Car insurance, how does this make sense?

[RobinBHM]

Its annoying but these days to get the best price one needs to switch insurers.

So, I went online and filled out details for price on the direct line site.

One of the questions is: "when did you purchase the car", now since this didnt seem important, I guessed it rather than digging out the paperwork. I entered Aug 2013.

I paid for the policy and when the documents arrived, my wife checked the details and actually I purchased the car on Aug 2012. I was then convinced , that I should phone up and get this corrected.........

And I did, now my policy has been re-calculated and I'm going to get a refund of £13.02.

I did ask why the date I purchased the car should have an influence on the premium, but the best answer the guy could come up was: "well youve had the car longer so its worth less" :?:

I wish they hadnt given me a refund, Ive had to endure a week of "I told you it was worth ringing up"

 

[Monkey Mark]

It's strange how they work it out.
The cars age didn't change so thinl that answer was tosh.
More likely you've had it longer so more likely to look after it than someone who changes cars regularly.

 

[RogerS]

You don't need to switch insurers but simply go through the motions.

My recent renewal £205. Online the best I came up with was £157 but a higher excess. Mind you, my existing insurer was there at £168!
Armed with this information, I rang my existing insurer. £145 !! Same terms? Yessir. Result.

It gets better. The paperwork came through and found that their computer system had increased my compulsory excess from £95 to £195. Rang them back. "Need to speak to the underwriters. I'll call you back tomorrow".

Tomorrow came. "Yes, the computer system made a mistake. It is now back at £95 and as a goodwill gesture, we've reduced your voluntary excess from £250 to £0". Result =D>

 

[tomatwark]

When I started to employ people and added a named driver to the van policy I had to pay £12.50.

Ok I thought that's fine and paid up.

When I added a second driver the same applied.

When I added a third driver they gave me a £20 refund.

All drivers were clean licence holders, all with over 10 years driving.

When I bought the second Van, I wanted to see if I could get no claims on it, as the no claims was on the first one.

My broker said no AXA do not do this for vans, so you will have to pay a full premium or cancel the first policy with a penalty and insure both vans from scratch.

Shopped around found I could and insured the second van elsewhere with a no claims discount, when the first van came up for renewal came away from the broker I was using.

The name of my new insurer AXA.

 

[RobinBHM]

You don't need to switch insurers but simply go through the motions.

My recent renewal £205. Online the best I came up with was £157 but a higher excess. Mind you, my existing insurer was there at £168!
Armed with this information, I rang my existing insurer. £145 !! Same terms? Yessir. Result.

It gets better. The paperwork came through and found that their computer system had increased my compulsory excess from £95 to £195. Rang them back. "Need to speak to the underwriters. I'll call you back tomorrow".

Tomorrow came. "Yes, the computer system made a mistake. It is now back at £95 and as a goodwill gesture, we've reduced your voluntary excess from £250 to £0". Result =D>

I had been insured with direct line for a few years, when the renewal quote came through each year, I went onto their website, obtained a quote and then yhry would honour it. Last year, their online was much more expensive because it was recognised I wasnt a new customer. I then hadbto switch and went to Aviva. Now of course Direct line is cheap, as I am a new customer.

 

[RobinBHM]

One thing I have found is that adding a spouse as a named driver can often resilt in a lower premium, sometimes evennif that driver has made a claim.

 

[dickm]

When they got married, son-in-law added our daughter on to his car policy and the insurers immediately reduced the premium. Think he just accepted it and didn't ask questions.

 

[t8hants]

Don't ever put you are some type of engineer, they load the premium for that as well.
My mate insuring his brand new Triumph absentmindedly put on his form 'agricultural engineer' on his on line form, and got a quote.
He then remembered on all his other insurance he had stated 'mobile welder' - low and behold when he resubmitted the form, £175 less.
Apparently 'Engineers' are more likely to tinker and change from manufacturers spec'.