I had the same problem with our insurance until I went to Confused.com. I found out that I could get insurance for the Croma from the same company at £100 a year cheaper as a new customer than they were offering for a renewal.
So I rang them up to tell them that I wouldn't be renewingl my insurance. As always at the end they asked if they could help me with anything else; why do call centres do that?
"thank you for cancelling my lost credit card"
"no problem sir, is there anything else we can help you with?"
"well I didn't have anything particular, but since you have been so kind to ask, can I borrow £15,000 at 40% per annum?"
However I digress. They asked me if there was anything the could do. I said
"Well, yes. I would like to take out a policy for my FIAT Croma.". There was a minute's silence before,
"But you have just cancelled your insurance with us".
"Yes, that's right".
"And you want to take out a new policy for the same car?"
"That's right, as a new customer. Can you tell me how much that would be please?". More silence.
"I'll just have to speak with my supervisor." A few bars of of the William Tell Overture later (that's the theme to the Lone Ranger for our less sophisticated readers),
"How much did we quote for your renewal?"
"I'm not telling you. I want to be treated as a new customer because it's cheaper to come back as a new customer." More silence. "I'll just have to speak to my Supervisor.
Anyway, long story, short, after a chat with the supervisor I got it for the Confused.com price.