I can see why people cheat (Motor Insurance - Comments & Tips)

Member Name: cpf1993

Product:	Motor Insurance - Comments & Tips
Date:	05/12/00 (148 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's the law to have car insurance.

Disadvantages: High prices, and what do we get in return?

I have heard a lot of stories recently on the TV about people who risk being caught breaking the law by driving without car insurance. I always thought it was something undertaken by flagrant law-breakers, cheats and generally unscrupulous people. Having seen the costs, I realise what might make people break the law and drive without insurance.

I might only be 25, but in the four years I have been driving I have not made a single claim which would affect my no claims bonus. Yet in spite of this in the last two years my premiums have risen significantly, by what I estimate to be a figure of 25% (for fully comprehensive insurance on a four year-old Nissan Micra).

Of course I will pay for the policy. It is the law and I fully intend to stick by it. Of course the law has us drivers over a barrel on this one, it is compulsory, so they can just about charge us what they like. But what do we get from it?

On two occasions my brother-in-law has been involved in incidents which through no fault of his own have caused his vehicles to be classed as write-offs. On both occasions the two separate insurance companies have taken months to reimburse him as he was entitled to under his policy. This was not so much of a problem second time around, but the first time he no other funds available to him and while he was waiting for the cheque ("Which should be with you shortly, sir") he was forced to take buses and lifts to get to work.

Another friend of mine had his car stolen and vandalised. People witnessed that it was stolen, the police themselves saw the state the car was in. Have the insurance company paid up? No, they are still investigating the situation to make sure that it is not a fraudulent claim. Now I understand their need to check that a claim is a valid one, but this situation has dragged on for months and shows no sign of ending. It is a very stressful situation, coming from a family which needs the money. Furthermore my frie
nd sees it as a slight on his character.

And what should happen if you get involved in a crash with an uninsured driver? Well I have no experience of this, but I have heard stories on the news about the cost coming down on the insured driver. Whether this is true or not I do not know, but it is a very worrying development.

So what do we pay our car insurance policies for? It seems we get very little in return. Overall I worry about what I am paying for when I pay for a policy. I am forced to give my hard earned money over to a company at escalating rates, not even sure of what I will get in return should the worst happen. The state of the industry, the morals of the companies in it and the way in which they treat their customers does not leave me with any confidence in anyone involved in it at all. Therefore I can see why people cheat, but I remain open to be convinced otherwise.

Summary: