Forum Topic

Car Insurance

Ive just had the renewal forms through from Esure for my car insurance. Last year I moved from DirectLine to Esure as they had asked for more than double the premium from the previous year. Fully comp, 6yrs no claim protected. Last year I paid about £350. This year's quote? £1006!! Wow..thanks Esure..you make me feel like a teenager again. I will call them tomorrow and ask why its trebled. In the meantime Ive been on to the comparison sites...and can get the same deal for £388 from the Cooperative (ranges up to £1668 with ecar). How on  earth do they work out the premiums and why such huge differences? Why is loyalty not rewarded? Do these companies not want us to stay with them?

David Archer ● 5840d16 Comments

Interesting, I am also with Esure, protected no claims for 12 years or so but I had a £2k claim for bodywork 6 mths ago. It happened while the vehicle was parked and I was not present. My renewal is next month and I really ought to start getting comparisons in case the premium jumps...My cheap Tesco Home and contents insurance doubled over two years after an £800 burglary claim, I could not find an alternative on the net except for Saga and they wanted fort knox security. I do not think you win with insurance of any type....

Iain Muir ● 5840d

Afer many years of paying house insurance to the same company, I halved its cost by looking around for alternatives, and came to the conclusion that large companies can maximise profits by gradually increasing the cost of services to regular clients who renew automatically, while at the same time reducing the starting cost to attract new customers. Sad, really.

Ian M Green ● 5840d

Always pay cash - not by DD, as they can whisk your money away should you fail to receive a renewal notice and forget it is coming up.Shop round, and keep changing providers on every insurance you purchase.Tesco indeed are offering the cheapest for the Acton area at the moment, but again, next year it will be time to change.The reason that premiums are so high in Acton, so say the insurance companies, is that it is a HIGH RISK AREA FOR THEFT.

Dee Cook ● 5839d

I recently paid £226.68 with Sheila's Wheels. Volvo estate parked on the road. Fully comp as far as I know. Better cover for work than I've had before. I've never made a claim so don't bother with no claims protection.

Becky Bell ● 5839d

I believe the incentive is that they give high commissions for "new" policies, therefore the renewals in effect subsidise these discounts. You would think loyalty should be rewarded, but not so in the insurance world, it's always "new business" generating, ignoring the loss of existing renewals.So, why pay more for someone else to benefit? Play their game and benefit yourself!

Kevin Regan ● 5839d

It's always worth haggling: I've been with Direct Line for years and each year when the premium goes up I do an online search and ring them with the results. They seem willing to adjust their original price to keep the custom!

Lorna Dodd ● 5838d

Is David eligible for Sheila's Wheels?

Susan Kelly ● 5838d

In what way Susan?

David Archer ● 5838d

I did call Esure to tell them that I wouldnt be renewing. They werent interested. Their computers must show what the competition would offer me. Strange.

David Archer ● 5838d

On my Sheila's Wheels paperwork it says they do men, too. I hope they charge them more as they are not such good drivers ;)

Becky Bell ● 5838d

My renewal from esure arrived, premium has more than doubled to £1112 with 12 years protected NCB. Best I can get on confused.com is £730 for equiv cover with RAC. I believe esure only target drivers with no recent claims history so the fact I made a claim last Nov (£2k bodywork, someone dented my car when I was not present)means they want me to go elsewhere, despite 7 previous no claim years with them. Exactly the same happened with my contents ins after a claim!

Iain Muir ● 5827d

My renewal from esure arrived, premium has more than doubled to £1112 with 12 years protected NCB. Best I can get on confused.com is £730 for equiv cover with RAC. I believe esure only target drivers with no recent claims history so the fact I made a claim last Nov (£2k bodywork, someone dented my car when I was not present)means they want me to go elsewhere, despite 7 previous no claim years with them. Exactly the same happened with my contents ins after a claim!

Iain Muir ● 5827d

I always use an independent broker for car and house insurance because shopping about is so boring. Had a claim for a broken camera but it did not seem to affect premia in later years.

George Knox ● 5827d

Have you tried moneysupermarket.com and gocompare.com Iain? My esure went from £288 to £1066..but with moneysupermarket I got the cooperative for £388

David Archer ● 5827d

Thanks David, I will try these and a few others tomorrow. My claim had an impact on all quotes as a reminder email from confused based on last years info showed c.£580 which after updating details jumped to the £700odd figure. Why did your esure quote jump so much?

Iain Muir ● 5827d

I tapped the car in front of me  (both pulling out from  b&q onto the a40). She had an empty road, I thought she was going, she decided to wait. I think there were 2 scratch marks on her bumper. I have protected no claims, 7 years but I still dont understand how one company quotes £1066 and the other £388.

David Archer ● 5827d