FYI Car Insurance renewal

Premos said:

I have been with Aviva for more than 10 years as I always got close to their minimum premium. AIG is cheaper for me at €330 with 300 excess (and less with higher excess).

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I had the exact same experience with Aviva:- 10 years plus of the cheapest premium on the market and then WHAM! a 78% increase in my renewal premium two months ago. Outcome: Adios Aviva!

Same with my dad with aviva around 350 last year this year 580. He changed is car to newer model does that every 2 years. He turned 70 and is now retired. I was putting it down to retired as could be on the road more in the week etc.

Call aviva for the renewal they would not buge and read script that cause he go new car it was cause of huge jump. Anyways got quotes 123.ie and getsetgo which were cheaper. When with get set go 380 euro NCD protected and same excess. Did not take breakdown cover as cover my manufacturer as long as serviced by the dealer.

But we did get one quote which for 2k !

ClubMan said:

I got my AIG cover last year much cheaper via GetSetGo.ie than going direct to AIG.

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Tried that, thank you...

For the first time I received a quite pleasant surprise on this year's shop around.

Last year I was with AIG at €401, full comp, only driver on policy. This year I want/need to add 19yr old with 1st learner permit to my policy.
AIG quoted an absolutely punitive €2,575.

Other quotes have been in the €1,400 to €1,700 range. Those quotes were in my expected range.

However, policy secured through The AA (underwritten by Aviva) for €710, including AA membership for the year. Also includes 3rd party cover for driving other cars (for me) and step back no claims protection.

Let's just say I've paid in full already for cover commencing in mid July. Frankly, I've never heard of cover for a 1st time learner as a named driver at that price point before, and I've done a lot of asking.

Hope that might help someone in similar circumstances to me.

A tip I found useful in case it helps others. I rang AXA when my renewal landed and simply asked them to match the quote their own site gave me (which was different from the renewal). They cut the price by €70 in two minutes. Before moving, try that and check whether the excess sneaked up; mine had climbed to €600 without warning.

Antho74 said:

I rang AXA when my renewal landed and simply asked them to match the quote their own site gave me (which was different from the renewal).

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You don't need to call them. You can just sign up online as if you were a new customer in such circumstances. I've done it before with other insurers when shopping around and ending up switching from my current insurer to my current insurer.

ClubMan said:

I've done it before with other insurers when shopping around and ending up switching from my current insurer to my current insurer.

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I got my own feeling of deja vu as I read this. Did the same for my home insurance last year. Worked fine apart from confusing my mortgage provider who now think I have no home insurance and periodically write to me on the matter.

Slightly off topic but isn't this 'price walking' and wasn't this supposed to be banned but the Central Bank?

ClubMan said:

You don't need to call them. You can just sign up online as if you were a new customer in such circumstances. I've done it before with other insurers when shopping around and ending up switching from my current insurer to my current insurer.

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Thanks @ClubMan. I'll try it next time.

skrooge said:

Slightly off topic but isn't this 'price walking' and wasn't this supposed to be banned but the Central Bank?

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Only disallowed after 2+ years with the same insurer:

Now,when you renew your home or motor insurance for the second time or more, your insurer can no longer charge you more than someone who is renewing for the first time, and has a similar risk profile and cost of service to you.

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The new regulations seem like a load of rubbish to me and don't in any way obviate the need to shop around as widely as possible every year on order to get the best value for money for your own specific circumstances.