I know there is an insurance topic, but this may be of interest generally.

I currently drive a company car but am buying a Scooby for delivery in Spetember (the wait is driving me MADDDDDD!).

Anyway, having called a few insurance companies and getting LOADS of hassle about no claims and company car driving, I decided that I would use the no claims from my policy on our second car for the Scoob and start afresh in my wifes name (she has been driving on my policy for years). Called Direct Line and told them what I would like to do, "no problem sir" - £BIG came back the quote. "Sorry - uncompetitive says I - too bad I'll go eleswhere (already had a cheaper quote". "Just before you go sir, we can do you a special offer on the new policy"....

Here's the deal

1. only applies to customers with an existing policy
2. they apply 5 years NCD (yes, I said FIVE YEARS) on the new policy.
3. At the first renewal of the new policy, your renewal notice will show 1 years NCD, however the premium will be based on your now 6 years NCD. This is to prevent you from going elsewhere at the first renewal.
4. At the second renewal your notice will show 5 years.

So, you benefit from 5 years discount on the premium in years 1 & 2 AND after 2 years you get a genuine renewal notice showing 5 years - hows that for an "accelerated bonus".

The only downside was their quote for the scoob was VERY expensive, still, I now have 2 policies with 5 years NCD.

Give it a try!

Pete

 

Obviously direct line is fed up of losing customers .

I was with them upto 5 years ago when they told me that they dont insure anything over group 15. They only quote me on my grp 12 car at the time because I had been with them for 4 years and full no claims. The quote was too high and shopped around and got a 50% reduction on their quote.

I rang them on my last renewal in Jan 2000 and they said "Sorry sir we dont insure impreza turbos" which seemed a common phase or saying amongst insurance companies .


cheers

chrisp

 

Sorry to burst the bubble, but we've been selling that sort of policy for years...it is quite accepted by many companies to allow maximum introductory discounts to a second car where the driving is restricted to Insured and Spouse and there is Max NCD on the main car. Most companies will automatically allow this. However I must admit that showing 5 years + after 2nd year is not the norm ...and it sounds like a really good deal. However whether it works/happens in reality is another matter ;D

Just out of interest have you taken out the policy....and if so how much did you pay ? and what what cars?

If you have had a company car....with no claims, and can get a letter from your comapny confirming this then most companies will give you the equivalent number of No Claims Discount compared with the number of years claim free driving

Cheers Tom

 

I also moved from a company car to running my own scooby.

Direct Line refused to insure me, stating that they did not insure high performance cars.

Instead they directed me to their sister company Privilege, who gave me a competitive quote and 5yrs NCD based on my previous years driving a company car. Privilege also allow track days and lots of mods to the car, so overall I'm very happy with them.

Mark

 

It is correct that Direct Line do not 'normally' quote for higher risk cars and drivers...Privalege was set up for that purpose, although Data Protection Act stopped then from operating too closely.

However, if you are shopping around try brokers. For higher risk cars you will find a better quote than the direct writers 99 times out of 100. Remember simply don't accept the first quote.

My experience of Privalege was that they were 20% higher than the next nearest quote, and twice as much as my final quote (which had better benefits). Also remember that Privalege, like most large direct writers, typically use preferred repairers and so if you have an import, or a specific 'Scooby' problem this can be an issue and you would have to fight very hard to get the car dealt with by your own choice repairer, check the small print.

Finally, average premiums have almost doubled over the last five years, however the 'shoparound' quotes (hopefully self explantory) have only risen by around 5% in total over the same period.

R

 

I have my my00 scoob uk spec turbo with direct line, they were the cheapest quote i could get and, probably because im over 30 (31) they did insure me. There was one thing though, and i would have fitted one anyway but a tracking system was needed (living in manchester u need it!!!) they didnt ask for a cat 1/2 alarm/immob though!! but still got one fitted!

cheers
Tony

 

I found Privelege to be the cheapest

Ive also heard stories of Direct Line doing everything possible to avoid paying out on a claim.

Obviously i can only guarantee that the first statement is 100% correct.

[This message has been edited by sunilp (edited 08 August 2000).]

 

They did quote me for the Impreza, but there quote was 50% higher than anywhere else. The best quote I had was from What Car? at £664 - 38, 5 years NCD, no convictions, south Birmingham.

Pete

 

Sunil,

I am pleased that Privalege was the cheapest for you...

...I can only imagine that it was an anomolous quote specific to your circumstances, or it was a special deal you availed of

The business model of direct writers does not enable to write business cheaper than brokers for high risk cars - even for the same benefits.

As we all have different risk profiles different deals will suit us so keep on shopping around guys.

R

 

I reckon Direct Line really were the start of the insurance probs in the 80s - offering cheap insurance on boring cars cos they refused most high performance stuff. So everyone followed suit, killing off the hot hatch, forcing everybody to drive beige Nissan Sunnys.

So I vowed never to be a DL customer out of principle!!

Andrew

 

Boy am i ANGRY.

Rang Direct line and they couldn't insure me as they "dont insure imports" - ive got a WRX.

Rang, Privilege who said yes we can, it wasnt cheap £1200 but I expected it (32yo, 2 NCD).

They want proof of NCD and alarm.

My NCD is currently on my wifes Escort so they ended up rejecting this asked me to fork out an extra £650 !!!. I am was travelling in and out of the country so I just paid as I didnt have the time to sort it out.

To hear that they will give the equivelant of 5 year NCD really p*sses me off. B*STARDS B*STARDS B*STARDS.

Love to hear more detail about Privilege so I'm fully fuelled up for a special phone call tommorow morning !

bkar

 

1) Is everyone aware of Subaru Privelege - the official insurer for Subaru?. They even answer the phones "Subaru Privelege" or the like.

2)Proof of NCB and Alarm is normal with any insurer isnt it?. BUT DONT EXPECT ANYONE, ABSOLUTELY ANYONE TO DO YOU ANY FAVOURS IF YOU WANNA HAVE A GO AT THEM - WOULD YOU IF SOMEONE WAS OFFENSIVE TOWARDS YOU??

3) Anyhow, my premium last year was 1169 with all mods and this year, renewal is in 3 weeks, and premium is 1,055 (sorry no pound signs on this laptop!). So i for one am glad i havent been clobbered with some of these horendous increases that people are suffering as a result of a bad year for the insurance industry.

Happy insuring,

S

 

Hi Sunlip,

I kind of get the impression that the "BUT DONT EXPECT ANYONE, ABSOLUTELY ANYONE TO DO YOU ANY FAVOURS IF YOU WANNA HAVE A GO AT THEM" statement was directed at me. If it wasnt ignore the following:

Just because I am completely pissed about being robbed (ie Privilige being difficult over the NCB but would give it to you anyway if you ask the question in a different way) and I am sounding off here, it doesnt mean I am going to give someone at Privilige any abuse or grief. On the contrary, being nice, polite and friendly is about the easiest and most effective way to get ANYTHING. Even though sometimes you have to be nice in an affermative manner.

Still, it helps me to shout here, B*STARDS, B*STARDS, B*STARDS...... feeling better already.

ANYONE IN THE KNOW : Love to get the detail about exactly what Privilige are offering in the way of second car NCD.

bkar

 

Erm, it was meant for you but your attitude towards them wasnt clear from your post eariler.

"Love to hear more detail about Privilege so I'm fully fuelled up for a special phone call tommorow morning !"

If you've handled it politely then i retract what i said as its irrelevant mate!

Sunil

 

Hi Sunlip,

As it happened I didnt get a chance to handle it at all today. Work got in the way of personal things again. But I am not going to be unpleasant. Re-reading what I wrote I could see what you mean - "fuelled" was ment as fuelled up with knowledge, not anger.

Anyhow, dont wont to get on your wrong side as you are one of the many good guys on this BBS and I like reading your posts. Your a true car fanatic !

bkar

 

No offence taken mate!!

Email me offline then i can dig out Subaru Privelege numbers etc and you can call me if you want to chat

Sunil

PS, i would never be considered a "true" car fanatic as i never get my hands dirty!!

[This message has been edited by sunilp (edited 12 August 2000).]

 

bkar,
How's the car going - don't you just love yellow seats (I've got used to them). 1700 miles now (3 weeks), and off to the mainland on monday. Booked up for Abingdon, Silverston and Brands - picked up some spare wheels yesterday, getting suspension sorted at powerstation and new breaks - seems I've gone mad.

sunlip,
Have a £ mate - you can cut an dpaste it

 

I'm insured with Privilege Subaru for about 700 quid (no pounds sign here either; US-made laptop). That's age 31, Surrey, full NCD, car on the street.

One tip; I've just bought a house, and checked out Direct Line for a quote. As I'm with their (sister) car insurance, I get 25% discount on house insurance! Haven't yet ascertained if that's only for one year (I have the word "introductory" in writing, no-one mentioned it over the phone), but it's a free market at renewal time...

BJH

 

Hi Triggaaar,

Ive only done 1,700 miles myself. Mind you Ive been out of the country quite a bit. Yep, Ive got used to the seats also. Ive scrapped the front spoiler a bit in a car park - I was going dead slow as well. So Im looking for some touch up paint. Obviously, Ive had the car serviced. The car hasnt had any mods yet. I doupt I will do anything for 6 months.

I think my car is getting slower. That or I'm getting de-sensitised to the acceleration That must be why people keep moding their cars - its as addictive as hard drugs and just as expensive

Hi Sunlip,

I'm waiting for the renual papers for my escort and going to give Privilage a ring. See if we can come to some arrangement otherwise I'll get a refund for the remaining months of insurance and look at other places.

 

Subaru Privelege, 0990 133667. Please mention my reg (S600BYX) and name (Sunil Patel) when asking for a quote as i think they give me a tenner off if you take up a policy!

Cheers

S

 

Hi Sunlip,

Will do thanks.

bkar

 

Yeah I found Direct line were the cheapest by about £30 but did insist on having a tracker fitted tho, (£450 fully comp 32 yrs 6yrs ncb). As of last week I believe they are still doing good quotes.
Worth a try I suppose.

 

Direct line wouldnt do my car as its an import (WRX). Got the frequent message "We dont insure imports".

bkar

 

Iain,

Ta for the wheels m8!

Interesting thing about DL and tracker...

They too were the cheapest for me, lot more than you tho, 35 and 6 years NCD (spose that's living in Surrey for you).

Anyway, having agreed the policy, got this letter from them saying please provide tracker certificate blah blah. I was a bit puzzled by this cos they'd never mentioned this when I rang for the quote, just asked if it had a cat 1 alarm.

So I rang them up and questioned this. Guy put me on hold for ages then came back and said that's fine sir, send in alarm certificate and all will be well.

I can only assume that they checked the tape of the original quote and realised the mistake.

Or maybe not, maybe someone wants to try it on?

Having said that I'm still tempted to get one anyway, especially given recent threads re theft etc, even though the car is like fort knox and I can barely see out of it for security product stickers..., takes me about half an hour to park the thing up!

Cheers

Simon

 

Simes
have you used them on the track yet?
I was tempted by the DL quote, but had no intention of getting a tracker at the time, ended up with a policy from AXA who are great and no worries about mods etc.
Cheers
Iain

[This message has been edited by IainT (edited 16 August 2000).]

 

Directline wanted a tracker but I took the EagleStar policy which was 50 quid more and only required a Cat1.

jon