Car insurance; who's best and who to avoid?

[PaulB]

Now I'm in my last week of employment before enjoying a leisurely summer, my company car will go back and I have to provide myself with another car. Having traditionally had my company/ies do all that insurance stuff for me, I'm a bit of a newbie to this stuff so any horror stories of who I should stay away from and any recommendations as to who's best in your experiences?

I've been on a website and got loads of quotes over a wiiiide range of costs from fairly cheap to scandalously expensive bearing in mind it's for the same driver (me) driving the same car. The cheap ones are tempting but obviously there'll be a reason for the cheapness! Maybe the dear ones will be better in the event of coming to need them at some stage in the future.

 

[vickster]

Sheila's wheels for me. Esure might be cheaper if a bloke (same group),

Made a couple of claims unfortunately within a 12 month period (a theft and a fault accident), they were fine handling the claims and didn't load my premiums (some do regardless of protected ncb for example Admiral & Elephant, also if not at fault ime )

 

[Levo-Lon]

Hastings..Admiral..
Make sure you have motor legal ..windscreen and a replacement car..
get your breakdown elsewhere..unless its a good offer..
Protected ncb
meerkat ..go compare. Shop around

 

[oldfatfool]

Aviva for me. Use topcashback and get £££ back saved me a 3rd

 

[snorri]

I doubt if anyone could say there is a "best" insurance company as individual owners have differing needs. For example age of driver, driver experience, previous convictions, previous claims, number of drivers, home address, parked on street overnight or in garage, hire car required or not if your car is disabled for some reason, etc., etc...

 

[Levo-Lon]

Also change or compare Every year..first year with any company is the best deal..it gets loaded the year after if you dont check...not always but you need to check

 

[Brandane]

I avoid Swinton after being annoyed by their payment policy a few years ago (therefore it may have changed). Got a quote on their website; thought it was cheap enough so clicked on "proceed". Went through all the payment procedure and decided to pay by 10 monthly instalments, which involved giving them bank details. Once I then went ahead with that arrangement to the point of no return, they THEN tell you that the current years policy will be taken in 10 monthly instalments, but then in months 11 and 12 they will take ANOTHER 2 payments which will go towards the following years policy! WTF! I was not amused as I don't wish to bank with them, and you just know that getting the money refunded the following year when you decide to insure elsewhere would be a complete PITA.. Cannot remember how I resolved the issue now, but I know I cancelled the policy and the direct debit too. Might have been a cooling off period involved. Wouldn't touch Swinton again after that one experience.

"More Than" will give you a good price for year 1, then the following year you will find out where their name came from! "More Than anyone else".

 

[swee'pea99]

I go to a price-comparison site and go for the cheapest quote from a name I recognise that doesn't throw up reams of horror stories when I google it.

 

[midlife]

All my car insurance is through a guy called Gary Moulson at Keith Michaels..........

https://www.keithmichaels.co.uk/

Other people do work there as well LOL

Shaun

 

[Levo-Lon]

I got shafted by Swinton..never used them since..
cheapest quote then we need another 40quid after taking the policy..and the Oh she dont work here now excuse...

 

[vickster]

Sheila's Wheels was cheaper than esure for the same cover.... and I'm a bloke.

Do you have a woman on the policy?

Be aware that if you might want to add anyone to the policy, it'll probably be cheaper at the time of taking the policy than adding in the year due to admin fees

 

[pawl]

Churchill Made a claim.Within 10 minutes garage rang to arrange collection of car

 

[Noru]

I was with Hastings Direct for 3 years, nice and cheap seemed like good cover until I needed them.
I won’t bore you with the details but I'd never go back and if you do chose them & need to claim, definitely take it to a garage you trust for repair their 'approved repairer' is shocking. Bear in mind if you don't use their approved repairer you won’t get a courtesy car.

Mrs Noru to be has unfortunately been on the end of a couple incidents caused by the other party, Churchill and Tesco dealt with them professionally and quickly. So I'm now with Tesco.

Just started my second year with Tesco. I'm sure you're aware but for next year always check the competitiveness of the renewal quote. My renewal quote was ~£1400! Comparison websites had the same Tesco brokered insurance at ~£800, a quick call to Tesco and got the cheaper price.

 

[winjim]

Do you have a woman on the policy?

Be aware that if you might want to add anyone to the policy, it'll probably be cheaper at the time of taking the policy than adding in the year due to admin fees

I thought they put the kibosh on gender discrimination in car insurance?

Spoiler: Reasonably offensive video

 

[vickster]

Maybe, you can I sure with them as a man apparently

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