It's been 4 years since I've found someone thats bettered Directline.  Taking the hire car plus off, the best comparable quote giving the same protection is Admiral at £70 cheaper (£100 if including the hire car plus, which no one else does).

 

Whats the best approach to haggling with Direct line, or any insurer?  £50 knocked off, and I'll happily stay with them rather than the agro of switching.

 

I've also hot their home insurance which is also up in a few weeks

Phone their cancellation number - they'll take you more seriously - they'll ask you why you're cancelling - once you've told them you've found a cheaper quote elsewhere they'll knock something off - all insurers have 'something to play with' on claim free / profitable business. That's what I did last year with Elephant and I'm just about to do the same this year. I personally wouldn't move for 20 / 30 quid but 50+ and I'd bite.

I suggest that you carefully compare the policies.  Cheaper policies may have a larger excess, more conditions on when a replacement car will be supplied, etc.  If you never claim then a lesser policy is probably not a problem - but if you have to claim?

 

Also many insurers are also now levying an 'administration' charge for one or more of the following:

 

Changing your car

Changing your address

etc.

Also charging (between £50 and £100) for repairing a windscreen as well as replacement

I've just renewed mine - renewal invitation was £309 - got it down to £232.

Down £60 so renewed there and then.

Yup the comparison sites are handy, but you really have to be careful as they're not all like for like and some people get caught out when it comes to the crunch.

Like a neighbour who saved £100 something only to learn she had no glass cover or courtesy car and they'd lumped a £200 excess on top of the £150 voluntary excess she picked at the time.

After renewing SWMBO insurance on a well known comparison site I thought I'd get a quote for myself.

Went through all the details good and bad and updated them truthfully (my annual mileage estimate had actually been too high).

Don't need to renew for a few months but the premium was about £150 cheaper than last time. Even my current insurer was offering a big reduction.

Think I may be switching next year.

And yes, the excesses are comparable.

First never, ever auto renew. Cancel it if it's already in place.

Don't go straight through to cancellations. You can always do that later. Ring the number on the quote and ask to talk about it. Ask them to match the quote from Admiral. If they won't, ask for cancellations.