Need General Help (Car Insurance)

WillmoreTheRed

Yesterday I bought my first car, 1996 VW Polo 1.0 (5dr Manual), My 17th Is not till august however, when I check on the insurance websites and put my age as 17 I'm getting quotes from 3900 to 5000 pound which is ridiculous!

Was wondering if anyone on here has any experience or advice?

I'm hoping to pay around 2000-2500 at the most.

 

razil

get on your parent insurance

WSS

Don't bother, Jjst don't get into any accidents...

ISawLeaburnScore

As razil says the only sensible solution is to be a named driver on parent's/guardian's insurance if you still live at the same address which I assume at 16 you will do.

However the risk is you will get no no-claims. For instance, I am 23 next week, passed a few months after my 17th, touch a lot of wood, no accidents, no fines etc driven 1000s of miles in UK/Europe, good job, but I will still be quoted an astronomical sum when I come off my parents' policy.

Unfortunately you get hammered for being U25, U21 especially, and male... and in the insurance companies defence you only have to look at the stats to see why.

Greenie

Don't bother, Jjst don't get into any accidents...

Agreed.....its the future in insurance.

Or better still just steal cars! Think of the saving!

cafcpolo

As said already, get on as a named driver. This is what I had to do to keep the costs down. Try and go for a company that will allow you to build up no claims as a named driver - They are useless at other insurance companies but when you go on your own can help keep the costs down at the place where you are.

 

I'm 26 now, been driving since 17. Never had an accident or been caught speeding, with only 2 years "proper" no claims but only paying £350 a month on a decent Civic as I've been with the same insurance company all this time.

WillmoreTheRed

Sounds good but is there a way of protecting my mum or dad's no claims? So if I have a accident they don't loose their no claims?

Greenie

Seriously, I am looking at insurance for my 17 year old son, its a nightmare, one company offer an option whereby they fit a transponder box to your car and you agree only to cover 3000 miles and dont drive at certain times, if you break any of the conditions then you have to pay more.

ISawLeaburnScore

Sounds good but is there a way of protecting my mum or dad's no claims? So if I have a accident they don't loose their no claims?

Don't think so

tom_k

My friend is in the same situation as you found it cheaper to lease a 2011 vw golf for £250 a month and he ended up paying £75 insurance for a year.

Think he said he ran the insurance through his dad.

Maybe worth looking into?

LenGlover

A named driver on the parents' insurance is the way to go but be aware that in the event of a claim the theiving bastards might try and evade their responsibilities by claiming "fronting." What that means is that you are really the main driver but you use a parent as a "front."

Direct Line will give you "no-claims" when you are a named driver on your parents policy with them and, in my daughter's experience, are considerably cheaper than others even when you've built up maximum no-claims genuinely in your own name.

Final thought: BingAddick on here deals with all matters consumer and (I think) used to be in insurance too. If he sees this thread he may give you some useful advice.

LenGlover

Sounds good but is there a way of protecting my mum or dad's no claims? So if I have a accident they don't loose their no claims?

Don't think so

Direct Line (and doubtless others) allow you to protect your no claims (at a price) so you are not penalised if you just have one incident in, usually, 2 or 3 years.

WillmoreTheRed

Sounds good but is there a way of protecting my mum or dad's no claims? So if I have a accident they don't loose their no claims?

Don't think so

Direct Line (and doubtless others) allow you to protect your no claims (at a price) so you are not penalised if you just have one incident in, usually, 2 or 3 years.

Looks like this is the way il be going, Mum's insurance with her no-claims protected!

ads

if it's a 1996 polo it can be classed as a classic car, you could try adrian flux, footman james or sign up to http://www.volkszone.co.uk/ and ask for some advice.  if you limit the miles that can bring the price down a bit

Stu_of_Kunming

Quite a few companies will allow you to build your own no claims whilst being on your parents insurance.

However it is worth remember being a second driver on a car that you are actually the main (often only) driver of is fraud and can lead to the insurance not paying out a claim (or worse).

Admiral was always the best for price I found.

WillmoreTheRed

Not sure Adrian Flux or Footman James would even quote me but I will give it a shot and I'm hoping on not being caught as a "fraud" its that or drive with no insurance!

cafcfan

I'm no great fan of insurers but calling motor insurers "thieving bastards" is somewhat harsh.  Here's a quote from the Chartered Insurance Institute:

“The insurance market has made almost no money at all from the underwriting of
motor insurance in the past 25 years, relying on investment income and sales of
ancillary products to create a return on invested capital.”

The main reasons:  well mostly rip-off claims, uninsured drivers and young drivers being fronted by their parents.  The industry is cracking down hard on this now, so don't risk it.

BTW, with effect from 20 June, it's illegal to own an uninsured vehicle, even if it's unused (unless it has a SORN).

In your circumstances, I wonder whether the "computer says no" comparison web sites which offer good deals for many customers, are actually coming up with the best prices.  It might be worth your while actually talking to a specialist broker and putting in place mileage limitations and a large excess.

If you're going to be the main driver, don't get the car fronted by your parents.  It's illegal and the insurer will never pay out on any claims.  Not only you but probably your parents too will find it impossible to ever get motor insurance again.

Instead, to save money only insure Third Party Fire & Theft for the first few years and, in a twist on what's been suggested so far, have your mum as a named driver on your policy, that will bring your premium down. 

WillmoreTheRed

I'm no great fan of insurers but calling motor insurers "thieving bastards" is somewhat harsh.  Here's a quote from the Chartered Insurance Institute:

“The insurance market has made almost no money at all from the underwriting of
motor insurance in the past 25 years, relying on investment income and sales of
ancillary products to create a return on invested capital.”

The main reasons:  well mostly rip-off claims, uninsured drivers and young drivers being fronted by their parents.  The industry is cracking down hard on this now, so don't risk it.

BTW, with effect from 20 June, it's illegal to own an uninsured vehicle, even if it's unused (unless it has a SORN).

In your circumstances, I wonder whether the "computer says no" comparison web sites which offer good deals for many customers, are actually coming up with the best prices.  It might be worth your while actually talking to a specialist broker and putting in place mileage limitations and a large excess.

If you're going to be the main driver, don't get the car fronted by your parents.  It's illegal and the insurer will never pay out on any claims.  Not only you but probably your parents too will find it impossible to ever get motor insurance again.

Instead, to save money only insure Third Party Fire & Theft for the first few years and, in a twist on what's been suggested so far, have your mum as a named driver on your policy, that will bring your premium down. 

All these is well and good but even with my mum on MY policy its 5k??

Don't think I will be paying that on apprentice money.

Ross

Bell or Admiral, 10 month policy with parents as named drivers, but you're the main driver and policy holder. Also ignore the mileage thing, 3k is a good base but they don't check.

Crusty54

might be worth trying this

http://www.carinsurancebrokers.co.uk/

Bournemouth Addick

I'm far from a fan of any insurance company and younger drivers have my every sympathy in what they have to pay but I'm not sure encouraging defrauding them is appropriate or sensible is it?

If Willmore does get put on as a named driver on his parents car then fair enough but there seems to be a high risk of the insurer querying any claim where the car is in effect his and not theirs (as he has stated).

Don't get me wrong I was shocked when I got my own renewal through this year after 25 years of fault free driving and one speeding fine from about 15 years ago. Haven't premiums gone up by about 40% in the last 12 months which is a disgrace and something the govetrnment should look at regulating IMO.

Just seems wrong to give the guy advice to effectively break the law to get around this problem.

Stu_of_Kunming

I'm no great fan of insurers but calling motor insurers "thieving bastards" is somewhat harsh.  Here's a quote from the Chartered Insurance Institute:

“The insurance market has made almost no money at all from the underwriting of
motor insurance in the past 25 years, relying on investment income and sales of
ancillary products to create a return on invested capital.”

The main reasons:  well mostly rip-off claims, uninsured drivers and young drivers being fronted by their parents.  The industry is cracking down hard on this now, so don't risk it.

BTW, with effect from 20 June, it's illegal to own an uninsured vehicle, even if it's unused (unless it has a SORN).

In your circumstances, I wonder whether the "computer says no" comparison web sites which offer good deals for many customers, are actually coming up with the best prices.  It might be worth your while actually talking to a specialist broker and putting in place mileage limitations and a large excess.

If you're going to be the main driver, don't get the car fronted by your parents.  It's illegal and the insurer will never pay out on any claims.  Not only you but probably your parents too will find it impossible to ever get motor insurance again.

Instead, to save money only insure Third Party Fire & Theft for the first few years and, in a twist on what's been suggested so far, have your mum as a named driver on your policy, that will bring your premium down. 

All these is well and good but even with my mum on MY policy its 5k??

Don't think I will be paying that on apprentice money.

So if you can't afford it surely you should hold off on getting a car, rather than just breaking the law?

What about actually sharing a car with your parents?

cafcfan

Look this is harsh because we all want everything right here, right now.  You have my sympathies because I drove at 17 and I'm not sure I could afford to if I was 17 now.  In my case I was driving a van insured for any driver on my old man's business.  But, if you can't afford it don't do it.
I'd like to drink Perrier-Jouët's Cuvée Belle Epoque but it's 90 odd quid a bottle, so I stick to beer.
In your case it might mean an oyster card rather than a car I'm afraid.

redman

I don't know your practicalitities of when you would use the car or not. however if your mum was regularly to use the car then there is nothing illegal. she is quite entitled to drive and insure 2 cars with you as named driver. For instance if she drove it work a couple of days a week. This obviously would be aproblem if you neede it during the day. If this did work she should make it known to her colleagues she was using it so there are witnesses if the insurance company queried in case of a claim.

razil

love the way they hammer you for being young and having no no-claims, yet hammer everyone further citing the rising compensation claims culture which we must all pay for - sounds like having your cake and eating it to me. Have heard the we don't make any profit from motor insurance - I work in reinsurance albeit back office - isn't there an insured drivers fund? Anyway seems strange to operate in an industry with no profits, one assumes they still rake in huge salaries from it.. 

ads

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ads

what about getting a cheap clio as a first car, heard they were quite cheap to insure and are popular with newly qualified drivers.  or go for a moped

Stu_of_Kunming

A 3 door car would also be a lot cheaper

razil

PS get a bike? or moped?

cafcfan

I don't know your practicalitities of when you would use the car or not. however if your mum was regularly to use the car then there is nothing illegal. she is quite entitled to drive and insure 2 cars with you as named driver. For instance if she drove it work a couple of days a week. This obviously would be aproblem if you neede it during the day. If this did work she should make it known to her colleagues she was using it so there are witnesses if the insurance company queried in case of a claim.

Using a vehicle to commute rather than just "social, domestic and pleasure" will only boost the premiums even more won't it?

WillmoreTheRed

I have a moped as it is, its horrible thats a no go, and Ive already bought the car so I cannot switch. I guess il have to put up with the prices.