It's that time of year again when tne insurance is up for renewal, so I've started looking on the comparison sites and directly on some insurers who don't use them and so far Admiral are competative on my quote and have seriously undercut SWMBO's current provider Saga ( we've had a multicar policy before so both are due on the same day).

Downside is they are one of the companies who ask about speed awareness courses so I had to declare SWMBO's misdemeanour.

so what have your experiences been like as an Admiral customer, especially if you've had to make a claim, did they do a good job of the repair, provide you with a courtesy car as promised and was it relatively stress free etc. The which reports don't rate them very highly, but I'm looking at getting some feedback from those on the forum that have used them as I'm sure your findings will probably be more current.

I know they try and mug you in year 2 so should I go with them I'll be ready for the shock as I had that tee shirt a few years ago, but the savings I could make are hard to ignore.

I know they try and mug you in year 2 so should I go with them I'll be ready for the shock as I had that tee shirt a few years ago, but the savings I could make are hard to ignore.

 

only experience was being mugged in second year £600 pound more than a new customer refused to budge so got £0 instead of £350 ish . as you say came back a year later & v competitive again . never claimed with them so cant comment on that but somebody will have

Been with Admiral on a multicar deal for around 4.5 years now. That probably says a enough on it's own?

 

Not had to make a claim tho', (touch wood), so not much info on that aspect. 

 

Never been mugged on renewal, despite acquiring an SP50 18 months ago. Indeed, at the 2014 renewal Ad were quite happy to haggle down to equal the best quote I had elsewhere (also from another insurer who do not appear on comparison site panels). Hence that sealed the repeat business with least hassle.

 

Main plus for me though is Admiral are one of the few don't absolutely hammer me stupid for having 3 drivers under 25 as occasional drivers on the Yeti. Including 2 who are still "Provisional" licence holders. Each driver also builds their own individual (no) claims history.

Used them for a couple of years and then transferred to an Aviva multi car policy as they weren't competitive at renewal time. Had a no fault claim with them, that was dealt with efficiently, allowed us to us a Skoda approved body shop and provided like for like (almost) courtesy car. (Insignia for an Octavia). It helped the other party accepted liability straight away.Dependant on the time of day you call them either got Welsh call centre or India.

They wouldn't get anywhere near Aviva at renewal time, so went elsewhere as a result.

I've been with them 2 and half years now.

 

They were the cheapest known company when I first started with them, the first renewal was the cheapest again, then with the second renewal  I found it wasn't the cheapest. So I did some digging around for some other quotes before talking to them. They matched Adrian Flux at the time, and I said that I would compare the 2 offers and come back to them (I still have about 2 weeks before I needed to do anything). The guy on the phone said he would see what he could do as I had been a loyal customer. He came back with another £100 off. So I signed up again there and then.

 

I've never needed to claim with them, so I don't know what they are like with that. However I have found changing address (Twice since being with them) and adding a speeding offence (SP30) as being a fairly easy process. I've dealt with call centres in Wales or Canada, both very friendly and helpful.

 

I have the breakdown cover with it too, and they seem to hire the local people to the area. That seemed like an easy process too when I had to call for some assistance.

 

They would be my preference on renewal, but I do feel I might have to play some tactics to keep the price competitive. 

Popular with the younger generation. I used them 3/4 years ago and when I crashed my Fabia into the back of someone the claim against me went smoothly enough lol. This year I went with e sure as they only ask for claims within 3 years whereas most companies are 5 years. admiral were second cheapest though including my claim.

I did a few compare quotes for my daughter last year, she's a new driver so she only had her licence 1 month when looking for insurance. Admiral seemed to be the best prices going at the time so she went with them. This year the renewal was over £100 cheaper than last year, infact she has just renewed with them, so happy with the price.

Just make sure you cancel the auto renew before your 12 months are up, I told me daughter to do this just incase the price shot up. I have read the stories of customers let the auto renew do it stuff then regret it as they could have got cheaper cover elsewhere. My company LV who I'm perfectly happy with try this on, but they ask you if you would like it to auto renew. Admiral with my daughters insurance didn't, which is a bit naughty, but it's all in the small print, advice  READ IT!

Edited 4 January, 201511 yr by MickA

Admiral were fantastic. Their renewal is expensive but I have always just got a new customer quote and they bring the premium to match it.

They paid out when I had a total loss at virtually the price I paid 6 months ago.

How did you get a new customer quote? Just had my renewal through today, which seems competitive compared with LV. Tried to get a new quote and all went in, then website message 'we think you are an existing customer, please ring'

How did you get a new customer quote? Just had my renewal through today, which seems competitive compared with LV. Tried to get a new quote and all went in, then website message 'we think you are an existing customer, please ring'

No experience of claiming with them yet, but we used them yesterday for my daughter's renewal as it was very competitive on an annual one-off payment basis (well Diamond, which is actually part of Admiral).  Declaring the speed awareness bit only raised the quote by £50 in her case which surprised me and kept it competitive, BUT be aware their credit terms for installments, at least for the younger driver, can be very expensive.  It is naughty really as it looks cheap until you really weigh it up so you need your wits about you (guess who is financing my daughter's installments...). Oh and MickA's point above about auto renewal is pertinent, although now they are not the only ones who try that particular trick on.

I've been with Admiral a while and had few issues with them, their auto-renewal is usually a joke and needs a lengthy call to get a reasonable price but at least it's only once a year.  They refused to insure my last car claiming it didn't exist on their system despite being a three year old car but a later call and a different operator sorted it out no problem.  I've only made one claim for a windscreen a while ago which went through fine although I don't rely on my car so if they muck me about with a bigger claim it's not so much of an issue.

 

John

How did you get a new customer quote? Just had my renewal through today, which seems competitive compared with LV. Tried to get a new quote and all went in, then website message 'we think you are an existing customer, please ring'

It looks like this is starting to spread to stop existing customers finding out how much they are subsidising new ones. I think in the end the more switched on people will wise up to this latest tactic and just move. The money supermarket bloke recommends you refuse to allow them to auto renew your policy to make them work harder for your business.

I was with Admiral for a number of years. I insured my Rapid with them when I was 19 and no one else would touch it and then when we got a vRS (at 21) they were the cheapest insurer still; beating all of the specialists. The multi-car policy is great too and I always found them easy to deal with and happy to oblige. 

It is only now that I am 25 and able to get a fleet policy for the classics that I am no longer with Admiral. 

I have just left Admiral after 2-3 years with them. The renewal was rediculous, I managed to knock over £400 off their £1600 renewal quote by spending 10 minutes on the phone and having got a quote through compare the market. But I chose to leave because they aren't particularly modification friendly and charged me extra for fitting winter tyres (something I don't have to pay for now). Also, I am not a huge fan of their customer service, for example they were very pushy whan I wanted to take breakdown cover off the renewal.

 

Never claimed so don't know what that would be like.

How did you get a new customer quote? Just had my renewal through today, which seems competitive compared with LV. Tried to get a new quote and all went in, then website message 'we think you are an existing customer, please ring'

 

I would recommend getting a comparable quote from another company in terms of one that matches the excess, legal cover etc. and then use that as a basis for lowering the quote.  That's what I do now that I can't get a new customer quote from their site or any of their sister companies, I think if you try to get a quote from Elephant it recognises you as an Admiral customer but may be wrong there.

 

Good point above about the pushy sales as I normally get a call a day or two after trying to sell me extra courtesy car cover although strangely didn't last time, when they go on and on about how would I get to work without my car and how could I manage without it I point out that I cycle everywhere and don't rely on the car for anything!

 

John

I've been with them for over 3 years. As previously said they are cheeky when it comes to renewal time, their auto renewal costs are always £200 extra!?!

 

They will price match another quote, I always used quotes from Elephant insurance (Who are a sister company)

 

They were always the cheapest by far for insuring my VRS's (Mk 1 Fab and then Mk 2) But now that I've changed to the E90 BMW they wanted a fair bit to change the policy. it was just cheaper to stay with them rather than getting a shoddy refund offer and taking up a better price elsewhere.

 

Safe to say I wont be staying with them come renewal time.

 

.......and charged me extra for fitting winter tyres (something I don't have to pay for now).

 

Was it just for winter tyres on standard wheels or was it winter tyres on different wheels?  My husband declared his winters for his Octy vRS because they're Audi wheels and the extra charge was minimal (I think it was just an admin charge).  On my Yeti they made no charge for winters on 16" Skoda steels, and this year again there was no charge when I put the 16" winters on Skoda alloys.

Admiral are always competitive for the first year then come renewal are usually very expensive. I've been back to them twice due to low quotes but have never used them for a claim so can't comment on that.

Was it just for winter tyres on standard wheels or was it winter tyres on different wheels?  My husband declared his winters for his Octy vRS because they're Audi wheels and the extra charge was minimal (I think it was just an admin charge).  On my Yeti they made no charge for winters on 16" Skoda steels, and this year again there was no charge when I put the 16" winters on Skoda alloys.

The tyres were on after market alloys, yes, but when I rang up to declare they said the wheels were a declarable item but they wouldn't insure them ie, if the car was written off they wouldn't replace them. I am pretty sure they didn't charge me for declaring the wheels, only the tyres. There was an admin charge too I think.

Not sure on the negative comments on the high renewal prices. This isn't unique to Admiral - it's an industry standard.

 

Those that can't be bothered to shop around or auto-renew get stung. Those prepared to put the effort in get the discounts.

 

I completely ignore the renewal letters, straight in the recycling box along with all the other junk mail and sales patter.

 

Each year I start out as a new customer, get on all the comparison websites together with Direct Line and Aviva.

 

Don't log on otherwise you are telling your current insurer that you are an existing customer.

 

For me and my wife and our two Skoda's Admiral are always close on price under their multicar policy.

 

This year however they were around £50 out compared to two individual quotes I had from moneysupermaket.com.

 

I then rang Admiral up (my current insurers at the time) told them of the cheaper quotes I'd found and bingo, price matched. No need to swap insurers.

 

I've claimed through them (all fine) and added winter tyres too (no admin charge).

 

It is always worth taking an hour out and trawling the web, stabbing in your details several times into the comparison sites. It saves hundreds of pounds - but only if you can be bothered!