Shopping Around Or Moving On With Your Car Insurance?

Keeping their present customers rather than attracting new ones is the modern method of car insurance providers according to industry experts. However, staying with the same company may find it will not benefit them in the future if they do want to change provider.

Jon Sellers, of More Than insurers, said: “Retention is the new battleground for insurers. The growth in online comparison sites means that more people shop around. But it is cheaper for insurers to retain customers than attract new ones.”

No claims bonus is an important feature of car insurance and helps to reduce the costs of the premium. Some insurers, including Direct Line, offer a protection of no claims so that if an accident occurs customers do not lose this feature when they renew their insurance.

The drawback is if the customer wants to move insurer to make a saving their new provider may not recognize the no claims protection. They may give a quote which reflects the fact that an accident happened.

Richard Mason, of Moneysupermarket.com, said: “Quotes offered will be up to 20% more expensive, thereby reducing the incentive to move.”

Additionally any named drivers on someone’s policy may find that even though they have built up a no claims history with their present insurer this is not carried over to another provider.

Some insurers offer discounts when the customer buys several policies with them for other vehicles. This may not always provide the most savings because a 10% discount could be offered with further vehicles but switching provider may give up to a 40% discount.

Jennifer Rose, of Confused.com, said: “The savings are worth the extra hassle of dealing with two companies.”

There are also warnings in the ease of using direct debits to pay for premiums and how this can prevent customers from looking at other offers.

Hayley Parsons, of GoCompare.com, said: “Most companies assume that you will continue after a year, and renewal letters include lines such as: ‘You do not have to take any further action’. Unless you keep a close eye on your calendar you can easily be locked into another contract.”

Figures from the AA reveal that in 2006 the average car insurance was £594 but those who shopped made a 33% saving and reduced their premiums to £400.

Those who are reinsuring their car with Third Party Fire and Theft cover were found to make savings of £225 per year if they decided to switch insurer.

Ms Rose agrees that changing insurer is best.

“Your insurer may offer free months, discounted or protected claims, but even that does not mean that it will be the cheapest. People who switch save the most,” she said.

Those drivers who are entering their second year with an insurer and have not had any claims should find they offered a reduction in their premiums. This is not always the case.

“If the driver sticks with the same insurer, the likelihood is that the premiums won’t drop,” said Ms Rose, “or will do so only marginally, but enough to fool the customer into thinking the saving is good.”