Gettin' desperate!

[Gern]

Knowing there's a wealth of knowledge on here I hope someone can help.

I've just bought a 2007 Mercedes A class to replace my 2008 E class CDI in the hope of reducing my car expenses. I've been insuring through a pay per mile broker who unfortunately can't renew my policy as they're changing their insurance carrier. As a result my insurance is going up from about £200 per year to nearly £900!

I'm trying desperately to find a new pay per mile provider and having absolutely no luck - every website (except Quotezone who say they can't offer me insurance at the moment) I've found saying they offer it only quotes for a normal policy. Does anyone know of a UK company who could help?

[colin m]

I'm not sure you can down this route if it's your only car, but what about a classic car policy ? If not, maybe they can provide you with a normal policy, but limited mileage ?

[Jim R]

I have always managed to find a policy at a reasonable price through a price comparison site by accepting an annual mileage restriction of 5000 miles.

[Guest]

Same as Jim, even though I hardly use the car these days for a decent run.

[Gern]

I've already quoted my maximum annual mileage at 3000 miles - and I suspect it is actually going to be closer to 2000.

[BattleshipBob]

Only recently found out that's it's best to look for a new Qoute a month before and that includes house insurance.

[Jack L]

I've already quoted my maximum annual mileage at 3000 miles - and I suspect it is actually going to be closer to 2000.

Have a look for a rate at a higher milage. Less time on the road doesn't always equate to a lower cost in their books. I know a few years ago it was cheaper for me to insure at 10000 than 5000

[Gern]

Same as Jim, even though I hardly use the car these days for a decent run.

That's also one of the reasons for swapping my big diesel for a small petrol motor. I only average a couple of short local journeys every week so the car doesn't have chance to replace the drain on the battery caused by the starter.

I looked at getting one of those solar powered trickle chargers but my car has UV resistant glass all round so that wouldn't work, and I can't plug it into a charger as it's parked on the road so no cables across the pavement.

I can't even remove the battery to charge it as I'd need to connect a second battery to keep the radio codes. Hence, I've been relying on a booster jump start battery for weeks now.

Maybe I should consider getting an e-bike, but I don't see how I'd get me and three other folks to the quiz night we attend every fortnight!

[Gern]

Have a look for a rate at a higher milage. Less time on the road doesn't always equate to a lower cost in their books. I know a few years ago it was cheaper for me to insure at 10000 than 5000

I wonder why that is? Surely the more miles you travel, the more chance you have of an accident?

[Jack L]

I wonder why that is? Surely the more miles you travel, the more chance you have of an accident?

I think it was to do was to do with how much driving 'practice' you do. High milage will definitely, as you say, increase the chance of accidents, but I think there is a sweet spot for 'does enough driving to be competent', rather than someone who rarely drives and gets out of practice.

[Mr Bowcat]

Jack is correct. Too low a mileage indicates more out of practice and hesitancy to underwriters. Statistically lower mileage drivers are more prone to accidents, as are high mileage drivers. The sweet spot is around 5 to 6k a year.

I've worked in the motor insurance industry for over 30 years. The factors that make the most difference are age and postcode, followed by vehicle group, driving history and no claims bonus level. Not sure if you have a spouse, and if you do if they are on your policy. Typically insured and spouse on a policy is cheaper than insured only

Also factor in that whenever you change car you lose an experience discount that is worth around 25%. It's not your experience as a driver, but your experience driving that specific vehicle. It will kick back in once you have owned the car for a year.

Also bear in mind insurance is particularly expensive at the moment and will be for the next few years. There are reasons for this.

Feel free to PM me if you would like any professional advice. :smiling3:

[Guest]

I found that keeping my son in-law on the policy kept it down.

Jack is correct. Too low a mileage indicates more out of practice and hesitancy to underwriters. Statistically lower mileage drivers are more prone to accidents, as are high mileage drivers. The sweet spot is around 5 to 6k a year.

I've worked in the motor insurance industry for over 30 years. The factors that make the most difference are age and postcode, followed by vehicle group, driving history and no claims bonus level. Not sure if you have a spouse, and if you do if they are on your policy. Typically insured and spouse on a policy is cheaper than insured only

Also factor in that whenever you change car you lose an experience discount that is worth around 25%. It's not your experience as a driver, but your experience driving that specific vehicle. It will kick back in once you have owned the car for a year.

Also bear in mind insurance is particularly expensive at the moment and will be for the next few years. There are reasons for this.

Feel free to PM me if you would like any professional advice. :smiling3:

[Waspie]

I've never heard of pay per mile insurance. You learn something every day.

Personally I get quotes every year, I have companies I trust and those I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. I don't do cheapest, I do what's good for me. IE, insure against uninsured drivers, legal and key cover etc. (Getting a key replaced these days aint cheap!!)

[Ian M]

I got shot of my expensive to run Petrol car and got a Diesel while I still could. My insurance was also cheaper. Admittedly the diesel car was only two years old against the almost 20 year old petrol one. I will not complain any more about insurance. I pay about £240 a year and am at the top limit for Km per year....

Dave, have you considered a small electric car?
As for the quiz night, the other option is for one of the others to have a car of splice for a taxi. (then you can all have a pint or three. Bonus).

[Mr Bowcat]

I've never heard of pay per mile insurance. You learn something every day.

Personally I get quotes every year, I have companies I trust and those I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. I don't do cheapest, I do what's good for me. IE, insure against uninsured drivers, legal and key cover etc. (Getting a key replaced these days aint cheap!!)

Normally referred to as "Black Box" policies. The insurer sends you a unit that plugs into the OBD port of the car and sends them back telematics data, including mileage. Used to be very popular for young drivers, not sure if that's still the case.

I agree with not going for the cheapest, but also worth checking if the company is an onshore or offshore insurer via the FCA Register. A lot of the cheaper online insurers tend to be offshore (based in places like Gibraltar, Cayman Islands, etc).

The reason for checking is that with an offshore insurer you are not protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. All insurers, brokers, intermediaries and MGA's pay in to the FSCS which protects consumers if the insurer goes bust. Offshore insurers do not pay into this scheme, and their policyholders are not protected in case the insurer fails.