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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Car insurance during lockdown

92 replies

Bearnecessity · 09/04/2020 13:54

I am currently paying £85 a month car ins on DS car sat on the drive in lockdown potentially for months.Anyone managed to sort this problem out?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bearnecessity · 09/04/2020 15:05

Pernicious there is a question.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bearnecessity · 09/04/2020 15:07

Pernicious you now appear to be having a go at my DS and are still making statements of the obvious.

OP posts:
DontStandSoCloseToMe · 09/04/2020 15:12

Why doesn't he join the goodSam NHS volunteer group, seems he has plenty of time and a vehicle to use. I'm sure he could be useful

Leaannb · 09/04/2020 15:14

@Bearneccisity You are still using the insurance whether or not you are driving it. The policy is still protecting the car from theft storm damage etc

BarbaraofSeville · 09/04/2020 15:14

Sadly you probably won't get anywhere with this. Insurance policies come with all manner of add on fees these days if you want to change anything, so you rarely get anything back as any refund would be swallowed up by admin fees.

All a consequence of wanting to be at the top of the comparison site list with the lowest price. They have to make their money back somewhere else.

One bonus will be that he's not using petrol and also has much reduced his chance of having a claim if he's not driving so better chance of getting that extra year's no claims bonus.

perniciousdot · 09/04/2020 15:17

Pernicious you now appear to be having a go at my DS and are still making statements of the obvious.

Eh? Having a go at your DS? How??

And yes, I am stating the obvious. You do not want to cancel so you will have to pay. Not sure what else you could possibly expect anyone to say? It has been suggested that he calls the insurance company more than once as well.

AdobeWanKenobi · 09/04/2020 15:17

It could burst into flames with an electrical fault.
It could be stolen.
It could be crashed into on your drive (it happens)
It could have a trampoline land on it in high winds.

Original poster
Bearnecessity · 09/04/2020 15:19

That's true Barbara.

OP posts:
vanillandhoney · 09/04/2020 15:23

He is not a key worker nor does he make essential trips. I am starting to wonder how many people are making casual trips out

Well, you're still allowed to go to the shops to buy food and you don't need to be a key worker to still be going to work Hmm

It's not the insurance company's fault that he's not shopping or working, is it? So you can either continue to pay the insurance and claim the benefits or get it SORN'd.

Original poster
Bearnecessity · 09/04/2020 15:23

Stop it Adobe you are making me laugh now...arrgghh Pernicious I'd not thought of an email or a phone call 😂

OP posts:
perniciousdot · 09/04/2020 15:25

arrgghh Pernicious I'd not thought of an email or a phone call 😂

What is wrong with you?

Instead of laughing at people's suggestions just tell tour DS to call the insurer.

comingintomyown · 09/04/2020 15:28

Don’t see how anyone could get this sorted as you put it.

Cancel and lose building one year no claims bonus but save monthly premium or pay it . I wouldn’t waste my time asking the insurers what can do done and I’m no champion of insurers but why should they be responsible.

I would just let it go, I find car ownership full of annoying things and yes I too am paying for my car to just sit on the drive

FunkyKingston · 09/04/2020 15:33

Funky you must be one of the few people in the world vehemently defending the rights of insurance companies to fleece people.

No quite the opposite. Just in this situation you're being unreasonable.

You or your son agreed a contract, were clearly happy with the price and agreed to the cancellation clauses.

Original poster
Bearnecessity · 09/04/2020 15:39

How sad that we live in a world that accepts that insurers don't have to be responsible ....I am sure that I will end up sucking it up. I appreciate all the advice everyone...you have helped me while away an hour on lockdown...over and out.

OP posts:
LittleLittleLittle · 09/04/2020 15:39

YABU

I'm extremely vulnerable and my car has been sitting outside my window for 3 weeks. I have a minimum of another 10 weeks of my car sitting there gathering dust. The only other person currently insured to drive it lives about 20 miles away in a different household.

When I try and start my car the battery will probably be flat.

So not only will I be paying for car insurance I will have to buy a new battery. However at least if wierd things happen to it, it is insured.

This is one of the downsides of having a car e.g. if to cannot use your car for any reason for a prolonged period you are still paying for it.

TwerkForTeachers · 09/04/2020 15:42

If you have a black box, you might find that they reduce your premium because they'll know the number of miles has reduced.

Original poster
Bearnecessity · 09/04/2020 15:42

PS. There's a lot of repitition on here.

OP posts:
vanillandhoney · 09/04/2020 15:43

How sad that we live in a world that accepts that insurers don't have to be responsible

Eh? Where has anyone said that?

Your son isn't using his car right now. Same as millions of other people. But you have a choice - stop insuring it (and therefore stop using their services) or you can continue to insure it and get the benefits of that.

It's not unfair at all. Keeping the car insured has its benefits and by paying, you continue to receive those benefits.

copycopypaste · 09/04/2020 15:49

Stick it on the driveway and sorn it. If you cancel the insurance and it gets damaged, bucked it catches fire you're up shit creak.

copycopypaste · 09/04/2020 15:49

Creek Grin

Thefaceofboe · 09/04/2020 15:53

I think you will just have go pay it unless you SORN It. Everyone is in the same position right now

HollyGoLoudly1 · 09/04/2020 15:53

I understand the frustration but I do think YABU. Everyone with cars who are now WFH, furloughed etc. are in the exact same position. We're still receiving the 'service' i.e. our cars are still insured whether or not we're using them as much, or indeed at all, therefore we still have to pay.

The lockdown won't last forever and he'll need his car when it ends surely? What if he goes back to work in a month? By the time you gave notice to cancel, paid whatever fees are due, you would be just as well keeping the policy anyway.

Dishwashersaurous · 09/04/2020 15:55

But he could be working- lots of very short term jobs at supermarket

QuitMoaning · 09/04/2020 16:04

If you SORN it, tell the Insurer and they will probably reduce the cover to the minimum, so you are covered for fire and theft but you don’t need to pay the full amount. I bet they will say yes as it is reduced risk.

bottlenose301 · 09/04/2020 17:09

Yes agree with majority on here.

Everyone is in the same boat pretty much. Your DS can try calling or emailing but of course they have no obligation to reduce the cost.

Also, you will get a lot of repetition on a thread like this, it's not like there are a huge many options here.

Swipe left for the next trending thread