Pie-eyedpiper
Member
Sorry I re-checked, it was up £500. For the 3.
Ammended post now above.
Insurance costs - Renewal 2024 / new policies ?
- Thread starter tnpali01
- Start date
Ammended post now above.
How can it be they can justify £500 MORE unless you claimed?
Pie-eyedpiper
Member
That is £500 over the 3 policies, not just the one car.
All insurance companies seem to do it, your first years premium is at a discounted rate, then at "auto renewal" time they hike it up, hoping that you're too unobservant to notice, or too lazy to change.
There is no such thing as loyalty discounts.
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Pie-eyedpiper
Member
Have you shopped around,gone on Compare the Market, Money Supermarket etc?
You do pay a small commission premium with them, but it's easy to compare. THEN contact the company directly and they will usually beat their own quote?
Yes, Done all the comparison sites... even the best quotes which I got from Compare the Market and Go Compare 30% + more than last years which I may have to go with but with bigger XSs. played around with all the parameters to see . Called them direct also today to try to understand , and see if speaking to someone may help .
I think the reason our policies have increased is because the Americans introduced Copart to our Insurance companies.
There is far less paperwork when you can simply pass the problem onto them.
And like most big American companies they start off offering their services at a good rate, and once they`ve got their feet under the table they increase their prices.
Look at Uber.
I was with Onecall paying £300ish for the past 5 years, this year it increased to £580.00, so I found Darwin Insurance and paid £380.00
There is far less paperwork when you can simply pass the problem onto them.
And like most big American companies they start off offering their services at a good rate, and once they`ve got their feet under the table they increase their prices.
Look at Uber.
I was with Onecall paying £300ish for the past 5 years, this year it increased to £580.00, so I found Darwin Insurance and paid £380.00
I'm with Darwin, renewal due in a few months. I maybe back here with what the new rate is.
That reminds me I have to cancel their auto-renewal policy.
Not sure if anyone reads money saving expert or watches the Martin Lewis show. There are a couple of things to consider.
1 play round with your job title since that can make a difference. I'm not suggesting you lie btw!
2 ring up the insurance company and see "what they can do" Some insurers have a quota of discounts they offer.
I know from experience that so.e of the "direct" products can be a PITA since they charge less because it is all on-line and there is no Helpline. That's annoying!
1 play round with your job title since that can make a difference. I'm not suggesting you lie btw!
2 ring up the insurance company and see "what they can do" Some insurers have a quota of discounts they offer.
I know from experience that so.e of the "direct" products can be a PITA since they charge less because it is all on-line and there is no Helpline. That's annoying!
James Barrass
New Member
My insurance renewal increased nearly £200 as I turned 70 years of age,all other details were the same on my 2001 A2 .Went on a comparison site and just paying £60 extra.
Pie-eyedpiper
Member
Was that increase with "automatic renewal"?
Insurance companies always hike the premium up in the second year etc, once they think they have you hooked.
Little Dog
A2OC Donor
I put this to my wife’s insurer and they describe it as an urban myth. However they are always able to help us with a discount that we wouldn’t get if we automatically renewed. I have cars that are not on automatic renewal and i don’t experience the same need to challenge the quote.
Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
Spent time getting some quotes this afternoon. Current insurer LV= quoted £340.21 - last year £228.99 - that is with a modified car, full NCB, 5,000 miles, £350 total excess, lost keys, legal insurance, retired, Wiltshire, son (aged 50 ) as 2nd driver
1st Compare the Market. Lowest was Esure Flex at £305, then Shelia's Wheels at £320. Noticed that both excluded keys - Shelias wanted £20 for keys.
2nd Green Light Insurance - they came up in a duckduckgo search as specialising in modified cars. Spent 1/2 hr filling out the form (about 75 questions) when it crashed! So I ran them to see if they could retrieve the data (not much hope really but worth a call). What car have you got I was asked. Audi A2 I replied. Is it diesel or petrol I was asked. Diesel I said. Oh, we don't insure diesels !!!!!!!!!!!!!! We only insure hot hatches.
All the web site says is:
Edit: Had over 40 quotes from CtM. About 1/4 in £300-£400, 1/4 £400-£500, 1/4 £500-£650, 1/4 > £1,000. Max was Carole Nash at £1,639 !
Edit 2: tried https://www.car.co.uk/motor-insurance
Tried Admiral. Got to the last screen and:
Edit 3: rang Admiral. Advisor said the problem was I already had home insurance policy with them (I forgot that) so the system crashed! I should have logged in first. Crazy.
She then tried to sell me a multi-policy plan with a discount (unspecified) but I would have to have a short motor policy until Nov and then pay for both policies for a year. No way! They are bound to hike the premiums again before giving the discount. She then quoted me for a full year at £380. No thanks
1st Compare the Market. Lowest was Esure Flex at £305, then Shelia's Wheels at £320. Noticed that both excluded keys - Shelias wanted £20 for keys.
2nd Green Light Insurance - they came up in a duckduckgo search as specialising in modified cars. Spent 1/2 hr filling out the form (about 75 questions) when it crashed! So I ran them to see if they could retrieve the data (not much hope really but worth a call). What car have you got I was asked. Audi A2 I replied. Is it diesel or petrol I was asked. Diesel I said. Oh, we don't insure diesels !!!!!!!!!!!!!! We only insure hot hatches.
All the web site says is:
Avoid!
Edit: Had over 40 quotes from CtM. About 1/4 in £300-£400, 1/4 £400-£500, 1/4 £500-£650, 1/4 > £1,000. Max was Carole Nash at £1,639 !
Edit 2: tried https://www.car.co.uk/motor-insurance
Why is the Sterling Owners Club more expensive? Maybe the give free stickers
Tried Admiral. Got to the last screen and:
No wonder people just pay up on renewal and get on with their life with a lighter wallet!
Edit 3: rang Admiral. Advisor said the problem was I already had home insurance policy with them (I forgot that) so the system crashed! I should have logged in first. Crazy.
She then tried to sell me a multi-policy plan with a discount (unspecified) but I would have to have a short motor policy until Nov and then pay for both policies for a year. No way! They are bound to hike the premiums again before giving the discount. She then quoted me for a full year at £380. No thanks
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Pie-eyedpiper
Member
I went on Money Supermarket and the cheapest quote was with 1st Central (nope never heard of them either) and after putting my details in (claim from 2 yrs ago when another car hit our caravan on A1, LV paid the other party out, because it was easier for them). The quote I went with was about £350, they had about 5 different quotes at different prices/cover.
They emailed shortly later wanting confirmation from LV about no claims, for my wife and myself. Then they said that my wife had been involved in an incident 2 weeks after the accident. She hadn't and LV confirmed this.
A week later they decided to up my premium by nearly £200, so I decided to go back on comparison websites and found Churchill at about the same amount as 1st Central quoted me originally. I rang up to query and to cancel. Their snotty advisor had the temerity to criticise comparison websites. I didn't get the chance to say to her that without comparison websites 1st Central wouldn't exist, I've never heard of them, and noone I know has ever heard of them.
Went in their "advisor chat" today to cancel and they have included something called "excess protect" for £27.99. In asked them to remove that from my settlement figure as it's something I have never heard of, never mind signed up for. They said it's not possible. Another reason why I'm cancelling, their customer service via appalling.
So I advise you to avoid 1st Central like the plague.
.
They emailed shortly later wanting confirmation from LV about no claims, for my wife and myself. Then they said that my wife had been involved in an incident 2 weeks after the accident. She hadn't and LV confirmed this.
A week later they decided to up my premium by nearly £200, so I decided to go back on comparison websites and found Churchill at about the same amount as 1st Central quoted me originally. I rang up to query and to cancel. Their snotty advisor had the temerity to criticise comparison websites. I didn't get the chance to say to her that without comparison websites 1st Central wouldn't exist, I've never heard of them, and noone I know has ever heard of them.
Went in their "advisor chat" today to cancel and they have included something called "excess protect" for £27.99. In asked them to remove that from my settlement figure as it's something I have never heard of, never mind signed up for. They said it's not possible. Another reason why I'm cancelling, their customer service via appalling.
So I advise you to avoid 1st Central like the plague.
.
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PlasticMac
Member
Seems likely they are no more:
Mac.
Mac.
2work
Well Known Member
Morning Mac,
Not sure this is the same company Sir. 1st Central Insurance are still trading toady:
Car Insurance Quotes | 1st Central
1st Central offers 5 Star Defaqto-rated car insurance at a competitive price and benefits from a 24/7 claims service. Get a quote within minutes today!
www.1stcentralinsurance.com
As I shop around for the best deals every year I did come across 1st Central a few years ago and had Project 250 insured with them for 2 years until I moved onto the next better deal. Not stating they’re the best to go with by any means but we never had issue with them in any way, apart from their price hike for year 3 so walked away.
My neighbour also used 1st central and had an altercation a couple of years ago where someone rear ended him and the driver behind claimed it was his fault. His NCD was removed whilst the claim was being dealt with which eventually and rightfully was seen in his favour where his NCD was restored. The customer services were actually really good and helpful as I was the one chatting to them throughout proceedings on his behalf. I’d balling reuse this company if their offering was competitive next time I renew, obviously it’s not all about finding the cheapest deal. It’s about finding the best possible all-round cover for the money.
Edit: Just remembered that my neighbours altercation was towards the end of the annual cover so when he renewed his policy with them it was of course much higher than previous as he currently had no NCD. As soon as the ‘battle’ of who was to blame was over, on top of his NCD being fully restored, he also got refunded the additional costs taking his premium back down to what it was the previous year. He had no complaints about them either but has since moved onto a better deal which I think we all generally do these days. Only just noticed Al’s @Pie-eyedpiper comments on an earlier post, I guess it’s down the individual you are fortunate or unfortunate to speak to when dealing with customer services.
Kind regards,
Tom
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PlasticMac
Member
Looks like you're right Tom. Not the same company.
I think they both are/were, insurance brokers, rather insurance companies.
Mac.
I think they both are/were, insurance brokers, rather insurance companies.
Mac.
Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
Hi Tom. Yes customer service is important but difficult to gauge in advance personally and one has to rely on other's experience.
I'm leaning towards Shelia's Wheels (2nd cheapest I've found so far) but at £320 is still £100 more than I'm currently paying. The comparison site said they were well rated by Which?
Edit: Just looked at Trust Pilot for Shelia's Wheels. Now getting lots of bad reviews. Seems they have been acquired by esure that also gets bad reviews. Very difficult to speak to an advisor - one has to convince an AI robot first.
I'm leaning towards Shelia's Wheels (2nd cheapest I've found so far) but at £320 is still £100 more than I'm currently paying. The comparison site said they were well rated by Which?
Edit: Just looked at Trust Pilot for Shelia's Wheels. Now getting lots of bad reviews. Seems they have been acquired by esure that also gets bad reviews. Very difficult to speak to an advisor - one has to convince an AI robot first.
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