Car insurance is just totally mad.

[K'Ehleyr]

The issue of comprehensive v third party only relates to your own car. If your car is worth £500.00 and you have a £400.00 excess, your insurers will only ever have to pay out £100.00 if you write off your own car. Consequently, for cheaper cars there is often no practical difference between the policies.

Damage to other people is what costs - the repairs, personal injuries, hire charges, and lost earnings and that applies regardless of what kind of insurance cover you have.

Third party insurance might be more expensive because they assume that people driving in cars that are too cheap to insure comprehensively are more likely to cause accidents!

But this is what makes no sense to me ~ they assume people that drive cheap cars are careless drivers?
The excess that I've agreed to makes my car uninsured so I'm basically on third party insurance ~ so what's the difference?

Also when I wasn't working my insurance was higher because, and I quote 'they imagine you are driving around all day'. Because, obviously, if you are not working you can afford all the petrol!

And please, someone, tell me the difference between being judged as a waitress or a cook

I know what you mean K.

I have a seven year old Golf, no points, 13 year no claims, live in an ok area and it costs me mid three hundreds a year. (Last year though Direct Line decided they wanted to double what they charged me so a quick change in insurer was the way to go).

Oh but you said the danger word "Golf" (I miss my Golf GTI, I loved my Golf ~ now I have a rover metro - I hang my head in shame) ~ therefore you are obviously a dangerous boyracer
I'm with you with Direct Line ~ why do insurers not want to keep customers?
I've no points, hundreds of years no claims and yet still they quibble.
AND if you don't put a truly honest form in they won't pay out diddly squatt!
In fact they'll still quibble anyway AAARRRGGGHHHHH!

 

[Pauln6]

If they charged boy racers what it really costs to insure them, we'd have a lot of uninsured boy racers driving around (no bad thing to keep under 25-year old men off the roads in my view - they DO cause most of the accidents). Sadly the cost is spread across everybody. Motor insurance is a loss leader for most insurers.

 

[John Clark]

And please, someone, tell me the difference between being judged as a waitress or a cook
Oh but you said the danger word "Golf" (I miss my Golf GTI, I loved my Golf ~ now I have a rover metro - I hang my head in shame) ~ therefore you are obviously a dangerous boyracer
I'm with you with Direct Line ~ why do insurers not want to keep customers?
I've no points, hundreds of years no claims and yet still they quibble.
AND if you don't put a truly honest form in they won't pay out diddly squatt!
In fact they'll still quibble anyway AAARRRGGGHHHHH!

But, but it's not a boy racer and I'm not exactly a spring chicken anymore, it's a 130 TDI and technically one of the sensible economical ones - honest. Ok, maybe it is slightly quicker than any of my previous cars so I guess it's a little bit of a boy racer

I've seen the job thing affect things before too

It seems to me that the best bet nowadays is not to stick with one insurance company every year. A while ago I could as all the quotes were within the same ballpark. Now, not so much

One of my mates has an old Astra and has to pay about eight times the amount he paid for the car in insurance even after having a large excess. His driving history is more colourful than mine and he does more miles than I do though.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

If they charged boy racers what it really costs to insure them, we'd have a lot of uninsured boy racers driving around (no bad thing to keep under 25-year old men off the roads in my view - they DO cause most of the accidents). Sadly the cost is spread across everybody. Motor insurance is a loss leader for most insurers.

Huh, things must be different in the UK, because here in the US, young men get charged the highest insurance rates. You don't get your rates lowered, no matter how good a driver you are, until you're 25.

My discount didn't end up being much, either, despite a clean record.

 

[Pingfah]

I pay £68 a year, fully comp for my bike. Crazy really since it is way more dangerous than a car and bikers have a much higher per capita rate of crashing.

I've got it insured for £2500 with only £100 excess.

 

[Mallory]

What's this "excess" that seems to exist in the UK? It doesn't sound like anything I'm familiar with.

 

[John Clark]

What's this "excess" that seems to exist in the UK? It doesn't sound like anything I'm familiar with.

I believe it's called "deductible" over there?

If not, it's basically if I have an excess of £200 and the repairs cost £200, the insurance company will just wave at me (and probably increase the premiums). Anything over that £200, then they'll give me some money if they can't wriggle out of it.

 

[Paulcpick]

Im 25 and had a Speeding ticket(82 in a 70) and a Seatbelt ticket(protested it and lost) on my record within the last year and a half. I Have Liability Insurance(all Texas requires) and I pay Bi-Yearly $150. so my Insurance costs me only $300 a year.
I drive an 88 Chevrolet 1 ton Dually pickup.
Where you live and where you drive also has alot to do with Insurance, if you live in a Rural area, then your insurance will cost a fair bit less compared to someone who lives in a large City. vehicle type and age and even the color of your vehicle make a difference.
Pickups often cost less in the US to Insure than Cars.

 

[Bears Discover Fire]

I read some of these rates and I wanna cry. I'm a late 20's female driving a 11.5 year old 4 door, 4 banger compact in LA with one accident on my record (don't open that can of worms with me - I learned the hard way that if a Vespa rider dumps his bike in your proximity, you are automatically 100% at fault, even if there is no collison and he was attempting an illegal manuever at the time of the accident.)

My LIABILITY ONLY insurance is $2300 per year. With comprehensive, it would double that.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

If they charged boy racers what it really costs to insure them, we'd have a lot of uninsured boy racers driving around (no bad thing to keep under 25-year old men off the roads in my view - they DO cause most of the accidents). Sadly the cost is spread across everybody. Motor insurance is a loss leader for most insurers.

Huh, things must be different in the UK, because here in the US, young men get charged the highest insurance rates. You don't get your rates lowered, no matter how good a driver you are, until you're 25.

My discount didn't end up being much, either, despite a clean record.

Get the point.
I think things are the same over here. For fun I looked up how much it would be to insure 17yr old son on car. It came to nearly £1,400. That would be on top of the £20 a go driving lessons. I guess I'll be buying him new shoes for a while more

I pay £68 a year, fully comp for my bike. Crazy really since it is way more dangerous than a car and bikers have a much higher per capita rate of crashing.

I've got it insured for £2500 with only £100 excess.

That's so totally unfair! However much I LOVE my MotoGP I do not want to end up at work with helmet hair
Anyway my legs are short, I'd get wet and not able to get my shopping home!
I hate being a short, shopping, 'not liking getting wet' woman!

What's this "excess" that seems to exist in the UK? It doesn't sound like anything I'm familiar with.

I believe it's called "deductible" over there?

If not, it's basically if I have an excess of £200 and the repairs cost £200, the insurance company will just wave at me (and probably increase the premiums). Anything over that £200, then they'll give me some money if they can't wriggle out of it.

As said by JC.

I do realise that compared with American drivers it does sound like I am lucky with my costs but it is the terms and conditions that frustate me.
Fortunately I've never had to claim on insurance and more and more over here people are settling 'out of insurance'. Whether to protect their No Claims Bonus or because they are not insured in the first place?

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I read some of these rates and I wanna cry. I'm a late 20's female driving a 11.5 year old 4 door, 4 banger compact in LA with one accident on my record (don't open that can of worms with me - I learned the hard way that if a Vespa rider dumps his bike in your proximity, you are automatically 100% at fault, even if there is no collison and he was attempting an illegal manuever at the time of the accident.)

My LIABILITY ONLY insurance is $2300 per year. With comprehensive, it would double that.

See this is what confuses me. I'm assuming 'liability only' is the same as 'third party only' insurance over here. Which is how I cannot understand why it is cheaper for me to have fully comprehensive insurance
Although I s'pose with my excess I wouldn't get anything for my car anyway. But it still seems very strange
I'm only a woman after all ~ how am I suppose to understand all this

 

[John Clark]

Fortunately I've never had to claim on insurance and more and more over here people are settling 'out of insurance'. Whether to protect their No Claims Bonus or because they are not insured in the first place?

There are ways to check if the other driver is insured at the time though (at least if you can get on the net) if they say they don't have their documents with them. It'd probably cost you though

http://www.askmid.com/

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I read some of these rates and I wanna cry. I'm a late 20's female driving a 11.5 year old 4 door, 4 banger compact in LA with one accident on my record (don't open that can of worms with me - I learned the hard way that if a Vespa rider dumps his bike in your proximity, you are automatically 100% at fault, even if there is no collison and he was attempting an illegal manuever at the time of the accident.)

My LIABILITY ONLY insurance is $2300 per year. With comprehensive, it would double that.

Dear God. Suddenly I don't feel so bad.

What's your coverage limit? I've got the $100K/$300K. I'd like to go higher but I just plain can't afford it.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Fortunately I've never had to claim on insurance and more and more over here people are settling 'out of insurance'. Whether to protect their No Claims Bonus or because they are not insured in the first place?

There are ways to check if the other driver is insured at the time though (at least if you can get on the net) if they say they don't have their documents with them. It'd probably cost you though

http://www.askmid.com/

I'm of the mind of a 'if it get fixed don't ask questions' kinda girl

 

[John Clark]

I'm of the mind of a 'if it get fixed don't ask questions' kinda girl

Indeed

I know one time my car got damaged the person who bumped into it didn't have insurance. They didn't actually need it for what they were controlling and it was only a tiny dent in the bumper.

 

[Mallory]

What's this "excess" that seems to exist in the UK? It doesn't sound like anything I'm familiar with.

I believe it's called "deductible" over there?

If not, it's basically if I have an excess of £200 and the repairs cost £200, the insurance company will just wave at me (and probably increase the premiums). Anything over that £200, then they'll give me some money if they can't wriggle out of it.

OK, that makes perfect sense. Thanks for the explanation.

On topic, we pay around $900/year for three cars/two drivers. All three have complete comprehensive, collision and liability.

 

[RAMA]

I read some of these rates and I wanna cry. I'm a late 20's female driving a 11.5 year old 4 door, 4 banger compact in LA with one accident on my record (don't open that can of worms with me - I learned the hard way that if a Vespa rider dumps his bike in your proximity, you are automatically 100% at fault, even if there is no collison and he was attempting an illegal manuever at the time of the accident.)

My LIABILITY ONLY insurance is $2300 per year. With comprehensive, it would double that.

Don't cry I'm still 1st or second on here in highest car insurance.

RAMA

 

[Mary Ann]

When I moved back to the UK from Canada 4 years ago I was classified as a new driver with zero no claims years, despite the fact that I'd originally passed my UK driving test in '95 and had driven claim-free for 9 years before moving back to Canada for 2 years. I always get fully comp (I admit I'm not the world's best driver but have luckily only ever damaged my own car) and it cost me £700. I nearly passed out. It's gone down over the years but it's still expensive, probably because I drive a Vauxhall Vectra. With a husband, 3 kids and a golden retriever I can't drive anything smaller.

I started using my car my job recently when I started outreach work and should let my insurance company (Co-op) know that I'm now using the car for business, but I'm scared to in case my rates go up again. I'll need to renew my insurance in July so I'll tell them then. Huh, if I didn't have to drag so much crap with me for the outreach work I'd ride my bike instead.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

I pay about $81 a month.
Now If I had a Harley it would be about $2500 a year.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

What's this "excess" that seems to exist in the UK? It doesn't sound like anything I'm familiar with.

I believe it's called "deductible" over there?

If not, it's basically if I have an excess of £200 and the repairs cost £200, the insurance company will just wave at me (and probably increase the premiums). Anything over that £200, then they'll give me some money if they can't wriggle out of it.

OK, that makes perfect sense. Thanks for the explanation.

On topic, we pay around $900/year for three cars/two drivers. All three have complete comprehensive, collision and liability.

That seems a very fair rate ~ but then again you are Mallory and therefore above reproach or high insurance!

I read some of these rates and I wanna cry. I'm a late 20's female driving a 11.5 year old 4 door, 4 banger compact in LA with one accident on my record (don't open that can of worms with me - I learned the hard way that if a Vespa rider dumps his bike in your proximity, you are automatically 100% at fault, even if there is no collison and he was attempting an illegal manuever at the time of the accident.)

My LIABILITY ONLY insurance is $2300 per year. With comprehensive, it would double that.

Don't cry I'm still 1st or second on here in highest car insurance.

RAMA

Rama, that's because of your size ~ they think you would have more impact

When I moved back to the UK from Canada 4 years ago I was classified as a new driver with zero no claims years, despite the fact that I'd originally passed my UK driving test in '95 and had driven claim-free for 9 years before moving back to Canada for 2 years. I always get fully comp (I admit I'm not the world's best driver but have luckily only ever damaged my own car) and it cost me £700. I nearly passed out. It's gone down over the years but it's still expensive, probably because I drive a Vauxhall Vectra. With a husband, 3 kids and a golden retriever I can't drive anything smaller.

I started using my car my job recently when I started outreach work and should let my insurance company (Co-op) know that I'm now using the car for business, but I'm scared to in case my rates go up again. I'll need to renew my insurance in July so I'll tell them then. Huh, if I didn't have to drag so much crap with me for the outreach work I'd ride my bike instead.

It is unfair you didn't get your No claims bonus ~ but as we are discussing, insurance companies are crap.
If you tell your insurance co that you are using your car for work your rates will almost certainly go up. But you could always say you were on your way to see a friend
I just get paranoid about being honest ~ I can't believe I typed that when I usually blame everything on the cat