no claims on car insurance

toasterman

I phoned my car insurance provider earlier (Admiral), and got told something I wasn't aware of. I'm wondering if this is the norm, as I've only had a car a couple of years and it hasn't affected me before.

I asked about changing cars mid way through a year. My renewal is due in about 3 weeks, but I can't change cars til at least the end of March. I will likely have to change cars this year as mine is on its last legs, some of the windows don't open, and it has no air con).
So while on the phone I got them to run some dummy quotes for cars I might be buying - two rough estimates based on make, model, year.. etc.. and one for an exact car that a friend of mine has offered to sell me at the end of March.

My current car is an old banger (£440 insurance third party)... but I've been saving, I'm single, no kids, etc...
So one of the rough estimates I asked about was a Toyota Celica - it'll be an extra £600 a year for my insurance (that fully comp), and they have it in a group 16 (even though Parker's says its a 13).
I mentioned that I'd had a quote from somewhere else for about £200 lower than this, and they told me that if you move mid way through a year, you can't take the partial no claims, so I'd lose everything I've earnt this year....is that true?

It's annoying if so.. it'd mean I'd have to move at the time of renewal of the policy, lose part of a years no claims (which is worth a fair bit to me because of age, accident history, location) OR pay an extra £200 in my first year of insuring that car with them.
Actually, 6 months no claims isn't worth £200, but I'd really like to get to 3 years to protect it.

For those of you interested, the other cars I got quotes for were:
Hyundai Coupe (in Admiral's system, it's a group 23 insurance group, but according to Parker's it's a 10). It'd increase my insurance by £300 (fully comp).

and
A Renault Clio (it's the sensible option a friend wants to sell me, but I've been driving a Rover 200 for the last 2 years, and starting to worry I'm being TOO sensible in life) was an increase of about £160 (fully comp).
Also my excess drops to zero on that model of car, I know the full service history of it because said friend has owned it from new, its the diesel model that does 65mpg, and it's measured for road tax on emissions (which are low) so road tax is only £35 a year.
It's also 3 years newer than either car above.

It's slightly disappointing theres a £15 admin charge to change vehicles too, even if you're upgrading, and giving them more money.

Before anyone suggests it, because of previous accident history, I can't use any of the car insurance comparison sites and move in the next 3 weeks, because I've got 3 recorded accidents (only 1 was actually a claim because of anything I did.. other was once vandalised, and admin errors from company car), and most only let you enter two. Admiral were by far the cheapest when I said I wanted to add 3 accidents.
After this May, one of those accidents will no longer have happened "in the last 3 years", so I'd be shocked if I couldn't get next year's insurance a hell of a lot cheaper.

Quentin

You cannot take a part year's no claim bonus with you if you cancel your policy part way through the year.

lisyloo

you can't take the partial no claims, so I'd lose everything I've earnt this year....is that true?

Yes you can only take complete years.
But if you renew at end of Feb and get a new car end of March, then you would only lose 1 month.
Note that you might have to pay a cancellation fee so check that out as well.
Another option would be to get monthly insurance (try maybe ecarinsurance.co.uk).
I don't have any connection with them but I know lots of people who are happy with ebikeinsurance which is a related company.
They also have a "rapid discount accelerator" that might be of interest to you.
Note that I do not mean an annual contract that you pay for monthly on credit. I mean a proper "pay as you go" product.

It's slightly disappointing theres a £15 admin charge to change vehicles too, even if you're upgrading, and giving them more money.

Maybe but they don't include this in your initial premium, so your premiums will be cheaper because admin is now excluded.
Plus people like me (who keep their cars for 10 years) don't want to subsidise people that chop and change a lot. No offence intended but I think the people that use admin should pay for it and the people who don't use it shouldn't be forced to subsidise others. Seems fair to me to allocate the costs to people that use the service rather than charge everyone regardless.
BTW - Thats quite a cheap fee, some can be much higher, so maybe console yourself with that.

toasterman

lisyloo wrote: »

Yes you can only take complete years.
But if you renew at end of Feb and get a new car end of March, then you would only lose 1 month.
Another option would be to get monthly insurance (try maybe ecarinsurance.co.uk).
Note that I do not mean an annual contract that you pay for monthly on credit. I mean a proper "pay as you go" product.

Ouch. That's more than double my annual fee.. even allowing for the admin fees and loss of a month or so's no claims at Admiral, I'm still better off there.
I have just run a load of numbers through confused and moneysupermarket and they're all coming out higher too. I think I'll stick with Admiral for the moment.
One thing I did notice that one of my accidents is now more than 3 years old, and as a lot of companies only care about the last 3, I can almost discount that one...which is handy because it was a notified accident of zero value - and loads of insurers won't let you have a zero-value-damage accident.

Interestingly, I thought I'd try Tescos, because I tried it a few months ago on a Celica, and it came out about £875.. which seems massively cheaper than anywhere else.
With a few test models from Autotrader, I've worked something bizarre out - a 2000 1.8l model (with the premium pack, leather seats, climate control..etc) comes out around £800-900.
The exact same car, but without the premium pack, bog standard seats, 2001 registered.. is over £1200. I've no idea why a car that might only be a few months newer, should be £400 more a year to insure, but I guess thats the way their statistics work it out.

While playing though, I did work out Admiral are cheaper than Tesco on a few models for me though.. so I reckon as the quote they gave me was for a 2001 model, if I phone them about a 2000 model, they'll also be cheaper.
I can keep the dream alive a bit longer.. and the 2000 model would also be cheaper to buy so I wouldn't have to save for as long. I don't have any interest in racing people - I just think it's such a sexy looking car.

lisyloo wrote: »

Maybe but they don't include this in your initial premium, so your premiums will be cheaper because admin is now excluded.
Plus people like me (who keep their cars for 10 years) don't want to subsidise people that chop and change a lot. No offence intended but I think the people that use admin should pay for it and the people who don't use it shouldn't be forced to subsidise others. Seems fair to me to allocate the costs to people that use the service rather than charge everyone regardless.
BTW - Thats quite a cheap fee, some can be much higher, so maybe console yourself with that.

I guess you're right. Although I'd have thought upgrading to a more expensive car, on more expensive insurance.. they might waive the admin fee.
Thanks for your advice.

lisyloo

Although I'd have thought upgrading to a more expensive car, on more expensive insurance.. they might waive the admin fee.

You have nothing to lose by asking.
Be cheeky...go on....you know you want to.

shelly

toasterman wrote: »

but I'd really like to get to 3 years to protect it.

I might be wrong but I thought you have to have 4 yrs NCB to be able to protect it?