Best insurance companies for driver with cancelled insurance

Lockfairy

Hi. 

About 12 years ago I received a letter on the last day of a car insurance policy telling me it had been cancelled. The reason behind it was I had told them about a change of address and then because of lack of money/stupidity I hadn’t paid the ridiculous fee they charged for changing my details. 

I haven’t driven for a few years and I’m now buying a car. My question is this: are there insurance companies that limit how far back they ask about insurance cancellations in the same way that they limit questions about convictions and accidents?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

MyRealNameToo

So it was actually cancelled for non-payment? 

Of the things insurance can be cancelled for, it's one of the lesser sins. It'll be more about doing the leg work of contacting all the different options as many websites simply decline anyone with a cancelled policy in their history and tell them to phone for a quote instead. 

MEM62

This is a case where you need an old-fashioned broker that you can speak and explain your circumstances to.  You will find a decent one to be helpful, as I did when trying to insure my car when driving under Section 88 of the RTA.   

Lockfairy

MyRealNameToo said:

So it was actually cancelled for non-payment? 

Of the things insurance can be cancelled for, it's one of the lesser sins. It'll be more about doing the leg work of contacting all the different options as many websites simply decline anyone with a cancelled policy in their history and tell them to phone for a quote instead. 

My memory is a little hazy on the subject, but I think that’s what it was. All I know for certain is that I told them I was moving, they told me the fee to change the policy and I ignored all subsequent correspondence.

Thanks for your advice.

Lockfairy

MEM62 said:

This is a case where you need an old-fashioned broker that you can speak and explain your circumstances to.  You will find a decent one to be helpful, as I did when trying to insure my car when driving under Section 88 of the RTA.   

I was thinking a broker might be the best bet. Thanks.

Aretnap

IIRC Direct Line and it's associated brands (Churchill, Privilege) only ask if you have had a policy cancelled in the last 5 years, or they certainly did last time I checked (admittedly a while ago). Worth taking a look at their website.

Lockfairy

Aretnap said:

IIRC Direct Line and it's associated brands (Churchill, Privilege) only ask if you have had a policy cancelled in the last 5 years, or they certainly did last time I checked (admittedly a while ago). Worth taking a look at their website.

Thank you very much. I will check them first.