I'd suggest that you dont try and fool the system into quoting you as a new customer. After all you're not a new customer and therefore not entitled to the "bargain" rates they use to get you signed up. Just because they take your money doesn't guarantee that you are covered, you will need to check the terms and conditions. It's a big risk as you won't find out that they consider you're not playing fair until you need their money!

You're much better off calling them to renew, my experience is they will match and occasionally beat the new customer rate. Just make sure you do your homework first.

- Run your details through comparison sites such as this.

- Make a note of best prices quoted and other aspects of the policy.

- Explain that you'd prefer to renew with their great company, but times are hard and £whateverthedifference is worth changing for.

- They come back with a much better offer and you dont need to bother changing.

Make sure that you have details of the alternative policy such as - Insurer, excess, availability of courtesy car, legal protection insurance, etc.

Keep it friendly and ask for their help, these call centre peeps get treated terribly by most of their customers. If you're nice they will want to help.

Good luck

J

D

Just phone them to cancel from renewal to stop auto-renewal. Then arrange new policy online or if it will not allow, phone the company to arrange new policy. Most companies face this situation every hour of every day, policyholders cancelling and arranging new policies. In fact most companies, if you gave them the new quote details, will reduce the renewal premium to match. They would rather you maintain insurance with them, rather than be hassled and end up going elsewhere.

Huckster

Hmmm, I am not sure if this is going to work after all. I can't put the reg number in if I want to get a quote because it states that I already have a policy with them, and I assume that at some point they are going to want the reg number. The existing policy is set to auto-renew and I can't find a way to turn that off when managing my policy. Maybe the only war around it is to take a new policy without the reg number, then cancel my exiting policy over the phone and then supply them with the reg number for the new policy and hope they do not spot something odd?

D

dacouch:There is a chance that you will not get the Quidco cashback so look at that as a bonus if it comes through

Yes based on what dacouch rightly says above, you might be as well forgetting all the online application "to-ing and fro-ing" and simply phone them instead...stating unless they can match the newer terms for the repeat business that you intend to take your business elsewhere.

Often that can spur them into simply offering the discounts or more just in order to keep the business. !

You are not dense ...it's just me having a laff .....come to think of it I've been here before, could djw stand for DE-JA WU : -- )

Just let the policy expire naturally say at midnight ..whenever date, but renew beforehand online as it will not allow backdating from the same expiry date for the more advantageous terms, that way you will have continuity of cover which will be through two separated policies.

As Jalexa has already stated, ensure your existing policy is not auto-renewable.

NB - Having a second thought on this, although it's feasible to do the above, it has been mentioned in older previous posts that once you place in your personal and car details, it MAY just may produce your old quote.?

D

I was thinking you might leave it until the day of renewal to cancel and set up new. I think a policy renewal expires at 00.01hrs on the renewal date and the new policy starts whenever you arrange it from.

Best to phone in advance of renewal date to cancel from renewal date And also to arrange new policy from renewal date by arranging this ahead of the renewal date.

Huckster

Aplogies for being a bit dense. Just wondering, is it possible to not have a lapse in cover if I will be taking a new policy with the same company I will have just cancelled a policy with? If I phoned up now and told them I was not renewing, could I then take out the new policy online when I have finished that call? Is the cancellation of the policy instant or does it just not renew on the renewal date?

Thanks again.

D

D

Yes you can do this without any problems. Just make sure there is no lapse in cover between cancelling one policy and starting the other.

huckster

Hmmm, looking back at my post I may have not explained it in the best way. You are right Jalexa, my renewal comes up in a week and I have found that the same company is quoting £40 less for new policy, plus there is £85 cashback through Quidco. My main question was, can I call them one morning and tell them that I will not be going through with the renewal and then later that day apply for a new policy online?

Thanks again,

D

Jalexa - I think djw should change their username to ESP !

: -- )

djw:

I think you mean don't renew it. I have done that for years without any problems. Check carefully that auto-renewal is not set for you policy. Usually just asking your insurer will invoke an attempt to retain you business so go armed with quotes including for your current insurer.

I was just wondering if anybod knew if I could cancel my car insurance (as it is up for renewal soon) and then take out a new policy with the same company? Is there something in place where you have a to wait a certain amount of time before you can take out a new policy if you have previously held insurance with the same company?

Hope this makes sense :-)

Thanks,

D