Car Insurance - How Do You Choose?

[Digger]

No doubt I will get slated for asking given there are presumably numerous threads on this (I haven't checked though!)

. . . but seriously how do you pick which company to use? Luckily I have never had to claim so at the moment price really has the most appeal, but there will no doubt be a time when I will have to claim, and will no doubt wish I had read the finer print! The nautical chap & long-trunked animal are currently way down the list, surprisingly.

Edited by Digger on Thursday 3rd January 11:57

[ezi]

Cost above all else, as I get older I'll start to choose between different companies but I'm at the time in my life where insurers still think £800+ is acceptable for my car.

[omgus]

A combination of cost and cover.

[kambites]

I tend to take the cheapest few quotes I can find and compare the levels of cover they supply and any customer reviews of the companies in question.

[billzeebub]

generally the cheapest company on price comparison site that I have actually heard of without any, or too many negative conotations! I know of people though who stick with the same company every year regardless of renewal. There is an aspect of loyalty with some people that is hard to understand!..

[LADANIVA]

^ As above, but then go direct as its usually , for me been the same price or cheaper, with an affiliation discount.

[Digger]

billzeebub said:

generally the cheapest company on price comparison site that I have actually heard of!

That is what I was thinking hence my nautical / trunk reference. But then again are not all these companies bound by the same sets of rules etc?

[HustleRussell]

Cost and Excess price first, then I'll go through and read about the cover and reject the ones which sound truly awful. I also look to see who offers the cheapest breakdown recovery- often very good value when bought with insurance.

[V6Paul]

Renewal due this month, I've tried a couple of comparison sites and have also rang a few 'specialists', the specialists are coming out cheaper and with better cover so I"ll be going for one of them.

[Digger]

V6Paul said:

Renewal due this month, I've tried a couple of comparison sites and have also rang a few 'specialists', the specialists are coming out cheaper and with better cover so I"ll be going for one of them.

When you say 'specialists'. . . any more info?

[V6Paul]

Digger said:

V6Paul said:

Renewal due this month, I've tried a couple of comparison sites and have also rang a few 'specialists', the specialists are coming out cheaper and with better cover so I"ll be going for one of them.

When you say 'specialists'. . . any more info?

Phoned Livingstone Warman, Chris Knott and Sky this morning, only specialist in that they cater for modified cars with like-for-like mod replacement etc. and give car club discounts. In the end I've gone with Sky, seemed good on the phone and you get the impression you'll get a reasonable service if you ever have to claim.

[NotDave]

Digger said:

No doubt I will get slated for asking given there are presumably numerous threads on this (I haven't checked though!)

. . . but seriously how do you pick which company to use? Luckily I have never had to claim so at the moment price really has the most appeal, but there will no doubt be a time when I will have to claim, and will no doubt wish I had read the finer print! The nautical chap & long-trunked animal are currently way down the list, surprisingly.

Edited by Digger on Thursday 3rd January 11:57

They're the top 2 on price, every time.....


Cheapest quotes I've had are:

Saab - £700 and Mondeo £500 - Both yearly, lump sum price.


Dearest quotes were over £2500 for each...... I'm 25 FFS

[kambites]

I found Elephant to be very good when I had to claim off them. They ended up paying for a mistake made by a garage that I had chosen!

[Snowboy]

So far, I quite like admiral.

For a married couple with three cars their multi car policies are hard to beat.

[jimxms]

Snowboy said:

So far, I quite like admiral.

For a married couple with three cars their multi car policies are hard to beat.

I had good experiences a couple of years back when i was in a collision. They couldn't prove that the other party was t fault, but with my detailed account of events and drawings they took my word for it and my NCB remained intact.

They also let me pick a really good garage for my repair work and didn't seem to fussed about me asking for a new wing and bumper when they could, at a push, have been repaired.

[LukeSi]

If Elephant come out cheaper admiral will always price match, they are all part of the same company.

[jimxms]

LukeSi said:

If Elephant come out cheaper admiral will always price match, they are all part of the same company.

Bell and Shiela's Wheels too isn't it?

Although bell insisted on a black box when I went to take out a new policy a few months back :/

[LukeSi]

jimxms said:

LukeSi said:

If Elephant come out cheaper admiral will always price match, they are all part of the same company.

Bell and Shiela's Wheels too isn't it?

Although bell insisted on a black box when I went to take out a new policy a few months back :/

I think so. Elephant and Admiral are both cheaper than Bell in my case anyway.

[rohrl]

1. Get renewal premium.
2. Completely ignore renewal premium.
3. Input details to the three big comparison websites, Compare the Market, Confused, GoCompare.
4. Get a load of premiums cheaper than renewal price.
5. Buy policy either from cheapest company or if you're a bit more cautious the cheapest company whose name you recognise.

[crossy67]

I have saved customers cars from the scrap for Effluent and not so Admirable after their "approved" glass replacement company wanted more than the car was worth to replace glasses. One that springs to mind was an old Starlet, approved wanted £1200, I did it for £270. I made decent money out of it, customer kept his car on the road but had to pay as their insurers wouldn't budge on the £125 deal they had with the approved co.


Always worth trying a local broker, the number of times I have advised people to try them and they have saved money and got better cover is quite surprising. Unfortunately you only find out how good your insurance company is when it's too late.