somewhat OT - car windscreens

Of course. However, companies which creep the renewals up year by year will end up pricing themselves out of the new customer market if they stick to that.

So the end of "new customer" discounts?

Every customer is different so the insurance companies/agencies/brokers will still be able to charge different amounts and maybe justify a hike in the second or subsequent years because you are a year older :(

I'll bet that the choice will become more complicated with more optional extras that are currently included in the policy as standard. Say, in the context of this thread, glass cover being an optional extra.

The large number of people on the more expensive standard tariffs for energy suggest that maybe the same number of people don't bother shopping around for car and house insurance. With companies operating under a variety of brand names they will rotate which brand offers the lower cost for a year or two. They can then hike prices for new and existing customers and still retain those who show brand loyalty. A change in the combination car/job/age/accident claim/health will mean the policy charge can be changed. The companies will only have to have parity with with someone else with the same combination of car/job/age/accident claim/health.

Theo <theom+ snipped-for-privacy@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote in news:T5h* snipped-for-privacy@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk:

One for info is that you will often get a cheaper quote if you give the vehic reg no instead of entering vehic model details.

My approach is to prepare initial selection quotes as you have done and then enter reg no to get best quote. Obvs clearing cookies and other IDs before hand, poss inc IP address.

Also beware insurers with delayed disclosures of 'vehicle limit' quotations where you only find that your vehicle may be underinsured in the post purchase schedule, often ignored.