23 replies to this topic

[Peter_NottinghamS]

We've just received a renewal quote for Marvin and as it's my turn to pay (my son and I share the car) I fell off my seat when I saw the renewal amount.

 

Some background:

 

1. My son Marvin in an online prize.
2. At the time he won Marvin he was living in Reading
3. He had no off-street parking so he asked me to keep Marvin in my garage in a sleepy village south of Nottingham
4. He needs to update the insurer of his change of address to Manchester M29 postcode
5. The car has an agreed value of £28,000 as per the UK Minis competition listing
6. My son is 34yo, I'm 65yo and the other named driver is his wife, 33yo
7. We all have clean driving licences

 

Okay, now sit down.  The renewal quote is £838.38

 

When you've got over the shock, share your thoughts.  The insurer is a big name classic car insurer.

 

Peter

 

 

[stuart bowes]

do they drive it often?  would it be cheaper actually just to get day insurance as-and-when (if just the odd weekend here and there)

 

to be honest with the buildup I was expecting you to say £1500-2000 or something, I'd probably just think of it as 70 quid a month so it sounds less lol

 

is the new area in Manchester a higher risk area?  Also, that's quite a high price for a classic mini so maybe that's why they're charging more

 

(disclaimer I'm no insurance expert in any way)

Edited by stuart bowes, 06 May 2026 - 09:30 AM.

[coopertaz]

if the name of the policyholder does not match the registered keeper on the V5 this could be the reason. Had this when i bought a bike on gf'S ebay account so came registered to here so had to re-register in my name

[coopertaz]

do they drive it often?  would it be cheaper actually just to get day insurance as-and-when (if just the odd weekend here and there)

 

to be honest with the buildup I was expecting you to say £1500-2000 or something, I'd probably just think of it as 70 quid a month so it sounds less lol

 

is the new area in Manchester a higher risk area?  Also, that's quite a high price for a classic mini so maybe that's why they're charging more

 

(disclaimer I'm no insurance expert in any way)

if not on sorn you need to have continuation of insurance even if parked off the road

[Ethel]

Wouldn't be insured when it's not in use.

 

Who's the main driver? if the other two only drive occasionally that, or temporary cover on a policy for another car could be the way.

[Peter_NottinghamS]

if the name of the policyholder does not match the registered keeper on the V5 this could be the reason. Had this when i bought a bike on gf'S ebay account so came registered to here so had to re-register in my name

 

I suspect this may be the issue.  I've just done a quick check of the insurance risk factor (A is low, F is high risk) and I've discovered this:

Reading (old address): C

Nottingham South: C (I'm surprised it's as high as this)

Manchester (new address): F

So changing the policy holder's address (my 34yo son) will potentially increase the premium, even though the car will never be garaged there!

The suggestions above re: daily insurance are a non-starter.  During the dry weather months (March to October) Marvin is driven daily around the country lanes and once-a-week on dry days during the colder, wetter months.  

 

It's not that we can't afford this (I'm retired and working) but it doesn't seem good value for money.

Can my son, who is the registered keeper, register 'his' address as my address and this removes the ambiguity of him living in a different location to where the car is actually used and kept (garaged)?

[Peter_NottinghamS]

Wouldn't be insured when it's not in use.

 

Who's the main driver? if the other two only drive occasionally that, or temporary cover on a policy for another car could be the way.

 

I'm the main driver but the car is registered in my son's name.  He's driven it twice in 18-months and the other named driver, his wife, has driven it once since 'we' owned it.

[stuart bowes]

 

if not on sorn you need to have continuation of insurance even if parked off the road

 

 

really?  is that purely theoretical though or is there actually a chance they might try and prosecute it

 

I mean you can just put a cover over it, or in a garage, or remove the plates, and tell them to leave your property if they tried to look, surely

 

moot point though if used regularly, of course

Edited by stuart bowes, 06 May 2026 - 09:58 AM.

[stuart bowes]

 

Manchester (new address): F

 

 

yeah this is what I suspected 

I can't say much I bet Dagenham comes up pretty high risk too

Edited by stuart bowes, 06 May 2026 - 09:57 AM.

[Peter_NottinghamS]

 

 

Manchester (new address): F

 

 

yeah this is what I suspected 

I can't say much I bet Dagenham comes up pretty high risk too

 

 

This is not yet declared (as he's only just moved) so I fear the insurance company will increase the premium even though the car has never been there and will never be stored there.

[Peter_NottinghamS]

 

 

Manchester (new address): F

 

 

yeah this is what I suspected 

I can't say much I bet Dagenham comes up pretty high risk too

 

 

RM Romford

 

1, 6, 9-10, 12 . . . . .F 

2-5, 11, 17-18 . . . . E 

7-8, 13-16, 19-20 . .D 

[stuart bowes]

ah yeah I'm F then lol

 

it used to be a lot worse to be fair, burnt out cars over the park, or up on bricks with radios missing and all that.  not so bad these days for whatever reasons

Edited by stuart bowes, 06 May 2026 - 10:27 AM.

[humph]

Who is the insurer?  In December 2024 I'd been with Footman James for years as they were by far the cheapest insurer for my three classics. However when my renewal arrived the cost had gone up by well over 100%, no changes to any of my details.  There reasons was a change of insurer panel with a different view on risk and my Liverpool postcode was now borderline unacceptable to them.  Thankfully I found a few more sensible companies and my insurance has remained at a similar level to my original quotes ever since, so shop around.  The other issue could be the value. My insurers will gladly ramp up the premium based on my valuation of the car, yet when provided with details for agreed valuation protection refuse my valuation saying it's not in line with market values. So if you do accept their quote make sure they'll give you the agreed valuation you want.

[coopertaz]

 

 

if not on sorn you need to have continuation of insurance even if parked off the road

 

 

really?  is that purely theoretical though or is there actually a chance they might try and prosecute it

 

I mean you can just put a cover over it, or in a garage, or remove the plates, and tell them to leave your property if they tried to look, surely

 

moot point though if used regularly, of course

 

sister in law was selling a car so left in taxed so she could do test drives if someone came with temporary insurance but cancelled hers to put onto the new car. Got a fine and dvla letter explained insurance continuation requirement. It came into force when tax and mot both went digital. They do, as she discovered, fine you for it. 

[Peter_NottinghamS]

Who is the insurer?  In December 2024 I'd been with Footman James for years as they were by far the cheapest insurer for my three classics. However when my renewal arrived the cost had gone up by well over 100%, no changes to any of my details.  There reasons was a change of insurer panel with a different view on risk and my Liverpool postcode was now borderline unacceptable to them.  Thankfully I found a few more sensible companies and my insurance has remained at a similar level to my original quotes ever since, so shop around.  The other issue could be the value. My insurers will gladly ramp up the premium based on my valuation of the car, yet when provided with details for agreed valuation protection refuse my valuation saying it's not in line with market values. So if you do accept their quote make sure they'll give you the agreed valuation you want.

 

It's the same company.  By all accounts, tricky to deal with, don't respond to emails and only respond via telephone.

 

Re; agreed value, this was based on UK Minis build cost in this link to their page, but it's not realistic, although if Marvin was written off, it would cost that and more to re-shell him.

 

Could the car be sold for £28k? Not a chance!  But in the event of a write-off, the car could be re-shelled and I suspect the total cost would be in the mid to high £30k.

Edited by Peter_NottinghamS, 06 May 2026 - 04:58 PM.