Hi all.

I've looked back at some threads about car insurance and have deemed that its going to be expensive no matter who i go with.

One question though, I've read that UK NO claims means bugger all over here. Does the same apply with accidents in the UK?

I had one accident about 15 months ago where my car rolled into a Beemer. Will the insurance company take that into account when giving me a quote?

In an ideal world if they won't give you a discount for x amount of no claims bonuses then they shouldn't increase your quote if you did have an accident.

Any ideas?

Our experience only as of 5 weeks ago in Guelph, ON:

Took DVLA transcripts and letters from UK insurance companys (plural as both my wife and I held our own insurance) to local broker who was recommended by local friends.

Got 3 years no claims in Canada because we had:

1. The DVLA transcripts
2. The years and years of proof of no-claims from UK insurers
3. Our Ontario licences on us as we had applied for them the very day we landed (this was approvingly nodded at by Insurance guru )
4. My wife is very persuasive.

However:

My wife did have an accident (rear shunt, her fault) 3 years ago and this did put up the premium but not by much. It does mention this in her documents from UK insurer so no way out of that.

Our insurance for both of us includes our house insurance (discounts for bundling) and came to $2400. Bloody scary I agree but no way near the horror stories that other members have undoubtedly been through. Some had quotes of $5000-$7000.

We did buy a Dodge Caravan because local friends had one and they said it was a lower insurance group (with a 3.3l V6 engine I have my doubts but there you go.).

All in all very painless considering what we thought we might have to pay.

Tips: Bring as much proof of previous insurance as possible and get driving transcipts if you can from DVLA.

Caveats: This is just our experience, from one insurer on a particular day with a particular underwriter and a specific car. It may not work for you.

Good luck

Thanks for ther advice.

Im only looking to lease a Chevrolet Cobalt which should be one of the cheapest vehicles to insure but i didn't bring any DVLA or insurance transcripts with me (I came to Canada on June 2nd 2006). It could take more than a month to sort that out and im hoping to sort out a car in the next few days.

To your knowledge do they do their own checks with the DVLA or insurance detabases? (there is a UK database that all uK insurance companies use. It tracks any accidents you have had with different insurers)

Unclear as what database's they have access to. However, the insurance agent we went with did go away for a while with our documents and when he returned he told us that the underwriter we are now with accepted our documents and would offer us 3 years no claims based upon them.

This alone shows that they have some knowledge of what is going on in the UK insurance field otherwise we would have been offered nil.

Shop around if you can - we did go to a State Farm brokerage on recommendation though they weren't so keen to give us anything.

Oh and don't believe what some folk suggest regarding taking out 6 months insurance in the hope that you'll get a discounted renewal after that period because you would now have an insurance history. Like the UK you only gain no-claims discounts based on a full years insurance history.

Best wishes and remember to keep to the right.

In all fairness, if the situation isn't complicated by my UK records then i should be treated as someone who has just learnt to drive and got their first car. It will be expensive but there shouldn't be any problems....i hope.

byw, is there any reports or listings that show which manufacturors and models are more expensive to insure?

That would be helpful.

DVLA transcripts,

What are these and where do you get them (Don`t say DVLA) I worked that out but what department do you apply

Call this number 01792310075 with credit card in hand they will charge you £5.00 and it should turn up with in a day or too, they will only send the report to the registered license address.

The number is only answered between 8:30 and 12:00 (noon).

Any one know how badly I am going to get stung in BC for having 3 x SP30 (3 points each = 9 points total) endorsements on my license.

Dozzzzy

When I called the DVLC they had not heard of a transcript before? where did you get it from? Ruthie

DVLA transcripts available from the number Sutherlands quoted above. As said, there is a nominal fee of approx £5 per transcript.

Just explain what you want it for to the person on the phone and they should know right away what to do. If not, ask for someone else. That's all we did and it's quite common.

J

We've only got 2 or 3 years no claims each (actually think it might be 4 for hubby) - I have spoken to our insurance company who said they will provide the recommended letter and they will state we have X amount of no claims with them - is this satisfactory or do I need to try and remember who the hell else we insured with over 3 years ago (before we had the claim put in) and if so, is this really useful as we only have the X amount we have now??

Does that make sense?? Think I have confused myself

I hope you're right. When I was looking I was told that the Toyato Yaris / Ford Focus are the same insurance group as a number of SUV's.

What I found difficult was trying to find out the relevant insurance group, There seemed to be no publications etc that advise this you had to go to a broker.