Online companies 'can't find' my car!

sheriff · Post by **sheriff** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 2:11 pm

I've done 4 searches now (go Compare etc), for my 2002 B3 Convertible-filling out the usual questions each time (who will be driving the car, any modifications, what are your favourite flavour crisps etc)

Not ONE company could recognise my car!!

This may be because it's classed as an 'imported car' (imported brand new in 2002) but even when I fill it in manually- ie.- 3.3, 2 doors, 2002, petrol, it suggests a b10!!

Anybody else had these problems?

Cheers

nkotecha · Post by **nkotecha** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 3:45 pm

yeah i have been having the same issue closest i could get it too was on a coupe.

Infamous · Post by **Infamous** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 5:17 pm

I had this problem with my B3 3.3 convertible 2001. Try AVIVA, I found my car but not according to licence plate, I had to chat after with them. Price was 600+ pounds cheaper than Adrian Flux * aplina "discount" and I got free recovery and protected ncb.

MCB · Post by **MCB** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 10:02 pm

We were with Liverpool Victoria and when we called them to insure the B3 Touring they said they could not insure the car because it was not on there database. We then phoned Churchill and they said they will insure any car. If they could not find the car on there database they just phone the underwriter and they tell them the nearest model and to insure it at that!

So we are now driving round in a 1997 Reliant Regal with a straight six engine from who knows what! Only joking. We ended up with A-Plan who knew exactly what the car was.

Your problem is not unusual when dealing with the big insurers. As we have found out.

Post by **neil** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 10:25 pm

The problem stems from ALPINA being a low volume manufacturer and the DVLA not really being set up to deal with them as such.

Sytner/ ALPINA UK has in recent years been able to ensure that all new cars are enter onto the database and so all insurance Companies should now have access to the information for the new cars (say c.2009 onwards).

So for the older cars this has always been the issue - however most big insurance companies should have knowledge of such cars - I would say that 2000 onwards we started getting better recognition. This is typically if you ring for a quote as the online website / comparison sites etc still seem to run of the DVLA database and as such you won't be able to search for your car.

Try the Insurance section of the site for good companies to contact (as well as those mentioned in the replies above)

Mr-P · Post by **Mr-P** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 11:07 pm

Several years back LV said Alpina never made my car

It must be a B10 3.3 they said and I must be wrong.
After that comment I ran away from LV as fast as possible. I am glad I did after the very bad experience a friend of mine had with them at the end of last year.

MCB · Post by **MCB** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 11:29 pm

Mr-P wrote:Several years back LV said Alpina never made my car
It must be a B10 3.3 they said and I must be wrong.

Well they have not changed. They still think Alpina is somthing you eat for breakfast

Infamous · Post by **Infamous** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:51 am

I've tried LV and had the same problem. Google has an insurance application which seems to find the B3 3.3 2001.

Bat · Post by **Bat** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 11:59 pm

Hi,
Just had an on-line chat with LV who told me to choose BMW as the MAKE and Alpina as the MODEL then it comes up with menus listing B10, engine sizes etc.
Cheers,
Gavin

MCB · Post by **MCB** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 4:49 pm

Bat wrote:Hi,
Just had an on-line chat with LV who told me to choose BMW as the MAKE and Alpina as the MODEL then it comes up with menus listing B10, engine sizes etc.
Cheers,
Gavin

But as a motor insurer they should know that. It is not for the applicant to guide them through there own database.

CV35Ian · Post by **CV35Ian** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 5:22 pm

I rang my friendly NFU Office (Stone Staffs), the car came up on their system.

Was insured within 10 mins and they are negotiating with NFU to drop the additional excess due to it being 'imported'.
Very pleased with cost for Myself and wife, not garaged and employer's business use for both of us - sub Â£450, no more costly than 540.

Interestingly as mine has old style Tracker I enquired re cost of updating Tracker system - Â£149 plus Â£169pa subscription - decided against it as the insurance saving was only Â£40 pa!

Ian

Bat · Post by **Bat** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 7:47 pm

MCB wrote:
Bat wrote:Hi,
Just had an on-line chat with LV who told me to choose BMW as the MAKE and Alpina as the MODEL then it comes up with menus listing B10, engine sizes etc.
Cheers,
Gavin
But as a motor insurer they should know that. It is not for the applicant to guide them through there own database.

Hi,
They did know, they told me. The Alpina selection for manufacturer only covered the newer models such as D3 and XD3 ect.
Cheers,
Gavin