Changing car insurance rip off.

Changing car insurance rip off.

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Discussion

colonel c

Original Poster:

7,890 posts

239 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Do all insurance companies do this. I bought a second car at a dealers last Sunday. I traded in my old car and purchased from them a '5 Day drive away policy' so I could drive the new car home. All well and good. Rang my insurance company the next day and asked them to change my existing policy to cover the new car. 'Certainly sir. That will be fifty something quid for changing it at short notice'. A little taken aback I said my 5 day policy covers me for another 4 days so could they start the new car cover after then. 'Yes sir that will be a little cheaper you will save 50p if we start the cover from then'. irked

Birdster

2,529 posts

143 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Depending how far into the policy and potential added NCB, call another insurer and see what they can offer as a new customer.

valiant

10,210 posts

160 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Are you able to access your policy online?

I'm with Aviva and they charge if you do changes over the phone but if you do it online, it's free.

Maybe other companies are similar???

OldBuoy

27,010 posts

183 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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valiant said:
I'm with Aviva
yikes

750turbo

6,164 posts

224 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
My last experience of doing this, last year...

Call the Insurance Co (AA), got it changed, and the difference was....

£0.01, the guy laughed, and said that maybe we will not bother charging you!

Yep 1 penny, and no admin fee! (Despite me expecting them wanting a chunk of money)

This was going from a Civic Type R --> M135.

PitmanJack

172 posts

118 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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I'm with QuoteMeHappy and bought a new car a couple month ago. I swapped the policy details on the internet on my phone on the forecourt. It was updated immediately and didn't cost me a penny. I was very impressed with how simple it was; it took to more than 5 minutes and I got the confirmation email straight away for peace of mind. They were also (obviously) the cheapest cover i could find when originally taking out the policy. I'd highly recommend them.

PitmanJack

172 posts

118 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
I'm with QuoteMeHappy and bought a new car a couple month ago. I swapped the policy details on the internet on my phone on the forecourt. It was updated immediately and didn't cost me a penny. I was very impressed with how simple it was; it took to more than 5 minutes and I got the confirmation email straight away for peace of mind. They were also (obviously) the cheapest cover i could find when originally taking out the policy. I'd highly recommend them.

colonel c

Original Poster:

7,890 posts

239 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
Interesting replies thanks. I didn't fancy messing around at the time. It's part of a multi car policy with Admiral. I was happy with their renewal quote last year. For a change it was competitive and I did not have to get other quotes in order to force them to lower it. But not happy with this extra charge and will be looking at the small print come renewal time.

rscott

14,753 posts

191 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Just cancelled the insurance on my old car (sold it today). Policy was renewed mid March, no refund and apparently I'm lucky they will waive the cancellation charge!

I was also told that I have to email back to confirm cancellation (fair enough) but that I must also delete all emails about the policy. They seemed surprised when I refused.

Mr Daytona

221 posts

116 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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OP, what sort of car did you change from and to ? It may well be that the vast majority of the additional premium relates to an increase in the Insurance grouping of your new car. Normally though their will be an admin fee (usually £25 or so) which takes into account the call handlers time and such like in dealing with your request.

littleredrooster

5,537 posts

196 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
Fairly basic stuff though, isn't it? Before you take a policy out, check the admin fees for change of vehicle. If it doesn't suit, find another company with cheaper or nil fees. Cheapest isn't always best.

You did check, didn't you?

colonel c

Original Poster:

7,890 posts

239 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
Mr Daytona said:
OP, what sort of car did you change from and to ? It may well be that the vast majority of the additional premium relates to an increase in the Insurance grouping of your new car. Normally though their will be an admin fee (usually £25 or so) which takes into account the call handlers time and such like in dealing with your request.
Good point. The call handler did not mention that but then he was Welsh. Changing from Golf 1.8T Gti to RX8 192. You could be correct. I will check when the new paperwork arrive.



xRIEx

8,180 posts

148 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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What does your insurer's Terms of Business say about mid term adjustments?

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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swerni said:
I'm with Flux and they are very good at this sort of thing
My main car is insured with them.

Just bought another runaround as a daily driver and they agreed to carry over the NCB whilst also leaving it on the main car.

Happy days.

Sheepshanks

32,752 posts

119 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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valiant said:
Are you able to access your policy online?

I'm with Aviva and they charge if you do changes over the phone but if you do it online, it's free.

Maybe other companies are similar???
My daughter just changed hers with Aviva for her new car. Wouldn't work online as, unsurprisingly, it didn't recognise the 64 reg number. She called and they charged her £19 for the amendment and (to be honest a staggeringly low) £6 for the new car. They said normally the amendment by phone is £50 but they wouldn't budge (and I know she'll have tried hard) from charging her £19.

Stupid really - I was expecting the additional cost to be anything up to £100. That it's £6 is amazing, but they've still managed to make me think she's been ripped off!