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

A policy in which loyalty is rewarded, not penalised

I left Sheila's Wheels for that reason.

Don't want gimmicks - I usually never get round to using them - I just want a good ongoing price.

I just look for decent prices, hate that they jump so much the next year. Also no charges for making simple changes during year, especially when done online and therefore there are no admin costs involved.
And its nice if they cover everyone rather than depending on your gender, I had to cancel a policy mid year after I got married as I wasn't allowed to add DH to it as he was a man.

Not feeling like if I was a new customer I would get a better rate, and being able to trust my insurance company to provide best price up front.

We don't want free car washes or any extra anythings! As others have said, decent cover, transparency, and no ridiculous price hikes every year!

Cashback when you sign up as an incentive

Trustworthy provider

Able to sign up online but can contact on the phone easily too

Why would you want cash back when they could just charge you a fair price in the first place?

Low excess
Low cost repairs done free (ie. stretch repair / chip on windscreen)
Communication done online
Loyalty scheme
UK based staff / call centre / company

Better price for overseas drivers who are coming with a clean history. We provided 5 years of history saying no claims and rating 1 yet our policy is more than 30% of the car's value! Rip off.

I wouldn't want car washes included, but a proper discount if people can prove they are keeping their car serviced and in good working order (I know MOT is meant to do this).

Agree with not hiking it up for existing customers and then discounting for new. Reward loyalty for once!

Roadside assistance included in premium.

Rental car if yours is off road without making it heaps more expensive.

One free no-fault claim every three years - eg. storm damage, car park drive off where they can't identify the second driver.

Having the claims people not try to get out of paying over something really sneaky but completely unreasonable in the policy.

Fully comprehensive insurance

Breakdown cover

No big price hikes each year!!

Key cover free would also be good.

Small/ no excess. This has deteriorated since the change in insurance for male drivers.
Free windscreen cover
Free call centre
No claims bonus
If you want to keep me - good deal for renewal of policy/customer loyalty scheme. I will switch my car insurance annually for the best price

Generally I don't want free roadside assistance - I have this - or free cover for Europe. If I want the latter I will let you know.

As many have said above, fair pricing without hikes on renewal til you phone up. Also no admin charge for simple changes during the year. The ability to add visiting friends, including from overseas, on for a couple of weeks would be really useful too.

Low excess
Puncture repairs covered, we have loads of potholes around us :(
Window cover
Quick and easy helpline
User friendly website
No get out clauses when you try and claim
Most importantly a renewal price that beats or matches others on the market so you don't have to ring round every time checking you are not getting ripped off

Sensible price
One page policy written in clear and simple English
Friendly and speedy phone service
Speedy settling of issues
NO gimmicks or freebies - unwanted and we all know they are paid for by us somewhere along the line
Just stick to your own business and do it well and at a fair and consistent price - a lot of people would rather just stay with the same insurer each year if the price is right
Keep it simple

Every year I go through the whole performance of comparing quotes and changing insurers because I know I can always beat the renewal quote. Surely it would be better for you to encourage loyalty and keep customers.
I'm not interested in pointless extras like car washes but I do like to make sure I have a truly comprehensive cover. Courtesy car and protected no claims discount for example. I'd like it to be clearer what exactly is included.
Also my job never fits into one of your categories. If I tell you what my job is I don't then want to spend 20 minutes on the phone helping you to find the right box to tick.

Cheaper car insurance for experienced drivers. Loyalty bonus / discount. Free telephone number to call to make a claim.
Protected no claims bonus.
No huge price hike if you do have to claim.

•Competitive pricing without having to haggle
•No quibbles over a hire car - I need my car for work
•Sensible excess
•rewarding loyalty

Just a competitive price and a reward for loyalty. No gimmicks thank you.

Don't charge me £50 to go elsewhere at the end of the year when you hike your prices by £200.

Sensible pricing with regards to risk. I live on a small island with fewer than 1000 people. Why are you charging me the same as someone who lives in Birmingham?

Really clear listing of what's in and out (eg European drivers cover), and a no fuss way of adding the cover if you discover you need it.

Competitive renewal prices.

No fuss - the idea of "free" car washes (or the like) just strikes me as hidden additional cost.

Another one who would like loyalty rewards for existing customers and not the cycle of hiked up renewal quote, online comparing and the negotiations to get the same price as other or indeed yr own were offering online.
No price increases for more children - when I added my baby this year i was told my price would increase by £75. When I queried why - I was too it was because babies might cry?? Eh??
I do v v low mileage - around 1000 miles a years and was told this was unbelievable when I rang for renewal. A reasonable discount would be more in order!
The idea of a number of carwashes is a joke surely?? I would prefer to have an easy process for application and renewal, an efficient and effective communication system, no hard sell to get me to buy extras.

Good prices
Decent call centre with English speaking staff
I'm a sucker for a gimmick tho - my car insurance with compare the market comes with cinema tickets. I have used it once but still...
Car washes, well yes good idea but I bet in my rural area there wouldn't be a provider.
A free winter car check would be good. Somewhere you could take your car in and they could check the tyres, wipers, screen wash etc so you knew you were all prepared.
Maybe a link with a tyre place with a Voucher for discount on winter tyres?
Fuel voucher?
Did I mention I'm a sucker for a gimmick!!

UK based call centres, preferably with a freephone number.

Not hiking the price on renewal, then making me call to get you to match the online "new customer" price.

Decent hold music (I still have nightmares about having to call Churchill for work ten years ago and getting a bad version of "Hound Dog" overlaid with Churchill saying "but I'm a bulldog not a hound dog")

Multi-car policies that can be comparison checked online (even if it is just against your own "new customer" price)

No requirement for me to prove No Claims within the same group of companies - why should I have to wait for company A to send me the piece of paper, then forward it on to company B, when you're all owned by SuperInsuranceGroupXYZ anyway.

I am not too worried about extras like car washes etc but i would want all key things to be covered.

With a big family, I think a 'like for like' courtesy car is important and also replacement car seat cover if an infant seat is involved in an accident.

Other than that really just confidence in the brand, good helplines and reassurance that they are there for me if i ever need to claim.

Getting the basics right is more important than frilly unwanted extras that we are likely to forget about like the car wash idea.

Not fussed about extras, just want a solid policy with a reasonable excess, competitive premiums and good service. Things like arranging pickup if car needs repair and providing a temp. Replacement as standard are also good. Plus basics like not taking hours to answer the phone.

UK call centres and being able update /amend details/policy online.