Superquote Terms: Proposal Form

Proposal forms are documents completed by the client and passed to the insurer to assess a risk.  Normally a proposal form is passed to an underwriter who will then calculate a premium and terms for a contract of insurance.

Proposal forms for car insurance were largely made extinct from the industry around the late 90s when Direct Line and other direct insurers started to sell directly through call centres.  Before that, clients would call a provider, get a quote on the phone, then await a proposal form to arrive in the post before completing it and returning it with payment.  Upon receipt of a satisfactory proposal form, cover could then be arranged.  It seems very antiquated now!

Proposal forms are still common place in business insurance.  This reflects the fact that risks are still more complex in this area.