Buildings & Contents Insurance

[pinnerite]

I have just received a renewal notice from direct Line. It shows a premium of 13.66% Is this justifiable?

[The Other John]

My renewal from AA is 40% up on last year - they excuse it by saying I had a new customer discount last year, so I think I'm going to be a new customer elsewhere this year!

[GB]

Best thing is to go on a price comparison website.

[Tricky Dicky]

I thought all that new customer nonsense was legislated against. Did you tell the AA that you were going to change with most insurers you usually get put through to a sales team dedicated to keeping customers and will usually offer a better deal. If they could offer you a premium last year they should be able to offer the same this year barring any claims, you can bet it was not a loss leader last year.

Richard

[Robin]

New customer discounts/loyalty penalties were only banned for policies from 1/1/2022.

[Scott]

I had an unexpected change of insurers after an argument with the brokers (over a purported age restriction for injury claims that I could not accept). I changed insurers and it turned out to be cheaper.

[Andy Burns]

If the new policy start date is different from the old policy end date, then it doesn't count as a renewal, so they can offer "new" customer discount.

[The Other John]

I haven't spoken to AA yet, but out of curiosity I got a quote from AgeUK and they want £399 against AA's £249.

[Scott]

If it's car insurance and there is any period the vehicle is uninsured you would need to make a statutory off-road notification to DVLA.

[Andy Burns]

it can be off-road, and have no insurance, without being sorned

[Andrew]

What about the companies that don't appear on 'price comparison' sites ?

[Chris B]

Not sure that's correct. from

You must make a SORN in any of the following situations:

your vehicle is not taxed your vehicle is not insured (even for a short time, for example because there?s a delay renewing your policy) you want to break a vehicle down for parts before you scrap it you buy or receive a vehicle and want to keep it off the road (you cannot transfer a SORN from the previous keeper)

Doesn't say anything about off road and uninsured. You certainly cant have it on the road and uninsured.

[GB]

Indeed. Contact them all individually. Or, don't bother. The OP just wants to check that the premium quoted is okay. He may not care about the last penny.

[Andy Burns]

I can't see where the RTA88 has been amended, it says

"a person must not use a motor vehicle on a road or other public place unless there is in force in relation to the use of the vehicle by that person such a policy of insurance as complies with the requirements of this Part of this Act"

I agree with that, which would count as "using" it

[Andy Burns]

Also can't see any reference to insurance in the SORN legislation (or the one amendment to it)

[The Other John]

Update: I've signed up with Aviva for £172 for the same cover.

[Scott]

Take a look at s22 of the Road Safety Act 2006

Sub-sections 5 and 7 in particular.

[Andy Burns]

The Continuous Insurance Enforcement is not referred to in legislation anywhere, merely as a "scheme" run jointly between DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau and issuing "advisory letters"

I think it does relate to this

Which was added in 2006, five years before the CIE was introduced.

So yes, Scott is right.

[Robin]

The FCA require them to offer a renewing customer the same price as a new customer with the same relevant criteria on the same date. I'm unclear how that leaves room for a '"new" customer discount'.

[Andy Burns]

nevertheless, I got a lower quote via a comparison site, for my same insurer (whose own renewal price was already lower than last year), for the same policy (actually with a towbar modification added) and when I phoned them they said they could match the "new" quote, and did so.