Follow this topic25 ways to cut your car insurance
We round up 25 ways to slash your car insurance premiums!
The average UK car insurance premium is falling. According to the latest survey by the AA, the average quoted premium for a comprehensive policy is £746.75 (as monitored by its Shoparound summary), down 4.1% from last year.
This downward trend is predicted to continue, thanks to a number of changes to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). These include:
- a ban on the payment and receipt of referral fees for any claim that includes a personal injury
- controls to ensure that costs are proportionate to the damages
- ‘After the Event' insurance premiums (sometimes called ‘additional liabilities') and solicitor success fees can no longer be recovered from the defendant in an injury claim
- fixed legal fees for road collision claims valued at under £10,000 falling from £1,200 to £500
However, you don't have to rely on legislative changes to cut your car insurance costs. Here are 25 ways to cut your car insurance costs this year. Be warned: some are more extreme than others!
1) Change your job title
The less risky your job, the lower your premium. As long as you still accurately describe your occupation, you can change your job title with your car insurer and your policy will still be valid.
2) Downgrade your car
Cheaper cars with smaller engines cost less to insure. Rare, expensive cars cost more!
3) Increase your excess
The higher the excess, the less you should pay in premiums.
4) Shop around for the best quotes
5) Ask your existing insurer to beat the best quote you’ve found
It doesn’t cost you anything to ask, and it’s less hassle than switching.
6) Trim off any extras you don’t need
Why pay for ‘free car hire’ while your car is being fixed, if you don’t need it?
7) Add a second driver
If the additional driver won’t actually use the car, this can bring the premiums down.
8) Get married
Married drivers pay less as they are statistically seen as more ‘stable’.
9) Move in with your partner
Again, those in a stable relationship are seen as less risky drivers, and pay less.
10) Gather your quotes 28 days and one day before renewal
Quotes are often valid for 28 days. That way, if prices go up just before your renewal date, you can revert to your original quote.
11) Broaden your search
Aviva and Direct Line don’t appear on any car insurance price comparison websites so you need to go direct to these insurance providers to compare quotes.
12) Consider a ‘pay as you drive’ scheme
Some schemes, such as AA Drivesafe, fit a special device to your car so the insurer knows how much you drive it. The less you drive, particularly at risky times (eg night-time), the less you pay! Read more in How a black box can cut the cost of your car insurance.
13) Park your car off-road or in a garage
This means your car is less likely to be stolen, so is less risky to insure.
14) Make the car more secure
Adding an immobiliser, alarm and tracker to your car will also reduce the risk of it being stolen, and bring down your premiums.
15) Spend less on hire car insurance
Get car hire excess insurance and reduce your excess that way, rather than buying an expensive add-on from a car hire firm.
16) Get a multi-car discount
Some insurers such as Admiral, Privilege and Direct Line will give you a discount if the same person insures more than one car.
17) Pay for your insurance upfront
Insurers will charge you as much as 20% extra if you want to pay off your premium in monthly instalments.
18) Get a 0% on purchases card
Pay upfront for your insurance using the market-leading 0% purchases card and you’ll be able to pay it off gradually without being charged any interest.
19) Take an advanced driving course.
Taking the Pass Plus training course could shave as much as 30% off your car insurance premium.
20) Reduce your cover
If you drive an old banger that’s on its last legs, opt for third party cover rather than comprehensive cover.
21) Declare whether you’ve made any claims
If you haven’t claimed on your car insurance for a year, you’ll earn a no-claims bonus which can help to bring your premium down.
22) Avoid modifications.
Adding spoilers, alloy wheels or boosting the engine size is likely to increase your premium.
23) Accurately assess the value of your car
When getting quotes, make sure you don’t overestimate the value of the car or you will end up paying too high a premium.
24) Buy online.
You usually pay less if you buy your car insurance on the internet, rather than over the phone.
25) Impose a mileage limit on yourself
You can lower your premium by sticking to a mileage limit.
Compare car insurance at lovemoney.com
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