Hi,
My car insurance is due for renewal very soon, and I've been looking around online for the best quote. I've found one which is considerably cheaper than my current company, and am very tempted to go with it.
However, I'm a little uneasy. The policy will be with Provident, which a site search here shows me is a reputable company. It's being done via www.its4me.com (or something like that), and what bothers me is that it's all done online, to the extent that I would even have to print out my own insurance certificate.
I've never heard of this before, and would like to know if this is now a common and familiar practice, and whether an insurance policy I'd printed myself would be valid or not?
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It has to be valid, otherwise they've just taken your money for nothing. Pay by credit card if you're worried.
Provident is I believe a Lloyds syndicate or a member of one. In this case, it's highly likely that their quote engine will be available to other brokers. I'm with www.budgetinsurance.com because their margin appeared to be the lowest of any I could find offering the same policy; although for a newer car, it appears that www.belldirect.co.uk would be my best bet (part of Admiral).
Alternatively, phone up your existing insurer, explain to them that you'd like to continue as a customer but the premium is unfortunately higher, and see what they can do for you. They usually have scope to reduce prices in that situation.
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Should also point out that, although I haven't had to make a claim, Budget's customer service has been excellent.
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David, thanks yet again!
I'm wanting to set up a direct debit with the company for monthly payments, rather than pay the wholeamount up front like I usually do. So, whilst the initial deposit will be by credit card, the rest won't - is this still ok?
Budget was actually the second cheapest quote that I had, and was not a lot dearer than Provident. I'll take a look at belldirect, but bearing in mind the age of my car I doubt it will be any better than the quotes I've already had! I really am just looking for the cheapest deal here, and only going TTPT, because finances are not all they could be at the moment.
I will phone up KwikFit, my existing insurer, and ask them to better the quote, but when I tried the same last year (when I changed cars) they were very unwilling to budge very far. Still, can't hurt to try, can it?
I think if Provident remains the cheapest, I will go with them, as I trust your assurance that this new-fangled online method is sound!
Thanks!
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A "Print your own" certificate is unlikely to be acceptable when it comes to renewing road fund licence.
If it were, the uninsured with a bit of computer nouse (sp?) could make their own!
clariman
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Highly unlikely that there'd be a problem.
My insurance companies have given stuff that was obviously laser printed - and the quality would hardly be any different if done on an inkjet. Lots of people could do that at home, especially if given the template to print out.
Would that trouble the average post office clerk? I seriously doubt it. If there were any problems, it would be possible to ring the insurance company's CS number and confirm the existence of the policy from the policy number.
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Clariman's point is what I was worried about. It just seems very open to possible abuse. I guess as you say, David, there must be some way of the post office (or whoever) clarifying that it is a valid policy, perhaps from some security number or something. Have you ever heard of printing your own certificate before?
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I don't know how you manage your personal finances and if you would rather not discuss that on here, or would rather do so by e-mail, that's fine.
However, some insurance companies' effective rates for interest payments are much dearer than a competitive credit card APR. Therefore, it might work out cheaper to put the whole amount on your credit card.
I don't know how long you have until your insurance is due, but if it's a few weeks, it might be worth opening a dedicated credit card for this purpose. Alternatively you could do a balance transfer of an existing card, roll it into that, and pay no interest at all for six months - if your credit is half decent.
If you would rather discuss this by e-mail, my profile will have my address in it shortly.
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Email is good! I'll be in touch later - thanks!
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My daughter found that www.insurancenow.com beat www.its4me.com by 10% because insurancenow offers special policies/rates for females aged 17-24. Try them if you fall into this category.
My daughter has found insurancenow (otherwise known as Leabridge Insurance Services) very professional, so far.
Ian
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We insure with Provident on one of our cars and have had no problems (but not made a claim) and the self-print certificate is fine. It is trye that anyone can print one but if you have to produce a certificate at the police station they will take down all the details and verify them with the insurers.
If you pay by instalments Provident charge only 8% whereas some insuranc companies charge 21%
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Ehem - thanks, IanT, but I don't fall into that category!
Techno - that's good to know, thank you. I've been trying to access the site again to work out how much extra I'd be paying for monthly installments, but it won't let me in. However, 8% is surely less than most credit card companies charge?
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