I've done some IT work for insurance companies in the past, and one of the criteria they provide when they go out for quotes is the business type - New Business is quoted significantly lower than renewal, so it's no coincidence that your premiums go up, and then you can get them back to the previous levels by shopping around.

Until fairly recently this is how I got all of my cars. I'd buy an old car that was an insurance right off, from body work and then replace the panels with ones from a scrap yard (with the help of my dad who was a mechanic). Its a little bit more of a hassle with the ministry getting them re-approved as road worthy.

That said, I paid 125 for a car that lasted another five years (including the cost of the MOT, re-registration and door panel - although it was a slightly different silver).

Its astonishing how wasteful the automotive trade actually is in order to promote the new and second hand market (and Bodyshops notoriously overcharge on quotes for insurance companies).

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

But still marketing as Tesco's.

Cut price and s*** service.

in my experience all insurance companies, big or small, cheap or expensive are great at providing cover. Its when you need them to pay out that all of em will wiggle and squirm to do anything possible to avoid it. B@$t@rds, the lot of em. waiting 3 years for a claim to be sorted at the mo which affects premium massively. thats allianz. not exactly a minnow eh hoof?