Advice Centre
Tips on how to get cheaper car insurance
Everyone seems to be offering cheaper car insurance these days but what are the best ways to ensure your premiums stay low. Here at CarPriceCentre we have found some useful hints and tips for you to use when purchasing car insurance.
1. Shop around to find the cheapest insurance provider. The cheapest provider for you last year may not be the cheapest for you this time.
2. Don’t just look at the prices, does the insurance cover all of your requirements?
3. Work out how much the freebies such as breakdown cover really cost you. Would you be better buying them separately?
4. If you are insuring more than one car you can sometimes get an extra discount.
5. Only insure regular drivers of your vehicle on your policy. Add extra drivers only for the periods that you need to.
6. Protected no-claims bonus may increase the premium by a few pounds but this is often than the potential loss of your no claim discount.
7. Increase your voluntary excess. By agreeing to pay more towards the cost of any accident repairs you will bring down your new car premiums. If you are not at fault in an accident, the excess can be recovered some insurers have a facility to help you recover this.
8. Fitting an approved alarm, immobiliser or tracking device can attract an extra discount.
9. Insure your car for the correct annual mileage. The fewer miles the car covers, the greater the saving.
10. Check your user cover - if you don't use your car to drive to work or for business you may be able to get a cheaper rate.
11. Adding young inexperienced drivers to your policy can be expensive. The premium will still be calculated on the youngest driver and he or she will not have a no-claims bonus. It may be better for young inexperienced drivers to start a policy on their own.
12. If you decide to change your car, check with your insurer if the model will have a significant effect on the premium. High performance cars with large engines can attract a high premium.
13. Check with WhatCar? Or other magazines what insurance group your new car is.
14. Use your garage.
15. Additional training - young or inexperienced can benefit by completing the Pass Plus scheme and more experienced drivers can save on their insurance premiums by taking an advanced drivers' course. Both attract discounts from some of the major insurers.
16. Do not over value your vehicle. Your insurer will only pay the market value of the vehicle.
17. Motoring offences. If you are not sure of the length of time your convictions will remain on your license please consult www.dvla.gov.uk. It is vital that you disclose all convictions that are relevant.
18. Car modifications you have added increase your premium. Minimise these to minimise your payments
19. Choose the cover you need. You can choose between fully comprehensive cover, third party and third party fire and theft. Compare the cost of repair and value of your vehicle against the increased insurance premiums; drivers of lower value cars are often best sticking to third party or third party fire and theft.
20. Compare the cost of damage to your own car against the effect of losing your no claims bonus remember to take your accidental damage excess into account.
21. Annual premiums often work out less than paying monthly. Some insurers charge interest on monthly payments.
22. You are almost always better off purchasing car insurance online due to the discounts providers offer.
23. Females are statistically safer drivers than men, and because of this insurance companies will often offer much cheaper car insurance for women. So it could make sense to have the female as the main driver on the insurance. But remember to be truthful, as it's not worth the risk of invalidating the entire car insurance for the sake of few pounds. Do ensure the driving really is equally split between the two.
If you have any tips about saving money on car insurance please leave your comments below.