Mdon + 157 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Since my car insurance is about to go up with the wide being on it and passing her test I wonder if the above will make any real difference? I'm thinking about joining it but would just like to ask has anyone got a membership and if so is it worth the £32. Also is there any point in waiting to get the F1RST membership as I may soon be eligible? Cheers Mdon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damsel + 2,111 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Since my car insurance is about to go up with the wide being on it and passing her test I wonder if the above will make any real difference? I'm thinking about joining it but would just like to ask has anyone got a membership and if so is it worth the £32. Also is there any point in waiting to get the F1RST membership as I may soon be eligible? Cheers Mdon I'm assuming that you're not a response driver? As police trained response (or advanced) drivers can get IAM membership for free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mdon + 157 Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'm assuming that you're not a response driver? As police trained response (or advanced) drivers can get IAM membership for free I am a response driver and I'm just about to my advanced but I was under the impression we still had to pay the membership but didn't have to do the lessons or test? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledge Hammer 15 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Police advanced/response drivers still have to pay the membership fee, but you don't have to sit the test. See here: http://www.iam.org.uk/membership_of_the_iam/exemptionsfromtheiamtest.html I spoke to my broker and they said that not all insurers offer a discount for membership, only some, and that it is unlikely (at least in my circs) that I would recoup the cost. He estimated I would save a maximum of 5% on my premium. I'd give your broker/insurer a call to see if it is worthwhile before joining and paying the fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damsel + 2,111 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Ahh my apologies, I thought it was free membership too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candles + 220 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I am a response driver and I'm just about to my advanced but I was under the impression we still had to pay the membership but didn't have to do the lessons or test? Adding to what Sledge Hammer has said, the vast majority of insurers do not recognise your status in IAM - The only insurance company/organisation that properly recognises it is Surety... But this generally won't save you much, if anything if you already shopped around. That is what I have been told - I am coming up to my first insurance renewal year since passing the standard course and joining the IAM... I will update you when I get my quote! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP7 168 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I am an IAM member and have been since 2004, before I took my standard driver's course in the police. I am also an observer for my local IAM group. More insurance companies than you'd think accept an IAM qualification, such as the Admiral group. Have a look at the driving licence options when doing online quotes, because some say "Full UK licence with IAM". Others will allow you to put it under "Driving courses taken". In my younger days, I was saving over £100 a year on insurance with Admiral, with my IAM qualification. I now insure with IAM Surety, and have done for over two years. Their renewal quote beat my nearest online quote elsewhere by over £100, and chuck in goodies like free protected no claims, etc. In my view it's worth every penny of the membership fee, and as a standard driver, as others have said, you're exempt from the test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candles + 220 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 In my younger days, I was saving over £100 a year on insurance with Admiral, with my IAM qualification. I now insure with IAM Surety, and have done for over two years. Their renewal quote beat my nearest online quote elsewhere by over £100, and chuck in goodies like free protected no claims, etc. I stand corrected... Look forward to my renewal then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callsign-kid 1,617 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'm in the sort of group where things like IAM will make the biggest difference. The difference for me is £74 less. My understanding is I'd be paying £130 to join/do the test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrative Account 7 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I have joined with my exemption - 30 ish quid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mdon + 157 Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 I have joined with my exemption - 30 ish quid Will you let me know if it makes any difference to your car insurance if you don't mind please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwe99 32 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Will you let me know if it makes any difference to your car insurance if you don't mind please. Mine took about 70 quid off I think using my emergency driving certificate to gain my IAM Membership Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS_ 26 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Will you let me know if it makes any difference to your car insurance if you don't mind please. I saved £200 on my car and about £60 with my bike. IAM Surety aim to beat any quote - you have to prove that the cover and excess are the same though. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Javioli 57 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) Hmm... I've been an IAM driver since about 1995 and I have NEVER found a cheap car insurance policy who is IAM aware. It's like everything else - Direct Line, Admiral, LV, Elephant .... they all give different prices and the one that accepts the IAM membership has never been the cheaper for me even with the discount. But then again I didn't do the IAM Roadcraft training for the insurance. I did it because it made me a better and more observant driver. I was even an IAM Qualified Observer for a spell too. Ah here's a can of worms for you; giving everyone 'better' driver training (money aside) would reduce the accident rate. A big advantage of simply lowering speed limits which I think is wrong. Anyway. I'm looking forward to doing my police driving, even the 'basic transport' is a step on the ladder. At the moment I'm not allowed to move a car around a compound. Edited September 22, 2011 by Javioli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk52rob 0 Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 I've been insured with IAM Surety for a couple of years now, and they have been at least £100 cheaper than anywhere else online.. and that's with N/C protection, business use etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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