I was absolutely gobsmacked with mouth wide open when Youi quoted me $4000 a year for car insurance, when both NRMA and Allianz quoted ~$1000. All same parameters obviously. Over a few years I would have paid more insurance than the car is worth!
What is wrong with them??
Youi is all over the place, used to offer having no additional excess for being under 25 or less than 5 years which they recently dropped.
Used to do roadside with any full comp, not sure if that's still going.
Youi are useless. Expensive is you're under 40. Getting a quote on their website is painful. Avoid.
My experience with Youi. Ask you a million more questions than the other companies & then come back with a quote 3 to 4x more. Can't believe they are still in business
Youi don't want your business if you are higher risk, that's their business model. But if you are prepared to pay they will grudgingly accept your extortionate fees.
i just (5 minutes ago) bougth car insurance - comprehensive for a 2013 outlander.
previous policy with coles expires tomorrow. they wanted $625 to renew (had paid $315 the year before when they had a deal going). did an online quote 2 weeks ago and it was $434. did another quote on tuesday and it was quoted $387. just did a quote at lunch and it was $323 (bought this)
all of these were the exact same information entered.
I'm just going to come out and say it … these cheap insurance mobs worry me.
I very rarely make a claim (last one was over 12 years ago), but gee, I just want it to go through if and when I do claim. These guys just have to be cutting costs somewhere. It's a pretty simple equation … you can't pay out more than you collect in. So if they're collecting less in, does that mean they're paying less out?
ah yes the old - its cheaper then its got to be worse, cut corners etc - "Get what you pay for" truisms
Pay more get more. Hell why even come here to Ozbargain, because you'll never get anything better than what you pay for LOL
From what you are telling us, the OP's Youi quote at $4K vs $1K will mean they will get their car repaired faster better. They will get Youi rewards and a free coffee at the repair shop. Brewed of course by a topless barista , with gold leaf cake etc etc
Insurance premiums can be cheaper if the insurer can eliminate costs like fraud, and high risk drivers. Not just by cutting repair costs.
$3K extra for fluff? It's completely opposite to their ads - that they're cheaper than others.
I used to be with Youi a few years ago and they were certainly one of the cheaper. Now they're just on drugs.
Thanks Rocky … what insights can you offer on any specific insurers that may persuade me to change my mind?
I see a "bargain" as the best value choice. The best value does not always equal cheapest.
Sorry no can do, as I havent made a claim in for many any years.
I was just pointing out that cutting repair costs isnt the only way to offer cheaper insurance. BTW I wasnt advocating the cheapest. I do agree best value is the best bargain.
Problem here is that like everything, without true facts (vs internet "experiences") its hard to tell the reputation of any one insurer. We all read that X Y and Z customers have had issues, and A B and C also. Now if A had only 1 customer with an issue, but only 10 policy holders, then thats a real issue.
Just below AAMI seems to have issues, and they arent cheap! Guess AAMI had to pay for Rhonda's trips to Bali to visit Ketut
Maybe off topic a little in terms of providers, but I was with AAMI who I thought were an ok provider. Somebody side swiped my vehicle - it went to AAMI's repair shop - in and out in no time. They missed one whole panel, fish eyes in the paint, overspray etc. I had to to get the MTA involved - who helped me get it sorted. It went to my preferred repairer for a clean up of the mess AAMI made.
I learnt - cheap is not always the best - and jumped to NRMA after that experience!
Cheap insurers tend to have their own workshops, and part of the conditions are that you repair at their chosen repairer: guess who?
Now, what do you think are the chances that their workshop will be directed to repair the very minimum they can get away with?
On a car which you do not care much for, it's not a problem at all. As long as the thing runs and looks half decent its a repair job done. Last time I did that on my old car I got it back with zip ties holding some panels rather than proper fasteners (found out much much later of course). Panel alignments were also just that little bit off. Btw, that lifetime guarantee with repairs means nothing as soon as you drive off: they will just claim you've done something to it since.
I made sure my insurance allows for my choice of repairer with the new car, and I sleep better at night knowing that. I do have to pay a hundred more a year for the privilege though. Already been through the claims process once (car broken into), and everything I pointed out was fixed. This included the door trim that had some scratches and detailing which removed all the broken glass.
On the nail. Insurance company have there preferred workshop because they have a business contract with them.
One of the conditions is all work done are at a discounted rate for them and in return, insurance will supply them with constant work (damage cars).
Say a repair bill is $5k, the workshop may have to do it for $4.5k instead.
That's $500 they lose out on there bottom line and they will have find another way to make up for it elsewhere usually in the form of shortcuts.
Shortcuts could be dodgy work, rush jobs, using 2nd hand or non-genuine parts, dodgy repairs of damage panels, mismatch of colour or shade, damage underneath the car left unrepaired, applying a thin layer of paint and clear coat, not applying flex regent etc.
You'll may notice some workshops will ask if it's an insurance or private job.
Some may even ask which insurance company, full or 3rd party job and refuse.
Certain insurance companies are a nightmare for workshops to deal with.
You should be thinking WHY doesn't my insurance let me choose my own repairer?
Don't let the "choice of repairer" statement fool you if you have to go get multiply quotes; one of you choice, one of their preferred choice and one internally.
If they have the final say who gets the job usually the cheapest one out of the lot, then you don't really have a say on "choice of repairer" like the policy says.
I noticed all of them do say that they will need to have their own assessor have a look, and if the cost quoted was reasonable they would pay.
I was a little skeptical about that, but since all the insurers I had a look at said the same thing I didn't have a choice.
But the latest repair as mentioned has gone without a hitch at my choice of repairer so I'm happy. Even managed to claim the cost of some of the lost items back as well.
And how do you know the repairer of "your choice" does quality work.
So your statement which "sounds good"
Shortcuts could be dodgy work, rush jobs, using 2nd hand or non-genuine parts, dodgy repairs of damage panels, mismatch of colour or shade, damage underneath the car left unrepaired, applying a thin layer of paint and clear coat, not applying flex regent etc.
Only applies if you know how to tell
The average joe (inc me) would have no idea if they used 2nd hand parts. And what the hell is a flex regent!!
It again goes to the problem, that if you are experienced in car repairs then you are
I dont even know where any repairer is at this point in time, let alone who I might effectvely choose
Now for something important. How long is the piece of string….
It really on you to determine if "your choice of repairer" does quality work.
I'm fortune enough to know someone (fellow car enthusiast) who runs his own workshop and sat down with me to explain how the insurance industry works, the process of repairs, common dodgy practices, idiots who don't understand basic chemistry paint mixing ratios where 0.1g, 0.01g or even 0.001g makes a difference to the paint shade output.
Many workshops use weight scales that only support 1 decimal place due to cost.
So from their POV, 0.20g-0.29g are the same weight because the scales shows 0.2g. But the chemistry might be at 0.24g the paint shade changes till the next titration point of 0.38g where it changes again etc.
Anyone with a good eye will be able to tell the difference between the colour shades. They can tell you which panel has been resprayed because it doesn't match up with the rest of the car.
Sorry its actually called Flex Agent. Typo.
Ignore the sale of the product but listen to the concept of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB9GhkA_j3A
Another good video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wGaKKthukU
You should be able to accidentally hit or kiss an object without the paint flaking off.
Flex agent are not CHEAP! One of the most common practice is using the bare minimum of it for the paint to stay on the curve section of the plastic (bumper). But a light push and paint will start to peel/flake off.
You will not know how much the workshop has use until you've expose it to some form of stress or they tell you.
Unless the workshop is transparent with you, then you won't know if they are using OEM, 2nd hand or replicate replacement parts.
My workshop only uses OEM parts because they have been crash tested and fitment is guaranteed.
Like SPCTRE said, it's up to you to find someone who does quality work, instead of leaving it up to your insurer, with their choice of repairer that has a conflict of interest to keep repairs to the bare minimum, rather than back to the standard the car was before the insurance claim.
I don't know what a flex agent is, I don't know a good repairer from bad, but I have the gift of having family and friends, as well as the internet, to ask which repairer other people have found to have been good.
@CMH: Of course family and friends that make sense.
As for internet. I really doubt that, there is so much information manipulation on the internet you cant tell, unless you have access to things like ip addresses of posters etc etc.
Here at Ozbargain they have checks on sockpuppetting etc to avoid fake reviews/posts. but even then they dont stop all the spammers and scammers.
Would you know if my Uncle is CEO of Cheapripoff insurance Pty Ltd?, maybe only if their surname is Raccoon!! LOL
I've only heard bad things about youi from anyone so I haven't bothered seeking a quote. I have found best quotes from AAMI, RACQ and NRMA.
The reason YOUI asks a million questions during quote time, is because if you ever need to make a claim later and they find out one of the questions answered doesn't match what they see, then your claim is VOID!
Over 50s specialists, car specialists, 50 dollar gift card, win a trip to goodwood
Not to mention some like QBE demand to know everytime you have a speeding fine (lol)