The Motor Forum

ALF · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject: Insurance/points

Frig! I was under the impression the first 3 or 6 points made no difference to your policy. Adding 3 points SP30 to my quote for insurance next year (it's a about to expire) has changed my quote from £400 to £500! Quite a % increase! How have others fared?

Humphrey The Pug · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject:

I thought the same as you, an SP30 didn't change your premium one iota as everyone has three points for speeding.

How wrong was I, our £350 per year premium went up by about £50 when Tina got done for speeding earlier on in the year.
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Blarno · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject:

Clean licence!

(So far...)
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BeN · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject:

I shudder to think how much my 12 points will incur in insurance...
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Racing · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject:

I think the insurance companies just use any excuse possible to whack up your premium.

I shall forever remain of the considered opinion that car insurance is a government-sanctioned licence to print money.
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Mark · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject:

Thinking that 3-6 points won’t matter to an insurance company is about as wise as thinking that your No Claims Bonus (if you pay extra) is protected – the computer/underwriter still sees a bump/claim and adjusts/raises the price accordingly.

Roadsterstu · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

Boxer6 · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

canadian bacon · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:31 am Post subject:

zero points, and just don't get me started on insurance....
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garry · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:40 am Post subject:

Mine seems to go up even though I have no points or claims.

I'm paying circa £800 per year for the mercedes.

PG · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:02 am Post subject:

To give NFU Mututal some credit, our premiums (max NCB and protected)did not go up when Mrs PG had her mis-hap in the Audi. But I have noticed that insurance in general has gone up masses in the past few years.

The next politician that tells me that CPI is only 1% will get laughed at and then beaten to a pulp.

Blarno · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:02 am Post subject:

Gurney · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:19 am Post subject:

When I had 3 points after an attempt on the land speed record in a Punto GT my Insurance certainly went up and that was back in 99.

Clean license at the mo but only a matter of time.

I REALLY get angry over the 'taking into account over 5 years' rule. Whilst I have been honest about declaring the GTA as an import which has cost me £4-500 extra I would happily fail to declare 3 points after 3 years.

I know the insurance bandits are supposed to have links to DVLA and each other but in practice I have never found this to be the case.
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TimR · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:23 am Post subject:

Gurney · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:38 am Post subject:

I am wondering about 'testing' whether they know the GTA is an import.

Always feel like saying:-

'Is it an import?'

'Yes, it was built in Italy you mouthbreather'

Don't think it would reduce my premium though! I simply cannot understand why a car with UK spec (ok swop xenons for cruise and it's identical) should cost more to insure because it's been sat in a Malaysian warehouse for 3 years.

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BeN · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:41 am Post subject:

Mark · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

DradusContact · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:00 am Post subject:

One of things they look at with the price though is how expensive it is to get replacement parts, usually one of the reason foreign cars are that little bit more expensive to insure.
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Mark · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:05 am Post subject:

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:16 am Post subject:

I had three points about 13 years ago, and my premium wasn't affected. Clearly things have changed.

Garry/blarno, I always use an increased premium as a reason to do a little shopping around, and mine generally only ever increases when I change my car. The Beast costs me a little over £400 fully comp etc etc, so I'm eyeing Garry's £800. I'd guess that the Merc is a little lower down the insurance scale, so maybe it's that high because you do a lot of miles?
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Gurney · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:19 am Post subject:

Yep other than I have xenons instead of cruise it's no different to a UK GTA.

BeN makes a fair point about what a car may have been up to whilst abroad but mine had zero miles, it annoyed nobody as it was stored in a warehouse.

It is, after 16,500 miles and 18 months mildly broke at the moment btw, shock horror.
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A Gentleman: Def: A male of the species who can play the Trombone.

But refrains from doing so.

scamper · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:30 am Post subject:

My 3 points came off my licence, so it will be interesting to see any reduction come renual time. I work with the insurance world and things have been tough in certain areas for several years. They evidently try and make more money from the poor old motorist!?

Mark · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:35 am Post subject:

Car insurance does appear to be on the increase - but I've just managed to knock around £210 off my annual buildings and contents insurance. The level of cover has been carefully checked and it is like for like.

Gurney · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:47 am Post subject:

For some obscure reason my house and contents insurance is only £150 with Egg.

Numerous attempts to beat it have ended in failure, plenty who gaurantee to beat it openly admit they won't get anywhere near it come renewal.

I have decided to just shut up and instantly pay every renewal, just in case it's a boob. Been that for 5 years now give or take a tenner.
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A Gentleman: Def: A male of the species who can play the Trombone.

But refrains from doing so.

Jasper · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:47 am Post subject:

Boxer6 · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:50 am Post subject:

Gurney · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:18 am Post subject:

The GTA has an airbag warning light. It appears to be the passenger screen pillar bag that's at fault.

Cost of a bag + fitting is £600. ARUK cannot trace my car on it's warranty ZX81 computer, despite the fact I have a printout showing it to be on!

A chap on AlfaOwner had a similar fault, cured by cleaning a dodgy terminal (they all live under the rear parcel shelf).

Oddly since investigation the light has gone out so maybe it is simply a connection - it is an Alfa after all.

So far cost me nowt, Bauer Millett have been excellent.
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A Gentleman: Def: A male of the species who can play the Trombone.

But refrains from doing so.

Jasper · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:18 am Post subject:

Yes it is.

It's not a great job TBH as it was cheap. Plus, it now has rather fetching GTi headlamps, which have black backings instead of the chrome originals.
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Racing · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:26 am Post subject:

Gurney · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:52 am Post subject:

I have even had a very concerned phone call from Alfa UK about it (before I knew they had lost the car on their warranty PC).

Seems they take Airbag failure very seriously. Still, it's off (the fail light) at the moment so not particularly worried.

Besides the 156 might have 8 airbags but it's rigidity is such that being inside a bouncy castle won't have much effect if it's reduced to the size of a Fisher Price pedal car.
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A Gentleman: Def: A male of the species who can play the Trombone.

But refrains from doing so.

Gurney · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject:

Just had a phone call from Bauer Millett, the GTA has been located on Alfa's warranty database.

New pillar airbag winging it's way to BM to fit asap.

Excellent service from the chaps at Bauer Millett, seems I have struck lucky with a new Alfa dealer that understands the concept of good service.
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A Gentleman: Def: A male of the species who can play the Trombone.

But refrains from doing so.

ALF · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:02 am Post subject:

scamper · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:02 pm Post subject:

how come protected NCB can not actually be protected? Having only just become a private motorist with a massive 1 yr NCB I get the impression insurance companies use the NCB as a `reward' not to increase your premium, rather than give you an actual reduction

Bryan M · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject:

Racing - it can't be a year since you got the 135i can it?

scamper · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:29 pm Post subject:

He probebly has a multi car policy for his Fleet so the renewal for all is the same date?

TimR · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:40 pm Post subject:

End of March wasn't it?

DaveGibson · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject:

Matt · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject:

I'm not going to get too excited about the insurance for the Astra, as I've not owned a car for longer than March to December yet!

Given the bespoke nature of its bodywork, the insurers missed a trick granting it group 9 status.
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TimR · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject: