Postcode lottery - car insurance

[Darren S]

I really think its about time that insurance companies should get off their arses and start analysing the vast databases of information that they have at hand.

The whole issue of age is bad enough (sub 67.2 years of age and forget about getting a decent quote) but the postcode one is just as bad - if not worse.

Watching the TV the other night, one of those "Quote me happy" ads came on again and I thought I'd give that a go on the laptop. Cheapest price I got was £711, without P-NCD and that was with £1,020 excess. If I brought the excess down to a more sensible amount (£250-£300 imo) it went up to £912.

I'm now 31, have no points nor convictions - 10 years NCD and have been driving for 14 years. Therefore, the only other factor is my location - and this is where my main gripe is.

Currently, we live out in the sticks - but because the area we are in comes under a Bury postcode - we get battered on the insurance. Previously, I lived in Heywood - and no way on this earth would I have bought the 182 where we lived - simply due to all the scallies about. Yet because that area came under an Oldham postcode (about 4 miles away), it was a cheaper quote?

Similarly, there are some stunning areas of Manchester. Nice, safe areas that hardly get a hint of crime, yet because their postcode starts with an 'M' - you're fecked.

So insurances companies - stop tarring us with a sweeping brush and start looking at the fat wads of information you have. Dodgy areas are dodgy areas, but they don't stop and start at postcode boundaries. Quote me happy? My ar5e!!!

D.

 

[toms_cup]

well said that man.....


Tom

 

[David_Snaresbrook]

Totally agreed with that!

I personally live on a council estate, and if you actually looked at car crime on the estate, you'd find it was very low. Reason being is that they are not stupid enough to steal from their own doorstep!

it doesnt help im close to the city centre either. But if i lived 2 roads down, which would make me just outside the estate my insurance would be lots cheaper.

Its a joke.

 

[dannyboy]

i agree, but why would insurers do anything that means they have to charge less? no one is forcing them to, so they wont. its as close to legalized robbery as it gets...........

 

[Gareth]

i agree, that quote me happy advert f**ks me off each time i see it, because I know damn well if I ever phone them for a quote I would never be happy with their response, even though I have no points, 8yrs ncb, no accidents.

 

[ant]

there are some stunning areas of Manchester. Nice, safe areas that hardly get a hint of crime, yet because their postcode starts with an 'M' - you're fecked.

tell me about it!! I live in M16, nice enough area where i am but it also covers old trafford and parts of hulme/moss side.

greenlight wouldn't even quote me!!!

 

[M.C..]

same for me a b70 postcode (think it's one of the worst) my car is garaged and they still sting me even thought the area is'nt too bad.
the thing that p!sses me off though is you could live in the best area in the uk but park you car in the worst 5 days a week 8-9 hours a day at work and not pay anymore, thats the thing with a car it's mobile and can be put anywhere and they don't seam to grasp this.

 

[bluenoes]

tell me about it!! I live in M16, nice enough area where i am but it also covers old trafford and parts of hulme/moss side.

greenlight wouldn't even quote me!!!

Its all a load of toss

I moved from an ST (Stafford/Stoke) postcode to an M postcode.
Insurance doubled, but i live in a nicer area than i did in Stafford, and my car feels safer up here!

They really havent got a clue