Do car Insurance company's want our custom???

[hotrodder]

Anytime I ask for a repair quote at a garage the first question is "Are the insurance paying" - if I say yes the price immediately goes up.

I'm guessing a lot as i don't have direct experience... I do have a couple of clients that occasionally do insurance repairs and from the discussions i've overheard i suspect it's as likely about them expecting the insurance company to try and bully them/twist their arm over price (putting the price up gives them room to manouver if/when the assessor started questioning things) as it is about them looking for a bit of extra profit. Similar deal to insurance companies trying to bully/imply you have to use their 'approved repairer' (read, they've negotiated good rates) when you don't

My daily driver kinda follows the bangernomics principle, certainly cheap enough that most knocks would make it a class D write off to an insurer. For this reason i typically opt for the largest excess i can (telesales muppet got very confused with this as the excess wasn't far short of the cars value) because excess is meaningless in a non-fault claim and a claim on my policy is going to cost me regardless through increased premiums so i just won't.

If a claim on your policy will result in an economic write off you can usually buy the car back to fix but as this is a fault claim you're going to pay regardless so might as well just fix it

It appears motor insurance is currently being looked at...
http://www.lovemoney.com/news/cars-computers-and-sport/car-insurance/12804/government-crackdown-on-high-car-insurance-premiums
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16175022

I don't get the £20 thing unless it's a case of 6% or £20 (obviously whichever is the bigger number)? My car insurance was renewed a couple of months ago, policy, legal cover and 6% tax itemised seperatley but that was it. I can't see the insurance companies voluntarily hiding it

 

[Shox Dr]

It was something I caught the tail end of on the radio, (radio needs a rewind button)

Something to do with uninsured drivers

 

[paul_f]

* My insurers tell me that due to the age of my car, it will be written off if I make ANY claim for repairs.
- they don't mind if I do claim, but the car will be written off for the cost of a bumper bracket, paint touch-up on the bumper, and labor.
That even rules out DIY repairs unless I pay for them myself

Get a quote for the repairs and then ask the insurance company if they will pay you in lieu of repairs, or if they are going to write it off whether you can keep the salvage.

 

[Robotstar5]

My insurers tell me that due to the age of my car, it will be written off if I make ANY claim for repairs.
- they don't mind if I do claim, but the car will be written off for the cost of a bumper bracket, paint touch-up on the bumper, and labor.
That even rules out DIY repairs unless I pay for them myself

Had something similar when Mrs Robo's car was hit by uninsured car when parked on drive. Assessor came out and 2 days later we get a letter stating car was a cat C write off (recorded on insurance database) and recovery firm would collect car in next few days! I was absolutely livid as we had not been given any options. After a couple of phone calls (I didn't lose my temper) finally got a settlement of £1100 including buying the car back so I repaired it for £300 including VIC (vehicle identity check) and we pocketed the balance!.

 

[Nomad]

@Nomad - sounds like a cue for a letter to your MP.

Thanks for the suggestion - I have put a complaint in to my insurers but theres bo respponse yet (other than they have recieved it and it's being looked at )
My plan was a letter to the MIB (Motor insurance bunch?) next but not done yet.
Hadn't thought about my MP

 

[Engineer1964]

On a lighter note, I recieved my insurance through today, £257 fully comp for my Disco 2 ES 2003. it works out about £27 a month for 11 months with the interest and tax.

Its a massive saving down from £42 a month, and far better than the renewal which was £75 a month

The insurance company was Hastings, but its best if you try the Comparrission Sites as peoples circumstances are different.

I was very Dissapointed with Direct Line who promise to pass any discount direct to the car owner, thats why they are not on comparrision sites, But i think the real reason is that they wanted £899 a year for the same cover

has anyone else managed to save on their insurance??

 

[Shox Dr]

has anyone else managed to save on their insurance??

2006 S60 se T5

Renewal was £480 up 50quid from last yr. Looked about and got it with more "bolt-ons" for £280

 

[Engineer1964]

2006 S60 se T5

Renewal was £480 up 50quid from last yr. Looked about and got it with more "bolt-ons" for £280

So a saving of £200 did you use a comparission site or just phoned around??

certainly makes you open your eyes, on this whole subject

 

[Shox Dr]

I use everything at my disposal.

Don't forget most of the comparison web sites are now owned by the insurance Co's, making you believe you are looking at a broad range of quotes, when in fact on any 1 site they are all owned or underwritten by the same Insurer.

 

[rocketron]

A couple of days ago, got into discussion with a "senior manager called Jerry", who after haggling offered a quote which was £25 less than last year. He agreed to send me a formal qoute, but this has not arrived. Have sent several e-mails, with no replies.
Is my plonker getting pulled???

 

[hotrodder]

Maybe, but given the time of year...

It was something I caught the tail end of on the radio, (radio needs a rewind button)

Something to do with uninsured drivers

Ahh, that makes sense. Kinda like the 'victims surcharge' that gets added to court fines but for the MIB untraced driver agreement

 

[snowcat]

I'm guessing a lot as i don't have direct experience... I do have a couple of clients that occasionally do insurance repairs and from the discussions i've overheard i suspect it's as likely about them expecting the insurance company to try and bully them/twist their arm over price (putting the price up gives them room to manouver if/when the assessor started questioning things) as it is about them looking for a bit of extra profit.

I do a bit of work on commercial equipment repairs, theres a big difference in repairing to an insurance standard as to repairing for Joe blogs..

Insurance work needs equipment returning to original condition, where as a client would often accept repair to a damaged part if there forking out from there own pocket insurance assessors always want things replaced with new...

I deal with one assessors either direct or a second who acts as a broker, Its always quite tricky as you need to keep them in agreement of all works and the client in the loop of exactly what is going to be replaced and not once your quoting anything over 50% of the machines value then its nearly always deemed a FL.
To add to the difficulty's clients will often try and pile on items that were damaged prior to the accident in with the claim ....

None of the insurance work i have ever done has been massively profitable with the exception of some of the commercial shipping work, but again thats a different sector completely.

I imagine the non commercial side is even worse, more competition lower margins and the general public wanting the imposible...

IT is worth noting that theres little in the insurance world that isn't negotiable especially when it comes to Loss adjusting, In my experience if your fair with them and have done you research they are normally agreable... They do deal with Muppet's chancing there hand daily so if your claiming that somethings worth twice market value then expect to get paid half of market value for your cheek....

 

[hotrodder]

Good points