(Firstly, is it
really the case that
you have to insure a car to own it, if not SORNed? I know it has to be
taxed if not SORNed, but surely as long as
someone is insured to drive it, the
owner doesn't have to - in other words, can they send the black helicopters for you if it's in your driveway and taxed, but not insured, or only if it's on the road without insurance? For example, what about if someone from the motor repair trade is driving it - under their insurance that allows them to drive customers' vehicles; it seems unfair if the owner has to insure it
as well. Fair enough, if it's actually on the road, there has to be some insurance covering it. Anyway, to get back to Martin's 10 points ...)
1. Opt-in/out of autorenewal at
start of policy year - sounds good. Also, IMO, it should be out by default, with the customer having to choose to in.
2. Remove the NCB block to switching. Sounds good.
3. Last year's premium should be shown. Most definitely - in bold; in fact, it should be the most obvious thing on the form, legible before anything else (except perhaps the logo).
4. Reasons for increase should be given - sounds good, though I'd not be too bothered, if the old price was prominent, as the increase would then be obvious, and the customer could challenge it. If we're talking about things like rising crime/fraud/compensation levels
in general, that is; if the rise is due to changes in individual circumstances, such as speeding points, then - although the customer should know about those too. Yes, I'm not too bothered about this one, if 3. is done as above.
5. Cancelling by same means as signing - most definitely;
what's more, if it is in any way difficult - over 12 minutes' wait on a 'phone, or website only works with very particular browsers - there should be an email the customer could send to, and need to do nothing further other than cutting off the payment. In fact, obliging companies to publish an email address (something with an @ in it,
not a web address!) would be desirable in many more spheres than just this one!
6. More notice about renewals. I'm not at all convinced about this one; too much and one can easily forget. 28 days seems reasonable to me. (I know you've suggested a further reminder at 2 weeks, but lots - quite probably including me! - might then just ignore the first one!)
7. No cancellation fees for auto-renewed. I'm not too clear what you're suggesting here: if you mean
after the renewal date has passed, then I'd say it was reasonable to allow such a fee, if one was in place before renewal. (The
levels of cancellation fees is another matter: I think they should be no more than a month's policy value - but that's a separate matter.) If you're saying they charge a cancellation fee if you cancel a policy that would otherwise have auto-renewed and you do it
before the renewal, then I totally agree (would such a behaviour even be legal?).
8. Must ask about changes before issuing a new quote. I think they mostly do for discussed new quotes: if you're saying they must obtain confirmation of no change before an auto-renewal, and (which you sort of say) should notify the holder that the insurance will be suspended in the absence of such confirmation, then that sounds good.
9. Ban early deposit-taking. Yes.
10. Ban renewal fees. Not so sure - depends how clearly they're stated. Aren't they, in effect, just a premium rise? If they're being used as a way of hiding the rise, then I agree they should be banned, but if the renewal document (reminder, whatever you want to call it) shows clearly last year's premium and this year's
total (i. e. including any renewal fee
and anything else), then I don't think it matters what they
call all components of the total. Much like my answer to 4 (give reasons for increases) - as long as the old premium and new
total are both clear, I don't think it matters.
Other: I find it depressing that they
do auto-renew with an increase, given that I've nearly always been able to save, either by switching or calling back to the current one.
If old premium and new total were presented next to each other (one above the other), it'd be interesting to see how many actually did auto-renew. They could even offer a discount for doing so

!