Opinions on insurance renewal?

[Piff]

Wifes car insurance due for renewal in the next couple of days.
Car is Citroen C2, her as main driver, named drivers: me, number 1 son (19 & 1.5 years experience) number 2 son (17 & learning for the last 3 months).
Policy is TPFT, protected NCD.

Renewal quote from Direct Line £677

Tried comparison web sites & lowest was £730

Saw NFU Mutual recommended the other day & asked for a quote - their price £537 and includes legal assistance which Direct Line doesn't.

Phoned Direct Line to ask if they could match the lower price & the best they have come up with is £580

Opinions sought:-
Anyone had experience of claim handling of either company?
Would you stay loyal to Direct Line (have been with them for 3 years) or go with the lower price?
May be NFU Mutual is a better company with a lower price?

 

[philimayfield]

Have had a theft claim handled by NFU some years ago. A bit slow but they compensated with M&S vouchers.

There is no loyalty to you from insurance companies.

NFU is a good company. I'm surprised the quote was so cheap. Usually one of the most expensive. I would go for it.

Phil

 

[Colin_b]

NFU have a good reputation locally (there are a lot of farmers), don't know if that is representative.

 

[wemorgan]

My parents have been with NFU for home and motor insurance for quite a few years.
They rate them highly for customer service, so despite not being the cheapest they stay with them.

 

[flango]

Had experience with Direct Line with SWMBO and they were shocking at claim handling so slow, lost documents would never go near them again, also had bad experience with More Than. NFU reputation is good and I'd certainly give them a shot they can't be any worse than the rest out there.

 

[Rory]

Policy is TPFT, protected NCD.

Have you tried fully comp quotes - bizzarely it's sometimes cheaper?

Also, is protected NCD worth it with TP? If you make a claim then the premium usually gets loaded anyway.

Anyway, if it's TP then how they handle claims doesn't really matter, does it?

When our kids were learning CIS (Co-op) were very good, all our friends used them. They had an any driver any age policy. I am going back a few years though. We made one little claim and it was effortless.

We switched to Liverpool Victoria with a named driver policy and that's been very reasonable, but I just got this years renewal and it's jumped up a huge amount. Will have to do a bit of hunting around.

Perhaps try one of the more specialist brokers, like Adrian Flux?

(This is all on wifey's car, by the way, not my MB!).

 

[crockers]

NFU highly rated.....

 

[Piff]

Time has run out for shopping around, got to finalise tomorrow.
Haven't tried fully comp this time round as TPFT has been cheaper in last 2 years with number 1 son on policy. But will ask NFU tomorrow.
Seems NFU get the thumbs up - thanks for your help guys.

 

[Piff]

Spoke to NFU today. Price for fully comprehensive, legal aid, roadside assistance £562 - a no-brainer decision.

 

[corned]

Result! Nice one.