How To Get Cheaper Car Insurance – A 12-Step Guide

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How To Get Cheaper Car Insurance – A 12-Step Guide

What is car insurance?

Having car insurance ensures you are covered financially if the worst were to happen to your car. Such incidents could involve damage from an accident, theft, vandalisation and fire damage. Car insurance means you won't have to dig into your pocket to pay for potentially huge repair or replacement costs.

Car insurance is a legal requirement for cars driving on public roads. You will be heavily penalised if you are found to be driving without insurance. The minimum level of coverage you must legally have is third-party car insurance. Third-party insurance covers the damage to another person's car, for example, in a collision accident, but provides limited cover for your vehicle.

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How much does car insurance cost?

Car insurance is either made up of an annual or monthly premium. Annual premiums are paid in a single lump sum when a policy is purchased; monthly premiums require a deposit and a monthly direct debit. Many factors come into play that will affect the cost of your car insurance. It needn't cost the earth when you take the time to compare premiums.

Why compare?

Often, you might feel the insurance price slips out of your control, especially if insurers view your age, location, or personal driving history unfavourably. However, you can find several methods to secure cheaper car insurance. From essential to more detailed strategies, our guide can assist you. Explore our top tips for affordable car insurance that anyone can apply regardless of their circumstances.

1. Picking the right car

If you are in the process of choosing a car, it is well worth understanding how the vehicle you choose may affect your insurance costs. Every car in the UK market belongs to one of 50 car insurance groups. Your car’s insurance group rating is fundamental in receiving your quote. The group rating of cars results from several factors, but the crucial ones to remember are its value should it need to be replaced and its power. Vehicles that are more expensive and powerful will always be considered higher risk by insurers, so opting for cheaper cars with smaller engines can cut the costs of premiums sizeably.

2. Avoiding car modifications where possible

Just as your car’s price and power influence your insurance cost, changes you make can too. Modifying your vehicle, whether for looks or performance, can significantly raise your premiums. This happens because insurance providers see modified cars as carrying higher risks. Modified cars are more prone to theft, cost more to repair, and vehicles with enhanced performance often have a higher likelihood of claims. So, if you aim to reduce insurance costs, it’s best to avoid modifications.

3. Increasing your voluntary excess

Increasing the amount you would voluntarily pay out in the event of a claim is a common way to reduce the cost of your insurance. This should, however, be a realistic amount. If you cannot afford the amount agreed with your provider, this can mean losing your car significantly.

4. Paying annually rather than monthly

When choosing a policy, paying monthly rather than upfront for your cover may seem like a better deal for your current circumstances. However, when taking out monthly cover, you are effectively loaning the annual amount from the provider. This means you will be expected to pay monthly interest, usually 13% to 33% APR. So, although it may appear better initially, paying annually can make for significant savings. 

5. Telematics car insurance

Telematics car insurance, or a ‘black box’ policy, is another option that can cut the price of your insurance if you are a safe driver. By monitoring your driving habits, a telematics policy will reward those that obey speed limits and do not accelerate or decelerate excessively. This can allow for cover more reflective of your driving behaviour rather than anything out of your control. 

6. Reducing your annual mileage

The amount you drive will inevitably significantly influence the cost of your insurance. By spending much more time on the road, you present a more substantial risk to providers simply by being on the road more often. This is why cutting back on unnecessary journeys in your car is worthwhile to reduce its annual mileage. Doing so can lead to much cheaper insurance.

7. Including a named driver on your policy

Adding a designated driver to your policy can often reduce your premiums. Just as reducing your annual mileage saves money because you drive less, adding an experienced driver with a good record can also lead to savings. However, don’t just add anyone. Remember, if you’re the sole driver but list another as the named driver, your coverage might be void after an accident. This “fronting” is insurance fraud and can result in a criminal record.

8. Level of cover

If you own a car that is not very valuable or willing to pay to repair it for yourself, choosing a third-party-based policy can reduce premiums. However, this can work out more expensive overall if you are involved in an accident requiring purchasing a new car. Your level of cover should, therefore, be thought about properly. Opting for what appears to be the cheapest may, eventually, work out considerably more expensive.

9. Increasing your car’s security

Providers often reward you with a cheaper policy by adding extra protection to your car, such as a steering wheel lock, an alarm, or an immobiliser. This is because of the decreased likelihood of theft with secure cars. This also applies to where you keep your car overnight. By keeping your car in a garage, insurers will also view your car as a less likely target of vandalism. However, any extra security measures should be analysed for potential savings over time.

10. Building up your no-claims discount

Your no-claims discount is one of the most significant indicators of the risk you present, so building this up as much as possible can lead to considerably cheaper insurance over time. Saving through this method, however, does require some level of foresight. To make savings through your no-claims discount, you must determine whether choosing not to claim over more minor things works out cheaper in the long run.

11. Take an advanced driving course.

Courses, such as Pass Plus, can be a valuable way to prove that you are a safe driver to your insurer. Taking Pass Plus will often be rewarded with cheaper insurance. These courses seem expensive, but the savings can vastly outweigh the insurance cost. These courses benefit young drivers who have just passed their test and are struggling to find any realistically-priced cover.

12. Shop around for the correct quote.

Even if you believe you’ve found a cheap quote, use comparison sites to ensure you get the right deal. Remember, choosing the most affordable isn’t always the best decision in the long run. Always compare a wide range of insurers and the benefits of their policies. Fill out the form on our car insurance comparison page to view available deals.

Please note: Insuro is not responsible for the results provided. SEOPA provides all results.

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