Car insurance renewal rant - multicar is not cheaper

[hedge]

I used to be with Tesco. They added £100 to my premium last year for no apparent reason to renew my policy. As a new customer I could have got it for less. Wasn't happy with that.

 

Changed to Admiral as they offered multicar and it was £150 cheaper for my car and SWMBO to be on same policy.

 

This year the joint renewal is £200 more - £120 of that for me and £80 for her. £350 instead of £230 for my policy.

 

I'm older (not wiser), the car is older blah blah blah. ***?? Why has it gone up so much?

 

So to save me all the hassle of shopping around etc, they will charge me £120 more to renew my policy - "there's nothing for you to do". Oh yes there is.

 

To top it off I get one of those Money supermarket "your insurance is due for renewal" emails that tells me that Admiral come out top with £230. ***?? Why am I paying £350?

 

I ring them up. I tell them that my renewal is way too high. I have been quoted £230 by their own web-site and what can they do.

 

Admiral "Oh that's fine, we can match that".

Me "How is that possible - I thought multicar was cheaper"

A "Not always - we are different companies"

M "I'm sorry"

A "We both trade as Admiral but are different companies and use different scoring criteria"

M "So I'm better off having 2 single policies than 1 multicar - the one that is meant to save money"

A "Yes"

 

So there we have it. I now have 2 individual policies for £200 less as multicar costs more (to me anyway).

 

Where is the logic in that?

 

So - check your renewal and don't assume that multicar is cheaper.

 

Complete madness ( but I am £200 better off for a 10 minute call)

 

*End of rant*

[Marine1980]

I've just gone with admiral on multi car with the wife as we had single policies with direct line and as a couple we saved just under £450 so far cheaper on multi car for us!!

 

Royal

[the pigeon man]

My last insurance was for an Astra van am 23 been driving 6 years with 6 years mo claims it was 700 a year my renewal price was 2500 So got a new car 2lt new vectra and it's now 400 a year insurance people are weird ha

[Sha Bu Le]

Hedge your not the first to have this experience, another member had the same with Direct Line when he came to renewal time for his multicar. Daresay it happens everywhere with every company, good deal as a new customer and bang the price up come renewal.

[monster1971]

you have to shop around every year now ,there is no such thing as loyalty discounts ,good deal first year stung the next.

i thought everyone was used to this by now , the only problem with this is having to post your no claims discount proof to your new company every year.

[onefulham]

All insurance companies are slimy chiseling shysters , every year we all have to do the renewal dance. I have just insured my caravan and it has cost me as much as for our Ford S Max driven everyday.

[sle]

Admiral was over £170 cheaper if i left as an existing customer and started again as a new customer using the no claims i had with them. It was a further £300 cheaper when i added 3 named drivers on to my policy.Where is the sense?

[mossy835]

same old thing rip off britton.

[Paddy Galore!]

always worth checking, we've got multi car with aviva, this worked out stupendously cheap, not so sure if it'll be as cheap at renewal though, they quite often quote silly low prices just to get the business.

[OddJob]

I had the same with admiral. Got a quote from one of the comparison websites that was a lot less (from admiral!) and they matched it. Give that a go.

[TaxiDriver]

just got my Taxi insurance renewal come through, £1438 plus tax
And thats with 5 years NCB, no points/convictions and Im 48yr old.
My other vehicle (8 seat minibus) is due in May and thats £1300+

Edited April 24, 2013 by TaxiDriver

[Will Poon]

just got my insurance renewal come through, £1438 plus taxAnd thats with 5 years NCB, no points/convictions and Im 48yr old.My other vehicle is due in May and thats £1300+

thats very steep for your age and history, what car is it

[Davyo]

Have 3 cars all with diff insurer's, tried loads of multi car quotes,but all cost more that it is to insure seperatley.

[Vince Green]

They pitch low in the first year knowing that most people just renew without questioning the amount in subsequent years

[Passionforangling]

When you get your new quote through from Company A just go on Money Supermarket or similar and find cheaper Company B. then just ring Company A and tell them about Company B 's lower price (Including a bit of exaggeration) and Company A will then usually match it. I do it every year with 4 vehicles and house insurance......saves £100's a year. As people have said....they try it on if they think you will not be shopping around.

[delburt0]

Have you tried aviva multicar :(

[hedge]

Lots of good replies!

 

I am now (slowly) learning the games that they play.

 

I am not a loyal customer who has 10 years ncd and should be rewarded with lower premiums.

 

I am a cash cow who can't be bothered to check my renewals?

 

Unlucky. I checked - you lose. I played the game - got a competitor quote (actually it was from their own web-site) and you matched it.

 

Why can't they ever make it simple?

 

All set for house insurance renewal in May though.

[klatuveradanikto]

Just renewed mine last night. re-newall was 280 and they left out the provision to drive another car even though it's a fully comp policy,(it was there last year) so decided to look around and got the same cover with third party cover on another car for half price 140. Doesn't make any sense these insurance companies, ah well there loss.