Do Car Drivers Switch their Insurance Providers A Lot

Grabs39

I usually look about but for the last few years our auto renew has been the cheapest around, or only about a tenner different.  This year I saved about £120 switching both our cars though.

Marvel1

Car_54 said:

Marvel1 said:

I can be each year, I check against cashback for overall price.

Then phone current provider and give the overall price I would have had it with cashback to see if they ca match or not.

Car_54 said:

David713 said:

cattom said:

I check mine each year with confused.com, and if changing saves me £25+ then I change it. if its below £25 I stay where I am. that's my srtatergy. others may do it differently.

Even if you don't change insurers, it's worth calling them up when you get the renewal details and advising them that you have found a more competitive price elsewhere and asking if they could do anything with your renewal quote.
I've done this a few times and so far they have never failed to lower the figure.

If they can lower the price, then they could have offered that price originally. That seems to me to be unethical, and treating their customers as mugs.

I don't really want to do business with such a company

No different to other service companies.

So that's all right then?

Never said it was, I seen a lot of it happening on the haggle posts for Virgin and Sky - people paying less for more than I had for example.

justworriedabit

Grabs39 said:

I usually look about but for the last few years our auto renew has been the cheapest around, or only about a tenner different.  This year I saved about £120 switching both our cars though.

You would have thought with less driving it would be cheaper this year.

[Deleted User]

Al_Ross said:

Was wondering how many of you swap your car insurance companies, like swapping Energy Suppliers to save a few quid.

It's not about saving 'a few quid'. The difference can literally be hundreds.

This year, mine went from 260 to 440 without me having made a claim, or barely used the car. I phoned them and told them straight but politely, if they don't change it to less than last year's, without changing any terms, then I'm not renewing. They came back with 240. Had they not budged I'd have switched in a heartbeat, as I've done many times before. 

st999

I just switched from Direct Line where they wanted to charge me £172, down from £178 last year to Halifax via Confused dot com for £121 plus a £20 Halfords voucher.
I had phoned Direct Line but they would not budge on the £172.

jimjames

Al_Ross said:

Was wondering how many of you swap your car insurance companies, like swapping Energy Suppliers to save a few quid.

What do you mean by "a lot"? I doubt many change more than once a year when renewing

Penelopa.Pitstop

I used to change insurance every year but since 2012, I'm with the same company. I check quotes every year, but no one is cheaper. I also call my company and negotiate renewal price down. I always say that other company offered better deal, but I want to stay with current company and they match the amount I give them.

Also, it's not all about the price, but what's included in the policy. I travel abroad a lot, so need a policy with fully comprehensive insurance abroad included in price. Some companies have it as add-on, some don't offer it as standard and you have to call them and buy it as extra. I exclude companies that require calling, to get a quote for comprehensive insurance abroad. So that leaves me with a few that offer it as standard or as add-on, which you can choose online during the quote.

Al_Ross

jimjames said:

Al_Ross said:

Was wondering how many of you swap your car insurance companies, like swapping Energy Suppliers to save a few quid.

What do you mean by "a lot"? I doubt many change more than once a year when renewing

Well if you've been driving for over 40 years and you change provider every year that would be a lot.

daivid

Typically switching saves me 10% on auto-renewing. Last time it saved 40% after taking into account a cashback offer. Over the last 15 years only twice have I not switched, once the renewal was better than any competitor, once it was equal (within a pound) on both occasions the insurer was Admiral, who I'm now back with so will see how their renewal compares to other offerings this year. 

Tokmon

Car_54 said:

David713 said:

cattom said:

I check mine each year with confused.com, and if changing saves me £25+ then I change it. if its below £25 I stay where I am. that's my srtatergy. others may do it differently.

Even if you don't change insurers, it's worth calling them up when you get the renewal details and advising them that you have found a more competitive price elsewhere and asking if they could do anything with your renewal quote.
I've done this a few times and so far they have never failed to lower the figure.

If they can lower the price, then they could have offered that price originally. That seems to me to be unethical, and treating their customers as mugs.

I don't really want to do business with such a company

It's no different when buying from a market stall, second hand items (including cars) or getting a service from a plumber, electrician etc. They will always start with a higher price and then lower it with some haggling. I have no problem with that because the people who put in a bit of effort get a lower price and the only people who lose out are the ones who can't be bothered.

If everyone only offered a set price then people who make the effort would pay more and people who can't be bothered may benefit from lower prices, but why should they?