Insurance Renewals or Not!

Last October I SORNed the motorhome for the winter (for the firsttime) and cancelled the vehicle insurance as storage location is pretty secure.

A few weeks ago I sought an insurance quote for 2013 for the same vehicle from the same broker. The quote used the same Insurance company and was reasonable. Having seen many leaflets I also however contacted CC/Devitt explaining the situation. Their quote was a little less after the £25 'beat renewal' discount and I signed up.

Devitt requested NCB confirmation from the previous broker and I was surprised to see this was not given on their renewal letter so called CC to see how best to get the NCB info.

Restating the current sitution, I was then told, as there had been a non-insured time period, the document from my last broker was not technically a renewal (despite my saying the format was virtually identical) and so no £25 discount could be given and in fact the policy would be £27 more.

I said that I had disclosed all the relevant info in the original call in good faith thinking that I had received a renewal quote from my previous broker. Devitt subsequently listened to that call and confirmed that although I had said it was SORNed I had not clearly said it was not currently insured. ( I dispute this but have not heard the call copy). They would thus not re-instate the renewal discount.

In the event I decided to stick with the costlier CC as their cover was better in a few areas (excess, days abroad, NCB protection) despite my feeling not very reasonably treated.

Anyway I have at least learned and pass on to you all....

If you discontinue insurance on a SORNed vehicle you will not be able to take advantage of any insurance company 'beat renewal quote' offers as you will not get a renewal quote, even if from your previous insurer!

This, together with insurance cancellation charges, makes the saving from say 4 month SORN and tax refund somewhat less attractive. As usual, insurance companies win either which way!

Any comments/experiences from others or do not many of us take their MHs off the road in winter?