[Closed] Dull: Car Insurance Renewal

In March, esure bent me over for yet another year but despite shopping around they were still the cheapest (just).

Just cancelled that policy as some work done to the car means its now on a modified policy via Brentacre (who I've used in the past for modified cars). Result was despite it being modified, my insurance now costs less than it did standard via esure.

I always fall off my seat whenever the car insurance renewal comes through. Virtually every company I've ever been with claim that, despite tirelessly searching for the best deal on renewal, have ended up upping the premium by 50%+ (despite yet another years no claims).

I always use the comparison sites, get a comparable quote elsewhere (also worth checking reviews of the companies you're looking at, as cheap isn't always better) and see if you're current insurer will match. If they don't, then swap. No reward for loyalty in the car insurance game. Just the opposite, in fact.

Should add that Brentacre do unmodified stuff as well - they're just a broker (I think) but seem to be able to beat anything I could find on a price comparison site...

I always use comparison sites. You will *always* get a better deal than a renewal will give you. Often with the same company.

I can only assume enough people are apathetic enough to renew to make this approach worthwhile for insurance companies. The only thing that will stop them doing this 'add 20% to renewals' or whatever it is, is if enough people always look for alternatives at renewal time.

Quidco insurance compare worked for me as well.. got a good quote and then £40 back as well 🙂

My renewal quote was £1,200 (admiral)

I told them to cancel auto renew, shopped about, couldn't find anything much cheaper, called admiral back a few days later and after a 30 minute call my insurance was £880. Pretty sure they just pick figures out of thin air.

Got a new car in march paying £275 so not able to renew. But for curiosity I went on confused.com the other day and go quoted £165 as the lowest. This interest was sparked due to a BBC news article stating that car insurance has dropped. Be sods law it shoots back up next march.

Admiral quoted me £750 to renew, told them I got a quote for £550 on comparison site. After a "chat with his manager" the guy then offered me the same price!

there are these web sites that you put all your details into and then run a search, it stores your details so you can use it next year. Yes you get a load of sales calls but you also get a good idea of the market.

Give it a go.

When using comparison sites it is often beneficial to then get a quote direct from whoever they throw up as being the cheapest as it is often a bit less.
Do check the policy cover carefully though as a friend of mine went with the cheapest quote from confused.com and then later found out it didn't include windscreen cover (that was with Aviva).
Yes, she found out after she cracked her windscreen. 😳

OK thank you, 'Tis done. Renewed with Aviva, Money off plus £165 cashback. For the first time, I took out Greenflag separately at cheaper plus another £50 cashback. Looks like an embryonic bicycle parts fund 🙂

As per Sbob, I've found the insurance comparisons site to be useless (other than to increase spam) when you do go to insure with them, and specify stuff/extra's like NCB protection the quote suddenly leap up price. That and the cheapest companies don't tend to have very good reviews, I'd prefer not to have to worry about my cover when I have an accident.
So I've given up with them, and now tend to get quotes from the larger more main stream companies. They can be very competitive.

Me too and I CBA trolling through loads of additional shite to save £10 hence the request for a shortcut.

Renewed my wife's car recently, and dropping the value from £10k to £8k saved over £200.

And before anyone says anything, the car isn't worth £8k and since when did an owners 'valuation' matter one iota in a write-off situation...

yep very annoying, if you say "market value" they will not accept this, you have to specify a value.. which as per B R will increase your policy but means nothing if you have an accident.

Buuuuuuuut if you under value it, they have grounds to claim you are under insured and reduce your payout accordingly. :-/

Admiral here too. I told them to stick their renewal and as if by magic the price dropped. I still feel like i've been mugged but they were the cheapest.