Insurance Companies - Who to go with?

[ollieboy]

I have been insured with AMI since I owned vehicles way back in 2003, with a scooter . With AMI they have this thing so you have a low premium and the excess is higher and if you don't crash you dont have to pay alot.

My insurance has been $150 p.a insured under my name with all my cars on a restricted licence. They even insured my Cordia 1.8 Turbo. My no claims bonus dropped the price down to $100 this year. So thats $100 for a 16 year old with a full licence.

[ollieboy]

Whoops screwed that one up. I just turned 17 so I am actually 17 not 16. And thats full cover.

[peas]

If you're in AUckland that seems like a fair excuse to ream you on insurance. I have only ever had full cover ($1600) on my first Celica because it was financed. That was through NZI. I had various auto policies over 4-1/2 years with them for stock cars... then I bought my Levin with exhaust, pulley kit, mags and lowering. Suddenly after what I thought was a fair length of time with no claims, convictions etc. I went straight back to the under 25 modified bracket, they didn't want to know. State gave me reasonable cover for it, well the best cover... though I have been told to make a note of every bit of correspondence that you make to them.

[mikefxgt]

Ok, this should read intresting ..

First of all like every1, dont deal with insurance companies over the phone, they go by a list and if it fits the "we dont like it car" list its see you later.

I'm with AMI Insurance also - I likewise deal with only 1 guy at one branch in chch, I have a 1994 Toyota Corolla FX-GT with alot of mods - New Paint, Lowered on King Springs, 3-4k Worth of car audio, Full interier retrim, Mags, Boday Kit, its basically a show car and if was featured in the latest 2006 Performace Car Year book - At the current point I have the car valued at 15K, I pay 50 a month for full insurance (60% no claims bonus) but have a huge ascess of 3k beause of the mods etc, sure its high, but for a car i dont drive alot its not 2 bad, have tried to get it lower but never had any luck. Ohh and Im 23, full licience and had my cars in my own name sinse I was like 18 after transfuring from my parents.

Heres a pic of the car anyway




Best of Luck insuance is a pain in the ass

Mike

[Al]

It gets better when you are old. I've just turned 26

$370/yr full cover on the mr2. $250 excess with AMI.

[Cahuna]

State were cheapest for me with my Sentra (unmodified) when I got insurance at age 21 and they were great with the two claims I made on the car (rear-ended at a red light, not my fault and a car break-in). HOWEVER, I would tell you NOT to use State on principle - I've got the pip big-time over their attitude towards the contents of my car that were taken in the break-in and their attitude when I expressed my displeasure at their policy

AMI have been recommended to me by a couple of people, so I'll be seeing them before I renew my insurances next year (I won't be staying with State).

If you're happy you are going to drive carefully and not prang your pride and joy then look at getting a bigger excess. Because you only pay the excess if you prang and it is your fault if you don't prang you never have to pay it. Most insurance companies will have an option to lower the premiums in return for hiking the excess on a claim. Also be aware some companies offer a "No Blame" policy option, so that if you are hit by an uninsured dork and have to claim on your insurance your No Claims history (and excess????) won't be affected.

Finally, try dealing with an insurance broker, some of them can get you good prices and/or deals with insurers that would otherwise not deal with you. There are a couple recommended on this forum.

[barryogen]

Roughly, as a guide.

Third Party, you crash, they will pay to fix the other persons car only. Will alos pay out if it catches fire or gets stolen..

Just to clarify, some third party don't cover fire and theft and make you pay more for fire and theft cover... odd, I know, but it does happen. not sure on who it was sorry, as it was ages ago that I was last insured 3rd party.

[MINTFX]

Hmmm I might just go down to the insurance companies today and get a quote or something. What is the difference in ringing up and actually going in?

[Leon]

I won't deal with AMI on principle.

After nearly 7 years of insuring two cars at once, I put a cage into my Corolla. They utterly spat the dummy, and refused to insure (despite my knowing of the minor detail of Group A Rally Cars they have insured). They also devalued my 1998 Corolla wagon down 45% in one year (go see if you can find a 1998 NZ New 1600cc wagon for $3500, AMI thinks that's what they sell for).

So, all insurances with AMI cancelled.

I now go through John Rae insurance brokers.

[MINTFX]

I will also give John Rae Insurance a ring today as it looks like theyre based in New Plymouth.

[gurutasker]

Fark thats rediculous. I dont really want to pay more than $1000 p/a for full insurance, and hopefully nothing more than $1500 or $2000 for excess.

Got mine done through AA.. and for what it was it's a pretty sweet deal, cause they weren't considering touching 'High Risk' vehicles with a ten foot pole. Because your parents have a lot insured with AMI (i.e. many cars & house) you might have a shot, but don't bother calling up, you need to go in and talk to one of the brokers face to face.

(And for full insurance on mine it was going to cost about $1300/pa , but i got the yummy $300 excess)

[barryogen]

Hmmm I might just go down to the insurance companies today and get a quote or something. What is the difference in ringing up and actually going in?

the personal touch... and once you do it a few times at the same place, they get to know you, can be handy if your going to get a higher performance car.

[MINTFX]

Looks like I will be working my arse off just the pay the bloody insurance on it. Sweet, I will go down to AMI and State today and see what they have to say. I guess the only time I would want insurance is if the whole car gets stolen, my sounds get stolen or I totally write it off. My dad is a mechanic and his good mate is a panel beater so I can probly get it fixed cheaper than paying for the excess.

[barryogen]

(And for full insurance on mine it was going to cost about $1300/pa , but i got the yummy $300 excess)

It's funny, I don't care much about the excess being anywhere up to $1500, simply because I never intend on having a crash, I'd prefer lower premiums than a lower excess.

[MINTFX]

Well I just went out and got some pricing. All under my name, 17 male Full licence:

AMI: $2000 a year with $1500 excess for full insurance
State: $1500 a year with $1000 excess full insurance again
AA: Walked in, told them I wanted insurance on an integra and the lady just nodded her head, Really rude so I wont be using them for anything other than getting my full.

Looks like I will most likely be going with state. Hopefully the no claims bonus for 1 year will drop it down a bit as I will want to save up for the $1500 worth of insurance before I actually buy the car. Still have to ring Pioneer insurance and the National Car Club one aswell. Cheers for the input so far.

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

as said before also try John Rae in NP, hes a good guy - grew up living down the road from him

im with tower, but thru tsb bank
caldie is ~50/month on full cover

insurance co's have about as much hate for intergras as toyspeed does
i had (have) a non-vtec integra and state hated (read: charged me shiteloads) for it

[skoty]

Tower has been pretty good to me, can't complain as yet

[method]

I couldnt realy get insurance from anyone except for NAC, pioneer and insuredirect.

I found insuredirect to be the best, my cars insured for 22k inc mods (only 4 k worth ). I pay 1450 a year and my excess is $1200.

Im 18 and havnt had my full for more than 2 years, the excess drops after you have i think. Hope the premium does too .

[barryogen]

I couldnt realy get insurance from anyone except for NAC, pioneer and insuredirect.

I found insuredirect to be the best, my cars insured for 22k inc mods (only 4 k worth ). I pay 1450 a year and my excess is $1200.

Im 18 and havnt had my full for more than 2 years, the excess drops after you have i think. Hope the premium does too .

heh, you have 3 words that insurance companies are scared of, mitsi, evo, and turbo, and adding to the fact that you're young as, well, no wonder it costs so much.

Also, don't expect much of a drop until you hit 25.

[MINTFX]

I rang Pioneer Insurance but I had to leave an message on their answer machine and they said they would be back to me.

Method, Damn thats cheap compared to what I thought it would be I will give insure direct a ring. Does it matter if the company is not based in your area? Would this make it a pain in the ass to claim something?