[BrianMini]

I've always been of the belief that insurance firms were a bunch of scamming, money grabbing, wh*res! I'm sure you'll all agree.

Anyhoo, up until last october Brian was my only car, but he wasn't coping with the 100 mile a day commute i was doing!

So I bought a cheap diesel, then found out i couldn't use the 6 years no-claims i had as i'd used them on the mini!

I had to start from scratch on a second policy, as i couldn't find a firm that would cover 2 cars on one policy!

Anyhoo, Churchill who i was with, with the mini, offered me a deal, if i didn't make a claim on my new policy for 1 year, instead of giving me 1 years no claims, they'd credit me with 6 years no claims as i was a "valued member" (as i had a policy with them already). I asked for this in writing but never recieved it, so i assumed it was just a marketing ploy to get me to sign up!

Anyway i got my renewal through today, and what do you know, instead of 1 years no claims they've given me 6!

Thought you'd all be interested as well, who ever heard of an insurance firm actually being helpful!

[jbkone]

I'm in the USA, so haven't any idea what all that 1 year vs. 6 year no-claims business is. I will say, however, that it's a beautiful thing to be treated fairly by a type of company that is so notorious for screwing us. Congratulations.

In the US, it's easy to add cars to a policy, so I'm not sure how a company can say you have 6 years no-claims but not on all your vehicles. You've either made a claim or not! Damn insurance people... like banks: any way they can screw you, they will.

[Dom]

Was the price competitive for the 1st year as well?

Dom

[dcfkan]

Quote:

Originally posted by jbkone
I'm in the USA, so haven't any idea what all that 1 year vs. 6 year no-claims business is.

Over in the UK, one gets insurance discount the more no claim bonus years one has, up to a maximum of 6 years I believe.

So, if you have not made an insurance claim in 6 years, then you will get the maximum discount on your insurance premium.

Hence, newly qualified drivers have hefty insurance premium.

Nowadays, one can have his/hers no claim bonus "protected" by paying a small premium (need to build it up to 3 or 4 years first I believe). Once it is protected, you can make x number of claims within a set period without loosing your no claim bonus.

Hope this helps. If I am wrong, I am sure the likes of smiffy (who works in insurance) will put me right

DK

[LeeH]

I know that insurance is really complicated beyond a simple chap like myself, but IIRC the premium will consider past claims - OK, the discount may still be based on the full six years but the actual premium will be higher if you've claimed recently.

The most annoying thing at present is that even though points are dropped off your licence after 4 years (used to be 3), insurance companies ask for "in the last _5_ years".

Since they've got you by the proverbials you've no choice but to answer, even though your licence is "clean".

Harrumph,
Lee.

[kgelner]

Quote:

The most annoying thing at present is that even though points are dropped off your licence after 4 years (used to be 3), insurance companies ask for "in the last _5_ years".

Since they've got you by the proverbials you've no choice but to answer, even though your licence is "clean".

Harrumph,
Lee. [/b]

I've wondered about that. In the state of the US where I live (Colorado), we have a point system (not all states do). Furthermore, in some states it's legal to base insureance rates off of five years of tickets, and in others (like Colorado) insurance companies are only allowed to see the last three years of data (as I understand it).

So even though I had some tickets four years ago, when I've been calling around for quotes I sometimes answer "no" when they ask if I've had any tickets in the last five - after all, they are only allowed to know the last three years of data!! I'm still not sure if it's a good idea, so sometimes I do tell them about the tickets figuring that if I ever was in an accident they might be able to claim my not telling them about the tickets voided the policy.

[majormike]

Quote:

Originally posted by kgelner


I've wondered about that. In the state of the US where I live (Colorado), we have a point system (not all states do). Furthermore, in some states it's legal to base insureance rates off of five years of tickets, and in others (like Colorado) insurance companies are only allowed to see the last three years of data (as I understand it).

Your points for state driving purposes and the length of time for insurance purposes are two different things. The points are to determine at what point the state will take away your license, force you to go to driving safety school, etc. The insurance company is interested in what kind of a risk you are.

Some states may regulate how far back insurance companies can delve into your driving record, but the two time periods are really unrelated.

[kgelner]

Quote:

Originally posted by majormike
Your points for state driving purposes and the length of time for insurance purposes are two different things.
...
Some states may regulate how far back insurance companies can delve into your driving record, but the two time periods are really unrelated.

True, in Colorado points are gone after 18 months I believe.

But what I was wondering about, was what you are required to tell the insurance company when they ask for five years of data and the state says they can only see three. Is it OK in that case to only give them info for the past three years, or would one get in trouble for that?

On the other hand, I imagine the insurance companies store data on you for your entire driving history and share it with each other, so perhaps it's all moot.

[majormike]

Quote:

Originally posted by kgelner

But what I was wondering about, was what you are required to tell the insurance company when they ask for five years of data and the state says they can only see three. Is it OK in that case to only give them info for the past three years, or would one get in trouble for that?

I think I would tell them, "Here's my record for the last three years. That's all you're legally allowed to ask me about."

Of course, they could always say, "Get another insurance company."

[Keith]

One difference between US and UK insurance is that UK insurance generally only covers listed drivers but US insurance, at least in every state I have been in, covers all drivers. Because of this UK insurance companies know that if every listed driver has a great record, they will not be insuring any bad drivers. In the US, a good driver can lend his car to a terrible driver and the same insurance company is covering them. What all of this means is the driving history is far more important in the UK than in the US. 60% discount for good drivers was common when I lived there (probably still is) but is totally unheard of in the US. There are differencs for age of primary drivers and garaging location but the discounts for the same driver in the same location based on driving record are probably in the 10-20% range.

kglner, I don't think your are forced to give five years history. However, the insurance company may not be required to give you discounts for a driving record you can not justify.

[jonturner]

Glad to hear that your insurance co. is cutting you some slack! What a nice surprise that must have been!

I was very pleasantly surprised with my insurance costs for my S here in the States -- The S costs only $80 a year more than similar coverage for our 2002 Toyota Camry! $540 per year, full coverage, $200 deductible for claims, and a special rider that guarantees replacement of the vehicle with a brand new vehicle (rather than repair) if it's wrecked in the first five years.

My driving record's clean (no accidents, no claims, no speeding tickets) but I'd say that the S is very cheap to insure. A Mustang GT or Corvette, by comparison, would have cost me almost double the Camry's rate.

Now don't you blokes go racing about and ruin the Mini's good reputation with insurance underwriters!!!

[Chris Williams]

On the issue of insurance. Not wishing to state the obvious but shop around!!

I have insured with Direct Line for the past 5 years. Not wishing to give my car life story. I have had two new saxos the first I had (about grp 3) I had two years free insurance with, because I didn't make a claim during those two years then I was given an extra year of no claims bonus. When I shopped around at 18 for insurance I was being quoted premiums of around £1500- £2000. I have moved on to a Saxo Furio (group 5) and now for full no claims including protected no claims discount and having my father as a named driving £364. Direct Line have now quoted me around £490 for the same policy on a Cooper. Which for a 23 yo male isn't bad going...in my opinion

Mini Insurance for the same policy quoted me over £1,000...even the woman on the phone was confused by that!!

Regards
Christopher