As posted in the previous threads bemoaning the same thing

Insurance Premiums have gone up this year for a number of reasons, in no particular order, none of which are "profiteering". Straight off the top of my head

1) Parts for cars are still in short supply so repair costs are increasing
2) Garages are raising their labour rates to offset increases in energy bills for all the kits they run
3) After 2+ years of "work from home" people are going back to work and driving more so there are now more cars on the road. More cars = more accidents
4) People's already dubious driving skills and awareness have deteriorated after 2 years of not driving much so they crash more
5) Delays in parts being available and the increased costs of those parts are resulting in more cars being written off, which gives a higher claims cost
6) Society has changed, and crime rates and types have altered resulting in a differing profile of the risk
7) Impending ULEZ expansion has lowered the value of non-compliant cars/vans in ULEZ areas. This in turn will result in an increase in such cars "getting stolen" by some from people desperate to get as much money for their car as possible which may have halved in resale or part ex-value
8) Increased numbers of electric vehicles on the road, the subsequent increase in accidents involving them resulting in a higher repair cost and an increase in vehicles being written off due to batteries being damaged.
9) Insurers re-align their market position and underwriting philosophy to reflect the above and try to balance the books. Certain areas, vehicles, types of driver, etc are no longer viable to have as a business due to the high number and value of claims involved with them e.g Landrovers / Ranger Rovers
10) Under insurance regulations, insurers are required to hold enough funds in reserve to meet their claims exposure. More / higher claims means increased premiums to ensure legal responsibilities are met.

and to answer the question of "Why don't they offer the best price at renewal instead of making us ring around?

Have you ever gone into a shop to buy something, and when you pay for it you got told "Oh by the way, you could have bought this 20% cheaper at xxx shop over the road". Retailers sell a product for what they think customers will pay for it. You could try and ask for a discount but because we are British, we tend not to.

Or had a tradesman or a garage ask "What's your budget for this?" and quote you just short of that amount? Then when you tell them you have had cheaper quotes elsewhere they miraculously lower the price to a far more reasonable level "just because it's you and you're a good customer" etc etc.

... it happens in all areas of business.

Customers who do their research and look around for the best price nearly always save money, Insurance is no different other than you don't get a physical object for your money, just a promise that they will be there when it goes wrong.

It's just easier to "shop around" for insurance with all the available comparison sites that can give you a multitude of prices in seconds, and "haggle" to get a reduction with the information available. If an insurer wants to keep you as a customer then they will offer you a deal...if they don't, they won't.