discussion New toy

[colin m]

disklock for the steering wheel.

A splendid choice of motor. I've had my ST nearly 10 years now, I can't think what I'll replace it with. I'm signed up to an ST forum and many go for a disklock. I'm afraid the CAT 1 isn't up to much these days and some insurance companies are demanding more security. A lot of the youngsters have seen their insurance policies nearly double this year. Me, being a bit more 'senior' in my years, suffered an £18.00 increase.
All this sounds like poor old Ford are revisiting the 90's and their Cosworth days as far as insurance goes.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Colin, I work in the insurance industry so am all too aware of the increases, it's a conversation I have multiple times a day. Oh, and I'm also on the FiestaSTOC forum.

 

[colin m]

Colin, I work in the insurance industry so am all too aware of the increases

Now that's interesting. So why have prices gone up so much more than inflation ? Mine's a Focus, which takes second place to the Fez for the 'robability' factor. I made a word up there.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

I actually wrote a blog post about this last year:

"Over the last few years there has been a large fluctuation in insurance costs for motor vehicles. During 2020 and 2021 there was a significant drop in premiums, attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. With more people working from home or isolating there were less vehicles on the road. Drivers reported reducing their annual mileage by 40% during 2020 and Police forces reported a 26% drop in the number of road accidents attended during the same period.

By January 2022 all lockdowns had been lifted and life (and driving habits) returned to normal. This coincided with the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) new rules to stop the habit of some insurers hiking up renewal prices for loyal customers.

Also by then insurers were heavily paying claims made by businesses that were unable to open during the earlier lockdowns and who had claimed for loss of earnings and business interruptions. Although this didn't directly effect motor insurance, the same companies that insure vehicles generally also insure businesses. The money lost from these claims had to be made up by increasing the costs of all policy types across the board.

By February 2022 the Russian/Ukrainian war had started, leading to Worldwide financial instability and shortages of resources. This directly effected repairers ability to obtain parts for repairs (leading to delayed repairs & increased courtesy/hire car costs) as well as a hike in the price of parts. By October 2022 insurers were reporting an average 50% increase in the costs of claims.

Additionally, the cost of second hand cars has increased dramatically due to the unavailability of new cars (largely due to the semiconductor chip shortage that has been going on since near the beginning of the pandemic), so where a vehicle is written off insurers are paying out more than usual to policyholders as the Market Value of second hand vehicles has also increased.

As a result of this it is expected that Motor Insurance premiums will continue to rise over the next few years."

So long story short, massive increases in claim costs/payouts has forced the industry to increase premiums by an average of 30%. This has also led to many insurers pulling out of the market (for example Zurich are not providing car insurance after the end of this month) leading to a reduced pool of insurers willing to quote.

 

[colin m]

I actually wrote a blog post about this last year

I missed that, but thank you for taking time to explain. It seems (unfortunately) like a 'perfect' storm scenario, so many factors coming together at once.

 

[JayCee]

I am pleased to say that here in Cyprus car theft is relatively unknown. This is just as well, as the local 20 something young ladies have a habit of parking as close to their favourite shop as possible and going inside for a shop and a gossip whilst their car is outside with the doors wide open and the engine running ( we're talking top of the range Beemers and Mercs ). Oh the difference in cultures!
John.

 

[De.Mort]

I actually wrote a blog post about this last year:

"Over the last few years there has been a large fluctuation in insurance costs for motor vehicles. During 2020 and 2021 there was a significant drop in premiums, attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. With more people working from home or isolating there were less vehicles on the road. Drivers reported reducing their annual mileage by 40% during 2020 and Police forces reported a 26% drop in the number of road accidents attended during the same period.

By January 2022 all lockdowns had been lifted and life (and driving habits) returned to normal. This coincided with the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) new rules to stop the habit of some insurers hiking up renewal prices for loyal customers.

Also by then insurers were heavily paying claims made by businesses that were unable to open during the earlier lockdowns and who had claimed for loss of earnings and business interruptions. Although this didn't directly effect motor insurance, the same companies that insure vehicles generally also insure businesses. The money lost from these claims had to be made up by increasing the costs of all policy types across the board.

By February 2022 the Russian/Ukrainian war had started, leading to Worldwide financial instability and shortages of resources. This directly effected repairers ability to obtain parts for repairs (leading to delayed repairs & increased courtesy/hire car costs) as well as a hike in the price of parts. By October 2022 insurers were reporting an average 50% increase in the costs of claims.

Additionally, the cost of second hand cars has increased dramatically due to the unavailability of new cars (largely due to the semiconductor chip shortage that has been going on since near the beginning of the pandemic), so where a vehicle is written off insurers are paying out more than usual to policyholders as the Market Value of second hand vehicles has also increased.

As a result of this it is expected that Motor Insurance premiums will continue to rise over the next few years."

So long story short, massive increases in claim costs/payouts has forced the industry to increase premiums by an average of 30%. This has also led to many insurers pulling out of the market (for example Zurich are not providing car insurance after the end of this month) leading to a reduced pool of insurers willing to quote.

In short .. insurance companies have to make a profit , as do we all .... a loss in one area means an increase in another ? I can't argue with that although not that fair perhaps as its separate insurance risks on different sectors .

It is what it is though .. i can say .. motor vehicle parts have gone through the roof in the last 12 months .. ie a cable mechanism on a car we replaced in 2020 at £450 is now costing £1800 for the parts .. .. that to me is not extra costs alone but profiteering .. but i only work on one model of car .. I can say though that its every item that is massively increasing in costs hence .. accident damage repair costs have gone through the roof .. as such .. insurance companies have no option but to increase premiums .

Semiconductors ..yes .. but tyres where also an issue with a lack of supply .. along with wiring looms for my particular manufacturer .. The war has caused this for my marquise due to their manufacturing bases being in Ukraine .

My take anyways but be aware .. i'm just a mechanic so no shouting lol .

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Don't do cars personally.. never interested me at all... I just see them as purely a device for getting from A to B...
... a complete waste of effort if you ask me.. yes,I can appreciate the occasional "classic" one from years back,but,these days,the types I see running around are featureless,soul less,bland,un inspiring pieces of junk!! :flushed:.. and then we can move on to the débâcle that is electric cars:astonished:
... good job I'm a motorbike bloke eh?!!:thumb2:
I currently run a VW Caddy for work purposes,after many years of a T5,Vans are quite cool,but cars .... NO!!

 

[Waspie]

I may be the odd one out here. My insurance company 'dropped' my premium when I last renewed. (November 22). Locked in for three years so no increases on the near horizon.

My lad used to work in a brokers told us a funny tale one day a many years ago.
Young lad just passed test, (age 17), came into my boys brokers with proud dad who had bought him a second hand Porsche as a way of congratulations.
My boy phoned round all the usual insurance companies - no one would touch the 17 YO.
Never fear says my lad, I'll phone Porsche direct, never known them to turn down anyone driving their motors!!
Insure the lad they would. Son relayed the quote to the still proud dad. (I forget the actual figure but it was astronomical!! thousands!!)
Dad picked himself off floor. Right he says, I'll have the Porsche - you, (17YO), can have a Fiesta!!!!
Obviously the 17YO's insurance with Porsche was never taken up. Chatting to the Porsche chap later - he told my son the figure was just grabbed out of the air as no way did they wish to insure the boy BUT!!!! If daddy had been willing to part with the money then they would have.

Obviously daddy didn't do his homework OR he deliberately bought it for himself knowing the result.