car insurance

latecarstarter

as this was an old tread have things changed.

im 35 years old,
first time to look for car insurance never drove before.
learner permit only
1.5 litre nissan almera

any help please!!!!!!:)

Alanstrainor

Welcome, I moved your post to a new thread. It's generally better to start a new one rather than drag up an old one with out of date info.

The best way to find out how much it's going to cost you is to get the phonebook out and ring around. I spent 2 days doing this for my 19 year old brother on a first Learner Permit, with no experience, who got insurance on an 07 Micra in his own name for 1300. You should be able to do better than that.

I used Britton insurance brokers for that quote, but you wont know you've found the best deal until you ring everyone. And you really need to ring, online quotes are rubbish.

Mister Jingles

Was that quote with a full licence Alan ?

Alanstrainor

Mister Jingles wrote: »

Was that quote with a full licence Alan ?

Post edited. Nope, he was on a first learner permit, had never sat in a car before it!

ProudDUB

Where your car is parked at night (driveway, locked garage, private street, controlled access apt complex car park etc etc) as well as the actual address itself will factor into your rate too.

Your age works in your favour, as you are not in the boy racer demographic.

Your lack of driving experience will count against you, but try adding on a couple of family members to your policy, who are roughly the same age as you, who have clean driving records and who have had a full license for at least 10 years. Your overall rate may drop. Mine did, by nearly 100 quid when I added my brother and cousin to the policy.

I just moved back here from the US and recently bought a car. I am driving it and insuring it on my US drivers license. Even though I am a fully qualified driver from another country, I am in the same high risk category as you as I have zero driving experience in Ireland. The insurance companies rationale for the discount was that the more people potentially behind the wheel of the car, who aren't me, the risk of the car being in an accident is lessened. Seemed crazy to me, but there you are.

Mister Jingles

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Post edited. Nope, he was on a first learner permit, had never sat in a car before it!

That's decent. The cheapest I got was 1500 and something on a 01 1.25 Fiesta, 19 learner permit while doing my search .

OP as already said your age goes in your favor compared to someone my age.

kilianmanning

Brittons in Donegal seem to insure all high risk drivers through lloyd's. Quotedevil also insure through this company, & they are by far the cheapest for young drivers. I'd say you'd get insurance with them for around 500 -600.

marcus2000

shop around. every broker will have a different price. some will have good deals particular to different types of drivers. google car insurance and get a price with all of the results...shouldnt take long!!!

alternatively, you will get a quote with xsdirect for about 700 with their big excess, or 1100 with a 1k excess (rough guess). (they specialise in drivers with no bonus)

howsdcraic

This a copy of a letter I have sent to the insurance companies...anyone who has a comment or guidance in this situation would be much appreciated. Or equally if you would just like to gripe about insurance companies please join in!!

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have been highly disappointed with the level of service I have received from your company in recent days. I am trying to get a quote for a motor insurance policy and I am extremely unhappy with the service being provided. I also believe that there are a couple of flaws within the insurance quotation system that is being used.

Let me explain my situation.
I began driving prior to my 21st birthday in October 2006 on a provisional licence. I paid €2,000 for my first policy on a 1.3 litre petrol starlet.

I obtained my Full Irish license on the 22 October 2007.
I then insured a 1.3 turbo starlet (imported car 133bhp) with your company for €1,300.

Then I insured a 1.6 litre (180bhp) Toyota levin (imported car) with your for €1,000

Following this I had a diesel van insured with you for a few months.
In November 2009, due to economic circumstances I left the country for 14 months.

On my return, I could not afford my own car and was insured on my sister's policy - January 2011 to present.

I am also, and have been a Quinn Healthcare customer when the company was one, for a number of years.

It is safe to say I have been a loyal customer and never had a complaint with the service received until recently.

My quote for car insurance has been hindered by the fact that I haven't had insurance in my own name in more than two years. Your customer service agents cannot explain the reason for this only that it is 'policy'. Could you please explain the logic behind this policy? I have since heard that people postpone or suspend their policy, but this was not pointed out to me.

I was also told that no insurance company in Europe will take on the gap of more than two years. However, I walked into an AXA branch and they are willing to take on an AXA to AXA policy for a gap of up to three years. Can I ask why Liberty will not do this as I have been a loyal customer that has never claimed from you in the past?

Due to this fact I cannot receive a no claims bonus (due to a gap in insurance). But your system seems to forget that I have 4 years driving experience, aside from the no claims that has been discounted. Why is this?

Furthermore, the car I am trying to insure is a 1.9 litre diesel engined Volkswagen passat - 100 bhp. Now, the level of risk I am assuming is calculated by a computer as 'the bigger the engine size, the bigger the loading'. Whereas as you can see from my previous car insurance history, doesnt reflect the true risk value of the car. Your system has quoted me more now as a 26 year old male on a 100bhp car than it has previously on a smaller engine (see Toyota Starlet Turbo - 133bhp) but a more powerful car? Can this be explained to me please?

I understand that the computer program is coded to generate a quotation based on loadings and discounts, which have been pre-inputted into the system. But a computer cannot tell that a 100bhp 1.9 litre diesel powered car is less of a risk than a 133bhp 1.3 litre petrol powered car. Both you and I can tell that. Unless there is another reason why these cars are different. Could you please explain this to me?

Usually I don't feel the need to write in or complain when dealing with service, but in this case (and the current economic climate) I feel that I am being quoted too much considering I am now outside the 'High-Risk' category of up to 25 year old males.Furthermore, it feels like all the effort of previous driving experience counts for nothing and I am back to square one at twenty-six years of age, having spent alot of money with your company over the years (which took a lot of effort to save up) The answers that have been provided to me thus far have not been satisfying to me, so I feel compelled to write this email.

Please forward to whom it may concern and perhaps we can set up a phone call or meeting so that both parties can be satisfied. I do not wish to receive an email response as I believe that this will further my frustration. Thanks for taking the time read this letter.


Yours sincerely,

RANT OVER!

Alanstrainor

I wouldn't expect any response to that. Or at least, don't expect it to go anywhere.

Engine power/engine size is not the be all and end all when it comes to insuring cars. Liberties quoting system will quote me on a 740i BMW for a little over 1000, but will not quote me on a 325.

Car insurance is based on risk. Certain cars are riskier than others purely based on current fads and trends, which results in more claims. The likes of honda integras are not particularly powerful, but good luck getting insurance in one.
Liberty is under no obligation to give you insurance. Shop around is what I would say, and leave the rants for the pub:)