Insurance craziness

Tasocahtfu · 18 Jun 2007 at 14:10

Hi,

It's renewal time for me at the end of this month, so I went on the net to get a quote from my current insurer, as the one they send through is always more than if I do a new quote. So I tap in all my details, changing one letter of my name so it lets it go through.

Now the only things that have changed since last year are:

1. I am now over 25
2. I have another year's no-claims
3. The value of my car has dropped slightly.
4. Someone reversed into my car in a car-park aand damaged my bonnet, which I did not make any claim for whatsoever. The other party's insurer took care of the repairs.

I expected with my age change and the extra year of NCB to be looking at something around £300-£350, as last year was £420-something. Imagine my horror when it flashed up with over £500! I couldn't understand it, so I went back and removed the mention of an accident, despite me not having claimed, and it dropped to £360!

Is this not totally ridiculous?! I've never been involved in an accident before, so have no idea if I'm supposed to be punished for someone else's mistake, but it seems so unfair!

FWIW, car is a 106 GTi and insurer is Elephant. I've tried other insurers and all their quotes are either roughly the same or higher! :mad:

[TW]Fox · 18 Jun 2007 at 14:18

It is totally ridiculous.

My insurance went up by £70 simply becase my MUM had somebody drive into her car whilst stationary - and their insurance paid for everything. It was such a non issue I didn't even think to mention it, yet when I called to buy the policy they said 'Why have you disclosed this claim'.

They even read it off the claim database as 'Claim withdrawn, third party insurer paying everything'. Yet still I must pay an extra £70 becuase somebody drove into my Mums car :confused:

My Mum is named on the policy, which is why, but even so, it's ridiculous. He TOTAL insurance cost is £400 for her policy, so quite why one little thing relating to her made such a difference to mine I don't know

Gilly · 18 Jun 2007 at 14:19

Unfortunately thats just how it works. You are statistically more likely (I assume) to have an accident if you have previously had one. Whether your fault or not.

I have the same problem this year.

NathanE · 18 Jun 2007 at 14:19

It is unfair but "they say" accidents (no matter whose at fault) increases your likelihood in the future to have another

kaiowas · 18 Jun 2007 at 14:47

It's reaching the point where it's got to worth trying to claim for the increase in your premium from the 3rd parties insurance if you are involved in a no fault accident.

InvaderGIR · 18 Jun 2007 at 14:52

Yeah, which is why my one which was own fault, but nobody else involved has pushed my premiums up by like £200 a year. If I'm right though, most run on a 3 year thing, so after 3 years they ignore accidents...which means come renewal time my insurance should drop dramatically.

Make sure you check all the companies around on the web, some should give you better deals, as that doesn't seem right, £500 for a 1.6 GTi at your age etc. even with an 'accident'.

I'm sure they are meant to like take into account the severity of the accident, so if it's say, "third party reversed into car" then you should get less shafted than say "hit stationary object".

But then logic seems to defiy insurance companies.

InvG