[kaishang]

I called up my insurer to add my wife's sister onto the policy. Well it wasn't the insurer, the insurer is Allianz but I got the policy through an online broker.

I am on the policy, clean licence.
Wife is on policy, two speeding fines

Sister-in-law, clean licence. ie the S.I.L. who I want to add has a better driving history than my wife who is already on the policy.

Insurance company wants £190 extra to add the sister-in-law, despite her clean driving record.

=========================

I'm planning on terminating the policy with these idiots and just getting a new policy off someone else. However I will be eating a £100 cancellation fee. I also plan to go through the insurers complaints procedure and the ombudsman to try and reclaim the £100 but none of this is going to happen in the timescale that I'll be getting a new insurance policy.

I'll argue that the cancellation fee is unfair because they are giving me the choice between cancelling the policy or paying an excessive charge to add a driver who does not increase their risk.

Anyone else have any other suggestions?

[jjbirch]

have you got something going on with your wifes sister then,

[xenon]

A new (additional) driver increases their perceived risk irrespective of her driving record and consequently they can make a charge. You might have more of a complaint if you were exchanging a high-risk driver for a lower risk driver but they're entitled to levy a charge for adding an additional one. Whether that charge is fair or reasonable is open to debate but this is not at a level at which the ombudsman will have any interest.

[dar2008]

Originally Posted by jjbirch

have you got something going on with your wifes sister then,

...and is it worth £190?

[DavS1]

Insurers are a f*cking joke.

I started a policy through a broker, they wanted all sorts. Photocopies of License card and paper part, proof I was a 2nd driver on my last policy, pictures of the car, inside, all outside angles, under the bonnet, list of modifications etc etc..
Payed the policy in full £750 with no problems and eventually got the certificate 3 weeks later.
I then cancelled the policy 5 months later and on the paperwork there was a table of cancelation fee's. it reckoned after 5 months I should get 60% of the total policy back after admin fee's (which was something like £25) I cancelled it on the 4th of august this year and after NUMEROUS phonecalls and excuses on their part to find out when I was getting the cheque through the post I finally recieved it on the 28th of September to the amount of £200........

Now maths was never my strong point, but 60% of £750 - £25 is NOT £200

I think this one will be going to the Insurance Ombudsman also.

Anyone looking for insurance STAY AWAY from "Need2Insure"

/rant over

[m1bjr]

A lot to be said for the 'sometimes' more expensive big names.

Admiral/Diamond have been excellent for us even with two huge claims.
They are simple for mods, ring amd ask, they want £x and you get the certs next day.
As for the tiny specialists, this is typical of how they operate, far from transparent.

[dxb335d]

Fuck me, I wouldn't even think about using a company called ''Need to insure''.

[kaishang]

Are there any insurers who just allow anyone to drive the car?

Or something along the lines of anyone over 25 with no accident/disqualification history etc?

[dxb335d]

Not really mate.

[kaishang]

What are you supposed to do if you just want to lend your car to somebody....?

[DavS1]

dxb335d,

Reason I used them was they done me an excellent quote on a previous car, I didn't go ahead with the quote as I sold the car, so I went back to them to insure a heavily modified car which they apparently specialised in and the perticular policy insured cars with unlimited mods and track cover so it suited me....if only i'd known the hassle that would follow.....heindsight.

[brett23]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Are there any insurers who just allow anyone to drive the car?

Or something along the lines of anyone over 25 with no accident/disqualification history etc?

Over here in n ireland we have a company called AXA that will insure any driver over 25. I had it last year for £675 on my 330d. We also have it on our work jeep as well.

Hope that helps

Brett

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Are there any insurers who just allow anyone to drive the car?

Or something along the lines of anyone over 25 with no accident/disqualification history etc?

Of course.
It's fleet or specialist hire insurance normally.
So unless you are a known Ltd Company then its no go

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by kaishang

What are you supposed to do if you just want to lend your car to somebody....?

There are others, but I use an Aviva short term policy. A day's Comprehensive Insurance for any standard car up to £50k is about £15, more than a day, the price per day goes down as there is an admin charge. Do it on line & print out the cert. You may even be able to tax your car on this insurance too.
For peace of mind I think it's worth the few quid when borrowing someone else's pride an joy.

Mike

[Ham09]

Originally Posted by xenon

A new (additional) driver increases their perceived risk irrespective of her driving record and consequently they can make a charge. You might have more of a complaint if you were exchanging a high-risk driver for a lower risk driver but they're entitled to levy a charge for adding an additional one. Whether that charge is fair or reasonable is open to debate but this is not at a level at which the ombudsman will have any interest.

I'd say that this depends. If the OP is suggesting that no additional milleage per annum is incurred by adding a lower risk driver, then you could argue the lower risk driver is now doing the milleage the a higher risk driver is currently doing. I have heard cases where people have lowered there premium by adding lower risk drivers to there policy (never happened to me though) however this seems to have had to opposite effect.

[AlwynMike]

There is no rhyme or reason with these Insurance company's.
I got caught for speeding (oops!) earleir this year, and when my renewal arrived for £324, I thought I'd better tell them, so I got on the phone.
"From now until renewal - there will be no charge"
Oh no, here it comes . . . .
"And your renewal will be £309"
Less than it was without the SP30.
Where is the logic???