In the last few years, car insurance has become very competitive, so prices haven't changed much. There are now more than 100 car insurance companies to choose from, so people who are willing to shop around can find some very good deals. 23 percent of drivers still go with the same insurance company as the year before, even though they could save money by looking at other options.
Drivers wouldn't be blamed if they didn't get other quotes, but...
In the last few years, car insurance has become very competitive, so prices haven't changed much. There are now more than 100 car insurance companies to choose from, so people who are willing to shop around can find some very good deals. 23 percent of drivers still go with the same insurance company as the year before, even though they could save money by looking at other options.
Drivers could be forgiven for not getting other quotes because it used to be a very time-consuming process that involved long waits while being routed through a call centre and telling sales advisors the same boring information over and over again. Now, everything is much easier because of the internet. People who buy their insurance online can also save more money.
But you should think about more than just the price of the policy:
- Make sure that your low quote isn't because you have a very high excess.
- Make sure that if your car needs to be fixed, you will get a loaner car.
- Make sure that legal insurance is included, if you want it, and that the windshield will be replaced automatically.
- Find out if there is a number you can call in case of an accident.
Before you sign up online, it's a good idea to call the insurance company and talk about the policy in depth.
Tips for saving money are recommended!
You can get quotes from more than 40 car insurance companies if you put your information into the website of a good car insurance broker. Your information will only need to be given once. Call the insurance company and give them the quote to find out what is and isn't covered.
If you have a garage, leaving your car there overnight will save you money. If you can keep your car on a driveway, you'll also save money. This is because keeping your car on the road makes it more likely that it will be broken into or damaged.
Tell your insurance company how many miles you drive each year. If you drive less, you will save money.
Some jobs, like being a landlord, a journalist, or (if only) a professional football player, come with higher premiums. If you work in finance or for the government, you can save money.
Get married! Men under 30 pay more if they aren't married. This is exactly the reason your girlfriend wants to hear!
Drivers under 25 pay more, but you can get lower premiums if you add a safe driver over 25 as a named driver on your policy. But that person can't be over 60, because premiums go up again at that age.
Your premiums will go down if you agree to pay a higher excess (the average cost is GBP100).
If your car isn't worth much, you could get third-party coverage instead of full coverage and save a lot of money.
For people ages 18 to 21, pay-as-you-go insurance is a new choice. It's a new idea that Norwich Union came up with, where you pay a unit cost per mile. Between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., each mile costs more. A Global Positioning System costs GBP199 to put in your car, and it sends information about your mileage directly to Norwich Union. They send you a bill every month for the miles you've driven, which you pay for.
Taking Pass Plus lessons to get better at driving could cut your insurance costs by about a third. They cost between GBP15 and GBP30 an hour and teach you how to drive at night, during rush hour, and on a fast motorway. Visit www.passplus.org.uk to learn more. With the Institute of Advanced Motorists, you can also improve your driving skills and save money on your insurance ( www.iam.org.uk ).
Find out what insurance group a car is in before you buy it. There are 20 types of insurance. The rating goes down as the car gets slower and less desirable to thieves. If you choose a car in a lower insurance group, you could save a lot of money.
If you want a high-end or fast car, your insurance will be a lot more expensive. They are much more likely to be stolen or hurt in an accident. Making the smart choice might be dull, but it will save you a lot of money.
Watch how fast you go. Most insurance companies will let you off with a single fine, but if you do it again, your premiums will go through the roof.
Protect your discount for not having any claims as soon as you can (usually after four years). It costs more, but it's definitely worth it.
If your car has satellite navigation, your insurance rates will go down. Insurers have found that people focus more on driving and less on trying to figure out where they are going. This means that accidents are less likely to happen.
Not only could an engine immobiliser or alarm help you keep your car, but it will also save you between 5 and 8 percent on your insurance.
If your family has two or more cars, put them all on the same policy to save money.
