loud I wonder if your name ever could be a rating factor in its own right. Many of the rating factors insurance companies do use (postcode, occupation etc) are largely markers for social class, so I can believe that, say, Wayne and Tarquin would have different risk profiles. OTOH you would run into a minefield of equalities legislation if you started charging Wayne and Waynetta different premiums, or Christian and Muhammed, so maybe it's best steered clear of altogether).