Advanced driving courses

[zardoz]

Is it true that people with IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) driving qualifications, get cheaper insurance ? What sort of reductions do you get (if any) and does anyone here have any actual experience of doing this ?

 

[stuvy]

When i did my bike blue riband one it doesnt go down alot at all. Just bite the bullet and keep paying the insurance!

 

[stretchie_]

I don't think that any reduction is worth what you'll pay, but if you are interested in doing in I prefer ROSPA, with ROSPA you have top pass a test every three years to prove you are still driving at an advanced level, with IAM you pass your test and then as long as you keep paying your yearly subs you are still a member.


I work with one fella who did his IAM years ago and he's a serial tailgater, non indicator and doesn't really use his mirrors.

Not knocking the institution at all, I think they are good I just went ROSPA as I preferred the idea of being tested on a regular basis

 

[Nomad]

Is it true that people with IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) driving qualifications, get cheaper insurance ? What sort of reductions do you get (if any) and does anyone here have any actual experience of doing this ?

I looked into this about 10 years ago, choice for me came down to IAM or Rospa.
Went with IAM ( with Rospa you had to take a retest every 3 years to stay qualified, with IAM you pass = you have qualified no retests)
Found it very good for sharpening skills and driving safer at high speed and around town.
Have never managed to get a discount for it but I drive oddball motors. Maybe if you have a normal car the mainstream insurers might give you a discount.
IAM offer insurance discounts with named insurer but I found their quotes (after discount) to be higher than my normal insurer without IAM discount...

Worth doing from a personal view but not if you're doing it to get a discount.

edit for typo

 

[hotrodder]

Guarenteed cheaper insurance with IAM is kinda fiction... moving house or changing job title can make a MUCH bigger difference. Iam Surety is through Adelaide insurance i believe, if you were to say do the IAM 'drive check plus' which is a short assessment you'd get a 10% discount through their insurers. With what i'm currently paying for the daily driver that discount 1) wouldn't cover the cost of the assessment and 2) is from an insurer that i've never had a competitive quote from anyway

Being a full IAM member might result in a bigger % discount and other perks but not through all insurers and of course there's the IAM joining and subscriptions fee to consider

As said chasing insurance discounts is the wrong reason to do it

 

[tigler]

non indicator and doesn't really use his mirrors.

That REALLY bugs me !! What is it with people who don't indicate ?! Also, not turning off indicators !! Both those errors would get a fail on a driving test !
I've even noticed Police drivers doing it !
And of course the other one is using rear or front or both fog lights in inappropriate conditions ! Rear fogs in anything but SEVERELY restricted visibility, like less than 4 car lengths, is a complete no no. Obviously some think that ANY fog or even a slight mist is an excuse to use them ! Some twonks even use them in the rain FFS !! Then when they have used them, they leave them on for the next 2 months ! Arrrrgh

 

[Shox Dr]

And of course the other one is using rear or front or both fog lights in inappropriate conditions ! Rear fogs in anything but SEVERELY restricted visibility, like less than 4 car lengths, is a complete no no. Obviously some think that ANY fog or even a slight mist is an excuse to use them ! Some twonks even use them in the rain FFS !! Then when they have used them, they leave them on for the next 2 months ! Arrrrgh

oh don;t get me on this one

What I don't understand is, when they are sat behind someone with fog lights on, blinding them, why oh why don't they think Mmm I can't see his brake lights, if I can't see his then the guy behind me can't mine either.

Best turn mine off

 

[tigler]

Operative word there is think !! Thinking seems to be in short supply these days !!

 

[stuvy]

Operative word there is think !! Thinking seems to be in short supply these days !!

same as cheap pubs, classy girls on a night out and reasonable car insurance

 

[Nomad]

same as cheap pubs, classy girls on a night out and reasonable car insurance

After a lot a of hunting around I now know of a few decent cheap pubs
Not found many classy girls on a night out or reasonable car insurance places

 

[rocketron]

around here you can spot every 4x4 a mile off cos they've all got their fog lights on. permanently!Even in bright sunshine, and the cops do nothing

 

[Fergus]

I think the best way to look at these courses is as an investment in yourself rather than a way of reducing your insurance.

My advanced driving qualifications have counted for nothing with the vast majority of insurers I've used over the years.

 

[Wedg1e]

I passed my IAM motorcycle test in 1990 and although some insurers ask if you have it, I have yet to see an actual reduction in premium. I gather that the few who do actively reduce the costs, charge 20% more in the first place so when they give you a 10% discount they're still making more than enough out of you.

I went for the test after I was involved in a crash whilst driving a taxi - a Metro van pulled out on me on a roundabout - I thought somehow that in a court of law the better qualified driver might somehow swing the judge/jury but nowadays I know differently.
And ironically, whilst advanced training can improve things for you 99% of the time on a bike, there's always the 1% idiot who fails to stop and runs into the back of you when you're stopped at a pedestrian crossing, not a lot you can do about that except fall off. And wonder how much it's going to hurt when he drives over you.

 

[stretchie_]

I didn't do mine to get insurance cheaper, I just thought of it as a bonus it was more for self preservation, I've been lucky enough to have always ridden with IAM or ROSPA people (only been riding for 7 years) so I didn't have to change too much as I'd picked alot of it up.

I got a quote from the recommended people on the RoSPA website after passing when my insurance came up and it was double what I could get elsewhere from non RoSPA affiliated insurer.

But I would say it's definitley worth doing it though, at least when one of those IDIOTS that cut lanes on roundabouts finally takes me off my bike I like to think that with a bit of advanced training under your belt your word will carry a bit more weight

That REALLY bugs me !! What is it with people who don't indicate ?! Also, not turning off indicators !! Both those errors would get a fail on a driving test !

Ha haaa, what about this one then.... People driving with their door mirrors folded in????

 

[Robotstar5]

I did a couple of "blue light" courses with St. John ambulance, found them very informative. I've since applied some of the techniques to "normal" driving and found they help with making progress and reducing wear/tear/stress on driver & vehicle.