Massive increase in car insurance

Mildly_Miffed

You're an insurer.
Two people ask you for a quote.

One has a completely clean record.
The other has been driven into three times in a couple of years.

Which do you think is more likely to cost you money in the next year?

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82192215#Comment_82192215

Two ostensibly identical drivers.
One gets hit regularly. The other never gets hit.

Is one driving in places with safer traffic conditions?
Is one driving much more defensively?

Now think about what a "not-at-fault" claim IS… It's one where the driver's own insurer has had all their costs covered by the other driver. So if you're being driven into regularly… will the next driver be uninsured? Do a runner and be untraceable?

As for your question… Quantify that extra premium, and prove it's entirely down to the at-fault driver from that claim.

UnsureAboutthis

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82191963#Comment_82191963

Hi buddy

@ThorOdinson

I'm a bit confused about how this works.

Say someone gets hit by an insured driver in a clear-cut, 100% non-fault accident—they admit fault, and you even have dashcam footage to prove it. Let's assume it happened twice within a week.You claim against their insurance directly, but you still notify your own insurer as required by your policy terms.Then, 6/7/11 months later, your insurance renewal comes up and the premium goes up because of the declared non-fault claim (even though both cases are fully closed).

!: At what stage do you claim back that extra premium cost from the fault driver's insurer?

2: Will legal cover (either on your car or home insurance) fight to recover that extra cost for you if you ask them?

I doubt most people even realise they can claim for that extra premium, or actually bother to do it.

If you can come back and clear up and heads up, good, if not, not to worry. Thanks in advance, mate!

ThorOdinson

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82192250#Comment_82192250

A lot of people don't realize they can claim this back.

If your renewal is a long way off then it's best to get some quotes and claim along with the other stuff like damage to your vehicle. If it's close you might just advise them it's coming up and will be added to the claim at that time.

They will try to fob you off and say they don't cover it, but legally it's a loss that they are liable for so don't take their nonsense.

chrisw

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82192627#Comment_82192627

I don't see how you can quantify that loss. If you have a non-fault accident and your next premium goes up, how do you know it's not just due to normal inflation or pricing?
Often by shopping around at renewal, the premium can be reduced to the pre-accident premium or less.

UnsureAboutthis

Hi

@ThorOdinson

@chrisw

Thank you both.

No offence buddy/Thor, I honestly can't see how that works either, though I don't doubt for a second that it as it worked out for you. If you don't mind me asking, when was your vehicle insurance actually due for renewal ie how long after the incident? (Thats why I gave the exmaple of ins being due for renewals many months after) Also, were there any specific rules, regulations, or legal points you cited when pushing back?

I completely get what you mean about being fobbed off—they definitely try it on.

No offence, but atm, as things stand I'm with CW - and await more info when you have a mo.

facade

The only situation where I can see it working is if you have received next year's quote and paid for the insurance in advance but the policy hasn't started. Then the accident happens under the old policy, so they re-quote due to the changed circumstances and it goes up. (The price is not "locked in" until the policy actually starts)

Then the increase over the original price must be due to the accident as that is the sole reason for the change.

ThorOdinson

Mine was due a couple of months after the accident so I was able to get some quotes without it and with the accident on, and quantify the cost exactly. It was about £80 difference, so I asked for £80 + £40 to cover the subsequent years up to year 5 where it has to be declared.

£120 isn't massive but younger drivers could be looking at thousands, so it's important that it works.

If your renewal is a long way out it gets trickier but there is also nothing stopping you doing some quotes on comparison sites there and then. That will give you a ballpark figure. If it's low they will probably just pay it to make you go away, if it's very high it's hard for them to argue that it will be down to zero by the time renewal comes around.

UnsureAboutthis

Update

I spoke with our son with the Tesla Performance - he has not had a chance to call his insurance, and/or try as per the three recommendations I made - I will update re price once I have it.