Car insurance advice

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I've finally decided to learn to drive, test is very soon. I've been to look at a few cars and get insurance quotes, and there are a few really weird anomalies which if anyone can offer input on I'd appreciate.

Firstly, looking at a 10 year old focus I get a quote of around £850 fully comp. I tried a fiesta, same price give or take a few quid. Tried a golf, same price, insurance bracket seems irrelevant? In fact I tried cars from group 8 up to 18 and they hardly budged, so guessing it's my new driver status that gets me?

Secondly I looked at the date of test pass to date of getting the car. My original quotes were all based on a month between passing and buying but it seems that insuring a car within a week of passing your test can add a fair amount, getting one the day after passing pushed the insurance up by 25%. I guess they see people doing this as too eager? I'm happy to wait a few weeks if I can save a few hundred pounds!

Third, I looked at insuring it on my provisional license. Apparently thats less risky as it's less than half, cheapest being nearer to £350. This must be because I have someone with me when learning, even though they have no control other than yelling at me to stop!


So, with these three things in mind and also the fact I may not pass first time, I have an interesting idea. Buy the car now (seen a few now, one stood out) and insure as a learner, if I fail I still have the car fully insured to learn in. All good. If I pass however I cancel the insurance in the first 2 weeks cooling off period (so only charged for time used) and then leave it uninsured for a few weeks on my drive. I then insure it again taking advantage of the gap between pass and insuring to get it back to a reasonable amount. Any thoughts?

Of course the glaring alternative is don't buy yet, which is sound advice, but if I do then.....
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Insurance is weird. It's just about the numbers that they chose to take account of.

Mine went down when I admitted to driving a bit further each year (maybe they thought the extra practice would help?).

I've known people to be asked for more if parking in a garage than on the drive (possibly increased self-damage risk outweighs the increased security?).
 

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
It also depends on the area where you live.
My sister, who's been driving 10yrs,for a 54 plate 2ltr Golf, her insurance is cheaper than mine,
I've been driving 28yrs now, drive a 13 plate 1.6tdci Focus estate, never had so much as a bump. Yet I get charged almost £400 a year.
She lives in the back of beyond, hardly anything happens there.
I'm on the Doxey Road, no parking space to claim as my own, Hope that no-one vandalises it when it's parked up.
 

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
I've finally decided to learn to drive, test is very soon. I've been to look at a few cars and get insurance quotes, and there are a few really weird anomalies which if anyone can offer input on I'd appreciate.

Firstly, looking at a 10 year old focus I get a quote of around £850 fully comp. I tried a fiesta, same price give or take a few quid. Tried a golf, same price, insurance bracket seems irrelevant? In fact I tried cars from group 8 up to 18 and they hardly budged, so guessing it's my new driver status that gets me?

Secondly I looked at the date of test pass to date of getting the car. My original quotes were all based on a month between passing and buying but it seems that insuring a car within a week of passing your test can add a fair amount, getting one the day after passing pushed the insurance up by 25%. I guess they see people doing this as too eager? I'm happy to wait a few weeks if I can save a few hundred pounds!

Third, I looked at insuring it on my provisional license. Apparently thats less risky as it's less than half, cheapest being nearer to £350. This must be because I have someone with me when learning, even though they have no control other than yelling at me to stop!


So, with these three things in mind and also the fact I may not pass first time, I have an interesting idea. Buy the car now (seen a few now, one stood out) and insure as a learner, if I fail I still have the car fully insured to learn in. All good. If I pass however I cancel the insurance in the first 2 weeks cooling off period (so only charged for time used) and then leave it uninsured for a few weeks on my drive. I then insure it again taking advantage of the gap between pass and insuring to get it back to a reasonable amount. Any thoughts?

Of course the glaring alternative is don't buy yet, which is sound advice, but if I do then.....

Good luck with the test, and I'd go for the Focus. Won't hesitate get another once this 1 is past it's best.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
I can't believe your quotes are so low!

I would think once you have passed your test they will shoot up, I only passed 9 years ago when in my 30's and although my insurance wasn't as high as my sons who passed around the same time (£2000+ even with a black box installed) it wasn't far off a grand. (if it's any consolation, it was only £172 quid this year) While I was learning I had mh own car, and had my Dad as the nominated co-driver and it was only about £200 for the year - it soon changed when I passed!

They will never give you an accurate quote until you have passed your test & bought the car, only try to tempt you in.

Good luck with both the test & the insurance.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I can get it to £800, and down to £500 after a year. Guess I just need to accept this.

Anyone got thoughts on insuring to get it back then cancelling after a week? Assuming I pass!
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
Have you looked at quotes having an older named experienced driver on your policy?

I think that may lower the cost even if they never drive your car.
@tek-monkey try this. I too was an old bastard, apologies, mature person, when I started driving and had my wife on the insurance for a few years. It bought it down. For the first 2 years I was the named driver on hers, against my car. After a couple of years we reversed it to build up my NC discount.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I added the gf and it went up! She's been driving for 7 years, so not sure what happened there. I'll try again tomorrow with other options, I don't mind on the provisional side but when it's suddenly close to a grand you do start looking at options!
 

cj1

Well-Known Forumite
For me:
  1. getting quotes 21 days before the policy starts is the goldilocks zone for cheap ins.
  2. Every time I have upgraded to a newer more expensive car the insurance price reduces.
  3. Fully comp is cheaper than 3rd party and not just a few quid were talking hundreds of pounds. More cover for less someone explain that one to me.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
It’s all a statistics game. When I moved and became a home owner I was refunded £100 because my premium went down.

I added the gf and it went up! She's been driving for 7 years, so not sure what happened there. I'll try again tomorrow with other options, I don't mind on the provisional side but when it's suddenly close to a grand you do start looking at options!

I think you generally need someone who’s quite a bit older to make a dent, however at some point you stop seeing gains. I think around the age of 24-ish I actually had a higher premium with my mother as a named driver.

Try Direct Line, they’ve been the cheapest for me every time I renew without fail, and there’s no curfew on their black box policy

For me:
  1. getting quotes 21 days before the policy starts is the goldilocks zone for cheap ins.
  2. Every time I have upgraded to a newer more expensive car the insurance price reduces.
  3. Fully comp is cheaper than 3rd party and not just a few quid were talking hundreds of pounds. More cover for less someone explain that one to me.

I went from a £4k Fiesta to a £12k Nissan Leaf (with significantly higher bhp and acceleration) and my premium dropped too.

Statistics are a funny thing.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
When Son added me to his new insurance as an additional driver ( I was collecting his new car,and only drive It occasionally for taking to garage etc) the price went down with me on it as I have the full NCD.

Price went up whilst parking in City centre,then dropped dramatically when moving to new house and parking on driveway.

Be aware.....the paperwork For his latest renewal came saying incorrectly there were 2 cars at his address.
When I rang to say only the one, the price increased . Luckily my plumber was here at the time and mentioned they charge a £25 admin fee for changes. I rang back with proof the present years paperwork stated only one car , so got the increase ( plus more) knocked back off.

Son is with LV ( gets discount for having home insurance with them as well) and this year at age 23 driving Corsa 1.4 , and living in Worcester which is more expensive than at our Stafford address, came in at £618.55 with 2 years NCD

(Policy when he first got car after passing his test was £1179)



I once queried why my New Corsa was cheaper to insure than my old banger... Answer was the parts on the new Corsa were cheaper and more readily available than the old banger.

Good luck on your test @tek-monkey
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
I've finally decided to learn to drive, test is very soon. I've been to look at a few cars and get insurance quotes, and there are a few really weird anomalies which if anyone can offer input on I'd appreciate.

Firstly, looking at a 10 year old focus I get a quote of around £850 fully comp. I tried a fiesta, same price give or take a few quid. Tried a golf, same price, insurance bracket seems irrelevant? In fact I tried cars from group 8 up to 18 and they hardly budged, so guessing it's my new driver status that gets me?

Secondly I looked at the date of test pass to date of getting the car. My original quotes were all based on a month between passing and buying but it seems that insuring a car within a week of passing your test can add a fair amount, getting one the day after passing pushed the insurance up by 25%. I guess they see people doing this as too eager? I'm happy to wait a few weeks if I can save a few hundred pounds!

Third, I looked at insuring it on my provisional license. Apparently thats less risky as it's less than half, cheapest being nearer to £350. This must be because I have someone with me when learning, even though they have no control other than yelling at me to stop!


So, with these three things in mind and also the fact I may not pass first time, I have an interesting idea. Buy the car now (seen a few now, one stood out) and insure as a learner, if I fail I still have the car fully insured to learn in. All good. If I pass however I cancel the insurance in the first 2 weeks cooling off period (so only charged for time used) and then leave it uninsured for a few weeks on my drive. I then insure it again taking advantage of the gap between pass and insuring to get it back to a reasonable amount. Any thoughts?

Of course the glaring alternative is don't buy yet, which is sound advice, but if I do then.....
Your age will determine a lot BUT your status as a new driver will go against you - as you already know.

My son bought a car before he passed his test. I collected it from Manchester because I am insured to drive other vehicles. It was 3rd party only but that's the minimum required by law so we were able to get it back. Our plan was to insure his car after he passed his test. At that time, 7 years ago, quotes were coming out at nearly £2000 (even with a black box) but we then decided to insure him as a learner and paid £1250 (with black box) and assumed it would go up after qualification. When his did pass his test a few weeks later, the insurance company only charged him £25 to amend the policy. He did question if this was correct and was told 'yes'. That is a long winded way of saying it might be better to insure as a learner and keep your fingers crossed that they don't charge any more when you've passed your driving test.

You will be constantly fighting a battle with car insurance companies. I have been driving for over 30 years and they constantly increase the price. This year Hastings put mine up by 35% and after shopping around and getting other quotes, then phoning Hastings, I ended up getting it £25 cheaper than last year. Go figure.

@staffordjas New cars are also cheaper to insure because they are safer so less chance of people dying or getting seriously injured compared to an older car.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
When his did pass his test a few weeks later, the insurance company only charged him £25 to amend the policy. He did question if this was correct and was told 'yes'

It could be that those who own a car before they pass therefore get more opportunity to practice, so are statistically safer drivers

Maybe
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
It could be that those who own a car before they pass therefore get more opportunity to practice, so are statistically safer drivers

Maybe

I know some qualified drivers who have had years of practice and I still wouldn't let them drive me anywhere :)
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
Re Direct Line. I use them for most of my insurances and generally they are ok apart from paying out on pet insurance which is extortionately slow and conditional.

They have a lot of small print conditions that they frequently amend so be wary of what you're getting.

Finally they always put the policy up every year with their automatic renewals but if you call them they drop the price by a significant margin. You need to get a quote off their own site to do this though and quote it back to them.

I'd guess many car insurance companies are similar but Direct Line seem to constantly move the goal posts.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Re Direct Line. I use them for most of my insurances and generally they are ok apart from paying out on pet insurance which is extortionately slow and conditional.

They have a lot of small print conditions that they frequently amend so be wary of what you're getting.

Finally they always put the policy up every year with their automatic renewals but if you call them they drop the price by a significant margin. You need to get a quote off their own site to do this though and quote it back to them.

I'd guess many car insurance companies are similar but Direct Line seem to constantly move the goal posts.

Mine goes down every year with the exception of the cat’s insurance - which was more than my car insurance last year until I rang up at renewal, and also removed some options we didn’t need (he never goes outside, why did I opt to pay for the reward insurance, board if we’re in hospital, etc?). Pet insurance going up is fairly normal due to age though
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
Mine goes down every year with the exception of the cat’s insurance - which was more than my car insurance last year until I rang up at renewal, and also removed some options we didn’t need (he never goes outside, why did I opt to pay for the reward insurance, board if we’re in hospital, etc?). Pet insurance going up is fairly normal due to age though

I think they up my quotes because I didn't challenge the increases for a couple of years because they were only small increases.

If you don't challenge the increases you probably get filed in the "sucker" pile and they try it on henceforth.

They are the cheapest for the insurances I need otherwise I'd move elsewhere.
 

Perrier

Banned
£200 for mine fully comp . Although thats with full breakdown cover including homestart , protected no claims discount and guaranteed courtesy car and a load of other stuff i cant remember.
However , ive been passed 20 years .
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Your age will determine a lot BUT your status as a new driver will go against you - as you already know.

My son bought a car before he passed his test. I collected it from Manchester because I am insured to drive other vehicles. It was 3rd party only but that's the minimum required by law so we were able to get it back. Our plan was to insure his car after he passed his test. At that time, 7 years ago, quotes were coming out at nearly £2000 (even with a black box) but we then decided to insure him as a learner and paid £1250 (with black box) and assumed it would go up after qualification. When his did pass his test a few weeks later, the insurance company only charged him £25 to amend the policy. He did question if this was correct and was told 'yes'. That is a long winded way of saying it might be better to insure as a learner and keep your fingers crossed that they don't charge any more when you've passed your driving test.

You will be constantly fighting a battle with car insurance companies. I have been driving for over 30 years and they constantly increase the price. This year Hastings put mine up by 35% and after shopping around and getting other quotes, then phoning Hastings, I ended up getting it £25 cheaper than last year. Go figure.

@staffordjas New cars are also cheaper to insure because they are safer so less chance of people dying or getting seriously injured compared to an older car.
Interesting, perhaps buying now is the best option! Although the car I saw yesterday is at a place that can't take cards, so on a Sunday no use to me. I wanted to pay by cc to get a little more cover, but I can't physically get the money without visiting a bank anyway so guess I let this one go.
 
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