Insurance - a POSITIVE review

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:23pm

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DarioMartin

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Posts: 5909

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Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Many people ask which insurance is right for them, their car etc. as I am with Linea Directa, I always advise to try them - it helps they have a dedicated English helpline.

Now their prices are good and it’s easy to contract online - but naysayers have in the past sneered “yeah, well wait until you try to make a claim - they are a nightmare”

So at the end of January, whilst parked up at a friends private residence, I managed to reverse my car into their concrete fountain. Don’t ask. Yes, I was sober, no I hadn’t had a thing to drink, and no, of course I didn’t see it!!

Their prized concrete fountain, worth around 1.000€ lay in jigsaw puzzle sized pieces, my car had a smashed light and a hefty dent in the tailgate.

So. Insurance. I have the Linea Directa app and I was able to file the claim via the app, and select a garage to take the car to. Línea Directa rang me the next day to confirm some details and advise that if the garage did not have a courtesy car available, I could get one from them for up to 21 days, all included in my insurance. They also told me that as I had paid full renewal price they were waiving the 240€ excess.

I took my car to Talleres y Gruas Azor in Vera, a Linea Directa approved garage. They took pictures and said they would send this off to Linea Directa and advise me when they were able to proceed. On Tuesday 13th February they called and said they had a courtesy car available, and I agreed to take it in Wednesday morning. I dropped it off at about 09:30 Wednesday 14th, got the courtesy car and received a link that I could use to follow progress of repair.

THIS MORNING, Thursday 15th February, one day after dropping it off, I got a call. Car was ready!! So I went off, handed back courtesy car and drove away in my now repaired car … no nonsense, no fuss, no drama, no payment at all, and the car looked like new again.

My friend sent a quote for damage to fountain to Linea Directa using my reference number, and they are covering that as well!!

SO, in short, a very positive experience with Spanish Insurance, very very simple to arrange, and completely free of any of the bureaucracy, drama, angst or delays one normally associates with getting anything done here.

So if anybody is looking for insurance … I can certainly recommend Linea Directa!!

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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 8:39am

PhilBr

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Posts: 175

156 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 29 Dec 2017

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 8:39am

DarioMartin wrote on Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:23pm:
Many people ask which insurance is right for them, their car etc. as I am with Linea Directa, I always advise to try them - it helps they have a dedicated English helpline.
Now their prices are good and it’s easy to contract online - but naysayers have in the past sneered “yeah, well wait until you try to make a claim - they are a nightmare”...

Read more...

...
So at the end of January, whilst parked up at a friends private residence, I managed to reverse my car into their concrete fountain. Don’t ask. Yes, I was sober, no I hadn’t had a thing to drink, and no, of course I didn’t see it!!
Their prized concrete fountain, worth around 1.000€ lay in jigsaw puzzle sized pieces, my car had a smashed light and a hefty dent in the tailgate.
So. Insurance. I have the Linea Directa app and I was able to file the claim via the app, and select a garage to take the car to. Línea Directa rang me the next day to confirm some details and advise that if the garage did not have a courtesy car available, I could get one from them for up to 21 days, all included in my insurance. They also told me that as I had paid full renewal price they were waiving the 240€ excess.
I took my car to Talleres y Gruas Azor in Vera, a Linea Directa approved garage. They took pictures and said they would send this off to Linea Directa and advise me when they were able to proceed. On Tuesday 13th February they called and said they had a courtesy car available, and I agreed to take it in Wednesday morning. I dropped it off at about 09:30 Wednesday 14th, got the courtesy car and received a link that I could use to follow progress of repair.
THIS MORNING, Thursday 15th February, one day after dropping it off, I got a call. Car was ready!! So I went off, handed back courtesy car and drove away in my now repaired car … no nonsense, no fuss, no drama, no payment at all, and the car looked like new again.
My friend sent a quote for damage to fountain to Linea Directa using my reference number, and they are covering that as well!!
SO, in short, a very positive experience with Spanish Insurance, very very simple to arrange, and completely free of any of the bureaucracy, drama, angst or delays one normally associates with getting anything done here.
So if anybody is looking for insurance … I can certainly recommend Linea Directa!!

I can also confirm my satisfaction with Linea Directa, although my experiences tend to be more other cars scraping my Volvo estate in very small supermarket car parking spaces. Excellent service from them in my four years here in Spain.

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:06am

Airtaine

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Location: Mojacar

Joined: 27 Jun 2022

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:06am

PhilBr wrote on Fri Feb 16, 2024 8:39am:
I can also confirm my satisfaction with Linea Directa, although my experiences tend to be more other cars scraping my Volvo estate in very small supermarket car parking spaces. Excellent service from them in my four years here in Spain.

Supermarket cars scrapes I thought they were always knock for knock.How do you go about claiming for them?

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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:32am

PhilBr

Helpful member

Posts: 175

156 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 29 Dec 2017

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:32am

Airtaine wrote on Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:06am:
Supermarket cars scrapes I thought they were always knock for knock.How do you go about claiming for them?

I was actually sitting in the car when someone ran into me and caused some scrape damage. Just got the other driver’s details and reported it in to LD. Sorted out with minimum fuss.

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:50am

Airtaine

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Posts: 629

718 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 27 Jun 2022

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:50am

DarioMartin wrote on Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:23pm:
Many people ask which insurance is right for them, their car etc. as I am with Linea Directa, I always advise to try them - it helps they have a dedicated English helpline.
Now their prices are good and it’s easy to contract online - but naysayers have in the past sneered “yeah, well wait until you try to make a claim - they are a nightmare”...

Read more...

...
So at the end of January, whilst parked up at a friends private residence, I managed to reverse my car into their concrete fountain. Don’t ask. Yes, I was sober, no I hadn’t had a thing to drink, and no, of course I didn’t see it!!
Their prized concrete fountain, worth around 1.000€ lay in jigsaw puzzle sized pieces, my car had a smashed light and a hefty dent in the tailgate.
So. Insurance. I have the Linea Directa app and I was able to file the claim via the app, and select a garage to take the car to. Línea Directa rang me the next day to confirm some details and advise that if the garage did not have a courtesy car available, I could get one from them for up to 21 days, all included in my insurance. They also told me that as I had paid full renewal price they were waiving the 240€ excess.
I took my car to Talleres y Gruas Azor in Vera, a Linea Directa approved garage. They took pictures and said they would send this off to Linea Directa and advise me when they were able to proceed. On Tuesday 13th February they called and said they had a courtesy car available, and I agreed to take it in Wednesday morning. I dropped it off at about 09:30 Wednesday 14th, got the courtesy car and received a link that I could use to follow progress of repair.
THIS MORNING, Thursday 15th February, one day after dropping it off, I got a call. Car was ready!! So I went off, handed back courtesy car and drove away in my now repaired car … no nonsense, no fuss, no drama, no payment at all, and the car looked like new again.
My friend sent a quote for damage to fountain to Linea Directa using my reference number, and they are covering that as well!!
SO, in short, a very positive experience with Spanish Insurance, very very simple to arrange, and completely free of any of the bureaucracy, drama, angst or delays one normally associates with getting anything done here.
So if anybody is looking for insurance … I can certainly recommend Linea Directa!!

Good for you and them but I'm sorry to thorw a little shade on your happy ending but I have a wee story-

When I was looking for an insurance company several people, where I was living in Spain, suggested I not go with Linea and I look else were

They all had bad expereinces with them which they relayed to me but the one that stuck with me is from a highly respected mechanic in the area. His shop, winter or summer, was always busy. I've even seen the local constabulary and Guardia Civil vehicles in for maintenance.

Anyway he was telling me that he could not take any client using Linea as they would not deal with him owing to a dispute he had with them. He replaced the front end of a vehicle completely with OEM parts and also replaced a part that Linea said could have been welded as opposed to replaced. They also told he could have used non-OEM for the rest. They wanted all of the OEM parts replaced with non-OEM weld the old part and put that back them they would consider paying.

He thought that was EXTREMELY unsafe to weld the part they were talking about. He informed them that he would not remove the new part and repalce it with the old part welded as it was not safe and he felt it was dangerous nor was he changing the OEM parts.

They refused to pay for the works.

When he had a simple repair a week later he sent the bill to them and they flat out refused to pay.

When you take your car in for a service he will offer you the choice of using OEM or non-OEM, show you the price difference, including the IVA and ask which you want. If he thinks that the non-OEM is a good part he will tell you other wise he lets you decide

Ironically enough he has his private cars insured with the as they offered him the cheapest rates. He also has his own body shop so in the event of and accident he can do all his own work.

So obvs he needs insurance to drive but he would have no need to use insurance claims.

I guess that made me go with Liberty seguros and RACE who both BTW have English speaking service agents even on Sunday night.

By no means am I suggesting that one does not chose Linea the story just made me wary.

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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:15am

DarioMartin

Original Poster

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5909

7135 helpful points

Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:15am

Airtaine wrote on Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:50am:
Good for you and them but I'm sorry to thorw a little shade on your happy ending but I have a wee story-
When I was looking for an insurance company several people, where I was living in Spain, suggested I not go with Linea and I look else were

Read more...

They all had bad expereinces with them which they relayed to me but the one that stuck with me is from a highly respected mechanic in the area. His shop, winter or summer, was always busy. I've even seen the local constabulary and Guardia Civil vehicles in for maintenance.
Anyway he was telling me that he could not take any client using Linea as they would not deal with him owing to a dispute he had with them. He replaced the front end of a vehicle completely with OEM parts and also replaced a part that Linea said could have been welded as opposed to replaced. They also told he could have used non-OEM for the rest. They wanted all of the OEM parts replaced with non-OEM weld the old part and put that back them they would consider paying.
He thought that was EXTREMELY unsafe to weld the part they were talking about. He informed them that he would not remove the new part and repalce it with the old part welded as it was not safe and he felt it was dangerous nor was he changing the OEM parts.
They refused to pay for the works.
When he had a simple repair a week later he sent the bill to them and they flat out refused to pay.
When you take your car in for a service he will offer you the choice of using OEM or non-OEM, show you the price difference, including the IVA and ask which you want. If he thinks that the non-OEM is a good part he will tell you other wise he lets you decide
Ironically enough he has his private cars insured with the as they offered him the cheapest rates. He also has his own body shop so in the event of and accident he can do all his own work.
So obvs he needs insurance to drive but he would have no need to use insurance claims.
I guess that made me go with Liberty seguros and RACE who both BTW have English speaking service agents even on Sunday night.
By no means am I suggesting that one does not chose Linea the story just made me wary.

Sounds a bit suspect - the main thing Linea got across to me was that I should go to an approved repairer because they *insist* on OEM parts.

I’ve heard far far more positive stories re Linea Directa than negative - and I’ve as yet to hear a negative about Linea that is first hand - not an accounting by someone else.

Please also bear in mind that no matter how lovely, helpful and friendly your mechanic is, he’s always going to present the story in a way that shows him in the best light … there may have been … “other factors” … that have not been mentioned

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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 3:03pm

Airtaine

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Posts: 629

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Location: Mojacar

Joined: 27 Jun 2022

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 3:03pm

DarioMartin wrote on Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:15am:
Sounds a bit suspect - the main thing Linea got across to me was that I should go to an approved repairer because they *insist* on OEM parts.
I’ve heard far far more positive stories re Linea Directa than negative - and I’ve as yet to hear a negative about Linea that is first hand - not an accounting by someone else....

Read more...

...
Please also bear in mind that no matter how lovely, helpful and friendly your mechanic is, he’s always going to present the story in a way that shows him in the best light … there may have been … “other factors” … that have not been mentioned

''Please also bear in mind that no matter how lovely, helpful and friendly your mechanic is, he’s always going to present the story in a way that shows him in the best light … there may have been … “other factors” … that have not been mentioned''

Of course there may have been other factors involved but (saw that coming right 😉). I, the NYC cynic that I am take what tradesman too whom I maybe giving large sums of dosh say with a shovel full of salt, and did my due dilegence on the business. I found that his place was recommended by dozens of users on a similar forum to this one and no not the book of face. Every one bar 3 had VERY positive things to say about his place and him execpt that he was very busy.

He was so busy he usually recommended that if you need a simple service to book it at least 3 months in advance and stipluated that if you need to cancel you did so at least 24 hours prior to the appointment or he would charge you for half of the time he would normally take services you type of car. A time which he gave you upon booking and stuck to. He did it's for a few reasons one being that he ordered parts for your car and they cost money and used a JIT system, he also had a limited storage space plus a lot of the cars he did service were very high end and did not want the parts sitting in an isolated warehouse to long.

He would take on emergencies but could not promise a date less than a couple of weeks dependant on the problem. He had mechinics just for the cars brought in by tow truck.

He did have small fleet of loaners for your use and gave you one on the proviso that you have insurance that provided loaners and return his as soon as you got yours from whomever your insurance used. He usually gave you a week then he would charge and quite steeply but his rational was it made you.... get your own loaner quicker and not dick around.

There was only three negative comments two saying do not use him ''He will not take Linea Directa insurance claims'' ironic? and the third saying that ''He does shody work I left my car in for a belt change and had it back the same day. Do not trust him'

When I asked bout this he ''Oh said oh yeah that bo$%Ix yeah I replaced the belt on the vehicle and if I had not the shagging car would not have made it to the end of the industrial estate if it had not been replaced. He would not belive I had done it so quick started calling me incompetent. My mechanic in England charges me for 10 hours labor saying that it was a difficult procedure surely you could have not done the job correctly.'' Hmmm.

Also I liked the guy from the onset and felt I could trust him, a rare thing for me.

The Linea story maybe bulldinky 🤷‍♂️

I'm sure everyone has a horror story about insurance I was just passing on my two céntimos.

In the end it up to you to choose whomever you feel most comfortable with and take anything or one recommend anywhere for what it cost you.

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:34pm

Gabi55

Posts: 33

9 helpful points

Location: Palomares

Joined: 7 Aug 2022

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:34pm

Hello. Thanks for this info. I am currently looking for new car insurance quotes. Left Europe late 2022 (for extensive travel, live in NZ) but coming back to spain in May and want to reinsure my car (hadn’t extended insurance knowing I’d be away for long period). How can I contact Línea Directa in Mojacar or nearby (my apartment is in Palomares). I used to be with Liberty Seguros which was handled by a broker in Palma de Mallorca but I prefer someone local. Would highly appreciate contact details. Found them online but seems based in the US and never replied. Many thanks in advance.
Gabi

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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:36pm

DarioMartin

Original Poster

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5909

7135 helpful points

Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:36pm

Gabi55 wrote on Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:34pm:
Hello. Thanks for this info. I am currently looking for new car insurance quotes. Left Europe late 2022 (for extensive travel, live in NZ) but coming back to spain in May and want to reinsure my car (hadn’t extended insurance knowing I’d be away for long period). How can I contact Línea Dire...

Read more...

...cta in Mojacar or nearby (my apartment is in Palomares). I used to be with Liberty Seguros which was handled by a broker in Palma de Mallorca but I prefer someone local. Would highly appreciate contact details. Found them online but seems based in the US and never replied. Many thanks in advance.
Gabi

There is no local office - closest physical building I believe is Barcelona. Everything is done online