Elephant.co,uk/Admiral car insurance advice?

[VWS786]

Hi Guys

Thinking of buying a 3 series BMW and will insure it on my own name after being on my fathers policy for many years. I have recieved many quotes from the popular search engines with elephant.co.uk and admiral being the cheapest fully comp (known name!!) insurers.

However following a google search I have read mixed reviews about both sister companies, many being quite neagative especially when dealing with claims etc, anyone with either company had any exepriences they would like to share? would you recommned them?

[sherman]

Just an idea but try not crashing and you will never need to deal with their claims department.

Apart from them constantly try to sell me a courtesy car on my policy that I dont need as there are 3 other cars in the household Admiral have been fine so far.

[VWS786]

Yes that is the plan

[bertieg]

im now on my third year with them, and they seem okay. they did once try to claim £30 off me because they thought i had modifications that i didnt declare, but i let them know my feelings and they changed their mind on that one

[Papa Hotel]

I've been with elephant for 5 years now, cannot fault them at all. The girls in the Welsh call centre all sound really sexy, maybe another certain PHer can confirm if that's the case. The Indian centre is less successful...

[Baggio850]

I used to be an elephant customer because they always provided the cheapest quotes. However after a 1 year ordeal trying to get a claim paid I would NEVER use them again. My car was written off and they were a nightmare to deal with. Never returning calls, puuting you on hold for hours and trying every trick in the book to avoid paying out. They may well provide the cheapest quotes but what's the point of having insurance when they make it nigh on impossible to claim when you really them? I had been a Direct Line customer previously and am back to them now. Always been fair and easy to deal with and worth the extra.

[ryandoc]

Double post

Edited by ryandoc on Saturday 11th August 10:04

[ryandoc]

I'm with admiral on multicar. Last year one of the cars was written off and I have to say the whole process couldn't have been easier, couple of phone calls, car was drivable so dropped it off at approved repairer, cost of repairs was more than value of car etc and just received a cheque.

Now that was my work mule car, was a Saab and the garage they sent it to was local Vauxhall, what I have been told is they use these approved repair centres etc, so my main car (BMW) would have to go to one of these for repair.
Apparently it is my right to insist it would go to BMW for repair If needs be but I've heard then can get shirty, I've heard that they will refuse you a hire car if you don't use the garage/repair centre they tell you to?

[750turbo]

The thing being OP, searching online will mostly only throw up problem people have had. I am sure that very few people will post anywhere, when things have gone well.

Possibly true with most things in life?

My own experience with Admiral Multicar?

1st year £450

2nd year £550

3rd year £750! Called them, got it down to £610, told them not to renew, and went to Axa for £510

(All figs approximate, it is early for me )

(Cars were Honda Civic Type R and Honda FR-V, both covered for business use)

Good luck!

[Bayerischer]

I'm with Admiral. Another Admiral driver crashed into me and they were pretty good - got the 3 series fixed at a main dealer bodyshop and no quibbling from them. Of course, might have been a different story if I was with another insurer.

They always provide ridiculous renewal quotes but always match the best online price (which has always been Elephant).

[Locke]

Admiral have been good to me in the 4 years I've been with them, had a car written off a few months back with good service through out the claim. They do send you silly renewal prices though but you can knock them down a lot if you tell them your best quote.

[Locke]

Papa Hotel said:

The girls in the Welsh call centre all sound really sexy

[forzaminardi]

With only a year's exception I've always used elephant (that exception was Swiftcover, not sure why for one year they were a bit cheaper). I've never had to make a claim (see other thread) but whenever I've changed car, address, etc it's been simplicity. Actually, thinking about it, I did make a claim for a windscreen once and it was handled quickly and smoothly. No complaints (other than insurance being a rip off generally of course, see other thread...)

[torqueofthedevil]

Locke said:

Papa Hotel said:

The girls in the Welsh call centre all sound really sexy

Fit on the phone, add two stone

[falkster]

Admiral muilticar were by far the cheapest. The only claim I've ever made was 5 years ago and admiral couldn't have done anymore other than noshed me off. From my wife crashing to being paid out was about 2 weeks and that included me having a 3rd party investigate the car as I didn't want it writing off.

[Hudson]

Cheap, but they paid out a false whiplash claim without even telling me so i told them to stuff it.

Also "matthew" from their call centre thought my Golf 4motion was first a "commercial" vehicle, and later thought it was a 1.3 >_>

[forks]

Back in 2001, I got shunted off the road by someone coming pulling out in front of me on a DC. Got the car back home, called Admiral, and a few hours later a low loader with my courtesy car on came to collect mine. It took about 2 weeks for the other driver to admit liabilty, but other than that the car was back to me a week later.

A few years later, someone tried to steal my Integra, and did a real number on it in the process. Again Admiral were faultless, although the 'approved bodyshop' were utter ste, taking 2 months to source a rear panel for some reason. I have heard some horror stories with regard to Admiral, but I can't fault them so far, and its for this reason they get my repeat business.