Visit Green Insurance Company >>Name: Green Insurance Company Insurance No. of Reviews: 3
To many, green car insurance is an oxymoron. However, no matter which side of man-made-climate-change debate you fall on, eco-friendly products continue to sell well and this company's products are no exception. Founded in 2007 by Managing Director Andrew McMillan with backing from previous employer Kwik-Fit (the ones who help keep cars on the road), the Glasgow-based company started with three people and grew to 28 staff after its first year. By then it had 12,000 motor insurance customers and it was named the 'Best Financial Business' at the Green Business Awards in November 2008.
Driving a car might not be the most environmentally friendly thing to do but the Green Insurance Company tries its best to ease your conscience. Whilst the cynics amongst us might view carbon offsetting as the biggest confidence trick going, the company certainly does not. It promises to offset 100% of your car's carbon emissions if you take out one of its policies and had funded the planting of more than 100,000 trees by the end of 2008 to achieve this aim. It also offers a 5% discount to drivers of low emission cars and motorbikes, and has a list of approved cars where it guarantees to cut costs.
True to its principles, the company provides environmental awareness training to its employees, encourages them to get involved in community projects and even gives them up to three days off each year to undertake good works. It has a fleet of hybrid company cars, recycles 99% of waste where it is possible to do so, uses recycled paper, takes the environment into account when buying products, checks the green credentials of its suppliers and donates 5% of its profits to charity.
Besides the environmental considerations, the company's car insurance comes with a 24-hour claim line, a courtesy car and various offers and discounts at different times. These include an online discount of 'up to 26%' a time of writing which is more than most. Breakdown cover promises a maximum call-out time and priority service for female drivers or those with children.
Motor insurance comes from a small panel of insurers (seven at the last count), with IGI Insurance Company Limited underwriting the legal expenses, replacement hire car and excess protection cover. Breakdown cover is provided by Call Assist Ltd of Essex and is underwritten by DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Ltd of Bristol.
Some other products with an environmental slant are on offer. There's the chance to lease a low emission car, recycle your old mobile phone and choose a green energy tariff for your gas and electricity.
Of course, you can never please everyone, in particular one Guardian reader who wrote to the paper in May 2009 complaining of an increase in car insurance costs after moving from an inner city area to a small village. This comprised a £12 administration charge and £16 in additional premium, despite the move to a better area and the writer's partner saving £20 on his car insurance and a reduction in the home policy premium. This anomaly was put down to the possibility of even one claim having a negative effect in a small area but didn't impress the complainant.
An insurance company is therefore still an insurance company, even if it declares a host of ethical aims ... and it is quite a hefty list of ethical aims too! †
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