[Pond]

Another incidence of insurance premium disparity...

My daughter's car insurance is up for renewal mid April. First renewal with 1 years NCB.
Went on my favoured comparison site (confused) to see what she should be paying.
Hastings Direct came back with a quote of £666.04 which I think is pretty good for an 18 year old with one year NCB in a 120bhp Mini Cooper.

Got the email today from her existing lot with the renewal premium, who supposedly 'specialise' in young drivers' policies.

£1,775.55. Yep, over 1100 quid more than the other quote. Same criteria, same cover, same black box, same excess. I sent them a snotty email but they probably won't read it.

[E60525d]

Originally Posted by Pond

Another incidence of insurance premium disparity...

My daughter's car insurance is up for renewal mid April. First renewal with 1 years NCB.
Went on my favoured comparison site (confused) to see what she should be paying.
Hastings Direct came back with a quote of £666.04 which I think is pretty good for an 18 year old with one year NCB in a 120bhp Mini Cooper.

Got the email today from her existing lot with the renewal premium, who supposedly 'specialise' in young drivers' policies.

£1,775.55. Yep, over 1100 quid more than the other quote. Same criteria, same cover, same black box, same excess. I sent them a snotty email but they probably won't read it.

It's nothing new, has been going on for years.

In my 16 years of driving I don't think I ever renewed with the same company at renewal time, a different company has always been cheaper.

I think so many people have been caught out by this over the years which is why you hear about it more.

[Blacktemplar]

Originally Posted by E60525d

It's nothing new, has been going on for years.

In my 16 years of driving I don't think I ever renewed with the same company at renewal time, a different company has always been cheaper.

I think so many people have been caught out by this over the years which is why you hear about it more.

What's doubly frustrating is that you get some ridiculous renewal quote, but when you call them with a lower quote from another provider there's usually little or no resistance to price-matching...

"I'll need to check with my manager..." (mutes phone for 2 minutes while opening a fresh packet of crisps)... "I've spoken to my manager, and as a special concession to an existing customer, we can make an exception and offer you a one off deal that's <insert random small amount more/less than the competition> - would that be OK?"

B*stards. F*cking at it....

[Pond]

I understand the renewal piss take (although that has supposedly become illegal but they don't seem to be taking any notice), but the sheer difference is almost funny.
£1,777 against £666 for the same thing. That's ridiculous. I am not going to bother calling the existing shower as am not going to spend 1/2 hour on the phone for them to say they will give me £50 off.
I had an automated response to my snotty email saying they will reply within 7 working days. Good of them.

I reckon I would be out of business in about two weeks if I did that.

[Pond]

So I renewed it today in advance with Hastings. Final price was £609.00, as didn't bother with the protected NCB. Not worth doing for one year IMO. Doesn't seem to make any difference if a claim is made anyway, from what I have seen.

The other shower's £1,777 didn't include protected NCB either!

[ade555]

Pond

Is there much saving using them black box insurance? My daughter will be doing her practical in June so not looking forward to quote. I have her as a name driver for nearly a year on another car as learner driver not sure if this will help in future or not at all.

[Pond]

Originally Posted by ade555

Pond

Is there much saving using them black box insurance? My daughter will be doing her practical in June so not looking forward to quote. I have her as a name driver for nearly a year on another car as learner driver not sure if this will help in future or not at all.

Learner premiums are pennies (for some reason), but it goes ballistic once they pass. That is why we put her learner policy in her name, as within a few months of passing she has earned a full year's NCB.

Being a girl, the premiums are much lower than boys (around half IIRC), but still expensive.

I think you will struggle to find a policy without a 'black box' requirement TBH.

At present her policy includes a 'thing' which plugs into the OBD port, so is permanently fixed to the car. This has a wifi thing that can access the data to her phone (and the insurers).

The new one just has a 'stand alone' box which connects via BT to her phone. The T&Cs says that only she needs to 'pair the device to her phone when she is driving. Her mum and me are named drivers and we don't need to use the data device.
Open to abuse IMO. It ain't clever enough to know who is driving, is it?

[Pond]

After all the talk of insurance premium hikes lately, and the general consensus that kids pay a fortune for insurance, I think that £600 is actually dirt cheap for an 18 year old who passed her test just four months ago. The little Mini Cooper can shift aswell (when it's not broken).

She is a bloody rubbish driver too, as were we all at 18?

[ade555]

In all honesty that is cheap for 18 years old, I did wonder if I ever drive the car how does this all work. I guess something to look forward to comes June. Hope I will get some change out of 2k for her first year 😬

[Pond]

Originally Posted by ade555

In all honesty that is cheap for 18 years old, I did wonder if I ever drive the car how does this all work. I guess something to look forward to comes June. Hope I will get some change out of 2k for her first year 😬

Adding experienced drivers (with no points etc) definitely helps bring the premium down.

Mine and the wife's premiums are dirt cheap (for some reason which I don't know) and I'm now convinced that has something to do with my daughter's. The insurance database MUST link the address, at least, and probably the surname?

[ade555]

Originally Posted by Pond

Adding experienced drivers (with no points etc) definitely helps bring the premium down.

Mine and the wife's premiums are dirt cheap (for some reason which I don't know) and I'm now convinced that has something to do with my daughter's. The insurance database MUST link the address, at least, and probably the surname?

Belive it or not my profession has about £300 impact on premium but found a way around it now, just word it slightly differently, fed up of insurance companies rasing prices based on what I do for living, should have sweet ef all to do with in my eyes. They should do what most other countries do, insure the damn car and not driver but is easy money for them. 16 years NCB, never any points and miles to moon and back few times under my belt. I get very angry ever year 🤣 when is renewal time

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by ade555

Belive it or not my profession has about £300 impact on premium but found a way around it now, just word it slightly differently, fed up of insurance companies rasing prices based on what I do for living, should have sweet ef all to do with in my eyes. They should do what most other countries do, insure the damn car and not driver but is easy money for them. 16 years NCB, never any points and miles to moon and back few times under my belt. I get very angry ever year 🤣 when is renewal time

I have a very safe profession but in the wrong industry - licensed hotels. Even though I work in an office. And commute by train...

[Pond]

Originally Posted by ade555

Belive it or not my profession has about £300 impact on premium but found a way around it now, just word it slightly differently, fed up of insurance companies rasing prices based on what I do for living, should have sweet ef all to do with in my eyes. They should do what most other countries do, insure the damn car and not driver but is easy money for them. 16 years NCB, never any points and miles to moon and back few times under my belt. I get very angry ever year 🤣 when is renewal time

I agree. That is why I put down I'm a monk and the wife is a nun, on the proposal form.

I'm not completely lying as my wife does have some dirty habits!

[Sennen]

Originally Posted by Pond

Another incidence of insurance premium disparity...

My daughter's car insurance is up for renewal mid April. First renewal with 1 years NCB.
Went on my favoured comparison site (confused) to see what she should be paying.
Hastings Direct came back with a quote of £666.04 which I think is pretty good for an 18 year old with one year NCB in a 120bhp Mini Cooper.

Got the email today from her existing lot with the renewal premium, who supposedly 'specialise' in young drivers' policies.

£1,775.55. Yep, over 1100 quid more than the other quote. Same criteria, same cover, same black box, same excess. I sent them a snotty email but they probably won't read it.

Eeeek ..... i will be expecting a call from my Brother shortly then for a contribution to my Nieces Mini Cooper Insurance that i bought her last year.......

[dave550i]

Been with LV for past three yrs renewal gone up £300 tried most of the comparison sites and ended up getting a quote from Aviva from there website on a multi car policy and got the same cover for the same as last year

[Pond]

Originally Posted by dave550i

Been with LV for past three yrs renewal gone up £300 tried most of the comparison sites and ended up getting a quote from Aviva from there website on a multi car policy and got the same cover for the same as last year

I have had the same with LV. All our cars were insured with them until this year, but they have become extremely uncompetitive for us.

Maybe they are looking into different markets, as the 'low risk, middle age' bracket is not making them enough money?

I have found Hastings and Churchill (and Saga occasionally) have taken over from LV for us.

I have never found multi-car policies to be cheaper, just more convenient TBH.

[Pond]

I also got a £20 Halfords voucher from Confused with the daughter's policy, which is handy!

[335dMSport+]

Originally Posted by Pond

Another incidence of insurance premium disparity...

£1,775.55. Yep, over 1100 quid more than the other quote. Same criteria, same cover, same black box, same excess. I sent them a snotty email but they probably won't read it.

Yep, I’m 43 with 20+ NCB, zero points and 6k declared business miles Pa. I live in a respected postcode which gets penalised due to the high value of cars in the area, and I made the mistake of not putting my key in a faraday box back in January when two thieving gimps decided to steal my car off my drive. Even with protected NCB it’s classed as an ‘at fault’ claim as the insurance company can’t claim against anyone else.

So I had to buy a new car, went for another X5 but a hybrid 45e slightly used example with an awesome spec. My boring commute is only 12 miles each way at a 40 minute crawl so I can do this in full electric mode.

That’ll be £1740pa if you please. Even without adding the claim it was only c£200 cheaper. For reference, the stolen one was £780 the previous year. Ghost immobiliser and Milenco steering lock - made zero difference to the premium.

And yes, checked all of the websites including some of the direct ones too.

Mental industry, they have you over a barrel and they know it.

[Alltorque]

Current insurance premium increases are as horrendous as the energy price hikes but we are not hearing anything from the government on the topic. Plus driving at 20mph isn't going to win first prize for economy!

[TurboWeasel]

Originally Posted by dave550i

Been with LV for past three yrs renewal gone up £300 tried most of the comparison sites and ended up getting a quote from Aviva from there website on a multi car policy and got the same cover for the same as last year

Same. Mine went up 78% this year.

A family member works for a rival insurance company and some insider knowledge is LV are in trouble financially, which probably explains their price increases to some degree.

[gac]

Originally Posted by Pond

It ain't clever enough to know who is driving, is it?

Not directly, but if it reads the total mileage of the vehicle and there's more untracked miles than tracked (i.e. if your daughter just doesn't plug in the box and pretends to be you or your partner) then they'd likely just do you for fronting?

I know traditionally fronting would be for the insurance in your name and your daughter to be doing the most miles, but being in your daughters name and "you" to be doing the most miles would still be fraud and a valid reason to not pay out and/or void the policy?

[Pond]

Originally Posted by gac

Not directly, but if it reads the total mileage of the vehicle and there's more untracked miles than tracked (i.e. if your daughter just doesn't plug in the box and pretends to be you or your partner) then they'd likely just do you for fronting?

I know traditionally fronting would be for the insurance in your name and your daughter to be doing the most miles, but being in your daughters name and "you" to be doing the most miles would still be fraud and a valid reason to not pay out and/or void the policy?

Yes but that wasn't the abuse I was thinking of. My wife and I never drive the car but my daughter could use the device for, say, 70% of the time, then disconnect it and rag the car around like she stole it for the remainder.
It won't happen in this case, but I will bet others do this, especially boys.