If you're tired of paying too much for your car insurance, Duck2water (www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk) has put together the top ten ways you can lower your premium without lowering the level of coverage:
- Buy online
You can save time and money by shopping online. Companies that spend millions on advertising or have big call centres have to find a way to pay for these costs. One way they do this is by adding these costs to the price of your insurance premium. Even though online insurers have costs, they are much lower than those of high street and phone insurers. This means that they can offer car insurance for up to 60% less than other companies.
- Drive a cheap car with less power.
Car insurance companies figure out how much their premiums will be based on the size of the car's engine, how likely it is to be stolen, and how much it will cost to fix. Even though Ford Fiestas and Renault 5s are more likely to be stolen than larger saloon cars, they are cheaper to fix or replace, so they cost less to insure.
- Build up a "history of no claims."
Insurance companies offer discounts to safe drivers who haven't had any accidents or claims. By not making any claims, you can get a discount (up to 60%) on your premium, and this discount can be taken from one insurance company to another.
- Make your car more secure
More security means less risk for your insurance company, which means you can get lower rates if you park your car in a garage at night or install an immobiliser or tracker that is approved by your insurance company.
- Raise your voluntary excess
If you choose to pay a higher excess, you're also less likely to make a small claim on your insurance, which makes you a lower risk.
- Obtain more driving qualifications
The Pass Plus qualification costs between GBP100 and GBP150 and requires that you take driving lessons in different situations, like at night and on the motorway. Most insurance companies will lower a customer's premium if they become a better and more experienced driver. Because of this, most qualifications pay for themselves within the first year. The advanced driving test is another option, but it can take a lot longer to pass than the Pass Plus.
- Use your car less
Obviously, the more you drive, the more likely it is that you'll get into an accident. Because of this, people who drive hundreds of miles every week will probably pay more for car insurance.
- Don't get in trouble with the law.
Insurance companies don't like it when a driver has a driving conviction because it makes them think the driver is a bigger risk. Some driving convictions are worse than others. For example, if you were caught drinking and driving, your premium will be double what it usually is.
- Cut down on the number of people your policy covers.
The cost of your insurance will go up as you add more people to it. So, if you can, try to have as few drivers as possible on your policy.
In general, the farther away from a city you live, the cheaper your car insurance will be. If you live in the city, your car is more likely to be stolen or to be in an accident. If you move from the city to the country, you can save up to 50% on your car insurance.
