I ring my present insurer and get them to price match, but be warned it might be offering lower premiums because it doesn't cover what you have at present. Alternatively they might have a bigger excess so you end up paying for it that way.

There are no downsides for being a perpetual switcher only sometimes it can be confusing keeping up with which company you are with year to year. I have found that it is easier this way as the new insurance company offers you a good first year rate but on the second year they increase and quite dramatically so. Someone always wants to steal the business from other competitors so will always give you a lower deal to have your custom.

The insurance companies are relying on laziness and inertia by their customers. They charge these higher premiums so they have the room to reduce the premiums to those of us who take the trouble to do something about it. You may also find that the cheapest quote that you got is from a company that spends less on marketing or is more selective about who it offers cheap quote to.

Give your current insurer the chance to price match but, if they wont, then don't be afraid to switch - as long as any differences in the conditions are not important to you.

Legal assistance can be bought as a separate item and this could be more valuable if your dispute is with your insurance company.

It depends which car I'm trying to insure.

If it's one of the kit cars, there are only a relatively small number of insurers who deal with them so I usually end up spending an hour or so on the phone. But having been with most of them in the past, they do tend to have most of my details on file, which speeds the process up.

Want to guess how much it costs me for fully comp insurance on a 2-litre 2 seat sportscar, soft top, fully comp, unlimited mileage, twin carbs, hand built by me in my garage?

Want to guess how much it used to cost me to insure a 1971 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, 6.75litre, fully comp?

The answer to both the above would depress anybody who drives a "normal" car..!



For the humdrum eurobox, last couple of times I renewed I tried an online comparison site. Didn't save much the first year, but last year it came down about £60.


One thing I would NOT do is arrange to pay by monthly direct debit.

As CGA says, insurance agents rely on laziness and inertia.
Without that renewal notice through the letterbox, what's going to make you spend some time trying to get a cheaper quote?
Plus you actually have to tell them to stop DD'ing you because you're moving elsewhere; even more effort, especially when they get the DD wrong.

And quite often the cheeky beggars add an extra charge for allowing you to pay monthly because they regard it as a credit agreement - even though you can cancel a policy at any time and only pay for the time on cover (plus admin charges...!)

i have forgotten how long i have been with my insurer it has been that long
i do not care what the others charge as i find service better than price
but i do always check to see if i can get the same level from other firms i just have not fount it yet
but if i did find it at a cheaper price i would certainly switch

There is one disadvantage to shopping around. Some of the companies credit check you as part of the quotation and this can lower your credit rating if a few of them do it.

I do both internet searches and telephone searches then narrow it to the top 5-10 companies and brokers. Then check them to see who offers cash back (got £75 cashback this year).

Once I have narrowed it to the top 5 I batter over the phone to see who will give the best price always naming names + prices of companies and also finding out who is actually underwriting the quote.

Just because it is say AA that offers the best price it will be another company that actually gives them the quote they are the underwriters.

When I have found out who the top five companies are I then approach the underwriters directly (usually one one or two at most). Then it will normally get referred to a manager who authorities a even better discount than the one the broker offered.

Unless I have to take it there and then I take a ref and then go collect it online with cashback.

I have not payed more than £200 fully comp (after cashback etc) with legal cover and curticy car and other extras in years and always have owned cars that are at the top end for insurance. I have been told by sales agents I should make a business from this as I am that good at getting the best deals on the day, but I honestly think anyone can that spends a bit of time learning how the system works.

I have never had a company credit check me but I do not pay monthly premiums so they have no need to check me.

I see no draw backs shopping around as I know who the companies are that I deal with, as it has been the same 5 for the last 11 years and I know who will most likely be the companies to insure who (I also do this for other people). They sort of work on a circuit and you never know until the day who is going to be quoting best. This is why it is better to start looking 30days before your insurance is due as then if it changes mid month on who is quoting best you then have 2 to play off against each other as quote last for 30 days.

Hope this all makes some sense please feel free to message me or let me know if I missed something or never made it clear enough.

With me i dont have to pay for insurance. its all done by Motability.
But i had to do a car insurance for a friend of mine when his car blew up and he bought a new car, so i to went on the comparison sites and there was a big marked difference in his normal insurance to what the site found. Surfice to say he went with the cheaper site which also offered Breakdown cover (I.E. AA. ) where as his other insurance company did not offer this service at all. He saved over £70 by using the comparison sites.

i always switch m8 never had any prbs at all

why pay more there all out to rip u off