Good UK insurance company recommendations? (E46 330Ci)

[P Ride]

Hey, I'm 29 and nearly a year ago bought an E46 330Ci MSport, having moved to an office-based sales job where I no longer had a company car.

With 6 points and having only passed my test five years ago, I wasn't delighted with £1,600 for my premium from Direct Line, but thought it would drop after my first year.

I've never crashed a car, or made any kind of claim, had two minors on my test and have a Pass Plus.

(One SP30 just passed the three-year old mark and the other is around two years old.)

Having added another year's no-claims, having received no points and grown a year older, I was shocked to receive a renewal quote for over £2k!

The best they could do was £1,700 when I called up.. Various price comparison websites are suggesting £1,100 - which is manageable.. but still seems a lot, for someone who has never, ever crashed a car or done anything more than an SP30

Factors
- I will have to switch to paying monthly this time (no savings as I bought a flat)
- The freedom to re-map and add a strut brace (minor upgrades) would be a nice bonus, if a particularly company is relaxed about them, but I won't pay through the nose for them
- Can we get me under £1,100?

My mate's recommended Brent Acre and Greenlight.. What are your thoughts?

[Dms86]

Im 28 with the same car. Paying £470 with admiral. Passed 10 years ago with 8 years no claims. I don't know where you are from or how many no claims you have but your quotes seem very high!

[jayemm89]

Do comparisons with ALL THREE comparison sites (Confused, Compare the Meerkat, Money supermarket)

I've just done a quote for my first track car and I got quotes which were 400-500 different from the same provider just going through different comparison sites.

Also, may be worthwhile adding a parent or other older person with no claims/history onto the policy - occasionally brings it down

Edited to add: Meant to say Confused, not admiral. I got confused.

Edited by jayemm89 on Saturday 24th January 19:52

[blippo1984]

As above.
Or confused.com

I am the same age with points and certainly don't pay more than a few hundred. Adding the girlfriend reduced my quote too

[jayemm89]

I just reread and saw you're paying monthly. Watch out, there are MASSIVE premiums for doing that. Sometimes as much as 100%.

[liller]

I have the same car and I'm 34, no points, one minor claim against me a few years back and I have only this year got insurance below £1k. It's very frustrating paying a large premium for an old car, especially when you are older and have been driving for a long time. A big chunk of the premium will come down to your postcode, mine is considered to be dodgy hence the high premiums.

[fivepointnine]

Thanks for that website. I just did a quote for a Porsche Cayenne at 10k a year comprehensive and Admiral came up right at 1k a year.

[Collectingbrass]

Direct line IME are always cheap in the first year, then cane it come renewal. As a brand they also don't seem to like powerful cars, much prefering Euro and Jap st boxes. There are better insurers out there.

As others have said check the comparison sites, and try Adrian Flux through here. Also, check what extras you load. I've got a similar driving record to you and have never had to pay out for a curtosey car or legal services that I couldn't recover from the causer of the accident so they are IME a waste of money. The only thing worth looking at is Windscreen replacement excess.

I've had good results with Swift and Admiral, although Swift were very slow when it came to paying out for a right off.

[jayemm89]

I must be incredibly lucky where I live, I am 25 with no points, claims, 5 years NCB and my Z4 M is £425