Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Vehicle and General Insurance Company Ltd was incorporated in September 1923 as a private company with the power to carry on insurance business. It went public in February 1961 and initiated a sales policy offering a high rate of No claims discount to careful private motorists. Expansion was rapid - a number of subsidiary companies were purchased (see ACC/2670/1126 for a detailed chart) and it was estimated that by 1970 they insured about 10 per cent of private motorists in the United Kingdom.
Originally operating from Rayners Lane, Middlesex, the firm moved its headquarters to Northwood, Middlesex and then, in May 1968, to Bushey, Hertfordshire. In 1963 a branch office had opened in Scotland - by 1971 there were ten such offices throughout the country.
On March 1, 1971 the Directors announced their intention of petitioning the court for the compulsory winding up of Vehicle and General along with five of its subsidiaries - Automobile and General Insurance Co. Ltd., Transport Indemnity Insurance Co. Ltd, and World Auxiliary Insurance Corporation Ltd. The Winding Up orders were issued on 22 March although World Anxiliary was granted an adjournment.