Car insurance confusion

[Mobius1]

I'm a 23 y/o male and last year my car insurance fully comp was £425 which includes discount for 4 years no claims. I had my renewal come today and it's £516. I now have an extra year's no claims (making it 5) and none of my details have changed. What gives?

I am insured with Direct Line, whom I was going to call and give a mouthful too. I thought I'd trudge the comparison websites first and to my horror their renewal quote doesn't seem so unreasonable compared to some. Aviva want nearly a grand (and that's with 2 months free cover apparently).

I had heard that insurance has gone up, but I wasn't expecting to pay nearly £100 more considering I've got an extra year's no claims. Have other people found this to be the case?

[boxtops]

Yes, premiums have gone up quite a bit in the last twelve months. Do shop around - we look around every time all our insurances are due. Sometimes there's no benefit in changing but other times, it's well worth it.

[Mobius1]

Thanks boxtops. I've used gocompare, comparethemarket and confused.com and I've also used numerous websites of companies that aren't on them, and got a few quotes by phone.

All the fully comp quotes are either slightly or significantly higher, the only way I can get my cover anywhere near the cost last year is to downgrade to third party f&t which I don't really want to do. Sounds like I might have no choice!

[BenMoney09]

I know ive had same problem with insurance , you see at the moment the pound is very low. So everyone is putting prices up, fuel, gas , electricity . The price comparison sites are good. But most of them only have similar insurance companies on them direct line, aviva and so on are not on them. Try diffrent insurers i went for admiral they were the best. You watch next year it will all go down in price. Also adding a named driver is cheaper than having your own policey.

[jg96]

Just recently been through all this. My son 28 4 years NCB no points did the comparison sites.Adding myself to the policy knocked off £48 for some reason.

[dizmouk2009]

jg96: This is the case with some insurance policies, I think it's because if you hold loads of NCB's and are of a mature age, the insurance company 'thinks' that you may be driving the vehicle when your son is not - only a guess though :)

Mobius1: You should do what you have said, contact them and threaten to leave them, they will get it lower! Take it from someone who has never paid more than the year before. My insurance is only £600 and I'm 24, 4 years NCB and have a DR10. Try Bell insurance or provident.

[dizmouk2009]

jg96* (spelling error :p)

[eash]

I used all the comparison websites you used as well as moneysupermarket and the same company came top on all of them, 1st Central, but at a different price (probably because the excess was different on all the comparison sites) I then went to 1st Central direct and it worked out cheaper then any of the comparison sites!

[grasscarp]

My renewal quote was high so I went on go compare and compare the market and found better deals. As you have already been advised adding a good driver can lower your quote, and I got better rate by adding my husband! Also for you could maybe try with a higher excess to get a lower premium. I ended up with Swiftcover.

[grasscarp]

Oh and I got £28 back by purchasing on the Swiftcover website accessed hrough Quidco. Quidco.com are a site which allows you to get money back on internet transactions.

[eash]

Thanks grasscarp, I never knew about that and have since joined up to quidco :-)

[Mobius1]

I just tried 1st Central and for some reason they want £1513! My car is barely worth that, so that won't be happening. Swiftcover won't cover for my address for some reason, even though I live with my partner who is covered with them. We moved after that cover was set up though, so I've always assumed they just moved it over.

I I have managed to get a quote from Coverbox, underwritten by co-op insurance, for £440 but this cover is based on the installation of a telematic tracking device in my vehicle which tracks peak and off peak miles and a £40 device and fitting fee. I probably only do 5000 miles in a year, and have overestimated my mileage for this quote, but they advise if one does fewer miles, excess premium for those miles is refunded upon the end/renewal of the policy.

Anybody have any experience with them? I'm tempted.

[eash]

Woah, that's loads! Wonder why 1st Central want that much... Weird. Sorry I didn't help in the end.... :-(

[welshlibranr]

I got my renewal notice today too! Mine had gone up by £80, I rang my insurers and said that I would not be renewing because of the huge increase in price, and lo and behold, she spoke to her manager and got £60 knocked off the price! However I found the same cover about £75 cheaper, so I'll be changing! but worth ringing them and asking for a discount! tell them your lowest quote, and they may match it just to keep your business......................

[Andyvon]

I've always found the most expensive companies are those who advertise on TV. Obviously policy holders pay for the massively expensive ads. I've been with Sabre for the last four years and I've just paid £136 to renew my fully comp. policy on my VW Golf. Last year it was £126 and the year before just £90.15 for the whole year. The car is 26 years old and I've owned it since 1987 with no claims. I'm 48 with 9 years NCB, but even if you are much younger it may be worth trying Sabre or other companies that don't spend huge amounts on advertising.

When I moaned to Sabre this month that my insurance had gone up again despite my never having made a claim in my life they told me I have to pay for all those uninsured and higher risk drivers who have accidents. When I suggested that those drivers cover the increases rather than people like me who keep my nose clean, Sabre said that they do pay extra - it's just that we all have to. I'm afraid that's why the premiums keep going up Mobius. At least that's the insurers' excuse.

[Mobius1]

Thanks for the advice guys. Eash: I didn't mean to suggest you weren't helpful at all, I was just surprised it was the highest quote after what you'd said. I am still very grateful that you even suggested them. Luck of the draw with these things it seems!

I will take a look a Sabre and see how I fare. If there's no joy I'll simply call Direct Line and ask if they're interested in beating coverbox's offer. If not, I'll be going with them!