Direct Line charging £54.86 to cancel old car insurance policy

[Craftysue]

I've just got a new car so phoned Direct Line to cancel my old insurance. I was expecting an admin charge but I was absolutely gobsmacked to be charged £54.86 just to cancel. Is this the usual amount? I did say to the advisor that it was ridiculous but was told that it was comparable with other companies? I feel well and truly ripped off

It’s similar to the amount I paid with another insurance company.

It will be in your policy terms and conditions. Are you using them for your new policy?

Could you not have just changed your policy to cover the new car? I haven't used direct line for about 10 years after being caught out like this with them but since then I have checked other companies small print when I have taken out new policies and most seem to charge around this amount if you cancel. Think to change a policy, like addint a new car or driver, it's usually an administration fee of around £20

I would have stayed with them but I got a much better quote elsewhere. I've never cancelled a policy before and just had a bit of a shock at the cost tbh. I was expecting about £20!