[RickB]

My insurance has just come up for renewal, and while I might have expected it, I was shocked by a 20% increase. There was an increase in claims in my state (an upward trend for the last twenty years, in my experience . . .), and apparently a dramatically higher loss rate on the MINI than was anticipated. I don't read a lot about crashed MINI's on the forum, so maybe I'm uninformed, but are MINI's really being written-off at such an alarming rate that my insurer had to increase rates 20% to cover it? What kind of bump in rates have others seen?

[blueskylee]

My insurance premium was raised only $19 this year (for 12 months). I think it depends a lot on how the insurance company initially estimated the claim rate of MINI.

[Cooper_Matt]

I am not sure how the insurance works with you over the pond, but I can assure you that we get well and truly taken for fools.
My insurance is up at the end of the month, I had been covered for the last year with 'mini' cover. All I can say is that there was nothing 'mini' about the renewal premium they quoted me.
Quick history on what I have paid over the last year:-

Sept 2002 purchased a cooper worth 15K and was paying £700 for the year.

May 2003 swapped cooper for an S with a value just over 20K, could not be bothered with swapping companies just paid the bit extra they wanted.

Aug 2003 'mini' cover wanted £888 for the year without legal assistance.

Yesterday called a few companies for quotes after spending ages trawling the net for a night. All I can say is make sure you shop around. When they give you a quote tell them the best quote you have had and you will be shocked to find out what they will take off the premium just like that. 'mini' cover would not budge from the quote they gave me. I have gone through swinton who were by far and away the best for service and price. I am now paying £591 - yes that is a saving of £297 . I now have better benefits with the new company than I had. BTW I am 30, have full NCD and have it protected.

So all of you that are in the UK, and your insurance is due about now, or you are about to collect your brand spankers, then shop around as you will be amazed. I was just lazy last year and it cost me dear.