Chicken bald back

[Chookiehen]

I'm fuming. Even phoning round, getting quotes and trying to get lower quotes, I'm still going to have to pay more for my car insurance this year, even though I have a clean license, no accidents or claims, and 10 years NCB. So I'm considering dropping the legal protection to get the price down a bit, and am wondering what others think.

 

I've only claimed on my insurance twice, once on am ice skid, so I didn't need the legal advice then, and once when an old man crashed into me, whilst I wasn't moving. Didn't need it then either.

 

Has anyone ever used it, and was it worth the extra premiums?

[abwsco]

I always have the legal cover and have used it although it was a long time ago. It was worth it then so have carried on with it. Has car insurance gone up in general as our pemium has been dropping each year, sorry.

[docsquid]

You might find your premium is being put up because of an increase in theft in your area, even if nothing else has changed about your driving record or car. If your area has been re-classified as a higher risk area, then your theft premium will go up.

 

Worth looking to see if there is anything you can reduce e.g. can you restrict your mileage, or are you paying for business use that you don't use? Also how you describe your occupation - I was a medically-qualified University Lecturer, but describing myself as "Doctor" got a much higher premium than University Lecturer.

[theherd123]

Its funny this thread should crop up as we are renewing our insurance at the moment too.

 

We will be having legal cover as I feel its worth every penny. I had to use it once about 5 years ago when some idiot crashed into the back of me at about 40mph. The chap siad he didnt see me but as I drove a bright green jeep at the time and he was busy chatting on his mobile phone I begged to differ. The legal cover really came into its own and was a brilliant hassle free way of dealing with the claim - not just for the car but my injuries as well.

 

Its terrible you cant get a cheaper rate Chookiehen. Have you tried all the comparison sites?

Ive used 2 and even with putting in identical information it has given me different quotes from the same company!

[Charlottechicken]

I've just renewed my car insurance with the same insurer as the nearest quotes on comparison sites (following the moneysavingexpert guide) were for much less cover and higher excesses I am with Zurich, and get free breakdown cover, free legal cover, the works in fact, and my certificate is a plastic card too, my excess is £100. My insurance has gone up by around £30 even though I have another years NCD and the car is worth less as it is a year older!!

 

We have had an increase in petty car crime round by me though, a drunk went down the road in the early hours one day in July and smashed windows and mirrors on eight vehicles, not mine thankfully though, so I imagine this put the stats up A neighbour who is a nurse was coming home at the time, saw him, and whilst she was on the phone to police reporting him (who wouldn't come out as they were all busy in the City Centre) he said hello to her

 

I learned something though. One of the victims, who was just visiting, phoned Autoglass, who replaced his side window for just £60 the same day, I think his car was a fairly new Peugeot too

[abwsco]

We have had an increase in petty car crime round by me though, a drunk went down the road in the early hours one day in July and smashed windows and mirrors on eight vehicles, not mine thankfully though, so I imagine this put the stats up A neighbour who is a nurse was coming home at the time, saw him, and whilst she was on the phone to police reporting him (who wouldn't come out as they were all busy in the City Centre) he said hello to her

 

Oh, that's not good as there's just been a bloke arrested here for vandalising 100 cars He was putting deep scratches on the doors and it didn't matter if they were on driveways either. Oddly enough our road wasn't done but nearly all around were and no he didn't live on our road.

[Willow]

I've never used the legal cover but it is one of those things that when you need it you really need it ! How much difference in price would dropping it make. As well as checking whether a mileage limitation is doable check they have noted if you are married (I wasn't always getting that recorded as I use a different surname), do they know if you have off road parking ?

 

The occupation is an interesting one for people with difficult to categorise jobs. I'd love to see a list with weightings.

[chickric]

The occupation is an interesting one for people with difficult to categorise jobs. I'd love to see a list with weightings.

 

There's a bit on the MSE site about tweeking your occupation to reduce your insurance . Here.

 

Unfortunately mine is already the lowest.

[Olly]

A word of warning - if you repeatedly apply for quotes and change your details too many times, it may trigger as a possible fraud indicator. It's certainly worth trying a different description, but I would be cautious about trying repeatedly with different occupations.

 

As far as the legal cover is concerned - what would you use it for?

If you are involved in an accident and have a personal injury claim, you would almost certainly be able to get a 'no win, no fee' arrangement with a solicitor. If you are sued because someone else says you caused an accident, your insurance policy would normally cover defending the claim. If it covers other areas of legal advice, then it may be worthwhile but I'd be interested to know if anyone on here has ever used theirs.

[Chickendoodle]

I am an insurance broker. We have around 600 motor clients with large fleet policies, so probably over 2000 vehicles and I think the legal protection cover had been used twice in the last 12 months (we actually give it free). This has only been for injuries or for a no fault accident where our client didn't have comprehensive cover. If you have comprehensive cover any damage will be dealt with by your own insurers and you would only ever need to claim back your excess, hire car fees, injury or any other expenses. Most garages will give you a courtesy car so in most claims it will just be the excess to recover which is only a case of sending a letter!

 

If you are injured there are loads of no win no fee companies who will deal with your claim - equally if you need a hire car and the accident is not your fault there are specialist uninsured loss recovery companies who will do this for you and you dont need to pay them(they will also deal with the injury and appoint solicitors for you). Vehicle recovery companies will even refer you to them as they get paid commission for doing this.

 

My opinion is you don't need to pay an annual fee for it as you can get most things you need done for free if you don't mind making a few calls.

 

The uninsured loss recovery firms get their money back in many ways through you and anyone selling the cover is also making lots of money.

 

Unfortunately insurance companies tend to frighten people into thinking they need more cover than they do!

[Leicester_H]

Hi

 

I assume that you've tried comparison sites like confused.com ?

 

I always check there. This year, More Th>n sent me a renewal quote (5% up on last year). The RAC quote on confused.com for similar cover was 10% less - so I phoned More th>n and they matched the cheaper quote - so I stayed with them.

 

My husband did the same - his company also matched the cheaper option.

 

H

[Willow]

Wow that money saving expert link for occupations is great ! My job title is never on any insurance broker lists so the poor agent is always trying to find a fit and I sometimes suspect they select something unrelated as it's so difficult to place. I've bookmarked that and will have a play before I go or quotes next time.

 

Lots of other good advice here as well. I think I'll bookmark this link with my bookmarks for the various broker sites in my car insurance folder.

[Chookiehen]

I'm assuming my premium has risen due to car crime in the area, although, as far as I can see from reading the local paper, there doesn't seem to have been a spate of incidents at any point of the last year (unlike our old house, where someone was freed from the local police station, and walked home, up and down the streets of the village, slashing the car tyres on every car he saw - nearly 150 cars).

 

My mileage is estimated at 5000 - I use the car less and less as petrol prices rise, and really only use it for the odd trip to Edinburgh, and the car is an ancient old Scenic, worth next to nothing! I've removed chookiehubbie from the policy (only been driving for two years, and he managed to skid on ice last winter, destroying a farmers fence and ended up in a field of cows).

 

I find the price comparison sites really frustrating - you put in your details, and they come up with all these fantastic quotes, but when you look into them properly, there's always a catch - the price includes a cash back amount that you have to claim in 6 months time, the price includes a voluntary excess way above anything I want to pay as an excess, or you click on the link, and the price magically rises by £50 once you get to the insurers website!

 

I'm just going to have to suck it up, and accept that I'm paying extra for all the muppets driving around, thinking they're above the law, and not bothering with insurance.

[Leicester_H]

My mileage is estimated at 5000

Same here - my policy states this

 

I've removed chookiehubbie from the policy (only been driving for two years, and he managed to skid on ice last winter, destroying a farmers fence and ended up in a field of cows).

My price is LOWER if OH on it - even though he NEVER drives my car

 

I find the price comparison sites really frustrating - you put in your details, and they come up with all these fantastic quotes, but when you look into them properly, there's always a catch - the price includes a cash back amount that you have to claim in 6 months time, the price includes a voluntary excess way above anything I want to pay as an excess, or you click on the link, and the price magically rises by £50 once you get to the insurers website!

Have you looked recently - I haven't found this

I'm just going to have to suck it up, and accept that I'm paying extra for all the muppets driving around, thinking they're above the law, and not bothering with insurance.

I paid £192 for fully comp, 5000 miles, personal business use, protected no-claims bonus (for life), £150 total excess, legal assistance for my 10YO Rav 4x4.

[Chookiehen]

I tried the price comparison websites yesterday morning, so yes, the experience was recent.

 

Last year, for the same car, same mileage, comprehensive cover, protected NCB, I paid £145. This year, the cheapest I can find is £176, - with chookiehubbie on the policy, it goes through the roof, due to his claim.

 

It used to be that you could find a half decent quote online, then phone round the companies and get it lowered again, especially as your NCB built up - I've done it every year since I got my first car. This year it's just not worked. When I've spoken to companies, the only way I've been able to reduce my premium is by changing the policy - dropping legal cover, dropping the courtesy car, etc.

 

Like I said, people like us, paying our insurance are paying to cover the folk who don't.

[abwsco]

Are you a member of Quidco as it's defiantely worth checking on there to see what cashback insurers are paying. If you're going to go with the price of £176 they might offer some cashback so you should get some money back. I say should as occasionally purchases don't track and even an enquiry doesn't get you your cashback.

[Charlottechicken]

Last year, for the same car, same mileage, comprehensive cover, protected NCB, I paid £145. This year, the cheapest I can find is £176, - with chookiehubbie on the policy, it goes through the roof, due to his claim.

 

 

Blimey, I wish my insurance premium started with a 1 I couldn't get it lower than £200 with a really old Metro, now it's up to over £300 because of the car no doubt (Rover 25, 2005 model one of the last completed cars off the tracks ) It must be the area and the fact I have to park on the road, oh and the nutters who damage parked cars for sport and the folk who can't be bothered to pay for insurance etc, etc .