IAM or RoSPA

[GC8]

I favour RoSPA. I’m an IAM previous member, but I like RoSPA’s attitude towards charging and also the graded passes.

Others opinions and experiences welcomed.

[R0G]

IAM now grade as the do F1RST
You can choose to have a retest or an assessment at any time with IAM

That puts both about the same

[johnao]

R0G said:

IAM now grade as the do F1RST
You can choose to have a retest or an assessment at any time with IAM

That puts both about the same

Yes, but paying for an IAM refresh test (approx £65) every three years, on top of the annual membership fee (£36 D/debit), makes it much more expensive than RoSPA. RoSPA's annual membership fee (cheaper than the IAM's) includes the cost of the triennial test.

[waremark]

Somewhere around half of IAM members use the IAM insurance scheme. That suggests it is beneficial for many.

IAM influences far more drivers than Rospa and would like you to think of the subscription as a charitable donation.

[DJMC]

IAM is a joke. My father passed his advanced course at the same time as we were worried about his poor driving. He'd hit his garage so many times the body shop owner said "I'll get a holiday out of this one."
The following year, at age 88, he failed a DVLA assessment, mounting the kerb, almost colliding with another car, and the examiner having to grab the wheel to avoid another collision.
It was SO obvious that IAM just wanted his money.
ROSPA is the one to go for from my recent research into an advanced course for my son.

[watchnut]

Rospa for me, having to HAVE to retake test every 3 years has to be better.

I'm in both, the "surety" insurance quotes for me and my wife are very expensive, so I don't know how "most" can say they get cheaper insurance.....they quote me nearly £200 more a year for my cars.....so what is the point of having an "advanced" qualification if they are not competitive in trying to sell IAM as cheaper for insurance?

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

watchnut said:

Rospa for me, having to HAVE to retake test every 3 years has to be better.

I'm in both, the "surety" insurance quotes for me and my wife are very expensive, so I don't know how "most" can say they get cheaper insurance...

Finding a RoSPA group can be a challenge in some parts of the country. IAM groups are more numerous, often have the same members and are usually tested by the same examiners.

For those that feel regular retesting is important, IAM Roadsmart offer the 'Fellow Membership' which requires three-yearly retests. The test fees are included in the membership fee.

https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-cu...

IAM Surety is almost always cheaper if you use it the right way. Create an account on a comparison site, enter your details and get quotes. Ring Surety with those quotes and they'll generally beat them, or come close to matching but with better cover.

A lot of people seem to object to this and expect a really low quote to start with, but that's not the way the system works.

[watchnut]

Thanks S G esq....i will do so next time round, but am sure I have given them quotes I have had before and they have chosen to "decine"

[robinessex]

I was intered in the ROSPA course, only to discover my local group had closed down.

[Haltamer]

robinessex said:

I was intered in the ROSPA course, only to discover my local group had closed down.

Ditto; I'm now with NELE IAM. Has been perfectly good, but I wouldn't mind doing a Rospa as well for the sake of it - A shame the essex group shut down.

[johnao]

Haltamer said:

robinessex said:

I was intered in the ROSPA course, only to discover my local group had closed down.

Ditto; I'm now with NELE IAM. Has been perfectly good, but I wouldn't mind doing a Rospa as well for the sake of it - A shame the essex group shut down.

You can apply directly to RoSPA to take the test; you don’t need to join a local group. As an IAM member it’s unlikely that you’ll need any additional coaching anyway - the tests are almost identical. I’m sure there will be a NELE member who is also RoSPA who will take you out for a drive.

In your area, RoSPA tests are conducted from Chipping Ongar and near to Brentwood.

Good luck.

[anonymous-user]

IAM is full of Ex Policeman who believe they are better than you. The attitude in my experience is dreadful and the cleaky nature of their self created kingdom is absurd.
I did a Motorcycle IAM course over a year or so and passed with a First.
I am delighted to now have nothing to do with their secret society of self obsessed little men.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 28th November 21:09

[vonhosen]

cliffords said:

IAM is full of Ex Policeman who believe they are better than you. The attitude in my experience is dreadful and the cleaky nature of their self created kingdom is absurd.
I did a Motorcycle IAM course over a year or so and passed with a First.
I am delighted to now have nothing to do with their secret society of self obsessed little men.

Why did you force yourself to do it (& for a year!!!)?

[robinessex]

johnao said:

Haltamer said:

robinessex said:

I was intered in the ROSPA course, only to discover my local group had closed down.

Ditto; I'm now with NELE IAM. Has been perfectly good, but I wouldn't mind doing a Rospa as well for the sake of it - A shame the essex group shut down.

You can apply directly to RoSPA to take the test; you don’t need to join a local group. As an IAM member it’s unlikely that you’ll need any additional coaching anyway - the tests are almost identical. I’m sure there will be a NELE member who is also RoSPA who will take you out for a drive.

In your area, RoSPA tests are conducted from Chipping Ongar and near to Brentwood.

Good luck.

Can you give me a link to that ?

[anonymous-user]

vonhosen said:

cliffords said:

IAM is full of Ex Policeman who believe they are better than you. The attitude in my experience is dreadful and the cleaky nature of their self created kingdom is absurd.
I did a Motorcycle IAM course over a year or so and passed with a First.
I am delighted to now have nothing to do with their secret society of self obsessed little men.

Why did you force yourself to do it (& for a year!!!)?

It was monthly meetings and I did about 8 observed rides and a few months not attending weather and holidays. I really hated it and them but I wanted to get the training, and over time wanted to pass and pass well just to prove to myself I was not as sh*t as they told me each month.
When I did pass with an independent to the group examiner they questioned me and the examiner as they were so pissed off I had passed.
Revolting individuals. I have high regard for our police officers, ex police officers of about my age 53 seem to be utter skunks in the IAM world.

[angoooose]

johnao said:

In your area, RoSPA tests are conducted from Chipping Ongar and near to Brentwood.

And Colchester & Chelmsford

[robinessex]

angoooose said:

johnao said:

In your area, RoSPA tests are conducted from Chipping Ongar and near to Brentwood.

And Colchester & Chelmsford

Not been able to find that on ROSPA website

[angoooose]

On the form you nominate where to take the test. I've taken all my tests in Colchester or Chelmsford

[johnao]

robinessex said:

angoooose said:

johnao said:

In your area, RoSPA tests are conducted from Chipping Ongar and near to Brentwood.

And Colchester & Chelmsford

Not been able to find that on ROSPA website

You won't.

What you do is contact RoSPA, pay for the test and tell them your address. Then you will be contacted by one of two of their examiners in your area, one of whom will say... "meet me in Ongar", and the other will say... "meet me near Brentwood".

Equally, if RoSPA have appointed a third examiner in the NELE area you'll probably be meeting him somewhere else.

[robinessex]

johnao said:

robinessex said:

angoooose said:

johnao said:

In your area, RoSPA tests are conducted from Chipping Ongar and near to Brentwood.

And Colchester & Chelmsford

Not been able to find that on ROSPA website

You won't.

What you do is contact RoSPA, pay for the test and tell them your address. Then you will be contacted by one of two of their examiners in your area, one of whom will say... "meet me in Ongar", and the other will say... "meet me near Brentwood".

Equally, if RoSPA have appointed a third examiner in the NELE area you'll probably be meeting him somewhere else.

When ROSPA had an area group, I was under the impression that volunteers from that group would give you pre-test evaluation, and some tuition