Car Insurance Quotation Offer

I asked the CMC for a quote for my car and received one nearly three times what I was paying LV at the time.

I've been with LV for many years but this year faced a price hike, so I asked them to look at it and requote, which they did. I'm now insured through the Halifax at a reasonable saving on last years LV premium.

Insurance is a minefield buried in the small print.

I am also with the Halifax and for the first time so no history of premiums with them as yet. But I had to ask twice if their quotation was correct, as it was very very low for the same offerings compared with my previous insurer Saga.

I give the Club the opportunity to quote each year, but its no competition.

I've just had a very competitive quote for the MH from CaravanGuard as Saga have been climbing inexorably the past couple of years.

Our car insurance was due for renewal last Monday and so we decided to ask Devitts for a quote.  Yes, they quoted £25 less than our renewal, but...excess was £150 for accidental damage (currently £150 for fire & theft, nil for accidental damage), no guaranteed hire car, which we currently have, and £20 admin fee for change mid term (we may be changing our car), currently no admin fee for changed mid term.  Policy with Direct Line.  Rang them to say had a more competitive quote, but not a level playing field; within 3 minutes renewal premium was reduced to within £10 of Devitts quote, with the same excess etc, so we renewed with them.  Takes a bit of time, but worth it as we saved over £35.  

I got a good deal insuring my motorhome through the Club earlier this year (and they always insured the caravan)  I also use them for house and contents. However I have never been able to get a sensible quote out of them for car insurance over all the years I have tried. I am inclined not to bother now.

David

Is it not true that every insurance company targets a certain sector of motor insurance business - age of owner, miles driven, location, type of car, and so on. I just don't seem to be a target Devitts are aiming at. 

Devitts are brokers and are supposed to find the best policy for you. This may not be the cheapest but the one that suits your circumstances best and that is unlikely to be the cheapest. You probably did not buy the cheapest car and you should apply that to your policy as well.

Insurers use their statistics to determine premiums and that tends to throw up variations between them so no one company is always the cheapest. Do also remember that the cheapest can be cutting out things, including claims settlements and service, so look for the best policy.

If you look up the Ombudsman's figures and look at the number of complaints upheld which is the best test of a good firm then you will get a better idea of who treats their customers best. The total number of complaints is not valid as this depends a lot on the size of the company rather than the service.

Having said all that I have checked the clubs quotes a few times, and to my mind I have always done better.

Club insurance I have found to be more competitive than the 'other' club (C&CC) and hugely less than Saga over the last 5 years or so. (Personally found not worth bothering asking Devitts again for another quote for private car though in spite of this so called £25 saving )   However I am wondering about returning to  letter/post rather than taking up their preference for suggesting to going paperless in dealing with them for the annual M/H Insurance

Have just complained to them about their idea of suggesting you agree to their 'automatic renewal' system. This set up apparently is linked if you agree to accept all communication , quotes and then insurance documents by email. This is OK if their servers are all working smoothly but  yesterday they admitted they are at present and recently  having problems. (It was news to me that I had agreed to this by going electronic communication with them anyway ??)

I have had their emails but unable to download their renewal quote. The next email was thanking me for 'already paying for another year' insuring with the club 's insurance,  When phoning them they said I had already agreed to the 'automatic renewal system' that if I did not contact them by return for their quote they would assume I accepted it. 

It took a rather lengthy and patient discussion from me  for the person on the other end of the phone to finally realise and understand the simple point that they had taken money from my account without me being able to see the actual amount involved.

I have now accepted the figure  now I know how much it is costing me. I have insisted that in the future I want a letter with the renewal quote in writing.

I have just received the confirmation email with attachments containing the Insurance documents , certificate etc.  and yes, their servers are still not operating so I cannot download them.

So another phone call to Club Insurance/Devitts tomorrow again,

Slightly harder work this year in dealing with Club's Insurance brokers Devitts !!

You will find all insurers will put you on automatic renewal to prevent anyone accidently failing to insure.

You should get an e mail if you have agreed to that for renewal though, with the renewal notice as an attachment. If you cannot open it then you need to ring but if there is a problem with e mails at their end they should write a letter.

"You will find all insurers will put you on automatic renewal to prevent anyone accidently failing to insure."

Err, no they don’t. My insurer (NFU) sends me a renewal notice and I then pay by whatever method suits me.