Insurance discounts for AD qualifications
Discussion
At the point of renewing my car insurance with Admiral this year, I asked them what discount I got for IAM membership. The reply was none - after 3 years they think that the standard of my driving has dropped to the point that it doesn't reduce risk any more! HPC isn't recognised but this doesn't surprise me.
What discounts does anyone get with other insurers & what qualifications do these require?
What discounts does anyone get with other insurers & what qualifications do these require?
Never had anything personally with the normal insurers, but just gone with IAM Surety for the first time and they came in cheaper than anyone else by a decent wedge and over £250 cheaper than the renewal price I had from previous mob. All it needed was a saved Confused quote and a little time on the phone.
Not for all & probably not perfect, but fine for me at the moment. Wish I'd tried in prior years TBH.
Not for all & probably not perfect, but fine for me at the moment. Wish I'd tried in prior years TBH.
Do IAM Surety deal with modified or specialist cars yet? In previous years they've not been interested in a younger driver with a hot hatch, despite the qualification and being an Observer back then...
I've not asked the question since that experience but can imagine a breathed upon Elise would see them twitching too.
I've not asked the question since that experience but can imagine a breathed upon Elise would see them twitching too.
IAM Surety have been by far the cheapest for me for the last 3 years with the lowest excess. However they do charge an arrangement fee and a fee for any change during the policy term. This year £148.40 + £15.90 arrangement fee for a Skoda Octavia vRS CR.
They quoted around £165 for my wife (not an IAM member) with a Clio 1.2T and no insurance claim in over 45 years of driving. Saga charged £124.
They quoted around £165 for my wife (not an IAM member) with a Clio 1.2T and no insurance claim in over 45 years of driving. Saga charged £124.
Glosphil said:
IAM Surety have been by far the cheapest for me for the last 3 years with the lowest excess. However they do charge an arrangement fee and a fee for any change during the policy term. This year £148.40 + £15.90 arrangement fee for a Skoda Octavia vRS CR.
They quoted around £165 for my wife (not an IAM member) with a Clio 1.2T and no insurance claim in over 45 years of driving. Saga charged £124.
I've always been sceptical of IAM insurance after an absurd (3x my renewal) quote a few years ago. But over 2 years ago someone here mentioned that they were much more competitive - so I got a quote next time round and they came out the cheapest by over 10% IIRC. Been with them ever since. And just moved my house insurance to them too. They came out the same as the cheapest quote I had, but had considerably lower excess values.They quoted around £165 for my wife (not an IAM member) with a Clio 1.2T and no insurance claim in over 45 years of driving. Saga charged £124.
I'd have no hesitation in recommending them. Although I've not had need (fortunately) to avail of their services. But I can't believe it would be bad - considering that the IAM are behind them. Too much to lose should they mess around the wrong customer
. . I have been an advanced driver for over thirty years and the discount for membership was dropped by insurance companies many years ago . . as soon as you get near 7 years NCB there was no point . . plus really it never was much at the best of times . . companies that accepted it back then, usually were way more expensive anyway . . a policeman friend of mine always laughed when he went to an accident and one of the 'combatants' was an ADV driver . . skid pad training is probably far more useful . .
wideangle852 said:
skid pad training is probably far more useful . .
I don't think so. Skid pan training is not generally believed to improve safety. Advanced training is. Better drivers whether 'Advanced' or not get most of their insurance reward through an improved likelihood of retaining their NCD. However, the success of the current IAM scheme is showing that there is a further benefit in having the qualification - Surety give the best available deal for most and still do well out of it. 
wideangle852 said:
.. . a policeman friend of mine always laughed when he went to an accident and one of the 'combatants' was an ADV driver .
Ironic, given the police self appointed status as "Masters of The System" 
wideangle852 said:
. . skid pad training is probably far more useful . .
Should you bother to do a little research you will find this is very much not the case
I've been an IAM member for 19 years and never used their insurance, mainly because they don't want to know about modified cars and my Sierra is certainly modified, so I'm not giving them the chance to cherrypick the "easy" Volvo or the Mercedes.
As for training, I'd say the IAM made me a better driver in terms of observation and anticipation.
Skid pan and track work taught me more about car control, though.
And if skid-pans are worthless, why did the cops use The Comparator at Tulliallan Police College? I haven't been there for years soo don't know if they still do.
As for training, I'd say the IAM made me a better driver in terms of observation and anticipation.
Skid pan and track work taught me more about car control, though.
And if skid-pans are worthless, why did the cops use The Comparator at Tulliallan Police College? I haven't been there for years soo don't know if they still do.
I think all this tells you that insurance companies don't have any data that say people with so called advanced driving qualifications make less claims than those without.
IAM surety worked for me sometimes, but not others, they came in dearer for my bike TPFT last year, than the same broker could offer me fully comp with another company, not "using" the advanced ticket.
IAM surety worked for me sometimes, but not others, they came in dearer for my bike TPFT last year, than the same broker could offer me fully comp with another company, not "using" the advanced ticket.
GoneAnon said:
Skid pan and track work taught me more about car control, though.
I go on them from time to time, as well as other forms of limit handling training; mainly for fun. Regarding insurance premiums though, if factual evidence is to be considered, I'd suggest keeping quiet about play time https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=YkjNBQAAQBAJ&a...
Edited by 7mike on Sunday 28th December 22:56
I think Surety, is just another insurer but awkward like Avivva in that you have to contact them direct and go through all the information you already put into a comparison site.
Considering the nature of our hobby, spending hours trying to save £20 is futile. What I spend on my cars as a whole is massive compared to the insurance cost.
All I want is a company that offers truly excellent service, will know and understand my requirements and not f
k about if there comes I time when I need to claim. If they recognise my achievements in a discount great, even better if they are willing to give you a bit more time and support arguing your case rather that the 50/50 that most choose to do for ease.
Considering the nature of our hobby, spending hours trying to save £20 is futile. What I spend on my cars as a whole is massive compared to the insurance cost.
All I want is a company that offers truly excellent service, will know and understand my requirements and not f
k about if there comes I time when I need to claim. If they recognise my achievements in a discount great, even better if they are willing to give you a bit more time and support arguing your case rather that the 50/50 that most choose to do for ease. Rick101 said:
I think Surety, is just another insurer but awkward like Avivva in that you have to contact them direct and go through all the information you already put into a comparison site.
At least for renewal, you just give them your login for the comparison site or wherever you got your quote from. I can't remember if that's how it works the first time.great reply Rick101,
service is everything when you have a prang....
However my wife's insurance came up recently and was with Adrian Flux, the quote came in about £50 more than last year for a Volvo V70 15 years old....value about £500-£1000, quote around £235, so i went on the phone, to Sureity/Cornhill and direct line, and got quotes down to £194. They appeared to be very keen to beat any quote given, and actually made the effort to call back. AF came back after the old insurance expired and wondered why we had not stayed with them....when advised they were too expensive, excess too high etc... the salesperson got rather rude, so I informed him that my other car and house insurance would also be leaving them shortly.....cheeky git. They rely on us not shopping around
Getting back to original thread question i don't believe any further qualifications make any difference. My wife is a Police "standard" driver...so automatically gets IAM membership, I am an IAM member, ADI grade 5, plus a "Fleet driver trainer"...I think i also got my cycling proficiency badge when I was about 10 or 11, and it don't mean !squat! to just about any insurance company. I don't even think "max" no claims means anything either.
You only find out how good an insurance company is when you have an accident, and everything is sorted with minimum fuss, without you being too much out of pocket, then those extra few pounds you spent could be considered well spent. But, even if you have a no fault accident.....your insurance quotes are loaded for about 5 years.......if you can get cover for a year for less than £200 for full business use, fully comp, windscreen, legal cover, about 20k on the clock you would have done well
service is everything when you have a prang....
However my wife's insurance came up recently and was with Adrian Flux, the quote came in about £50 more than last year for a Volvo V70 15 years old....value about £500-£1000, quote around £235, so i went on the phone, to Sureity/Cornhill and direct line, and got quotes down to £194. They appeared to be very keen to beat any quote given, and actually made the effort to call back. AF came back after the old insurance expired and wondered why we had not stayed with them....when advised they were too expensive, excess too high etc... the salesperson got rather rude, so I informed him that my other car and house insurance would also be leaving them shortly.....cheeky git. They rely on us not shopping around
Getting back to original thread question i don't believe any further qualifications make any difference. My wife is a Police "standard" driver...so automatically gets IAM membership, I am an IAM member, ADI grade 5, plus a "Fleet driver trainer"...I think i also got my cycling proficiency badge when I was about 10 or 11, and it don't mean !squat! to just about any insurance company. I don't even think "max" no claims means anything either.
You only find out how good an insurance company is when you have an accident, and everything is sorted with minimum fuss, without you being too much out of pocket, then those extra few pounds you spent could be considered well spent. But, even if you have a no fault accident.....your insurance quotes are loaded for about 5 years.......if you can get cover for a year for less than £200 for full business use, fully comp, windscreen, legal cover, about 20k on the clock you would have done well
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff