Insurance companies usually want to know who will be the main driver of the car. This isn't necessarily the registered keeper, nor does it have to be the person who takes out the insurance; it's simply the person who drives the car the most. Obviously it has an effect on the premium.

I would echo PLD's sentiments about being totally honest with insurance companies. They don't like paying out, and will use any kind of "breach of contract" to avoid doing so. You can bet that any young driver on high performance car policy will come under particular scrutiny. [Not suggesting you would be trying to bend the rules DT - just a general comment. Obviously we all would like our insurance to be as cheap as possible - good luck!]

Zooty

And I agree with Rob too. Getting that NCB built up as fast as possible is the way to go.

Although I can't think of a more expensive way of doing it than with an RS. Ouch!

most places ive checked wont even insure me, looking at 2k. Id rather pay more in the long run.

Thinking about it, unless your mum has some NCB put to put on the policy, I don't see why

you'd make any saving, as they load the policy for the highest risk driver on it anyway.

No,

My youngest son has been insured in his own name since the age of 17. He has managed to build up 3 years NCB and will still only be 20 when he renews his insurance next week. The renewal premium for TPFT cover for his Nissan 200SX (Group 16) is

If youngsters today were realistic and started with sensible cars like we'all did then their NCB would be much cheaper to accumulate. But they go and buy a vRS as their first car ..... what can you expect??

old git mode>

Still, enjoy it while you can, day tripper. My Octavia is the quickest car I've ever owned and I'm 45 - lot of missed opportunities along the way there - no Scoobs, Beemers or the like in my motoring history.... and only one Porsche :eek:

Originally posted by ncarring in this post

If youngsters today were realistic and started with sensible cars like we'all did then their NCB would be much cheaper to accumulate.

Think that's the mistake I made letting heart rule over head and

getting the 1.6!

Kind of shot myself in the foot by not getting my own policy and

building up an NCB while I was still driving around in Micras. Now

it's too late, as I've now moved into "family car" territory.

Someone did recommend I get a Mondeo as they're cheaper to

insure apparently, but:

a) I think they're :dung:

I'm not convinced they'd be any cheaper to insure.

c) I think they're :dung:

Rob.

I thought Mondeos were like that too for years - until I got taken for a ride in a V6 - panrix will be able to guess who owned it .... then I had to have one too. I remember several people who had them (V6s that is) telling me "it's the best car I've ever owned". Well mabye it's not a Beemer or a Scoob but they sure are fun, and even the lesser ones handle very well for what they are - better than Octavias for instance :p

Talking of Mondeos , Northumbria Police have an ST220 marked traffic car , 03 reg and silver , seen it the other day in Berwick town centre.They also , according to the paper today , have just aqquired a Harley Davidson bike also (to go with the marked Ford Crown Victoria US car they have maybe?) those cameras must be making them a fortune to pay for all these toys!

I did test drive a Mondeo when I was shopping for the Astra - I liked the idea of one.

However, I was bitterly disappointed when I drove it - found it quite sluggish (was a 1.8 though),

the gearstick was misshapen and poorly positioned, the seating position wasn't comfortable,

and just generally it was :dung: ...

Rob.

Rob - very surprised with your view of the Mondeo drive - personally think that they handle better than anything remotely within their price range (and as Nick said, certainly better than your average Octavia). I used to have an old K reg 1.8 and yes it was reasonably gutless (compared to the RS) but I always felt it went well, handled well and it was completely reliable. The major issue with it was that it was a Ford and it wasn't an RS :p

Seemed a bit vague and barge-like - the standard Octavia is much nimbler!

Rob.

my mum has years of ncb and is 60. ive got a quote for 1400, reckon i can get it down to 1300.

Regardless of the car being on finance i would still want it fully comp. At the end of the day i work hard for my money and want a nice car, the last thing i want to do is drive it into a wall. I would not mind paying 2k if i knew i would get it back at the end of the year for not making a claim. in fact i think insurance should be optional like in lebanon could drive a 325i hassle free.

And what happens if you hit a pedestrian in your 325i, day tripper?

no.1 pedestrian should not have been in the road in the first place, thats the first mistake.

no.2 I would not be stupid enough to mount the pavement and kill someone.

There is no point questioning variables that are unlikely to happen to myself. I do not speed unesscessarlly, i do not drink and drive, i do not consume drugs and drive.

Basically the family of the victim will pay you a visit in the night.

Why should I be paying an extremely high premium when I do not recieve any of it back. And when it comes to making a claim insurance services will try every loop hole to prevent from paying out. To drive a nice car i do not expect to wait x no. of years.

Question yourself, question authority.

Originally posted by day tripper in this post

Why should I be paying an extremely high premium when I do not recieve any of it back. And when it comes to making a claim insurance services will try every loop hole to prevent from paying out. To drive a nice car i do not expect to wait x no. of years.

Too right. Being young is such a pain especially when it comes to insuring cars and your (a young) male. I feel you are being made to pay for idiots who drive Schumacher through town centres (usually in Citroen Saxo VTRs or in Corsas) but are never caught by the traffic dept. I am not on my own policy for the Fabia basically because I can't afford it, so I'm on my mums insurance. What I plan to do however is look around for a car when I can afford one that has a insurance offer thrown in to build up a NCD. Ford had a good one (2 years on a Fiesta 1.4 Zetec for 18-70 year olds) and Renault has a 1 year on the Clio Billabong as well as Peugoet on any 206 (execept the GTi!) I also read in the paper today that the EU is stepping in and that it is to stop insurance companies charging extra because your male over females. I just wonder whether I could write to them and complain on the grounds of age discrimination!

day tripper Wrote

There is no point questioning variables that are unlikely to happen to myself.

Unlikely being the key word there , that's why we all have to pay for insurance .

None of us plan to have accidents , they just happen . No insurance company is going to accept anybody's word for the fact that they are a safe driver , you have to prove that , and the fact is that 17 - 25 year olds have more accidents than any other age group . We've all been there and moaned about it , but I'm afraid there is no option .

I can understand why many older people assume younger drivers are a high risk, however this is stereotyping, I dont believe insurance companys assess drivers honestly and fairly, because i am youngnand a vrs is a fairly fast car, one assumes I am at risk. It is stupid. Also ncb system does not work fairly, i myself have zero no claims and cannot afford to build up no claims, its a no win situation.

Shouldnt the claim also be assesed on the safety ncap ratings for the passengers and pedestrians.

One of these days Ill get a traders policy.

Insurers base premiums on risk. And it is fact that younger drivers feature in far more claims than older and more experienced drivers. Judging by the experiences of my sons aged 23 and 20, both with relatively high performance cars, the overwhelming majority of insurers are not interested in insuring them. Where insurers are willing, premiums are sky high, fully comp insurance is not an option, and there are restrictions on the insurance which I would regard as unacceptable if I were insuring my car.

My first car was a Morris Minor. Thereafter I owned a Mercedes 220, Jaguar 3.4 then Mercedes 300 - all cars which insurers loaded even then. Been there, done it, and built up a full NCB years ago. There is no shortcut to doing the same, day tripper. As for stereotyping young drivers, of course all young drivers are not a risk. But a significant proportion are and one learns by experience how to spot the warning signs - which include young drivers behind the wheels of high performance and/or heavily modded cars!

Time to take the dogs for a very long walk........

Unfortunately , Denis is correct , it is a cross all under 25s have to bear! We have all been there!!

Originally posted by flyingscot in this post

What I plan to do however is look around for a car when I can afford one that has a insurance offer thrown in to build up a NCD. Ford had a good one (2 years on a Fiesta 1.4 Zetec for 18-70 year olds) and Renault has a 1 year on the Clio Billabong as well as Peugoet on any 206 (execept the GTi!)

It's a good idea, but make sure you read the small print very

thoroughly - quite often these policies "exempt" themselves

from being used to build up NCD...

Personally I think NCD should be on an "innocent until proven

guilty" policy, but I don't think it would work for the insurers!

Rob.

IIRC, it used to be a no blame rather than no claim discount, but the former bit the dust when the car insurance industry began adopting knock-for-knock settlements to save on costs. Once insurers found themselves paying out on no blame claims from their own clients, the concept of no claim was introduced to reduce costs (ie to generate more income).

A free insurance offer on a Citroen AX a few years ago is the reason why I can afford the insurance on my RS now. Reading the small print after buying the Citroen I realised that the free year was supplied by Direct Line and if you renewed with them they gave you a full 65% NCD. Having never had my own insurance before, this was an exceptional incentive to stay with one of the cheapest motor insurers around. Result! Strangely this offer was never mentioned by anyone from Citroen.

Thinking about it they also threw in a service contract mobile aswell (the size of a small house) and I've been with Vodafone ever since.

Smug mode off...

Originally posted by flyingscot in this post

I am not on my own policy for the Fabia basically because I can't afford it, so I'm on my mums insurance.

Yet you could afford a new or nearly new car in the first place, flyingscot! If you had set your car sights lower you would have had money left for insurance. One day you will no longer be able to insure your car under your Mum's name and then you will have to bite the bullet and take out your own insurance - with zero no-claims - and your parents can stop subsidising you :p