Insurance time again.

[Paul-R]

It's well known that 21 days before renewal date is the optimum time to search for alternative quotes. Martin Lewis's Money Savings Expert people did extensive tests on a various number of days before renewal date to confirm this.

[NewcastleFalcon]

It's well known that 21 days before renewal date is the optimum time to search for alternative quotes. Martin Lewis's Money Savings Expert people did extensive tests on a various number of days before renewal date to confirm this.

Proof of the pudding was in the eating on this occasion Paul. Maybe in 2024 the emphasis has shifted because that 21 days thing is probably pretty well known now. The comparison sites recently at that 21 day mark for me didn't come up with anything cheaper enough to change.

You loose nothing by consulting the comparison sites before that 21 day mark. Most renewals just go in one direction ie up as was proved to be the case with the Clio Policy.

An enquiry a week before the renewal arrived came up with a quote of £190 (Santander). The renewal quote was never going to match that and as stated went from £230 to £290.

All I can say is that it worked on that occasion. You loose nothing by trying.

I'm not sure if 30 days before expiry is the earliest date in the general insurance market will give you a firm quote for the next year's insurance.

Neil

[bobins]

^^^^^^^^^
Lewis's website gives numerous details on how to trim down the cost of insurance renewals legitimately........ and also how not to - like putting yourself down as the main driver when you're not !
I think the optimum time might be slightly longer than 21 days, and some insurers now only hold their quotes for hours, not days

[GiveMeABreak]

You can't get renewal quotes more than about a month from when the new policy is to start, so this is the time to start your trawl. The nearer you get to the intended policy commencement date the more they rip you off and start loading it - especially in the last few weeks, but certainly the last week or last few days before you need the policy to start.

I have 2-3 comparison site accounts - all complete with my details, so a little pain setting everything up initially, once done, you can more or less forget about it. I just adjust the policy commencement dates and any changes if relevant.

I no longer bother going to Direct Line, Churchill or any other rip off 'you won't find us on any comparison site companies', as past history wasting hours of my life going through all the rigmarole with each one of those has shown them to be anything from 30% to double the renewals of the comparison sites.

Occasionally, I may dip my toe in the water with one of them just to check and always find I was right to ignore them.

Some members seem to be happy using the above mentioned, so all I can conclude is it's down to area and personal circumstances, but all things being equal on a like for like basis, I've always found the best deals on the comparison sites, and using 3 of them seems to cover all the bases.

And just to prove a point loyalty is no longer a consideration, I often find a new quote from the same insurance company I'm with on the comparison site, generally always beats my renewal price from the same company....

Rewards offered by some are no real incentive - I have free coffee every month from Confused.com, but rarely use it, but sometimes a Halfrauds voucher may be useful for some cleaning products or money off a Karcher accessory is worth having. But if truth be told, it would be better to dump the offers and get that off the insurance quote!

[Paul-R]

You loose nothing by consulting the comparison sites before that 21 day mark.

I don't believe that is the case Neil. IIRC the graph of price quotes against time was basically a bathtub curve. Going earlier than 21 days gave rapidly increasing quotation prices whilst going later was met by slowly rising prices which eventually became steeper the closer to the renewal date you get.

I have also had no luck with the firms that aren't on comparison sites. Saga have quoted me very highly compared to the, err, comparison sites even making allowances for some of the things they include as standard such as driving overseas. I seldom even try now.

I have also found that the comparison sites can offer quotes from the same company that are cheaper than they are offering as a renewal. Ridiculous.

[NewcastleFalcon]

You find the "not sure what they are" BISL being behind many of the high street names offering insurance. They are the providers/administrators of the Santander offering, and if I recall right other insurances I have had with the likes of Halifax.

BISL manage and arrange both the RAC branded insurance (the £290 renewal previous Clio Policy), and Santander Insurance (the £190 New Clio Insurance Policy)

Neil

[bobins]

This from Moneysavingexpert (Martin Lewis):

When best to renew car insurance - Moneysavingexpert

Also:

Car insurance - Moneysavingexpert

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insur ... -to-renew/

[GiveMeABreak]

Any excuse to wheedle a few more £ out of us.

[bobins]

So it was time to get some quotes for Helga, my Merc.....
One insurer - 4000 mile limit, £285 inc full European breakdown and agreed value. The same insurer quoting at the same time with the same policy - 5000 mile limit, £275 inc full European breakdown cover and agreed value.

Eh ???

[mickthemaverick]

Clearly they believe the car is a bigger risk when parked at home unattended than when being driven by its obviously careful owner? Try a 10000 mile quote!!

[Paul-R]

I found a similar thing when I looked at car insurance quotes for a family member. I forget the exact details but exactly the same, a slightly higher mileage entered into the quote details produced a lower price. Unbelievable! But guess which quote we went with?

[Peter.N.]

Got loads of quotes for the C5 estates this year, have been with Direct line for a number of years but has been steadily going up. A lot not doing windscreen cover now or permission to drive another car not belonging to you. Some of the cheap companies wont let you complete the application without 'extras' so make sure the cover what you need.

Direct line wanted nearly £600 this year but gave me all I needed but I still threatened them with leaving, got it for £450 eventually, better the devil you know, this was my wife's car Our other one is due next month so I wonder how that is going to pan out. She is 81 now and I'm 86 so that probably doesn't help although my barber is 95! and he still get his insured for a reasonable price.

Peter

[Gibbo2286]

I had been with Direct Line for years but they wouldn't play ball last year and for the first time ever Saga gave the best price, when it comes due again I''ll shop around, give Direct Line another chance.
LV won't even quote for us oldies anymore.

[bobins]

The quote I got is under a 'classic car' policy, and they won't cover you unless you've got at least one other regular form of car transport - I don't think vans or motorbikes are allowed, only cars - but a regular use company car is included in the 'other regular use' category. They also don't charge an excess for windscreen repair, but there is a £100 excess for replacement. 'Driving other cars' is excluded.

[myglaren]

This arrived yesterday and I have been hesitant to open it, expecting bad news.
I was my intention to talk to them, something I hate doing on the phone, despite them always being very pleasant to talk to once I have overcome the hurdle to initiate a call.

After the write-off, the second in two years, I was going to alter the terms and have my youngest son as primary driver, even insure it in his name as it lives either on his drive or in the secure car park where he works.

But faced with this I will just keep shtum and accept it. Less than I was expecting rather than more.