Insurance reccomendations

[stevesey]

My insurance renewal came through yesterday - Direct Line have increased their rates and it went up by £25. Also as this will be my first renewal on the Merc (picking it up from the garage in 2 hours!), so probably worth looking around anyway.

Any reccomendations (and now competitive is the members insurance).

98 S C240 full NCD, myself and partner (both > 40) £310 with directline (inc guaranteed hire car).

Cheers

Steve

 

[jberks]

often asked. No such thing as a competitive insurer. They are all cheap for one person and heavy for another. So many variables it's impossible to generalise.
Best bet is the insurance search engines.
Frizzell (Liverpool and Victoria or "LV") is traditionally good for Mercs but they were silly for me this year. That said, they matched the cheapest quote I got in the end but really, just use the broker search engines. Then, when you get your quote, approach the insurer direct as the search engines are on commission.

 

[Larchlap]

Insurance

I agree with jberks I used compare.com when I recieved a silly quote of £345.00 from Carol Nash via Highway insurance, in the end I got if for £212.00 for the same cover less the breakdown (which I have anyway) and guess what it was with Highway insurance, it pays to shop around. Good luck. larchlap.

 

[NewMB]

Why not do what I do...

I am insured with Direct Line as well. Got the renewal....way high. No chance I am paying that.

Spoke to a guy at DLine. He couldn't say it, but reading between his words, he suggested that I go online, do a quote and save it. He then picked it up on his system. Voila, I ended up less than the year before!!

 

[Old Hat Shop]

I got a renewal notice from the post office @ £218 (approx). that was for TPF&T. I went online and managed to get a quote of £185 for fully comp.....

.......FROM THE POST OFFICE!!!!

I also mangaed to get further quotes slightly cheaper again. A decisionto be made before the end of the month.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

I got a renewal notice from the post office @ £218 (approx). that was for TPF&T. I went online and managed to get a quote of £185 for fully comp.....

.......FROM THE POST OFFICE!!!!

I also mangaed to get further quotes slightly cheaper again. A decisionto be made before the end of the month.

I always feel a little sorry for those folk who haven't got/don't want anything to do with t'internet.

We buy as much as possible using t'internet - shopping (Tesco), holidays, flights, train tickets, hotels, golf stuff, car hire, anything electrical, tyres, my ML - even our new house in Spain...!! Basically, if we have to go and SHOP - it's an absolute pain in the butt.

Marvellous.

 

[Dosco]

Seems that we are all in the same mode then. Like you all I go through this every year and until now have always managed to get a better deal but my current insurer "Hastings" despite the silly add on TV have come out the most competitive.

The only difference this year is having had a Northamptonshire Police fixed tax penalty for speeding - well 5mph over the 30mph at 6am on a Sunday! which has cost me an extra £20 on my annual premium pushing it up to £230.82 fully comp including legal expenses, bonus protection and personal accident cover.

All I need now is to hear that the "****** green loonies" have convinced Brown's Boys that fuel should be increased to a tenner a gallon and road fund should start at £300 a year and I won't just be waiting for God anymore I will go and find Him.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Seems that we are all in the same mode then. Like you all I go through this every year and until now have always managed to get a better deal but my current insurer "Hastings" despite the silly add on TV have come out the most competitive.

The only difference this year is having had a Northamptonshire Police fixed tax penalty for speeding - well 5mph over the 30mph at 6am on a Sunday! which has cost me an extra £20 on my annual premium pushing it up to £230.82 fully comp including legal expenses, bonus protection and personal accident cover.

All I need now is to hear that the "****** green loonies" have convinced Brown's Boys that fuel should be increased to a tenner a gallon and road fund should start at £300 a year and I won't just be waiting for God anymore I will go and find Him.

Don't do that - do what we are doing. We've sold up lock, stock and barrel, and are just waiting for our house to be finished being built in Spain - should be around next March.

We've had enough - we've surrendered..! You can have 'call me Dave' and Gordon Thatcher (nee Brown) - the place has gone mad.

Will the last sane person to leave the UK, please put the lights out.

 

[poseidon]

Hi

You can try Fwik fit (on-line of course). The web site is good. They were most competitive in my case (GBP167) fully comprehensive. The car is slightly older than yours.

Pose

 

[Phil D]

Hi

You can try Fwik fit (on-line of course). The web site is good. They were most competitive in my case (GBP167) fully comprehensive. The car is slightly older than yours.

Pose

if you choose these dudes just make sure a) you don't want to make any alterations during the term of the policy & b) you don't want to cancel it early for any reason - either way they charge royally referring you to paragraph 47, subsection y of the (extremely) small print that you won't ever have seen never mind read - I think it was 25 quid per item, which is a significant percentage of a 167 premium - probably 50 quid now - got caught out that way a few years ago - wouldn't touch them with the proverbial ever again - insurance is a bit of a minefield for the unwary & unfortunately you do need to look some way beyond the attractive "come on" premiums
Phil

 

[television]

if you choose these dudes just make sure a) you don't want to make any alterations during the term of the policy & b) you don't want to cancel it early for any reason - either way they charge royally referring you to paragraph 47, subsection y of the (extremely) small print that you won't ever have seen never mind read - I think it was 25 quid per item, which is a significant percentage of a 167 premium - probably 50 quid now - got caught out that way a few years ago - wouldn't touch them with the proverbial ever again - insurance is a bit of a minefield for the unwary & unfortunately you do need to look some way beyond the attractive "come on" premiums
Phil

Yes I agree with you, lots of cheaper ones than I took out, the small print put me off many and the limitations

 

[JEZ.S320L]

if you choose these dudes just make sure a) you don't want to make any alterations during the term of the policy & b) you don't want to cancel it early for any reason - either way they charge royally referring you to paragraph 47, subsection y of the (extremely) small print that you won't ever have seen never mind read - I think it was 25 quid per item, which is a significant percentage of a 167 premium - probably 50 quid now - got caught out that way a few years ago - wouldn't touch them with the proverbial ever again - insurance is a bit of a minefield for the unwary & unfortunately you do need to look some way beyond the attractive "come on" premiums
Phil

And there's the endless questions: Any modifications? - well yes, actually - I've got some rather nice alloy wheels (sharp intake of breath.!). Any points on your licence? - well, 3 actually - but they have expired (sharp intake of breath) Where is it parked overnight? - on my drive (sharp intake of breath) Any named driver/s? - yes please, my wife (sharp intake of breath) No -claims protection? yes please (sharp intake of breath) Annual mileage? (sharp in................................... oh, you've got the picture.!

I just take the option to renew - not the cheapest, but I can't take all the endless 3rd Degree questioning anymore.

 

[Dosco]

the small print put me off many and the limitations

Indeed a very good point "Buyer Beware" Nearly got sucked into Barclay's £50 cash 18 months ago "if we cannot beat your current house insurance" offer. When we checked what we were really getting against what we already had they were in another field, so always compare like for like. Cheap or what is not always the best.:?

Jez, best of luck on your move and new life.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Indeed a very good point "Buyer Beware" Nearly got sucked into Barclay's £50 cash 18 months ago "if we cannot beat your current house insurance" offer. When we checked what we were really getting against what we already had they were in another field, so always compare like for like. Cheap or what is not always the best.:?

Jez, best of luck on your move and new life.

Thank you - and all the best for the future - whatever its holds - to you too.

p.s. - I used to work for the bank you mentioned - Home Insurance was the bain of our lives - SELL.! SELL.! SELL.! SELL.! Morning, noon and night. If it wasn't offered - there was an 'enquiry' and possible disciplinaries :twisted:

Many a new car (mainly AUDI's) were bought on the back of the comission earned.

 

[poseidon]

if you choose these dudes just make sure a) you don't want to make any alterations during the term of the policy & b) you don't want to cancel it early for any reason - either way they charge royally referring you to paragraph 47, subsection y of the (extremely) small print that you won't ever have seen never mind read - I think it was 25 quid per item, which is a significant percentage of a 167 premium - probably 50 quid now - got caught out that way a few years ago - wouldn't touch them with the proverbial ever again - insurance is a bit of a minefield for the unwary & unfortunately you do need to look some way beyond the attractive "come on" premiums
Phil

I agree with the above, but it realy depends on your need for insurance. Some people need insurance more than others.

I have never called insurance, except for the annual renewal. I have never had accident in 20 my years of driving. (I am not overly carefull driver and I do regularly break the speed limit. Just keep the distance) All the money that I paid to insurance is lost. Most likely I will never need insurance and their service is of little relevance. I do not make alterations in the policy and do not read small print. The lowest quote is simply best.

I can also comment that the car insurance in UK is incredibly expensive. In New Zealand (where I lived for 7 years) I was paying around GBP30-50 for similar comprehensive cover. Never realy understand why I need to pay so much more.

Pose

 

[Rory]

if you choose these dudes just make sure a) you don't want to make any alterations during the term of the policy & b) you don't want to cancel it early for any reason - either way they charge royally referring you to paragraph 47, subsection y of the (extremely) small print that you won't ever have seen never mind read - I think it was 25 quid per item, which is a significant percentage of a 167 premium - probably 50 quid now - got caught out that way a few years ago - wouldn't touch them with the proverbial ever again - insurance is a bit of a minefield for the unwary & unfortunately you do need to look some way beyond the attractive "come on" premiums
Phil

I've stuck with Frizzell (Liverpool Victoria) for a few years as their policy is very straightforward, they don't charge for simple changes, courtesy cars are covered automatically and they don't care about fixed penalty's for speeding. We've also made a claim and that was handled effortlessly.

I do a quick comparison every year, and I know I can get cheaper cover, but there's never been a sufficient saving to make me feel it was worth switching.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

I've stuck with Frizzell (Liverpool Victoria) for a few years as their policy is very straightforward, they don't charge for simple changes, courtesy cars are covered automatically and they don't care about fixed penalty's for speeding. We've also made a claim and that was handled effortlessly.

I do a quick comparison every year, and I know I can get cheaper cover, but there's never been a sufficient saving to make me feel it was worth switching.

I've been with Frizell for years. Only made 2 claims (1 when someone hit the car whilst paked and 1 when some low-life stole electronics out of the engine bay) - previous cars, I hasten to add. Both claims dealt with efficiently, with minimum fuss.

 

[Phil D]

I've been with Frizell for years. Only made 2 claims (1 when someone hit the car whilst paked and 1 when some low-life stole electronics out of the engine bay) - previous cars, I hasten to add. Both claims dealt with efficiently, with minimum fuss.

I don''t insure with this company, but If I did I certainly would not be looking to change - even if they did put the premium up by the 25 quid which started this thread ! You could spend that on phone calls if you had to argue a claim - the acid test how they treat you when you ask them for money - not the other way round
Phil

 

[joem]

JEZ.ML270

Oh yes, I always buy all my ML's on line and I NEVER buy a house in Spain any other way....ALL my golf courses and even my small Continents were ALL purchased this way...

Ha Ha....

 

[JEZ.S320L]

JEZ.ML270

Oh yes, I always buy all my ML's on line and I NEVER buy a house in Spain any other way....ALL my golf courses and even my small Continents were ALL purchased this way...

Ha Ha....

Why? Is there any OTHER way..!!??

I didn't mean it to sound like that - LOL.