What do you want from your Car Insurance policy? Share with Sheilas' Wheels for a chance to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!NOW CLOSED!

[ZaneMumsnet]

We’ve been asked by Sheilas' Wheels to find out what Mumsnetters want from their Car Insurance policy.

They say "we appreciate that Car insurance isn't something you think about every day, however, should you need it you want to know everything is covered."

So what would be your ideal car insurance policy? Should it include a number of complimentary car washes each year? Any extras to keep your family safe when motoring?

Whatever you’d like from your car insurance policy, Sheilas' Wheels would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Who knows, you could help shape the future of car insurance?

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks,
MNHQ
Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Online communication that goes beyond initial front line staff. No point registering for wrbchat and telling a bot my question, only to be told that if you need to speak to that dept, you have to phone...

Letters that make it clear at the top which sheets you need to keep and whether they are just a quote or an actual certificate of insurance.

Simple checklists of what is/isn't included, and quotes to include prices for adding/removing hire car, windscreen cover, etc. Courtesy car to include same number of seats as own car and to be provided until claim is settled without threats of being charged at hire car rates after the event. (RAC eventually backed down)

Claims to be dealt with in timely fashion, and shouldn't be down to us to supply police statements to you.

When get renewal quote over the phone, don't lose your quote and then charge me a random amount a week later when you suddenly decide an extra adult will be £100 more than last week. No change in risk but the delay was because you told me I just needed drivers name and address, but then when trying to buy the policy needed their entire licence number and the day not just year they passed.

And what's with using to post certs of no claims now rather than just calling the previous insurers themselves?

Free filling of windscreen chips, access to local and reputable garages for repairs, reasonable excesses and a courtesy car as standard. Also protected No Claims Bonus

Free phone number or national rate not expensive 0871 numbers.

Courtesy car

I always pay for the legal cover but not sure if I need to.

Good value

I want a reasonable amount of cover at a fair price. I don't want to have to faff around shopping around every renewal, its so un-necessary! I've never claimed on any kind of insurance policy in my life, I've got no accidents or points on my licence. I just want a basic policy and fair treatment and good customer service and for everything to be as simple as possible!

Apart from the obvious - reasonable excess, good customer service, clear policy - I would like (maybe even pay extra for) a kind of 'scratch cover'. Once a year the insurance company would pay for any minor scratch or minor dent repairs.

Wishful thinking!

Apart from the obvious if you were going to do something gimmicky id say free parking in certain spots e.g. Free parking at any ringgo car park up to a certain amount during the year.

A straightforward claims process - friendly open staff and no hidden clauses! UK call centers which offer a call back option so that you're no on hold for ages building up a massive bill - it's the last thing you need when you've potentially just had an accident/car issue!

I don't see the point in gimmicks. I don't want vouchers or stuffed toys, or discounts on other products. I want lower prices, lower excess, good emergency care and a helpful, reliable system.

Clear and straighforward cover with optional extras easy to add on at reasonable prices.
Cover for driving abroad included with a simple online form to fill in for when it's required.
Changes to or cancelling policys should be hassle and cost free.
Genuine discounts for loyal customers.
Free no claim bonus protection

Low prices every year not just the 1st year.
Companies do not show loyalty to customers so I have realised that I shouldn't show loyalty to companies.

No hidden charges or nasty surprises really. I'd like to know I was covered in all aspects. Recently, a friend of a friend lost her car due to severe flooding in the area and her insurance company said she wasn't covered for flood damage, even with comprehensive insurance. I would like to know I was covered for things like this, should they happen.

I am in absolute agreement with many people on here, I want rewarding for being a loyal customer, I understand enticing new customers but it makes no sense if you lose the old ones! Most of us want to be loyal, it's easier for us!! Courtesy cars that are like for like ( I have a Nissan quashqai, had a courtesy car 2 years ago, a small 2 door Peugeot my 6'5 husband couldn't get in!) Nobody really cares about gimmicks, they care about what they have to pay.

I want the best possible price with no gimmicks and no hidden nasties.

A reasonable excess and no silly clauses.

And I want to be given new customer discounts every year instead of price hikes

All inclusive that means all inclusive. I'm lucky - my insurer offers everything with a competitive price! knowing that I got the best deal is fantastic but I am always wary about what would happen if I had to claim

No gimmicks or rewards for just new policy holders.
I just want a fair price and the same benefits for new and existing policy holders

Good customer service at a reasonable price with a low excess

Reliable, fuss free support and clear English in the policy documents.

To stop putting the cost up at every renewal date. This just means I have to go trawling around comparison and websites looking for a better deal. Surely if I didn't make a claim during the year then you would think it should not go up but every year no matter who you are with it does!

UK Call centres are a must.

i dont want to be penalised just cause other people near me have made claims bumping up the cost cause of where i live, i want the policy to not have bits in the small print that are not made clear in the rest of it, i dont want it to go sky high the year after i first take it out.

I want the best price every year with no hikes - I hate the car insurance hunt. Don't get me wrong, I do it every year because I refuse to be ripped off. What really gets on my nerves is when I go on a comparison site and the best price is my current bloomin' insurer! If that's the price you can offer it for, why have you sent me a letter asking for £200+ more than that!?

clear, easy to understand terms

minimised excess/risk to me as a driver

clear costings

strong no-claims incentives

A discount for customer loyalty or at least offered renewal at the best price....there should not be a higher renewal price offered to existing customers. It's very annoying to be offered one price by your current insurer only to go onto a comparison site and find that as a 'new' customer the price is much cheaper!

UK call centres...this is nothing to do with race, I'm happy to speak to anyone in the UK but call centres outside of the U.K. have obvious culture differences in the way that conversations flow. Often Indian call centre staff are too formal and polite and the conversation is stilted and strange.

I'd like to be able to track the progress of any claim on an app.

I think that call centres should be more customer focused in terms of how the customer is treated on the phone (empathy) and should be allowed more flexibility. Too often call centre staff are treated like children with no room for flexibility which then impacts on the customer with a 'the computer says no' kind of attitude.

what I would like is no charge for monthly payments and yearly hike ups when you have not made a claim....I understand that company's need to make profits but come along...it seems unfair to careful drivers

Never had to claim, but I'm sure a replacement/courtesy car woluld be useful.

My key criteria are:

• UK call centres
• Online account for viewing policy and making claims
• Courtesy car of equivalent size to my main vehicle
• Sensible prices with Quidco style cash back for renewing rather than moving my policy to get these incentives