Thems Insurance gimps need putting up against the wall an shootin when the revolution comes.
(or just shoot them anyway)
Some of my observations:
When getting quotes do it midweek, you'll get cheaper quotes than at a weekend.
(Weekends more people have the time, hence busier, busy means high demand, high demand = bigger ripoff)
Be careful when paying for things like legal cover, NCD protection, hire car etc. etc. etc.
Legal cover - if it ain't your fault most solicitors will do the work on a no win no fee basis. If it's you fault then the insurance co' argues the toss. So you could be paying for feck all.
NCD protection - bit twisted this one. Yes it will protect your NCD years BUT your policy will still be weighted as you have had an accident & weighted as if you've lost a % of your NCD.
Hire Car - Sounds like a deal BUT the cost of the hire car goes on your claim & policy and you will have most probably have extra weighting on future policies.
Again, if not your fault the other side gets you a hire car. If it's your fault then it's down to how desperate you'd need a car v the cost.
(Remember, after a claim future policies (3 - 5 yrs) will weight your policy based on the total cost of your claim as this is your 'risk' to them. i.e. a minor bump (lets say £1500 damage) plus your legals (injury) plus your hire car etc. plus your NCD protection can push your claim upto, and often into 5 figures)
My personal thinking on insurance with older, cheaper cars / trucks (i.e. low value) is to go for 3rd party only and take the hit if your daft enough to crash your car. In the long term it works out cheaper than making a claim, especially when you take the excess into account & future high premiums.
The legality of the following is questionable so be warned:
If you have a bump and it's 100% not your fault and the other party admits liability, DO NOT hand over your insurance details. Give them your name, address, phone no etc. Because they will go away and be advised that they shouldn't have admitted liability and they or their insurers will then make a claim against you!
I had this a few years ago when a HGV hit me, stuffed me big time at a roundabout. 100% his fault (he didn't look), he admitted liability uber apologetic, we swapped details and he was off in no time. His truck had a few minor scratches, my car was fecked.
Next thing I know he is claiming on my insurance and blaming me for accident! Short version: took 3 yrs to fight case and in the end I still had the claim weighted on my policies because I was INVOLVED in an accident.
For the next few years of obtaining quotes I worded my answers very carefully when asked about previous claims & accidents.
My argument is I have not had any accidents but someone else hit my vehicle.
I did not make any claims on my insurance.
Also play around with the selection of your job description, changes here make a difference. (obviously you can't lie but you can be, ahem, economical with the truth)
If you have additional qualifications like HGV licence, IAM, Skidpan, EFAD & other emergency training try putting these on and OFF your quotes.
Believe it or not some policies will be weighted if you have a HGV licence, emergency services etc. as you are classed as a professional driver and therefore at more risk of an accident, most will go the other way and take the experience and reduce the risk.
Also if your married and two vehicles, insure each others vehicle and put your other half down as named driver. We did this for years and was way cheaper.
Also use sites like Quidco when getting quotes online. They often give good rates of cashback on insurance (loads of cashback on other things too) I had a defender 110 a few years back and the best quote I got was £130 odd with £40 cash back so came in at less than £100 for 3rd party only (no other ****e either).
And lastly ALWAYS check carefully the optional excess when you get your paperwork through.
A few times now we've had this added when the peeps have been reducing your policy, they don't tell you this on the phone, they tell you the mandatory excess is £100 so you think cool, but then the paperwork states voluntary excess £500!!!! WTF :doh:
