Car Insurance renewals

[sony007]

I find myself driving less and less nowadays, mainly driving to do my shopping and sometimes visiting friends. I'd be very surprise if I do 500 miles per year but I tend to put 1000 miles when asked by insurers. I've got 14 years no claims. I know other factors also come into the cost like type of car, where it's parked and where you live also.

But seeing the premium going up each year when you've not made a claim is a ballache. I know you can phone them up and they'll reduce it a bit to try to keep you on board, but that reduction of say £20 from say £460pa to £440pa stills feels like it should be better. I don't want one of those telematic or whatever those boxes are in my car, but asides from calling your current insurer to bring the price down and using Go compare and Compare the market search engines, are there any other ideas to reduce the yearly cost the genuinely work?

Just out of interest, what is the cheapest comprehensive deal in recent years that you've heard or had?

 

[sony007]

Astounding, I never thought that actually driving more miles could potentially make your insurance cheaper. I have heard of including a second driver, but I think that could be hit and miss in bringing the cost down. When I tried that before my cost went up, but I know others have seen a reduction. That £460 does also included national breakdown cover which is £89pa with the RAC. I have to admit in my years of driving I have only ever needed the breakdown service once if my memory serves me correctly, but I know exactly what would happen if I removed this...or maybe i've just been mentally conditioned to believe something would happen if I don't have breakdown cover included.

 

[sony007]

If you only drive 500-1000 miles a year it’s also worth considering if you actually need a car at all. I’ve got no idea where you live but you are well in the territory of being better off just getting a taxi and hiring a car when you need one then using public transport for the rest.

I have contemplated whether I need the car still to be fair, and what I tend to do is reflect over the previous year or so and weigh it up. I've only hired a car once before about 10 years only so I don't really know how efficient that process is now when you need one straight away, and also at that time when I hired the car I remember when I returned the car it was being scrutinised for scratches which the guy wanted to say I did. I really can't be dealing with all that each time.

 

[sony007]

I was rather chuffed with my Insurance renewal this year.
£240 (2018 Octy vRS petrol - 46yr old, 9+ years NCB) - was actually down £25 from last year.
I don't think I've ever seen a lower price offered at renewal from the same insurance company - even if it has been a trouble free year. I know there were those new rules introduced about renewals and "new customers" - but still, expected the same as last year at the very best.

Just out of interest, does that include breakdown cover and a courtesy car if your car is damaged? It is possible that that I have included extra's on my insurance that maybe I don't really need but just felt like it provided peace of mind just in case.

 

[sony007]

I thought the same but it depends a bit on how many days a year the car is used and whether public transport is viable for the majority of journeys. Given it is used for shopping one would assume it is probably used at least 50 days a year. Still might be better off with other methods of transport.

I did the ordering a taxi thing when doing my shopping before I got my license. Going to one location like a supermarket is doable for the most part, but if you need to pick other bits up at various other locations then thats where I would want the convenience of being in my own car. I guess it comes down also to what make us feel comfortable at times.