Chris_C wrote:Are you ringing these companies or using bloodyexpensivecomparisonwebsite.com?
Phone quotes are always cheaper than internet quotes. Are you declaring the 440 alloys? I imagine that will be making the quote sky high, you need a super stock car when you just passed. The 2.0 isn't going to be helping, I found my 1.4 was much cheaper until I had 2 years driving down and got my first GLT.
As to whether a car is cheaper for you, in your postcode, this week, the only way to find out is ring and talk to the person on the other end of the phone. Ring specialist companies, say you are part of an owners club if you can (V3M counts for lots of companies, else join the VOC) Just spend constant time on the phone, getting reasonable insurance at your age isn't a given right, you have to put the time in.
Hi Chris - yeah most have been phone quotes! Spent the past few days just about permanently on the phone!
I haven't been declaring the wheel change - with them being actual Volvo wheels... as you say that would just boost it even higher - that is the only thing really that isn't standard on my car though.
I have called quite a few specialist companies too - but most of them wont quote due to my age

the goalpost is either 21/25 whereas I am only 18. I have also been saying about being part of VOC and here, which has made a difference to a few.
Getting quite a headache now... and a phone bill to boot! Thanks for your help though.
Evoman wrote:holy cow!! I always ring the companys, I am very shocked at that price
Yeah I was quite surprised myself.... damn annoying - cheers for your help though Bud.
Alanovich wrote:Try Sureterm Direct - I pay £150 a year with them for my 360 2.0. I am 41 though.......

Hi Al, We gave Sureterm a ring - but unfortunately they don't cover under 23 year olds

seems an odd age too! As above though - thank you for your help and suggestions
macplaxton wrote:I'd try popping down to a local broker and dig for information?
There's a basic premium and added to it according to your circumstances are
loadings and
discounts.
Try and find out what the general amounts of these loadings and discounts amount to.
When I was 17 (<

), I remember my first quote was explained by a 95% age loading, which went down about 5% a year, so being 18 wasn't going to make much difference either (unless it was 18 + having a licence an extra year). Another thing was postcode. For the motorcycle, the areas were crudely divided into four areas, 1 city centre / 4 rural and the difference between 1 and 4 was 100%, therefore it was twice the money in the city compared to the sticks and this was for third-party only insurance! (on the old NU rider policy they didn't offer fire & theft until you were 28). Loading for an accident was some of the order of 35%, so avoid crashing and making a claim like the plague..(If you did a £1000 of damage, they'll have it back out of your pocket and some more over the next 3 years.)
Anyway, try and find out which bit of your circumstances is doing you over. Age you can do nothing about. Postcode, very little, unless you fancy moving out and the occupation. Being unemployed ain't good on insurance, nor is student, footballer, entertainer or publican.
Hi Mac,
Thanks for all of that! It seems that the main factors making things expensive are:
a) my age [18]
b) how long i've held my license [3 days] and
c) having no driving experience in their eyes! Obviously the fact that my car is a 360 GLT doesn't exactly help with it's 2.0i engine and insurance group 9!....
As for employment - I am employed full time in IT/Media, so hopefully that doesn't affect my quotes too much.
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I have just received a quote of £1400 for a 340 1.4 - so I am undecided whether to get a 1400cc 340 or not....
Thanks again for all of your help and as ever keep the suggestions rolling in.
Matt.