Insurance Nightmare

[capt jack]

My car insurance expires next week - and the cost of renewal is scary.

Last year I paid £500 - quotes this year are eye-watering. The most costly has been £3100, yes, three thousand pounds - for a car that's probably only worth a little more than that! Most are coming in at between £600 and £1000.

Last year I had two claims - one was when my car was sideswiped by a Polish-registered lorry. In the end I had to withdraw the claim because the lorry driver's Polish insurers simply ignored all correspondence from my insurers (Churchill - who were utterly useless, and eventually advised me to drop the claim). The damage to my car has never been repaired.

The other claim was for a windscreen - which once again got complicated because Churchill's supplier (Autoglass) said I'd have to wait two months, so got the job done myself and then claimed the cost back from Churchill (who took a couple of months and over 30 phone calls to pay out).

I've tried all the comparison sites, plus Halifax, Tesco, the AA, Direct Line (who are a Churchill company), Admiral, Elephant, LV, Aviva - plus many more.

• Is anyone else having trouble getting insurance renewal?
  
• Can anyone suggest any other providers?

My current insurance runs out next week, so it's beginning to be a bit of a problem! Churchill have offered a renewal, but after experiencing the most dreadful customer service I don't trust them!


Thanks

Jack

[john.wigley]

'Evening, Jack, we've always found Saga hard to beat. Both in our seventies, we are not minded to switch insurers and have all three cars covered by them.

I have just renewed on the Saab 'vert, fully comp both of us to drive, SD&P, with the premium fixed at £197p.a. for three years (if nothing changes) and a
protected NCD (Up to two blameworthy claims in three years without loss).

The car is worth maybe a couple of grand and the level of cover is excellent - including hotels, taxis, etc. I might have saved twenty quid or so by shopping around, but frankly didn't think that either the effort or the benefit was worthwhile.

Regards, John.

[Whippy]

We go through Howdens (formerly A Plan) who have always found us the best deal. Try a phone call.

[GrahamBrown1]

What about the VOC partner Chris knott. Could be worth a phone call.

https://www.chrisknott.co.uk/motor-i...lub-insurance/

[don kalmar union]

I have car insurance with NFU.... have done for some years.

18months or so ago I checked with Saga for an alternative quote.... they were 2.5 times the NFU for an '09 XC90 D5.

Don.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by don kalmar union

I have car insurance with NFU.... have done for some years.

18months or so ago I checked with Saga for an alternative quote.... they were 2.5 times the NFU for an '09 XC90 D5.

Don.

Horses for courses, Don, horses for courses. Each to their own, and everyone's case is different; one can only speak as one finds.

Regards, John.

P.S. We also have direct experience of Saga's claims handling procedure when my late MIL's car was written off after a collision with a lorry on the A50 just before Christmas many years ago. They were excellent in every respect.

One can only really fully assess any insurance company, no matter how dear or cheap their premiums, on their performance at such a time. J.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by don kalmar union

18months or so ago I checked with Saga for an alternative quote.... they were 2.5 times the NFU for an '09 XC90 D5.

Don.

Horses for courses also... I've had a quote from NFU the past 3 years, they have always come in broadly twice the price of the mainstream insurers like Direct Line and Aviva, and I have a number of other policies with them.

It just goes to show there seems to be little rhyme or reason, every year you have to set half a day aside for lots of typing and ringing around. Very frustrating.

[baggy798]

On the comparison sites (confused.com has consistently beaten comparethemarket for me), enter all your details the same but omit the two claims, are the quotes a lot less?

Doubt you have to declare that second claim, I never did when the windscreen was changed in 2018.

[Whippy]

I used Aviva for years through A Plan, they were very competitive and dealing with them was (almost) a delight. Got a quote from Saga, ridiculous.

[Sergeant Grumpy]

Just been on to Saga for a peek…..my 2022 V90 was insured with Quote me happy (aviva) for £430 this year…..
Saga want just shy of £1000 - with a huge £350 compulsory excess - (I’m 54 years old ffs)
🤣