Sheilas' Wheels seeks to provide very cheap car insurance specifically for lady drivers. The premise of offering women cheaper insurance for cars is that they are less expensive to insure than men. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the premise behind this theory and how effectively they have served the millions of lady drivers who have taken out coverage with them.
Sheilas' Wheels Car Insurance
Leading entrepreneur, Peter Wood (the great mind behind Direct Line), set up Sheilas' Wheels car insurance in October 2005. Despite the name, their coverage is provided for UK-based lady drivers only. They do not serve the Australian market at all.
With first-mover advantage, Sheilas' Wheels sought to capture what they believed would be a highly profitable niche. It was identified that very cheap car insurance could be offered to lady drivers because they make fewer claims and are responsible for fewer car accidents.
Whilst the reduced likelihood of a claim is far more concerned with the fact that women use their cars less than men, it provided a plausible justification for a reduction in price. An advert telling the world that women drive less than the average man doesn't work nearly as effectively.
This underlying theory also allowed them to offer add-ons, such as hand bag coverage of up to £200. It is offered because their research not only revealed that women drive less than men, they are also far less likely to carry their purse in their hand bag whilst driving their car.
Most car repairers are not 'female friendly'. Providers who work with this provider must follow a code of practice that helps to cater for female motorists. This includes help with car seats for children, repairs that fit around school runs and greater flexibility for drop-off and pick-up times.
Do Sheilas' Wheels Provide Very Cheap Car Insurance?
The majority of customers are happy with the annual premium they are paying, but concerns have been raised over how prices have changed in the wrong direction following add-ons, renewal or a house move. A £40 charge for an address or policy change appears to be standard practice.
Whilst the practice of many companies, better prices are being offered to new rather than existing customers. Several individuals have chosen to cancel their policy and make a new application in order to reduce the cost of their annual premium.
Whether a deal is inexpensive for lady drivers will depend heavily upon a number of factors. Don't rely on a single company always being the cheapest because it won't be. Use an online price comparison service, such as Moneysupermarket.com, to trawl the market for the best deal.
Should a customer want to stay, get a quote from a price comparison service and contact the customer service team. Although customers won't be informed that a lower price exists, they will normally be offered it once the customer makes it clear that a better price is available.
Customer Service at Sheilas' Wheels
One of the main concerns raised by Sheilas' Wheels customers is the length of time they are kept waiting before their call is answered. Wait times of 10 to 20 minutes or more are relatively common complaints that are raised.
Female friendly car repairers are expected to be flexible in terms of what times they offer to service vehicles. However, it doesn't appear that Sheilas' Wheels have adjusted the number of staff they have available at peak times.
The consensus is that most customers were satisfied with the customer service they receive. However, some individuals have expressed concerns in relation to how they are assisted when an issue is not one that is dealt with on a day-to-day basis.
Sheilas' Wheels can provide cheap car insurance for female drivers, but it won't be cheaper for everyone. Always use a price comparison site before signing-up to or renewing a policy.
Sources
sheilaswheels.com
Disclaimer: This article in no way attempts to give legal or tax advice. One should consult a licensed attorney, tax advisor, or other qualified professional.
Asa Ghaffar - Asa has over 10 years of practical experience in loan approval, secured lending, bad credit repair, stock trading and debt management.
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