Why does my insurance company need to no my occupation

[BigRooster]

Every year I fill out a application for car insurance but the bit I hate doing is putting down my occupation . Some one please tell me what the hell it's got to do with anything.
26 years no accidents no points should count more than what my job is and as far as im aware if you stack shelves or a brain surgeon you have the same instructions and test.

[jomifl]

Because some occupations have more accidents than others. A night club bouncer might get his car 'accidentally' damaged more often than a village shop owner. It's not so much the driver as the environment he or she drives in.

[squarebear]

Pretty obvious really. You put down tax inspector, benefit fraud investigator or similar and chances are your car is more likely to be damaged than other less confrontational occupations.

[jackthehat]

Blame Merle Oberon....

[craft1948]

Tell me more Jack.............

[jackthehat]

She was seriously injured in a car accident.
And as an actress, her facial injuries could have had a detrimental impact on her career (especially as she was a screen 'beauty'). She had to have extensive and expensive cosmetic surgery and the tab was picked up by the Insurance company. Since that time (I don't really think it was solely because of her, though) certain occupations can carry a slightly higher risk.

[New Judge]

That's quite true, jack. But in her case the bill was met by the Third Party's insurers and her occupation had no bearing on the premium paid by the person who caused her injuries.

As has been pointed out, people in some professions have statistically a greater risk than average of having an accident. Especially heavily "loaded" are those in the entertainment industry, professional sportmen/women and those in the motor trade.

[Buenchico]

Want low car insurance premiums?
Learn to fly an aircraft!
http://www.thisismone...obile-DJs-charts.html

Incidentally, always ensure that you can claim to have some sort of job (even if it's only part-time or simply casual work). Unemployed people are usually charged higher premiums than if they were in work.

Chris

[FredPuli43]

Insurers see risk in some odd occupations.My wife's jewellery insurance had a clause excluding people in the film, theatre and entertainment business,, and jockeys! Quite what jewellery the likes of Kieron Fallon would be wearing was not obvious, nor why they were at greater risk of losing it.

But similar assessments of risk apply to driving. Motor traders and entertainers do more miles for one thing, entertainers often at night between gigs, and one broker said that the risk of passengers claiming a lot in damages in an accident caused by the insured could sometimes be a consideration; the old joke that the most expensive accident is colliding with a bus load of bookies on their way to Ascot, comes to mind; some occupations carry more expensive passengers than others (loss of earnings etc) Entertainers may fall into that category.

[SirOracle]

Getting right down to basics now.

The reason is that the majority of people tend to socialise with people from similar backgrounds and occupations.
Eg professional footballers are more likely to have other professional footballers as passengers . If the driver was negligent and lets say injured his passengers say broken bones,the damages that would be claimed could be approaching say a million pounds.
Whereas if it was say my friends a similar accident would cost a few thousand pounds.
This is why Taxi insurance is extremely expensive as they carry all sorts of passengers,and have no control over their occupations.
The reason is not, as has been stated here,that these occupations are bad drivers.

[Segilla]

And please don't write something like Company Director. That;s a position not an occupation.

[EDDIE51]

Yes don't say you are retired either as that puts your premium up.
I am semi retired but I get some occasional work through an agency. When I put 'retired' as my occupation it was £40 more than saying I was a kitchen worker. I think the reason is that a retired person could be driving at any time of day , where an employed person would be working most of the day so not able to drive.
Any job that involves working with alcohol ,( publican barman/Maid restaurant staff ) pushes the premium way up as there is more chance to drink and drive.
Strangely enough putting chauffeur or driver as your occupation puts the premium up as well . I know a man who put 'tractor driver' the premium was £100 more than when he put 'agricultural worker'

[ummmm]

I'll have to look into that. I'm down as a housewife, I barely use my car.

[Segilla]

My insurer gives me a discount as I drive only ca. 4k miles per year.

[soxmis_sid]

You ask "Why does MY insurance company...."
NEVER stick with the same company and simply accept their new annual quote. Always shop around and you will probably get a cheaper quote. Insurance companies often offer cheap deals the first year to get you in then bump up the premiums in the following years.

[Segilla]

'My insurer', because I worked for them for 38 years and now as a pensioner get special terms and reduced premiums.

Butterflies can expect no special consideration.