UK car insurance premiums rise by 34% – and far higher than in rest of Europe
ABI reveals industry payouts for claims have risen at far lower rate, raising questions about value of policies
www.theguardian.com
insurance article
- Thread starter r1200rt
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It’s not really “raising a question” is it? Read about the huge increase uninsured drivers, fraud, “cash for crash”, inflated claims and…more telling… the massive “decrease” in driving standards in this country. We all pay for this.
Well I just re-insured two 911s ( classics ) a 993 S and a 3.2 carrera on a joint policy . The renew figure was £750 up by about £70 on last year, they said due to general insurance price rises. Anyways , I shopped around and got a new policy for £550.
Both my old and new brokers are well established in the classic car market.
Both my old and new brokers are well established in the classic car market.
Leaving aside the difference in laws between European countries, which (to some degree or another) dictate exposure and premiums. It would be interesting to know if a base premium in say, France, Germany or Italy, was already higher than it is in the UK. In other words, does French bikermate X pay say, £200 for his annual insurance, when a comparable UK bikermate Y pays, say £150.
Premium taxes might also come into it. From memory, the UK’s premium tax is 12%. I have no idea what the premium tax is in France, Germany or Italy but, in Sweden at least, it’s zero. There again, it is easy to imagine that the motorcycle insurance market in Sweden might well be very different to that of the UK: (A) It’s a much smaller market than that of Germany or even the UK and (B) their harsh winters might see bikes being off the road entirely for four to five months. It’s what makes direct comparisons difficult and, in some cases, meaningless. We see the same meaningless comparisons in UKGEr’s insurance sub-section: Bikermate 1 (who lives in central Birmingham, aged 25 with his spanking new 1300) shouts out that they want £2000 to insure his bike; while Bikermate 2 (who lives in sleepy hamlet in Devon, aged 65 with his old 1100 GS) pipes up that he pays £95. Bikermate 1 is deeply aggrieved, naturally.
Whilst premiums have been increasing, many of the reports in the UKGSer Insurance sub-section say that, with a bit of shopping around, many bods end up paying less than they did last year or, at worse, just a much more modest increase. Post #3 is a classic example.
Premium taxes might also come into it. From memory, the UK’s premium tax is 12%. I have no idea what the premium tax is in France, Germany or Italy but, in Sweden at least, it’s zero. There again, it is easy to imagine that the motorcycle insurance market in Sweden might well be very different to that of the UK: (A) It’s a much smaller market than that of Germany or even the UK and (B) their harsh winters might see bikes being off the road entirely for four to five months. It’s what makes direct comparisons difficult and, in some cases, meaningless. We see the same meaningless comparisons in UKGEr’s insurance sub-section: Bikermate 1 (who lives in central Birmingham, aged 25 with his spanking new 1300) shouts out that they want £2000 to insure his bike; while Bikermate 2 (who lives in sleepy hamlet in Devon, aged 65 with his old 1100 GS) pipes up that he pays £95. Bikermate 1 is deeply aggrieved, naturally.
Whilst premiums have been increasing, many of the reports in the UKGSer Insurance sub-section say that, with a bit of shopping around, many bods end up paying less than they did last year or, at worse, just a much more modest increase. Post #3 is a classic example.
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I paid about the same. This year. Maybe 100/200 more.
As a very generic feedback, from experience, I can report than motor insurance in my experience is generally more expensive in Rome compared to London, but also the insurance contract is incredibly more generic than here. The vehicle is insured, not the driver. There is normally no restrictions on usage, parking, et. al.
Salaries are also lower than in here. So, in general it makes it a bigger expense for bods.
Agree with Wapping up there, difficult to have a clear idea unless one looks at the numbers in detail.
As a very generic feedback, from experience, I can report than motor insurance in my experience is generally more expensive in Rome compared to London, but also the insurance contract is incredibly more generic than here. The vehicle is insured, not the driver. There is normally no restrictions on usage, parking, et. al.
Salaries are also lower than in here. So, in general it makes it a bigger expense for bods.
Agree with Wapping up there, difficult to have a clear idea unless one looks at the numbers in detail.
Tax on Insurance! It's a legal requirement ffs 
Shouldn't be allowed.
We'll be taxed for walking next.
Shouldn't be allowed.We'll be taxed for walking next.
You already do.Tax on Insurance! It's a legal requirement ffs
We'll be taxed for walking next.
Shoe leather.
Brexit was supposed to make everything cheaper.
I do think as this is a legal requirement that there should be a fixed cost minimal insurance policy with no bells and whistles that meets the legal requirement.Tax on Insurance! It's a legal requirement ffs
We'll be taxed for walking next.
Then if you want the bells and whistles you can add it and then your premium rises
An MOT is a legal requirement and the price is set depending on the vehicle size
There should also be a base figure, say £200 and insurance companies then add & subtracts costs onto this regarding your personal circumstances, vehicle, requirements etc.
The Ombudsman or whoever then choses various, similar policies but with vastly differing prices and asks the companies to justify how they arrived at the premium price from the base figure.
Yes I know, a very fanciful idea
The Ombudsman or whoever then choses various, similar policies but with vastly differing prices and asks the companies to justify how they arrived at the premium price from the base figure.
Yes I know, a very fanciful idea
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Stonesie
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I got it a bit cheaper than the renewal quote but still "near as makes no difference" double last year's price... That's on a 11 year old Volvo V-40 diesel. And I'm in my 40's with 15 years NCB.
I don't know how you guys are getting cheaper prices than last year, most people are getting hammered.
I don't know how you guys are getting cheaper prices than last year, most people are getting hammered.
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What you are asking for is a base tariff priced policy. Tariffs were outlawed years ago. It's now a free market, much beloved by many.
That being said, moataaaah (is it is pronounced) is the wild west of insurance, most often sold (and sometimes bought) by chimps. People loved it when it was in freefall, with insurers tripping over themselves to undercut each other. Now it's swung up. As the market is cyclical in nature, it'll swing down again. Whether it will ever hit the give away prices of two to three years ago, is anyone's guess.
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Tax on Insurance! It's a legal requirement ffs
We'll be taxed for walking next.
Insurance tax been around for years, steadily increasing through various governments of all political hues.
The only thing in insurance that does not attract a tax is reinsurance premiums (many running into millions of pounds and billions over the year) or the transfer of currency OUT of the UK to pay claims, for instance several millions of dollars to pay for a bridge in America hit by a vessel. The government could make a pretty penny out of that, just as other countries do.
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Couldn't get a renewal quote this year from BMW insurance (Devitts) but went online and got a quote from Devitt's as a new customer - go figure.
Eventually went with Hastings Direct at almost £140 cheaper than last year with BMW, only difference was that I reduced my mileage from 10,000 to 8,000.
I'm sure there's some logic to it somewhere but I haven't spotted it yet.
Eventually went with Hastings Direct at almost £140 cheaper than last year with BMW, only difference was that I reduced my mileage from 10,000 to 8,000.
I'm sure there's some logic to it somewhere but I haven't spotted it yet.
I can't get insurance to cover theft for the little CT125 Hunter Cub. Got third party for me to legally ride it, but not one insurance company will cover the theft of the 'bike.
They've called me out ....
Wont insure for theft because of what the bike is.
It's imported,
Sleeps out under covers in a totally enclosed rear garden.
DN4 Post Code.
None of the locks, chains, anchors, alarms are Thatchem approved,
Facts ...
Totally enclosed rear garden, high walls, no one can see in, no one, absolutely no one!
Ground anchor and chain, 2'6" in to solid concrete.
Padlock and chain round front forks and wheel.
Alarm disc lock.
Two camera one on the 'bike, one the rest of the garden.
Movement sensor tells me if anyone is in the garden.
Rear gate two bolts, mortice lock and great angle iron bar across wall to wall with HD padlock.
No one but my immediate neighbours know the 'bike is here. If anyone follows me home or there's some low life walking down the backs I carry on out of the top and go round the block and return ten minutes later! A car did follow me home one evening ... a police car
I've lived here for forty years, always one 'bike in the garden, often two and never had a 'bike stolen or interfered with.
Never say never Micky!!
Spent several days ringing round, following suggestions on here. Nice lady ay Adrian Flux spent all afternoon on the 'phone with me. she tried over 54 brokers and companies all to no avail
As one company said .... "If you're that confident you're 'bike is safe then you don't need theft insurance Mr Wheeler" Touché
It is what it is.
They've called me out ....
Wont insure for theft because of what the bike is.
It's imported,
Sleeps out under covers in a totally enclosed rear garden.
DN4 Post Code.
None of the locks, chains, anchors, alarms are Thatchem approved,
Facts ...
Totally enclosed rear garden, high walls, no one can see in, no one, absolutely no one!
Ground anchor and chain, 2'6" in to solid concrete.
Padlock and chain round front forks and wheel.
Alarm disc lock.
Two camera one on the 'bike, one the rest of the garden.
Movement sensor tells me if anyone is in the garden.
Rear gate two bolts, mortice lock and great angle iron bar across wall to wall with HD padlock.
No one but my immediate neighbours know the 'bike is here. If anyone follows me home or there's some low life walking down the backs I carry on out of the top and go round the block and return ten minutes later! A car did follow me home one evening ... a police car
I've lived here for forty years, always one 'bike in the garden, often two and never had a 'bike stolen or interfered with.
Never say never Micky!!
Spent several days ringing round, following suggestions on here. Nice lady ay Adrian Flux spent all afternoon on the 'phone with me. she tried over 54 brokers and companies all to no avail
As one company said .... "If you're that confident you're 'bike is safe then you don't need theft insurance Mr Wheeler" Touché
It is what it is.
Micky, I guess it’s possible that insurers’ theft concerns are not so much whilst you are at home, but whilst you are out and about. A lot of thefts are occurring ‘Off the street”, push aways or up and into a van. But hey, I’m not here to make excuses for underwriters or call centre chimps 
That being said, so much relies on bikes, of all sorts, being garaged at home. Sadly, it’s maybe a computer says no, thing. I had a similar problem with Aviva over a car. Porsche GT4 kept on the road 24/7 in London E1, no problem, sir. Ferrari 360, kept on the same road 24/7, no problem. Ferrari 360 kept in very safe / secured storage but on the other side of London, off the road? No way, José, was their reply. Bizarre, but there you go. It is what it is.
That being said, so much relies on bikes, of all sorts, being garaged at home. Sadly, it’s maybe a computer says no, thing. I had a similar problem with Aviva over a car. Porsche GT4 kept on the road 24/7 in London E1, no problem, sir. Ferrari 360, kept on the same road 24/7, no problem. Ferrari 360 kept in very safe / secured storage but on the other side of London, off the road? No way, José, was their reply. Bizarre, but there you go. It is what it is.
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There is very little logic to some of it.
My motorcar policy with Aviva renewed in April. In June, I called Aviva to add my friend to the policy for the week’s duration of our time away at Le Mans.
Aviva: No problem sir, £30 for the week.
Me; Sounds great, OK. Just out of interest, how much to add him through to renewal in April next year? I expected them to maybe say, £50 or even (with luck) the £30 that a week cost….
Aviva: Much tapping….. That’ll be free, sir.
Me: So that’s £30 for the week or free between June of this year and April of next year?
Aviva: Yes, sir.
Me: OK add him for the year, please.
Aviva: So you’ll not want the week then?
Me: No thank you. Can you send me the addendum now by email, please.
Aviva: OK, sir, that is your friend added for the rest of the year. On it’s way to you now.
Ping… you have email… Quick look, friend added.
Me: I’ve got it, thank you.
Aviva: Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?
Me: No thanks.
Aviva: OK, have a great day.
Me: You, too.
Job done.
Happy days.
My motorcar policy with Aviva renewed in April. In June, I called Aviva to add my friend to the policy for the week’s duration of our time away at Le Mans.
Aviva: No problem sir, £30 for the week.
Me; Sounds great, OK. Just out of interest, how much to add him through to renewal in April next year? I expected them to maybe say, £50 or even (with luck) the £30 that a week cost….
Aviva: Much tapping….. That’ll be free, sir.
Me: So that’s £30 for the week or free between June of this year and April of next year?
Aviva: Yes, sir.
Me: OK add him for the year, please.
Aviva: So you’ll not want the week then?
Me: No thank you. Can you send me the addendum now by email, please.
Aviva: OK, sir, that is your friend added for the rest of the year. On it’s way to you now.
Ping… you have email… Quick look, friend added.
Me: I’ve got it, thank you.
Aviva: Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?
Me: No thanks.
Aviva: OK, have a great day.
Me: You, too.
Job done.
Happy days.
Just had my renewal figure quote through from Bennetts. Same bike, cover , address, circs. etc................£30 cheaper than last year! Happy bunny!
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Similar here, taking into account post code, no claims etc of course
But it means that we don’t have rider policies or multi bike like in the UK so each bike is a separate policy, makes it expensive owning several bikes
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