Motoring Insurance - Best/Worst?

[bizzylizzy]

Hi everyone, it's that time of year again when I have to do battle with the car insurance companies. Hubby and I have clean licences, no claims that goes back forever and we drive a boring mid range car. But sifting through quotes is a pain in the wottsit. You see a cheap price and then find out it doesn't include this and that. So I thought I might base my choice this year on how well people rate their current insurers. Let's face it, if you have an accident you want a sympathetic and efficient insurer to sort out your claim don't you. So any recommendations for good service, or don't touch with a barge pole warnings for other insurers would be appreciated? I have to say that having completed the various, compare the... money supermarket etc outfits. The good old Co-op seems to have a very straightforward application form. We shall see. Thanks everybody. (also posted in insurance section)

[TWR]

Hi, I have just had a talk with my wife's Insurers the Quoted �313 Full comp, I ask for them to research their system, as if they could not get a cheaper Quote with the same benefits we will move within 20 mins down to �265 with free Legal cover, you have the upper hand, do not take what you have been quoted for final, BARTER & BARTER until you see the price that suits you.

[bizzylizzy]

Hi TWR - you'd think that would be the case wouldn't you. We're insured with Saga at the minute (hey there has to be some advantage to being over 50 :-) they boast that they can beat any quote. Well hello the news is, they can't. I phoned them up and got a fairly disinterested person, who shaved a pound or two off the quote and then basically said, that's it. So that being the case, I shall probably decamp to somebody who really wants my business. But, yet I agree, you do have to push, push, push .. but at the same time, make sure they're not shaving some needed part of your insurance away. Thanks for your post.

[TWR]

Just a quick reply the car I have is German, I was with Churchill for 16 yrs no claims sod all, I changed from a 1800cc to a 281i they said the price would go up �180, I said I don't think so, if you cannot drop it will be BYE BYE, & it was bye bye to M.&S. no I did not bye a shirt LOL but the very same cove in exact, the price came down by �160, needless to say good driving & a clean 30+record means sod all. I contacted Churchill to say thank you. If people are prepared to pay their re-quote price without checking or BARTERING what can you say, they must be made of money. Good Luck.

[markja]

not a motoring one but of interest any way:
my father in law remembered me saying to let me know when his insurance - house was due and i would get him a better price. he called and said give it a gobut was sceptical of it. he'd been with them for twelve years and had been assured by them it was a good quote and they appreciated his loyaly!
i got �125 for buildings AND contents. (his quote was buildings only ) he sounded a bit strange on the phone when i called back with this quote so i said 'what did they quote you and i'll get it down lower than that.'

his reply,
�700 near as dammit!
WTF. no wonder he sounded strange! he was nearly crying as he realised how much they'd effectivley robbed him of for staying loyal all those years!
like i say not a motoring one but it applies across the board for all insurances.

[bizzylizzy]

Wow, what stories. Just goes to show that if you put the work in, you can get a very, very good discount. You're both so right, if you take the easy option and just accept the quote that turns up in the post a few weeks before your insurance runs out then I suppose you get what you deserve. Don't you think these insurance companies rely on people being to lazy to shop around? Mind you, in this recession I think more folk will make the effort. Thanks for your help.

[BagPussAA]

I would avoid Norwich Union (or Aviva as they are now called). I was insured with them about 5 years ago and had my car stolen from outside my house. It took them 6 months to send me my money! and that was only after constant phonne calls to them to get someone to deal with my claim.

[SurreyGuy]

Martin Lewis had some good tips on GMTV last week. He was saying that some bloke got his car insured for a couple of quid!

The tips may still be on gm.tv website.

[gouldc]

Insurance is the same as anything else - you get good and bad service from the same company dependent on who you speak to/deal with.

My biggest gripe (working there myself) are the adverts stating we'll beat any quote - no they won't, it's crap pure and simple. I'm surprised no-one has attempted to sue yet.

Say you go to Churchill for a quote (�500), then to Direct Line and tell them this, they should (if you believe the adverts) undercut Churchill. Repeat until you're paying a tenner - obviously this would never work in the real world, but surely there's a case for false advertising.

Same applies with we'll not reduce your NCB if you;re hit by an uninsured driver - any insurer can promise this as there are ways and means around it all. Some insurers promise you more than other's, but they're all the same at the end of the day.

Apart from Norwich Union/Aviva/whatever - bunch of cretins