Why would a car insurer refuse to insure me?

Age, driving history, postcode, occupation, vehicle type, modifications, claims and previous insurance history can all affect whether an insurer is willing to quote. One company declining a risk doesn't mean every insurer will.

Check for a simple data problem

A surprisingly small error can stop a quote. Check the vehicle registration, licence details, address, occupation and claims information. If a comparison site suddenly produces no results, try to identify whether one answer has changed since an earlier quotation.

Some cars are harder to place

Imports, heavily modified cars, very high-performance vehicles and cars used in unusual ways may not fit ordinary online underwriting. In those cases, a specialist broker can be more useful than repeatedly changing details on a comparison form.

Do not alter answers to force a quote. If a quotation disappears after you answer a question truthfully, changing the answer just to make the system accept you can create serious trouble later. Insurers can check information when a claim is made.

If you have been formally refused

Future insurers may ask whether you've ever been refused insurance. That is different from simply receiving no quote from a particular website. If you're unsure whether what happened counts as a refusal for a question you're being asked, contact the insurer before completing the purchase.