Car insurance is one of the most expensive costs involved in driving a car, and it's not something you can avoid - a minimum level of insurance is required by law. That doesn't mean you have to blindly pay whatever your insurer quotes though, as there are several simple things you can do to reduce the cost of your premiums.
1) Shop around and buy online: Figures show that many people simply renew their current policies without shopping around. The internet makes it easy to compare prices from different insurers, so why not take advantage of this? Plus, you'll usually get a discount of 10% or more just for buying your policy online.
2) Policy type: do you really need a comprehensive policy with all the extras? Going for a third party fire & theft policy can reduce your premiums hugely, and is definitely worth considering if your car isn't an expensive model.
3) No claims discounts: Nearly all policies feature a discount that increases for every year you don't make a claim. The higher the discount available, the more you could save. Also look at insurers offering a 'no claims bonus for life' feature, where your current discount level can be fixed forever, even if you have to make a claim somewhere down the line.
4) Excess: The excess on a policy is the amount of a claim you have to pay before the insurer pays the rest. Choosing to have a higher than standard excess level will usually mean lower premiums.
5) Security: Fitting your vehicle with an alarm, immobiliser, or other security devices can lead to premium reductions. Parking you car off-road, for example on a driveway or in a garage, will also mean a cheaper policy.
6) Pay annually: Many insurers charge you interest for the privilege of paying in monthly installments. Pay annually if you can afford it to avoid this, or look for one of the companies who don't charge extra for monthly payment.
7) Mileage: The more mileage you run up every year, the more your insurance will cost. Even if you can't reduce your mileage, make sure you're not overestimating how much you actually do drive, and give your insurer an accurate figure.
8) Drivers: The more drivers you have on your policy, the more it will cost. Reduce the number of people insured to drive your car to the minimum possible, and try to get the policy in the name of a driver with the lowest risk profile. For example, if a car is driven by both a man and a woman, insuring it in the woman's name will often result in a cheaper quote.
Car Insurance Provisional Licence
When purchasing motor insurance, then a broker can generally find you cheaper car insurance than you would be able to find for yourself. This is due to the experience they have and the ability of being able to shop around within the market place. They will have access to insurance companies which the individual does not.
Many motorists make the mistake of just renewing their insurance; however they can often get cheaper car insurance if they change the provider they are currently with. While you might have got a good deal on your insurance the previous year it does not mean you will again. In fact insurance companies are known to set you off on an excellent rate and then boost it up each consecutive year. With this in mind if you have been renewing your policy year after year you could be paying much more than you need to.
While the majority of households now know they can save money by switching their electric supplier they should remember the same goes when wanting cheaper car insurance. However it is clear they are failing to do so with recent research highlighting that 43% of motorists have remained with their provider for a period of three of more years. 24% of individuals have remained with their insurance company for ten years or more which could mean they are seriously paying too much for their car insurance.
When it comes to saving money on your motor insurance there are several things you can do to help bring it down. Even before you buy you can help yourself. The bigger the engine size of the car the more it will cost to insure so keep this mind when looking for a new car. Also a sporty model or one that is classed as a ?super car? will cost more when it comes to the insurance so if it is only a matter of looks then consider again. Adding extra features to keep the car safe goes a long way to saving money when it comes to finding car insurance much cheaper. By installing such features as car alarms, steering wheel locks, etching the windows or fitting a tracking device can all save you money. A simple thing like keeping a car in a garage instead of just on a driveway can also help when it comes to saving money.
Also bear in mind when approaching a broker that they will be able to go to search with insurers tailored to their specific needs. For example there are lenders who will tailor insurance specifically for those who are young, old or for women drivers. Very often insurers will offer cheaper insurance for people in these circumstances and this is where you can get the best deal. Just about anyone can make savings and get cheaper car insurance if they allow a broker to look around on their behalf. Once you have the quotes to compare for the cheapest then you also have to make sure you take a look at the terms and conditions before signing on the dotted line.
Both Nicholas Hunt & David Thomson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Nicholas Hunt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage Insurance, Finances and Banking. Nicholas Hunt is a contributing writer for , where you can browse. Nicholas Hunt's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.
David Thomson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Motorola Cell Phone and Mortgage Insurance. David Thomson is Chief Executive of BestDealInsurance an independent specialist broker dedicated to giving consumers the best insurance deal. They offer great value home, life and. David Thomson's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
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