Minor differences in insurance

thegreatiam

coming u for renewal and im looking at a lot of insurance quotes and wondering to what extent can you be liberal with the truth

Not out right lie as that would be fraud, but the questions which are a little grey.

For example, I have a tricky job title, which could fall under 3 different categories.
I just input them all into 3 otherwise identical quotes to see the differences and found a €10 price change from one job title to another.
Now, this is my job, it is on my contract so i'm obviously going to choose the lower of the 2 and not be in a fraudulent position, its not my problem their drop down menu doesn't take into account how people in the real world live.

But it did make me wonder where else I can save pennies.

Of course these are minor differences but its money in my pocket and not theirs.

For example. if I estimate I drive 9000 KM per year, and their form gives a choice of 8k or 10k I should be listing the lower option.

Can anyone else highlight certain exploits to shave savings?

Nino Brown

I always say the vehicle is NORMALLY garaged overnight, if anything ever happens, it was just one of the 3 nights a week I didn't keep it in a garage.

djimi

Just be very careful is all I will say. Things like job title doesnt matter a whole lot provided you are reasonably accurate about it, and for mileage there is obviously some leeway (just dont say you do 10k a year if in fact you do 50k).

But generally speaking the golden rule is be as honest as you possibly can be, because any issues with the information that you provide may be seen as a way out of paying out, and thats the last thing that you want to give the insurer.

thegreatiam

Nino Brown wrote: »

I always say the vehicle is NORMALLY garaged overnight, if anything ever happens, it was just one of the 3 nights a week I didn't keep it in a garage.

but do you have a garage and just don't use it?

My last house was a secure yard with cameras and large wall. my current house is off street but with a wall. When I changed address maybe I mentioned the wall to the agent, maybe I let him believe it was a similar wall. He said is it a tall wall, I said it was quite tall. It's all relative.

Nino Brown

djimi wrote: »

Just be very careful is all I will say. Things like job title doesnt matter a whole lot provided you are reasonably accurate about it, and for mileage there is obviously some leeway (just dont say you do 10k a year if in fact you do 50k).

But generally speaking the golden rule is be as honest as you possibly can be, because any issues with the information that you provide may be seen as a way out of paying out, and thats the last thing that you want to give the insurer.

I totally agree I usually answer that honestly because my mileage is reasonable anyway, but how can they prove how much you're driving? They don't know the mileage on the car, they also don't know who else is driving it, so basically you can say whatever number you like and it's totally unprovable that your lying

thegreatiam

djimi wrote: »

Just be very careful is all I will say. Things like job title doesnt matter a whole lot provided you are reasonably accurate about it, and for mileage there is obviously some leeway (just dont say you do 10k a year if in fact you do 50k).

But generally speaking the golden rule is be as honest as you possibly can be, because any issues with the information that you provide may be seen as a way out of paying out, and thats the last thing that you want to give the insurer.

Yeah, im trying to find things which can be seen as vague/grey area.

I guess 9000km a year, so i can put 8 or 10k on the quote, both are equal estimates, one favors me. Unless the form says up to then of course I write 10.

Even so, its only ever going to be pennies saved.

I was surprised to see €10 difference in my job title. I had been using the cheaper on as it is listed first. so nothing is changing.

Tiddlypeeps

Nino Brown wrote: »

I totally agree I usually answer that honestly because my mileage is reasonable anyway, but how can they prove how much you're driving? They don't know the mileage on the car, they also don't know who else is driving it, so basically you can say whatever number you like and it's totally unprovable that your lying

I'm pretty sure in most cases it's unprovable but does milage actually make that much of a different when you are applying tho? Or do they just ask that type of thing as an information gathering exercise?

Nino Brown

thegreatiam wrote: »

but do you have a garage and just don't use it?

My last house was a secure yard with cameras and large wall. my current house is off street but with a wall. When I changed address maybe I mentioned the wall to the agent, maybe I let him believe it was a similar wall. He said is it a tall wall, I said it was quite tall. It's all relative.

No, but I put my parents address on the policy, they do have a garage. But I could be referring to any garage, I work night shifts so a few nights a week the car is garaged over night in work too. Some of the questions are totally relative like you said

Chimaera

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

I'm pretty sure in most cases it's unprovable but does milage actually make that much of a different when you are applying tho? Or do they just ask that type of thing as an information gathering exercise?

The more distance you cover on the road, the greater your chance of being involved in a collision. So the risk is higher and they will charge accordingly.

Mileage can be estimated from NCT data - every time you go in the odometer reading is recorded. It's possible to extrapolate approximately from that if needs be.

thegreatiam

Nino Brown wrote: »

No, but I put my parents address on the policy, they do have a garage. But I could be referring to any garage, I work night shifts so a few nights a week the car is garaged over night in work too. Some of the questions are totally relative like you said

That actually a good one, working nights and parking in the company car park is technically storing it in a garage overnight.

Even tho it is not what they are asking it does follow the exact letter of the question.

djimi

Nino Brown wrote: »

No, but I put my parents address on the policy, they do have a garage. But I could be referring to any garage, I work night shifts so a few nights a week the car is garaged over night in work too. Some of the questions are totally relative like you said

Need to be careful with this. One of the questions/assumptions (cant remember which) is that the car is normally (ie 4 nights a week I think) parked at the address given. If the car gets nicked from outside your house and they do some digging and realise that you dont live with your parents then it could cause an issue.

Likewise, Im not sure that a work underground carpark is what they mean by garaged at night!

djimi

thegreatiam wrote: »

I guess 9000km a year, so i can put 8 or 10k on the quote, both are equal estimates, one favors me. Unless the form says up to then of course I write 10.

Little fluctuations like that wont make any difference either way. Theyre not expecting you to be bang on accurate; just that you dont put down 10k a year when in fact you drive 100 miles a day!

Nino Brown

djimi wrote: »

If the car gets nicked from outside your house and they do some digging and realise that you dont live with your parents then it could cause an issue.

That would take a whole lot of digging, it's very hard if not impossible to prove, I get all my tax/bank documents etc sent there, so I've plenty of proof that I do live there, and there's nothing they have access to that links me to my current address.
BTW I'm not doing all this to avoid an extra few quid on my insurance, its just easier than changing all my addresses whenever I move apt.

djimi wrote: »

Likewise, Im not sure that a work underground carpark is what they mean by garaged at night!

I'm sure it's not what they mean, but I operate to the letter of the law, not the spirit of it