1st Central Car Insurance

Baldytyke88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6671296/1st-central-car-insurance

Should we go for the cheapest? My insurance is due this month, I need to spend a little time sellecting the right quote.

I don't commute to work and I am changing jobs at the end of the year, but I just want a quote that covers me for everything and every eventuality.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82032487#Comment_82032487

This site clearly promotes the cheapest, as does its parent company Money Supermarket.

Personally I would aim at the best value instead, particularly important for things like Home which are a much more complex product than Motor. I work in the industry so there are some I will avoid personally but those are more just my prejudices; I'm not too keen on Gibraltar based insurers but make an exception for Admiral

Buying cheap can end up very expensive when it comes to claims. Two relatives basically had the same accident in their home and damaged one unit in their kitchen. One had a full fat policy and basically got a new kitchen, the other had a basic policy and they got a new door that didnt really match the rest of the units but was the closest available for their discontinued kitchen.

Baldytyke88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82032670#Comment_82032670

I am with Admiral now, but I don't want them again because they have auto-renew and its not possible to change preference online, you need to phone them.

As far as I am concerned, auto-renew is a scam, luckily I lost my bank card, so it's a different number.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033040#Comment_82033040

That shouldn't stop an auto renew, they will "get" the updated details.

Frozen_up_north

Don’t assume that a renewal quote can be beaten by shopping around. Recently our house insurance renewal quote from Churchill was cheaper than any from comparison sites (including Churchill via comparison). And yes it was all for exactly the same parameters and the cost was less than the previous year.

Same for annual travel insurance with LV, it came down by around 20% (a car claim and a travel illness claim were handled brilliantly by LV in both cases).

Oddly enough, I switched car insurance via those annoying meerkat people, as we eat out at a pub chain most weeks and get a 25% discount on the total bill, the rewards via their app adds up to quite a lot over a year. Meals and drinks for 4 add up to more than £40, 25% off £40 is £10 per week… the bill is more than that, but you get the idea.

HHarry

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033040#Comment_82033040

Why does everything have to be a scam? Auto-renewal can be a minor inconvenience to turn off if you want a policy to lapse, but it doesn’t come close to the definition of a scam.

I don’t like wasting my time having to phone an Insurer. But it’s better than having no insurance because some life event got in the way of making arrangements.

sheslookinhot

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033040#Comment_82033040

From Admirals website

“You can change your auto-renewal preference now or anytime during your policy term, free of charge, by contacting us online or by phone.”

First thing I do with any new policy is opt out of auto renewal.

facade

First thing I do with any new policy is opt out of auto renewal.

I'm not sure if it applies to car insurance, but with most subscriptions if you turn off auto-renew as soon as the email arrives telling you it is going to renew, they respond by offering you a much more reasonable price (or extra months at the same price) if you keep it on.

Baldytyke88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033703#Comment_82033703

That is why it's a scam, I have looked 3 times and I cannot cancel.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033040#Comment_82033040

I could introduce you to 3 people who have lost a 6 figure sum because for one reason or another they missed their non-autorenewal and then sustained a massive loss. I agree that some should make it easier to decline their renewal quote but it's an important safety net. In one case it was a relatively young person who'd had a stroke and was in a coma, before we get the usual response that there is no way its physically possible for you not to renew.