Does your precise job description affect your premium?
To find out, we looked at five different people and obtained quotes for them, using a popular price comparison service. We varied the job description and recorded the cheapest quotes.
We must state at the outset that giving an incorrect occupation to your insurer could invalidate your cover. However, some jobs may have more than one description. Could it be worth your while getting quotes for each of them? You must be very careful with this however, and not attempt to deceive the insurance companies in any way.
Do bear in mind that all the people listed below have different addresses, ages, postcodes etc so their quotes may vary considerably from those you could obtain yourself.
We must state at the outset that giving an incorrect occupation to your insurer could invalidate your cover. However, some jobs may have more than one description. Could it be worth your while getting quotes for each of them? You must be very careful with this however, and not attempt to deceive the insurance companies in any way.
Do bear in mind that all the people listed below have different addresses, ages, postcodes etc so their quotes may vary considerably from those you could obtain yourself.
(1)
This female motorist runs a small charity shop, raising funds by selling goods which are donated by the general public. These are the premiums she was offered:
- Charity worker: the lowest premium was £344.28
- Fundraiser: the lowest premium was £318.25
- Shopkeeper: the lowest premium was £280.25
- Shop manager: the lowest premium was £270.73
- Shop assistant: the lowest premium was £267.08
We found a difference of £77.20 between the highest and lowest quotes.
(2)
This motorist is a children's nursery worker. Her duties include keeping a small group of children entertained, supervising their play and generally attending to any minor problems they may have. These are the premiums she was offered:
- Children's entertainer: the lowest premium was £803.00
- Nursery assistant: the lowest premium was £800.80
- Childminder: the lowest premium was £792.00
- Playgroup assistant: the lowest premium was £788.70
We found a difference of £14.30 between the highest and lowest quotes.
(3)
This motorist works for a one-man-band entrepreneur; looking after his office, greeting clients, keeping the computer side of the business running smoothly, and telephoning people who have sent in responses to their advertising campaigns. These are the premiums she was offered:
- Telesales: the lowest premium was £1006.50
- Office administrator: the lowest premium was £825.00
- Personal assistant: the lowest premium was £817.30, again
- Receptionist: the lowest premium was £817.30
- Computer operator: the lowest premium was £807.40
We found a difference of £199.10 between the highest and lowest quotes.
(4)
This qualified pharmacist is in charge of the research laboratory of a major pharmaceutical supplier. These are the premiums she was offered:
- Pharmacist: the lowest premium was £629.85
- Research analyst: the lowest premium was £595.80
- Research analyst: the lowest premium was £595.80
- Research analyst: the lowest premium was £595.80
- Researcher: the lowest premium was £595.80
- Laboratory analyst: the lowest premium was £552.65
- Scientist: the lowest premium was £552.65
- Chief chemist: the lowest premium was £552.65
We found a difference of £77.20 between the highest and lowest quotes: this is exactly the same as motorist (1) but we believe this to be a coincidence.
(5)
This motorist works in a convenience store where she is in charge of the warehouse, but is expected to stand in for the shop manager when necessary and generally help out on the tills and replenishing stock on the shelves during busy spells. These are the premiums she was offered:
- Assistant manager: the lowest premium was £1063.70
- Shop assistant: the lowest premium was £1039.26
- Stock manager: the lowest premium was £988.90
- Storewoman: the lowest premium was £951.50
We found a difference of £112.20 between the highest and lowest quotes.
Conclusion
This sample (albeit a small one) indicates that, yes, there may sometimes be a difference in premiums if the job description is 'tweaked' a little. It can be fraught with dangers, however, if overdone, and if you are in any doubt about the precise description you should enter then it is usually safer to contact the insurer and discuss it with one of their representatives.