Jza

Had my renewal from Greenlight today: £900 - which is bang on last years rate.

Am i mad or doesnt the fact that im now an old git of 35 mean im in a "safer" insurance bracket.

I was expecting the premium to go down a fair whack???

Am i mad?

Jza

dietbruboy

35 will make little or no difference.

The main 'ages' that make a big difference to insurance are obviously between 17 and 25. For example, some insurers will only insure 17 year olds on cars groups 1-5 and even then you could be talking over a grand, maybe two. Earning NCD will make a slight difference at this age, but not much. No one wants drivers this age, as statistically they are the most likely to have serious accidents which result in six figure payouts. You only have to look in your local paper to once a month to read about Fiestas/Novas & Saxos getting stoved into trees on country back roads - one or two killed and the lucky ones wheelchair bound...

Wince inducing claim payments swiftly follow - and no insurers want that.

Until you reach 25 most companies will therefore consider you a 'young driver' and the rates they charge are punishingly expensive. Doesn't matter if you're driving a £10k Focus or a £200 Escort; for any cover at all it'll cost an arm and a leg - especially whilst you are under 21. Then it slowly gets a little less horrendous until your 25. We're talking in general - but there are probably a couple of hundred private car insurers in the UK so there will be variations.

Some will also apply specific terms on high group vehicles (for which young drivers won't stand a chance in hell of getting insured on - for good reason). For example, for performance, sports and luxury cars the insurance might be restricted to 'named and approved drivers over 30 years old'. I think in the past it was common to find restrictions asking for 35 years old - but not nowadays.

If we are putting terms on a £25k Scooby it's usually 'named drivers over 25' or on a £100k Bentley it might be 'named drivers over 30' (usually the insured and spouse - that's pretty common). It really depends on the case - past claims history, location - how much the customer is worth - if they have loads of policies with one insurer then the normal rules 'might' not apply).

After that the next big milestone is 50 - when you become a 'mature' or 'senior' driver. Prices for insurance should go down again at that age (cause you are meant to be more sedate and sensible!) - until you become 72 or 73 years old - when you'll likely find that most insurers won't want to know you for quotes (and you'll probably have to try Age Concern or Saga's insurance schemes for an alternative quote!).

Oh and you could be having to resit your test again every three years by then anyway.

DBB (insurance underwriter - sigh!)

JamesPRJones

Jza, you are lucky. Most people's insurance has gone up >10% this year, especially renewals.

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

Fairly happy with my renewal yesterday quoted £553 with mods declared L&V wanted £900 but no mods, privilage quoted £493 but needed tracker fitted. All on an import wrx and with an old git behind the wheel (40) and with all the right ticks in the right boxes