Just received the renewal notice for my car insurance. Pleasantly surprised by the premium – down about 20% on last years premium.

However, they have added a new clause to the excess that I have never seen before. Excess £250 as before but an additional excess of £200 if I do not use their approved repairer.

Historically, I have never used the approved repairers I have always chosen a local firm who specialize is Astons, Ferraris and Bentleys and the like. I have always exercised, what I thought was a right under comprehensive insurance to choose the repairer of your choice, and waive my rights to a courtesy car (Garage will give you one anyway)

Car is a 3 year old Audi so would obviously prefer to have any work done by a VAG approved shop.

Anybody else seen a clause like this recently? Or is it a recent trend

My immediate thoughts are to call them and see if by paying a higher premium I can remove the additional £200 excess clause

Which insurer?
I'd just bin them off

theve probably screwed the approved garages right down on price, so you using somebody could cost them a few quid more.
I work with a lot of car lease companies who have heavily discounted rates with there approved garages.

As long as these "approved" garages offer warranties on their work why worry, using premium brand repair shops aren't always the best IMHO I had a Jag repaired at a Jag Specialist body shop and the repair was crap to say the least, took them 3 goes to get a half decent finish.

Renewal quote is never the cheapest. Even the same insurer will be almost certainly be cheaper if you apply as a new customer. Its a pain but you have to shop around. They make lots money from apathy.

Mrs had a Citroen repair done by a Citroen bodyshop (not insurers). Repair rusted within 12 months (where new door skin met frame) and after they corrected this the door fell off when she opened it – fortunately without our toddler son being anywhere nearby, it was the rear passenger door which was routinely the door used to get him in his car seat.

Renewal quote is never the cheapest. Even the same insurer will be almost certainly be cheaper if you apply as a new customer. Its a pain but you have to shop around. They make lots money from apathy.

For the most part I'd agree with you, but Ive just had a renewal quote that cant be beaten by shopping around. Some of the "cheap" firms have come in at double and told me to take the renewal price!

Thanks – the insurer is Aviva or whatever they are called. Only been with them a year so will look around but I would be very surprised if I can find anything cheaper (ignoring the excess penalty)

My renewal quote was around £450 cheaper than any other new quote I could get (even from specialist insurers).

Sometimes staying is the cheapest option 🙂

Its a pain but you have to shop around.

With comparison websites is it that much of a pain anymore?

If you are not an accident risk etc I dont know why insurers rip off potential repeat customers? My boss (9yrs NCD) didnt realise that she was paying over double the going rate (after we had run price comparisons)- she had been with her insurer for over 4yrs and just assumed it was the industry-proceedure. Funnily they halved their renewal quote when questioned for one minute by her. Bastids.