At Zego, we want you to understand how we work out the cost of your insurance. We know lots of people have questions about what impacts the price of their insurance cover, and the reasons behind why they are quoted a particular price aren't always clear.
If you have friends who have signed up with Zego, you might also wonder why you and your friend received different quotes for your insurance cover.
We’ve put together a quick guide on what can affect the price of your premium, so you can get an idea of how we calculate the cost of your cover. We hope that this will answer any questions you may have about why your friend’s quote is different from yours, or why the price of your premium can change when you update your personal details.
We’ll start by going through what happens when you register for a quote with Zego.
Every customer who signs up with Zego goes through what’s called the underwriting process. This is where we look at the information you have provided when you signed up, and based on those details, we work out the cost of your insurance premium.
Let's take a look at some of the key factors that affect the price of your cover.
How long have you been driving?
The number of years of driving experience you have will have a big impact on the price of your cover. If you have been out on the road for a number of years, you are likely to get a lower quote for your insurance than somebody who has recently passed their driving test or CBT.
If your friend has been driving for a lot longer than you, it could contribute to them being able to get a cheaper insurance quote. Or, for example, if you have been driving for longer than your friend, then your friend’s price may be higher than yours.
Vehicle
The vehicle that you are driving is another factor that is taken into account when determining the overall price of your insurance. Powerful vehicles with larger engine sizes are judged as riskier to insure than smaller vehicles with less powerful engines. We have put together a post here with our recomendations on the best cars for delivery work.
If your car or bike is significantly more powerful than your friend’s, then it could be a reason why your quote is more expensive than theirs.
Location
Nearly all insurance companies will take your location into account when determining a price for your insurance. Every area is evaluated in terms of its risk and some are judged as riskier than others.
For example, if you live in central London and your friend lives in the countryside, the likelihood is that your location will make your premium more expensive and your friend’s location will reduce the cost of their insurance.
Driving history
When you register for an insurance quote, companies will often run checks on your driving history. This includes finding out information about any claims you have made on your previous insurance policies or if you have any motoring convictions.
For example, if you have a completely clean driving record, then this is likely to bring down the cost of your insurance. If you have a friend who has made claims on their previous policy and has points on their driving licence, your friend’s premium is likely to be impacted negatively as a result of their driving history.
You might be wondering why this is the case. Companies will charge you more as those who have a history of making claims on their insurance are more likely to claim again. It is a greater risk to insure you if your driving record is not clean, so the price of your premium is likely to be higher.
Age
Are you and your friend the same age? Younger and older drivers are statistically more likely to make claims on an insurance policy, which can bring up the total cost of the premium.
If your friend is a lot older or younger than you, it can contribute towards a difference in the price of your respective quotes.
If you have any more questions about how the price of your premium is calculated, feel free to get in touch with our friendly team. However, it is worth noting that as we do not fully control our criteria, we will not be able to change the price of your quote or offer you a quote if you do not meet the requirements.