Direct Line Motor Insurance

[Newportnobby]

You may have seen on the TV Direct Line are offering a rebate if you don't do the annual mileage stipulated when you took the policy out, even if Covid-19 interrupted your mileage. Sounds good, yes?
So why am I, suspicious  that I am, wondering how and when this is likely to come back and bite me on the bum haunt me at some point?
How could they use such info to somehow penalise me down the road somehow?

[ntpntpntp]

Seems a bit paranoid to me.  What on earth are you worried about?? 

I've signed up for it and recorded the mileage on all of our cars.  My main car's only done about 20 miles since March, and with my company wanting to move to working from home for good I'll definitely be doing less mileage.

[njee20]

Yeah, there's been quite a bit of pressure on insurers to offer rebates as cars have sat idle for weeks. Can't think of any reason it could bite you.

[Trainfish]

Didn't have to ask mine. Admiral refunded £25 on each of our cars months ago. I'm not complaining at £50 back or what may happen in future years from them as I can change at the end of the 12 month period anyway 

[Snowwolflair]

There was an idea some years ago that cars that are MOT tested could log their MOT mileage with their insurers for discounts.  It was a double edged sword and dropped as it turned out when a survey was done that 80% of drivers would have to pay more as they understate their mileage.

[N_GaugeModeller]

Don't worry they will soon get it back when they say because you drive less you are more at risk of having an accident

[daffy]

DVSA make MOT data available to many anyway* and in the event of a claim an insurer will routinely check mileage history this way, so there is nothing to be particularly suspicious about unless you are claiming to do, say 10,000 miles a year but are actually doing far more.
So if DL are offering discounts if you will drive less than stated when you took up the insurance, take the money and buy a train. Or maybe just a grain or two of ballast? . Bet the 'discount' ain't great, even if you do half the mileage.

Worth noting that many motor insurers have been found to charge higher premiums for lower mileage drivers.
This makes interesting reading: https://www.bymiles.co.uk/insure/magazine/research-low-mileage-drivers-pay-more-for-car-insurance/


[* https://dvsadigital.blog.gov.uk/2018/01/05/opening-up-our-mot-history-data/ ]

[Newportnobby]

Paranoid I may be but my mother was quoted a higher premium when she tried to reduce her mileage thinking it would be cheaper.
I reckon any benefit wouldn't even buy a Brio loco

[N_GaugeModeller]

I have just been through the shopping around to find cheaper car insurance saga.

Direct Line wanted to charge me  £400 if I was the only one insured, but if I added my registered blind wife as a second driver it went down to £300  .

Ended up with another well known company for £200.

NGM

[daffy]

About 7500 is the average UK car drivers mileage, and I was told earlier this year by an insurance advisor that less than that is "likely" to mean a higher premium with some insurers. This is perhaps because low mileage means rusty drivers! (my words, not hers)

So despite having only done 8000 in the last year I'm keeping my advised mileage at 10k.

And if you have a renewal coming up, whatever the mileage and the premium quoted, shop around and NEVER accept the renewal price first offered - and that's true for ALL insurances. My home insurance renewal quote last week for instance, was 35% up on last year. After a telecall or two to the provider it was reduced to just 4% up. And I've not accepted that yet as I'm shopping around as usual.