Speed awareness course vs insurance cost impact of 3 points
Discussion
36mph in a 30 (coming off a slightly humped bridge onto a 3 lane one-way road at 1am with no other traffic around, almost designed to get a vehicle above 30mph but hey...) - was going to take the speed awareness course to avoid points but living in Scotland where the courses aren't run so the nearest one is Carlisle, a big day off work and travel costs to get there.
I'm an additional driver on my wife's insurance (cheapest way of doing it and she uses the car most anyway) and adding my potential points on increased the premium by an enormous £8 a year - does that sound like the going rate, and can I expect that kind of impact over the five years the points will be present? If so it doesn't seem worth the hassle of doing the course.
I'm an additional driver on my wife's insurance (cheapest way of doing it and she uses the car most anyway) and adding my potential points on increased the premium by an enormous £8 a year - does that sound like the going rate, and can I expect that kind of impact over the five years the points will be present? If so it doesn't seem worth the hassle of doing the course.
That's potentially for the next 5 years, which is how long you have to declare points.
I have also had issues with rental cars in the past due to points and remember being unable to rent a luxury car due to 3 points as they insisted clean licence.
The only insurers who make a fuss is EUI Ltd who own Admiral and Elephant etc.
Course must be £40-50 lower than the fine surely? So you save that.
Its your choice but I prefer the course s its not a 5 year black mark on your licence and you may re-learn something useful.
I have also had issues with rental cars in the past due to points and remember being unable to rent a luxury car due to 3 points as they insisted clean licence.
The only insurers who make a fuss is EUI Ltd who own Admiral and Elephant etc.
Course must be £40-50 lower than the fine surely? So you save that.
Its your choice but I prefer the course s its not a 5 year black mark on your licence and you may re-learn something useful.
Funnily enough it was Elephant that came up with the cheapest quote both times and only increased it by £8.
None of the other things will really affect me in terms of having points on a licence, but the course is £84 minimum plus travel costs plus opportunity cost of a day off work; fine is £100 and 3 points.
I thought the whole point of a SAC was that you didn't have to declare it as you've technically (or indeed actually) not been convicted of anything?
None of the other things will really affect me in terms of having points on a licence, but the course is £84 minimum plus travel costs plus opportunity cost of a day off work; fine is £100 and 3 points.
I thought the whole point of a SAC was that you didn't have to declare it as you've technically (or indeed actually) not been convicted of anything?
ScotHill said:
Funnily enough it was Elephant that came up with the cheapest quote both times and only increased it by £8.
None of the other things will really affect me in terms of having points on a licence, but the course is £84 minimum plus travel costs plus opportunity cost of a day off work; fine is £100 and 3 points.
I thought the whole point of a SAC was that you didn't have to declare it as you've technically (or indeed actually) not been convicted of anything?
As far as I am concerned its none of the insurers business and I don't see how they would find.None of the other things will really affect me in terms of having points on a licence, but the course is £84 minimum plus travel costs plus opportunity cost of a day off work; fine is £100 and 3 points.
I thought the whole point of a SAC was that you didn't have to declare it as you've technically (or indeed actually) not been convicted of anything?
However if you have done a quote the cats out bag as insurers share info.
I don't see how they access to the info as I know someone who made a claim through Admiral and they had done a speed awareness course without declaring.
TTC 2000 who ran mine even joke about not telling a ships captain rank insurer about the SAC.
untakenname said:
My car insurance with Admiral doubled when I mentioned I had a speed awareness course, I'd still take one though just as it gives you 3 points worth of leeway.
Why did you mention to your insurer you'd been on a speed awareness course? I having been on one was told by the instructors that our insurance will not know you'd been on one. It should not affect your insurance as you do not gain any penalty points on your license.surveyor_101 said:
are you under 25?
Mid 30's, I only rang up to see if they would lower my renewal which they did but on the following queations they aked once I mentioned I'd been a speed awareness course they said they would have to readjust my quote, went up nearly £800! The call centre staff couldn't work out why it went up such an amount and spent 10 minutes trying to lower it with no avail.untakenname said:
Mid 30's, I only rang up to see if they would lower my renewal which they did but on the following queations they aked once I mentioned I'd been a speed awareness course they said they would have to readjust my quote, went up nearly £800! The call centre staff couldn't work out why it went up such an amount and spent 10 minutes trying to lower it with no avail.
If its Adimiral there computer system is the same as Mecca Bingo, just random numbers.mine was like £390 last year.
This year quote me £520 with the increase in Insurance premium tax. I have been able to quote as a new customer before and get it down that way but there system has got wise to that.
Called to cancel, they asked why and I said I can insure for £320 elsewhere.
They said ok we can do £297 for the year renewal! Thats less than last year the lady said!
Need to shift it elsewhere but it was just easier to renew.
Hawkster07 said:
untakenname said:
My car insurance with Admiral doubled when I mentioned I had a speed awareness course, I'd still take one though just as it gives you 3 points worth of leeway.
Why did you mention to your insurer you'd been on a speed awareness course? I having been on one was told by the instructors that our insurance will not know you'd been on one. It should not affect your insurance as you do not gain any penalty points on your license.TwigtheWonderkid said:
Hawkster07 said:
untakenname said:
My car insurance with Admiral doubled when I mentioned I had a speed awareness course, I'd still take one though just as it gives you 3 points worth of leeway.
Why did you mention to your insurer you'd been on a speed awareness course? I having been on one was told by the instructors that our insurance will not know you'd been on one. It should not affect your insurance as you do not gain any penalty points on your license.It still amazes me how insurances companies get away with bumping up the price of those declaring they've been on a SA Course.
Surely having been on the course, you are now more knowledgeable than before and the likelihood of speeding is further reduced, compared to those who just take 3 points and carry on as normal. they are effectively saying, "you know what, your now more of a danger on the roads".
Absolute mockery hence why I don't tell them I've been on one even when asked and there is no way they can prove it either.
Surely having been on the course, you are now more knowledgeable than before and the likelihood of speeding is further reduced, compared to those who just take 3 points and carry on as normal. they are effectively saying, "you know what, your now more of a danger on the roads".
Absolute mockery hence why I don't tell them I've been on one even when asked and there is no way they can prove it either.
Joeguard1990 said:
Absolute mockery hence why I don't tell them I've been on one even when asked and there is no way they can prove it either.
They won't have to prove it, because you will tell them. Insurance companies find out about most non disclosures because the customer, when reporting an accident months or years after, forgets what lies they told at inception. The more serious the accident, the less likely they are to recall the lie they told when taking out the policy.When you've run over a child, and the police are involved, maybe a coroners court, etc, when you get asked by your insurers about previous SACs, you'll spill the beans without even thinking.
That's exactly why, when you make a claim, they ask you all the same questions they asked you at inception.
It still amazes me that people trot out this tripe every time this subject is discussed.
How do you know that Admiral will charge you more declaring a SAC versus 3 points?
How do you know that Admiral will charge you more declaring a SAC versus 3 points?
Joeguard1990 said:
It still amazes me how insurances companies get away with bumping up the price of those declaring they've been on a SA Course.
Surely having been on the course, you are now more knowledgeable than before and the likelihood of speeding is further reduced, compared to those who just take 3 points and carry on as normal. they are effectively saying, "you know what, your now more of a danger on the roads".
Absolute mockery hence why I don't tell them I've been on one even when asked and there is no way they can prove it either.
Surely having been on the course, you are now more knowledgeable than before and the likelihood of speeding is further reduced, compared to those who just take 3 points and carry on as normal. they are effectively saying, "you know what, your now more of a danger on the roads".
Absolute mockery hence why I don't tell them I've been on one even when asked and there is no way they can prove it either.
surveyor_101 said:
Course must be £40-50 lower than the fine surely? So you save that.
I've just been offered a SAC and the cost was £85, though only if booked before 31st August, after which it increases to £90. The Driving 4 Change Course is increasing to £105. The fine would still be £100 AFAIK.untakenname said:
My car insurance with Admiral doubled when I mentioned I had a speed awareness course, I'd still take one though just as it gives you 3 points worth of leeway.
Ah! the Admirable Admiral Insurance. One of those whoa) penalise you for a speed awareness course
b) charge extra for 'volunteer' driving
c) are not a 'best buy'.
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