Insurance

Right seriously, I'm amazed. I got a quote for a 2006 636 for £2100 being honest about what I do (mechanic), and just changing my job to an accountant and nothing else, it was knocked down to £800. That takes the **** tbh, so I figure it's best to lie about these things. But, has anyone done this? Also, anyone who works in insurance, have you ever heard of people enquiring into a punters job? Cheers, Matt

[northwind]

I tried various different options. Bank Officer turned out cheaper than Bank Advisor, both were worse than Financial Advisor, but better than Business Analyst. I did some others that I thought were funny, I think I did Admiral with Carole Nash.

Originally Posted by Saint Matt

Right seriously, I'm amazed. I got a quote for a 2006 636 for £2100 being honest about what I do (mechanic), and just changing my job to an accountant and nothing else, it was knocked down to £800. That takes the p*ss tbh, so I figure it's best to lie about these things. But, has anyone done this? Also, anyone who works in insurance, have you ever heard of people enquiring into a punters job? Cheers, Matt

Ring 'em up and talk to them. I got over 300 knocked off my online quote by telling them they were too expensive, it's astonishing how much they will take off if you just talk to them!

Mike

Yeah, I know about haggling, I knocked £400 off the SV's quote by doing that, but I would much rather have a £800 starting point than a £2100.

[Biker Biggles]

I'd be careful telling porkies to them.While they are unlikely to bother too much on a run of the mill claim,if ever you had to make a really big claim,like if you seriously injured someone and they sued for millions,they would pull out all the stops to discredit your claim.Don't make it easy for them to wriggle out of it.

Insurance uses 'utmost good faith' as a basis of it's business. If it appears that you intentionally lied to obtain a cheaper quote they are within their rights to cancel the policy ab initio (as if it didn't exist) and therefore repudiate any claim.

It really isn't worth it.

THat said the question you will be asked when quoted is 'have you/do you/will you........................................ to the best of your knowledge'. This question has room for poetic license but be careful. If they can prove that you clearly knew and lied you are done for eg

Question 1 ... Have you had any convictions in the last 5 years to the best of your knowledge.

Answer ... If you were done for drink driving 2 years ago it is realistic to assume you are well aware of the conviction but if you had a speeding fine 4 years 6 months ago it could be true that you believed the conviction was spent (rehabilitation of offenders act 1974).

Your issue appears to be your occupation, motor mechanic carrys two potential risks for insurers ..

Risk 1 Driving of other cars/vehicles extension. As you are in possession of customer vehicles the extension would effectively cover you for potentially hundreds of cars.

Solution ... look for a company that doesn't give the the extension in the first place so do not quote extra for it. Many companies have now decided to opt out of the extension.

Risk 2 You potentially swap and change your vehicle quite often throughout the year to suit your needs. This is probably not true in 90% of people in th emotor trade but they will side with caution and charge all of you Administration costs as well as the risk of buying/selling motors and using your private insurance as a commercial policy.

Solution ... there is not one.

HTH

Pingu

[Speedy]

Yep I had the same problem! Me a Tech too!

And I change my cars ALOT (Owned 47 cars in the 10 years I've been driving!)

Trouble is,I'm covered through work to drive anything WHILST I'm at work.

SO why are penalised when we want to insure our own vehicles?

I can understand Pingu's answer.

But try and make sense of this!

Got renewal quote for car last week,£578! Thats TPFT on a '95 BMW 520iSE,I'm 27,FULL NCB,No points,claims etc.

That has gone up by £370!

I went online to check it out...........I beat it to £320 COMPREHENSIVE......and wait for it................................................ .................................................. .............

WITH THE SAME INSURANCE COMPANY THAT SENT THE RENEWAL who I've been with for over 4 yrs!

They are just ripping people off!

Ah bellocks to it, not worth it.

I got my 636 insurance down from a £1500 online quote to £700 just by phoning.

Couldn't believe it when they said the price!

I never tried to barter it down though, might have to tell a few fibs next time and pretend I have been offered a cheaper quote elsewhere.

Anyway I haven't been following all the threads on here but are you thinking of getting a 636? Tempted by the £5500 0% finance offer eh?!

Might change mine for the C model if that is still going next March although I fancy a 675.

[northwind]

It's perfectly resaonable to be a little creative. Ie, if you can choose fitter instead of mechanic, that might help. I've got a whole shelf full of job titles I can use But an outright lie, you might regret.