Insurance Advice Needed....

[Jeza]

I've just received my renewal notice.
I have breakdown cover
NCD protection
Legal protection
Courtesy car

My renewal quote is £391

Before I shop around do I need all of this. I DO want breakdown cover though.

Thanks for any help.

[Bazile]

If you know what they are then surely , only you can know if you need them

[mccfluff]

only you can answer that really
do you want to protect your no claims - worth it if you have a few years plus as this effects your premiums
legal protection - if you caused an accident you would want it
courtesy car - if you were without your car, would you be able to cope?

[Bazile]

Or, are you asking what they are ?

[hc4361]

Can you manage without a courtesy car if yours is off the road because of an accident?
I get my breakdown cover from a different company to my insurer, works out cheaper for me.
Legal protection - I have it. I was involved in a very serious crash some years ago and the legal protection was brilliant.
NCD protection - I have it.

When you shop around use the comparison sites but don't forget to check out the companies that don't use those sites, such as Direct Line.

[hc4361]

mccfluff, I hadn't caused the accident but the legal protection got my courtesy car paid for by the other side, my excess back (all very quickly) and compensation.

[Bazile]

I'm a bit suspicous about NCB protection ( although i have it ) .

Cos although your NCB woul not be affected , in suspect insurers simply increase the base premium to which any NCB is applied

[dmbhunt]

Have always had legal expenses and would recommend it, and in more recent years no claims ptotector. I could manage without a car if I had to so don't pay for that. Breakdown cover already in place and cheaper. Look at a few of the comparison sites some companies have basic insurance and premium ins see what is included. Can also be a lot cheaper to pay one off premium, especially if you do not intend to chane your car in that time.

[bhg481]

I gave up with NCB protection years ago. It adds a reasonable amount to your premium. If you haven't made a claim for many years it implies you're a fairly good driver and probably won't make one in the near future and, if you do, your NCD only goes back 2 years ie, to 40% instead of 60%. All in all I worked out that if I didn't make a claim for about 4 years (I think) I'd be quids in and it worked.
Get a quote with and without NCD protection and do your own sums.

[Jeza]

Thanks all. I will now shop around and keep every thing I already have. It does seem a lot to me of £391.

[gingejbee]

Whether it's "a lot" depends as much on your postcode, your driving/claims history and your car...as all the incidentals you have mentioned.

[TWR]

Never except the renewal Quote, ring your Insurance & ask threm to drop or you leave, that's what I do Jeza.

[Sycamore3House]

Try these websites
http://www.comparethemarket.com
http://www.moneysupermarket.com
I had my insurance through last month. They wanted £360 with no breakdown. Online same company £220 with breakdown. Gave them a call and they honoured the new price. You have to shop around these days.

[kenjonbro]

£391? you don't need to shop around!

[FrogNog]

My current insurers are always cheaper than the comparison sites, so I tend to stick with them.
I pay a little less than you Jeza but I only have a tiny old car with a tiny engine.
I have full breakdown cover with overnight hotel costs and all that malarkey because my car is getting on a bit (quite a lot) and it gives me peace of mind to know it's there.
I have all the bells and whistles and I don't mind the extra couple of quid a week as long as I know I can still get to work, because not being able to do that would be worse than saving 50 quid.
From what I've seen of your posts you need your car, so tag on all you can afford I think.

[jno]

depends whether you're talking about your baby Fiat or your Porsche. I pay about £200 for all that but that's for a 15-year-old Peugeot that does about 2000 miles a year.

Don't forget to check what you paid last year - they're always putting premiums up and counting on people not noticing.

[hc4361]

I pay less than £170, fully comp, ncdp and legal expenses.

[FrogNog]

My insurance falls somewhere between yours and Jeza's jno. I think it was £289 but I don't remember exactly.

[Canary42]

All you need legally is third party cover. What you need personally beyond that can only be your decision.

[FrogNog]

what are your excesses hc and courtesy car?, breakdown?, 3rd party medical?

[SpikeyBush]

In my experience the breakdown cover that comes with some insurance policies is rubbish. It is very basic, for example if your car can't be fixed at the roadside it only covers towing to the nearest garage. Not very helpful if you break down 70 miles from home at two in the morning. Therefore I don't bother with that and have the top AA cover instead. It costs a few bob but worth every penny. Not everyone's routine will necessitate this but if you do big mileage a long way from home at silly hours of the day and night across international borders it is a must.