Car Insurance: Married vs Maiden Name

Rudy_Spaniel

I'm recently married and have changed my passport and driving license to my new name.
Currently in the process of getting car insurance, and I'm having to pay £200+ more in my new surname (and clicking married) than in maiden, which seems ridiculous! I've tried calling the insurers but keep getting fobbed off with "it's the underwriters automatically changing it" etc and washing their hands of the problem.

I wonder if it would void my insurance to take out in my maiden name? I have two DLs, one maiden and one with new surname. Feels unfair for women/people who change their name after marriage to be penalised... My husband's insurance hasn't changed!

eskbanker

Rudy_Spaniel said:

I have two DLs, one maiden and one with new surname.

Unless one was issued in another country, the issue of the second will invalidate the first (which should technically have been returned to DVLA).

DullGreyGuy

Rudy_Spaniel said:

I'm recently married and have changed my passport and driving license to my new name.
Currently in the process of getting car insurance, and I'm having to pay £200+ more in my new surname (and clicking married) than in maiden, which seems ridiculous! I've tried calling the insurers but keep getting fobbed off with "it's the underwriters automatically changing it" etc and washing their hands of the problem.

I wonder if it would void my insurance to take out in my maiden name? I have two DLs, one maiden and one with new surname. Feels unfair for women/people who change their name after marriage to be penalised... My husband's insurance hasn't changed!

So you are talking about amending your existing policy into new name or talking about shopping around to buy a brand new policy?

How have you identified its your name/marital status driving it? 

One possibility is it's nothing to do with your status but the fact you're doing multiple quotes changing things that cannot realistically change so have triggered counter fraud measures. 

Emmia

eskbanker said:

Rudy_Spaniel said:

I have two DLs, one maiden and one with new surname.

Unless one was issued in another country, the issue of the second will invalidate the first (which should technically have been returned to DVLA).

And validity of a non-UK licence can be limited in terms of your authorisation to drive. (And would presumably also need to be declared to the insurer)

Rudy_Spaniel

DullGreyGuy said:

So you are talking about amending your existing policy into new name or talking about shopping around to buy a brand new policy?

How have you identified its your name/marital status driving it? 

One possibility is it's nothing to do with your status but the fact you're doing multiple quotes changing things that cannot realistically change so have triggered counter fraud measures. 

It's a new policy as I recently sold old (on maiden name insurance) and about to buy a new car.

Yes, did two quotes with everything exactly the same, only changing marital status and my surname. Did like for like with 3 insurers and all came out a minimum of £200 more expensive

user1977

Rudy_Spaniel said:

DullGreyGuy said:

So you are talking about amending your existing policy into new name or talking about shopping around to buy a brand new policy?

How have you identified its your name/marital status driving it? 

One possibility is it's nothing to do with your status but the fact you're doing multiple quotes changing things that cannot realistically change so have triggered counter fraud measures. 

Yes, did two quotes with everything exactly the same, only changing marital status and my surname. Did like for like with 3 insurers and all came out a minimum of £200 more expensive

And what if you change only your marital status but not your name? I suspect that's what is causing the difference, nothing to do with your name.

DullGreyGuy

Having just done two quotes on a price comparison site for a fictitious person with a name change and change in marital status the first 5 quotes were unchanged the next 4 quotes were marginally cheaper with married rather than living with partner which is probably what would have expected. 

A couple of points to consider:

1) Both were fictitious so anyone doing a credit check will have gotten a null match return for both so this wouldn't have made a difference whereas for you they may have gotten an ID match for your maiden name but not one for your married name (depending on how long ago you married)

2) I didnt give a driving license number, on that particular sight the first part is prefilled by your name and DoB so you couldn't have given the current driving license number in one of the cases (or if you gave the old one it may have been reported to them as ceased).

Are you paying annually or by instalments? Point 1 would make more of a difference with more companies if its instalments. 

Rudy_Spaniel

And what if you change only your marital status but not your name? I suspect that's what is causing the difference, nothing to do with your name.

I've tried a variation (see below)

Mrs Maiden Name (common law) - 615 
Miss Married Name (common law) - 715
Mrs Maiden Name (married) - 650
Miss Married Name (married) - 735

Rudy_Spaniel

Rudy_Spaniel said:

And what if you change only your marital status but not your name? I suspect that's what is causing the difference, nothing to do with your name.

I've tried a variation (see below)

Mrs Maiden Name (common law) - 615 
Miss Married Name (common law) - 715
Mrs Maiden Name (married) - 650
Miss Married Name (married) - 735

Sorry * 515 and 550, not 6

DullGreyGuy

Rudy_Spaniel said:

And what if you change only your marital status but not your name? I suspect that's what is causing the difference, nothing to do with your name.

I've tried a variation (see below)

Mrs Maiden Name (common law) - 615 
Miss Married Name (common law) - 715
Mrs Maiden Name (married) - 650
Miss Married Name (married) - 735

And what were you entering as your driving license number?
Are you setting it as a one off payment or monthly instalments? 
Is this a single insurer's website or an aggregator like confused.com?

Marvel1

Not sure if me, but if changing between Mrs and Miss, does this get "flagged" changing facts to see what is cheaper?