Car Insurance Huge Increase

OnlyJ9

My car insurance renewal has come in and has gone up by over 60% without any changes or claims. So I went onto a comparison site and found a cheaper quote (only £30 cheaper as it looks like all car insurance is up this year) but with an insurance company that you can only contact through the website and they reply by email except if you are in a roadside emergency situation then there is a helpline. Has anyone had any experience of this sort of arrangement, I'm trying to decide whether to stick with my current one who I can call.

huckster

Stick with your current Insurers or find better deal locally.

Some of the 99% online only companies offer extremely poor customer service.

Google search for reviews about the new company.

You may find cheaper Insurance deals through a local high street Insurance brokers.  Sometimes online quotes are more expensive, as that is where most people buy.  Research done a while ago, found that much better deals were available through brokers, as the brokers negotiated better rates, so they could compete on a favorable basis.

www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance/

MalMonroe

OnlyJ9 said:

My car insurance renewal has come in and has gone up by over 60% without any changes or claims. So I went onto a comparison site and found a cheaper quote (only £30 cheaper as it looks like all car insurance is up this year) but with an insurance company that you can only contact through the website and they reply by email except if you are in a roadside emergency situation then there is a helpline. Has anyone had any experience of this sort of arrangement, I'm trying to decide whether to stick with my current one who I can call.

I'd phone your current insurer now and tell them that their renewal price is far too high so regrettably you are going to have to look around for something better. That gives them the opportunity to lower their price and I find it usually works quite well in my favour. Haggle a bit.

Only being able to contact providers via the internet isn't very satisfactory. I like to be able to talk to a person and find out what their best price really is.  

OnlyJ9

MalMonroe said:

OnlyJ9 said:

My car insurance renewal has come in and has gone up by over 60% without any changes or claims. So I went onto a comparison site and found a cheaper quote (only £30 cheaper as it looks like all car insurance is up this year) but with an insurance company that you can only contact through the website and they reply by email except if you are in a roadside emergency situation then there is a helpline. Has anyone had any experience of this sort of arrangement, I'm trying to decide whether to stick with my current one who I can call.

I'd phone your current insurer now and tell them that their renewal price is far too high so regrettably you are going to have to look around for something better. That gives them the opportunity to lower their price and I find it usually works quite well in my favour. Haggle a bit.

Only being able to contact providers via the internet isn't very satisfactory. I like to be able to talk to a person and find out what their best price really is.  

Thanks for your advice, I did try this twice and altered mileage, value of car and usage - and still no movement in price. I agree with you, I was nervous about online contact only. 

OnlyJ9

huckster said:

Stick with your current Insurers or find better deal locally.

Some of the 99% online only companies offer extremely poor customer service.

Google search for reviews about the new company.

You may find cheaper Insurance deals through a local high street Insurance brokers.  Sometimes online quotes are more expensive, as that is where most people buy.  Research done a while ago, found that much better deals were available through brokers, as the brokers negotiated better rates, so they could compete on a favorable basis.

www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance/

Thanks, I hadn't consider this as I had always thought they were dearer. I will try this, cheers.

DullGreyGuy

huckster said:

Research done a while ago, found that much better deals were available through brokers, as the brokers negotiated better rates, so they could compete on a favorable basis.

Have a link to said research?

Remembering that most the real bottom of the barrel companies that people complain about on here are brokers (though people call them insurers) its not exactly surprising an outcome but I suspect most its talking about are companies like these, AA, Budget etc not your small local high street broker. 

Local high street brokers are unlikely to be able to negotiate better rates for mass market consumer Motor insurance however they can waive their 5-10% commission and use it as a loss leader for other higher margin insurances or to hope to sell you off to accident management companies etc in the event of a claim. 

dancergirl217

I had the same experience last week. My renewal from Direct Line, who I have been with forever (30years+) was 55% higher than last year, and with higher excesses than before. I tried comparison sites, but I'm not prepared to go with any "online only" policy, and the ones that let me deal with real people were about the same as Direct Line. I tried Saga, now that I am finally old enough to use them, as for my elderly mum, they have been outstanding in value. But for me, they could only quote about 100% higher than last year's costs! My individual risk/circumstances haven't changed and I have full no claims etc.

I eventually got insurance through the RAC, which acts as a broker, but even that was a 41% increase, but it was the best I could manage after spending a whole morning getting quotes. Direct Line were very sympathetic, but unable to reduce the price, RAC only works out around £50 cheaper. I'm not sure how anyone will manage these huge increases if they are across the board for the next few years, it's scary.