Car insurance is a puzzle to a newbie.

[5tevie]

I have wanted a Jaguar for a long time but I'm not daft enough to think that the buying cost is the biggest worry. Bearing that in mind, I did a bit of research on insurance costs for the Jaguars that were on my short list. These were a 1999 XJ8 LWB 3.2 Auto. a 1997 XJ6 3.2S Auto and a 1995 XJ6 3.2 Auto

I filled in a few Price compare website things and the lowest quotes were around the £900 mark. Ouch!
I then went to a couple of Classic Insurance websites and gave them a call. The thing is, my main problem is that I have zero NCB. Not because I am a terrible driver but because for the last 18 years i have been the named driver on my wife's car insurance. Neither of us has any convictions in all that time and no claims either but that counts for nothing. Anyway, I was told, when I rang the first classic insurance place, that if I joined the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, did less than 1500 miles per year, bought an XJ6 that was pre 1994 and provided proof that I was named driver on wife's policy, I could be insured for £208. I was happy with that but I was unable to do one of those things and that was to find a pre 1994 XJ6 3.2 in tip-top condition for the money I wanted to pay. The bonus was that I got a few tips on what other models would cost.
So I went ahead and searched for a later Jag in good nick and found the one I eventually bought which is a 1995 XJ6 3.2 in darkish blue with cream leather.
I then got in contact with various classic insurance sites and eventually got insured Fully Comp with Breakdown Recovery, Courtesy car and Legal gubbins for a total of £372.22
But another company wanted £488 for the same cover and one company wanted over £600.
Why would anybody buy their insurance from one firm when they can get it from another for over £200 less?

Edited by 5tevie on Friday 18th March 23:44

[SimonV8ster]

Its always very odd.

Just got some quotes on-line and one of them wanted MORE money when I opted to put the voluntary excess up !! If I opted to pay another 500 quid excess the premimum went up by 200 quid !!

[skeeterm5]

5tevie said:

Why would anybody buy their insurance from one firm when they can get it from another for over £200 less?

Edited by 5tevie on Friday 18th March 23:44

Because you want a company that will actually pay out in the event of a claim. The old maxim of of too good to be true applies equally to insurance I think.

S

[5tevie]

Ah ... "To good to be true" is a good maxim to live by but maybe I should have added that in my particular case, all the insurance firms that I tried were recommended by the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club so I guess they are reputable as far as Insurance companies go.