Cancelling Car Insurance

[Simon_States]

My insurance is up for renewal on the 12th Jan 2006 and I have found a much better quote. How easy is to cancel my car insurance?. I usually pay by direct debit and to the best of my knowledge have paid the last amount this month for the insurance for 2005. However on my renewal docs it says I had 14 days to cancel the new policy and that I must have paid the renewal premium, which I dont recall coming out of my direct debit. Will I get charged for changing?.

[tigga]

You wont get charged if you tell them you dont want to renew your policy on expiry, but make sure you do tell them in advance or they may automatically renew.

If you cancell during a policy, there is normally a (not very small) charge !.

[Electrochem]

I recently did this myself and it is quuite easy. Do take into account these points though.

1 Don't have more than 1 policy covering the vehicle. In the event of a claim both insurance companies are very unlikely to pay up.

2 Ask for your new insurance policy to start on a set date and cancel your existing policy on that date. You will probably have to contact your existing insurer on that date as they don't tend to do it with advance notice.

3 Cancel any direct debit instructions for your existing company by instructing your bank to pay no more DDs to that company.

4 I got a refund, albeit small on the existing 2 months of my policy.

5 Make sure that you get something in writing from your existing insurer stating that the policy has been cancelled and detailing any NCD etc.

6 Make sure that you have no outstanding claims.

7 Most important of all - make sure that you are insured!

I saved close on �300 by switching insurers when I bought a second car.

Good luck!

[Simon_States]

Thanks for all the advice. I rang them today and arranged to cancel on my expiry date. Finally moved away from CIS and saved �120 on my insurance with Churchill!!. :)