Finding Postcode 'Riskiness' for Car Insurance

Ologhai

Hello all.

I just moved house into what I think is a slightly better area. I'm vaguely aware that car insurance companies will use your postcode to determine the risk of theft and such to help determine the premium.

I'm sure if I moved into a riskier postcode, they'd want to charge me more, and so it's natural to wonder whether, if I move into a less risky postcode, I should get a partial refund! :rolleyes:

Before I can discuss this with the insurance company (and I'll need to notify them of a change of address anyway), I'd need to find a way to establish what the 'riskinesses' of the two postcodes are (old house and new house) to see how they compare.

Does anyone know of any way to find out postcode 'riskiness'?

Voyager2002

Try going to the website of a different insurance company (not connected with your insurer) and get quotes for your old and new address. The difference (assuming everything else stays the same) will indicate your answer.

However, I doubt if you will get any money back unless you cancel your policy and take out a new one, and in that case there would be an admin fee to wipe out any savings.

Steve1981

Voyager2002 wrote: »

However, I doubt if you will get any money back unless you cancel your policy and take out a new one, and in that case there would be an admin fee to wipe out any savings.

I'd pretty much have to agree with the above,
depending when in the policy year you make this ammendment will have an effect on this (ie how long is left at the 'lower' risk postcode compared to the amount of time at the 'higher' risk postcode)

with an admin fee likely to be about £21 this will reduce any refund

where I work staff in sales think of certain postcodes as being bad risks so when they come through for a quote they think of it as a 'lost' sale before even starting. some of these are M23, L8 and some of the HA postcodes. though as most insurers rate against their own/ group claims experience if they dont insurer many cars in a certain area, then there is a reduced chance of theft or malicious damage claims.

so as an example - whilst its believed that in L8 we arent competetive, as we dont insurer many vehicles there we are infact fairly well priced at present.

sorry I rambled a bit but i sort of think i explained myself

jeanette251978

Also if you move closer to a city centre this can make it a higher risk!

emg

when I moved house I got a partial refund on my car insurance as my new area was less risky. That was from Direct Line.

Ologhai

Thanks for the replies!

It doesn't sound like anyone knows of a 'postcode riskiness' checker website or something like that?

jeanette251978

Ologhai wrote: »

Thanks for the replies!

It doesn't sound like anyone knows of a 'postcode riskiness' checker website or something like that?

I dont think that there is a website as all insurers as im sure they all are different, You have already moved house and you MUST inform your insurer and pay the premium (if it is a higher risk area). Just phone them and tell them! they will be more than happy to tell you. You cant get out of it, tell them or risk any claim being thrown out!

niklis

Well, you can get an indication at https://www.tempcover.com, where you can get online quotes on step 2.

JonBoy_SCFC

just phone them and tell them about it!!!

there might not be an issue they might give you money back and you could be pleasantly surprised. if not then easy to deal with it afterwards:money:

shelly

JonBoy_SCFC wrote: »

just phone them and tell them about it!!!

there might not be an issue they might give you money back and you could be pleasantly surprised. if not then easy to deal with it afterwards:money:

I think the OP will have sorted it by now.....this thread is nearly a year old :rolleyes:

LadyIndecisive

Op - you can find local crime statistics here using postcode, including theft of and theft from motor vehicles. However, this is only an indication of why insurers might rate a particular area higher than others. Other criminality such as fraud levels, flood risk etc could affect the rating. HTH.

http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/