[wwwebber]

How many of you actually stated your extra's (air con, sat nav, 17" alloys etc) when getting UK insurance quotes ?. Is it necessary ? and if it is how much of an impact did it have on your quote ?.

I've had some decent quotes so far but have not stated factory fitted options and I'm worried that my insurance will be potentially void / illegal !!!.

[diverse]

You disclose them when they ask value/cost of car.

No insurance company is interested in disclosing anything fitted at factory, some not interested if it came on car "as new".

You should always tell them if you change alloys, spoilers and/or uprated stereo.

[KenL]

Directline asked me specifically if the car had any options fitted. I told them it had the salt pack and when the certificate came in it stated the car was a MINI ONE SALT. I also told them of the alloys and even though these were factory fit options they wanted to know about them as they said that things like alloys make the car more attractive to thieves. I'm not sure if these things affected my premium but I didn't care as it's so cheap anyway at <£250/year

The factory fit stuff is unlikely to make much if any difference to the premium. It's stuff like body kits, huge after market wheels, performance enhancing exhausts etc. Rightly or wrongly these things scream "boy racer" and hence more likely to be an accident risk.

I think it is best to come clean, accept any increase in premium and sleep easy at night.

[jeffers]

Strange that - though I'm not totally surprised about the inconsistency I received. Direct Line told me if the options were factory fit, and value was under £30k then there was nothing to worry about - I just have to give value of the car. I'm getting back on the phone!

[KenL]

It probably depends on who you speak to right enough.

[dcfkan]

I have a Cooper and my insurance company is Direct Line.

When I rang to change my insurance from the old car to the new one, I was asked if the car is a "Chilli" or a "Pepper", and I believe the premium did go up slightly because of "Chilli".

It was still a good quote, and I have been with them for 6 years, so I stuck with them in the end.

DK

[D&M]

Direct line asked me the same thing - if it was chilli or pepper.

I noticed a difference between the quote they gave me over the phone and the one we got off the net = about £70 - but I had to re-new over the phone because of complications with changing things - but will try and re-do on the net when it's due to be re-newed.

D

[RedMini]

Direct Line asked me if I had the Chili Pack, but when I said "Pepperoni" I had to explian what it was and they had to make a call to check it out. It is shown as Pepperoni on the certificate.

I specifically asked about the other factory fit options and read each one out in turn. They weren't worried about any of them.

[diverse]

Try Bluesure (www.bluesure.com), if you have contents cover or buildings cover and/or travel cover as well as car you WILL save a fortune, unless you have had loads of claims, then they won't touch you!

[Pav]

so generally, are direct line better bet than MINI insurance?

[KenL]

Quote:

Originally posted by Pav
so generally, are direct line better bet than MINI insurance?

I got MINI to quote for me and they were £125 more than DL at £375 for similar cover.

My only concern was getting the MINI fixed (fingers crossed it will never happen) at a MINI authorised dealer. Directline have standard approved body shops but they said there was no problem in me picking the body shop I wanted to fix my car.

Ken.

[Pav]

that's the only thing that concerned me too. but that's probably just the fear talking. 'approved' body shops aare all pretty dam good these days i guess.

[Martin L]

I asked about this when I changed my insurance to my Cooper and they (Norwich Union Direct) didn't care as they were factory fitted options. They're only concerned about aftermarket bits.
However when changing my insurance to my forthcoming S they (MINI Insurance) asked if I have the Chilli pack.

Unfortunately we can't all recommend a cheaper insurance company to others as it depends on your situation, the only way to get the cheapest quote for yourself is to contact all the companies and get all the information yourself.
It's a huge pain in the butt, but is amazing the difference in price you get from different insurance companies

[Brinkmah]

I had a quote from my existing insurer (Admiral), and when they asked me what options or 'pack' it had, the Chili pack added £100 to the premium. I've never had an accident, have full NCB and am over thirty. MINI insurance came out the same as Admiral without the Chili pack, and when I added the Chili pack it didn't really change the price.

Thus, I purchased the MINI insurance.

[D_ibble]

i just got a firm price from Direct Line, and yes they specifically asked if I had the Chili pack, it added 40 notes to the premium!?!!?

Still, never mind still can't wait til it arives on Wednesday...

[Thomo]

I have my insurance with Bell Direct which are part of the admiral group. You have to pay the premium in one go but you save 10%. This was a difference of £120 compaired to Admiral.

[Cinimod]

Well - I have had my car since Jan now, and have a 10 month policy so it is time to get some quotes again... and boy what a variation...

My Elephant price for last year was about £450 - I have not got the renewal price through yet... but here are the results from other insurance companies...

£733 - Blue Sure
£850 - Egg
£883 - Direct Line
£940 - Peoples Choice
£1481 - Norwich Union Direct

Quite a variation there I think you will agree - but still no where near the £400 to £500 I was expecting!

I just hope Elephant come back with a good price... I will call HIC when they are open tomorrow...

Just ran a quote on Bell and got

Your price will be in the range £ 450 to £ 550 (This is for their 12 month, not 10 month accelerated one)... this figure is what I am expecting from Elephant... and the really interesting thing is their online quote system is EXACTLY the same as Elephant - coincidence? I don't think so...

BIG difference is Bell seem to offer you a little more than Elephant do. FREE European cover, an 0870 number rather than Elephants 60p/min number, Replacement car and a 10% discount for paying with a CC - I think that I may be switching cover this year!

[DaveH]

Try Sainsburys...£454.00 for a £19k Cooper S 36yrs old, 6pts, 6yrs no claims(protected)

[Bonnie Scotland]

When i bought my cooper i had to list the factory options, when i changed to the "s" i only had to give the price i paid (19k, did i really, phew), i'm with directline, 42 years young, 0 points, protected full no claims, includes 2 extra drivers = £351.00, approx £50.00 increase from the cooper.

It really makes a difference where you live as well!!

Alan..

[MICKEY]

Well it’s that lovely time of year, time to renew my car insurance.

I just spent the morning on the phone calling various insurance company’s and the difference in price is quite varied. £521.00 to £358.83 the £521 from the AA insurance (anyone seen there advert on TV, what a laugh) and £358.83 from surprise surprise the Halifax Building Soc. They came in £2.37 cheaper than Direct Line the company I’m already with.
What has surprised me the most is the number of times I’ve had to explain what the Chili pack is and tell them NO it’s not a modification it’s a factory fitted option.
The MINI has been out for over a year now and still the Insurance Company’s haven’t got there act’s together.
I for one am not all that confident in using an Insurance Company to insure my car after having to explain what is and isn’t a Mod and a factory option, and it’s not the small insurance company’s that are asking the question.
I think I’m going to stay with Direct Line, they Knew what a chili pack was and the price was the second best by £2.37, they also instil in me the feeling that they know what there doing which is more than some of the other Big names.

Any one else had the same experience?