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The cost of car insurance is predicted to rise 10% this year and shot up 5% between April and June so it's worth checking now whether you can lock in a cheaper price.
This guide explains the basics of car insurance, what to watch out for and reveals how you can slash the cost of cover in six easy steps. If you are under 25 check our Young Driver's Insurance guide for more.
Car insurance: The basics
At its most simple, car insurance covers you if your car is stolen or involved in a road accident. It also protects other road users if you cause damage to their vehicle or property.
The cost of insurance - your premium - is based on how much of a risk insurers perceive you to be. For example, if you are a youngster ready to hit the highway after just passing your test, or you have had more than a prang or two, you will pay more.
However, if you can prove you are not a risk by keeping accident-free and storing your car safely, you will pay much less.
How does car insurance work?
Excesses: What are they and how do they impact claims?
Not to be confused with living the high life during the festive period or a long afternoon at the local all-you-can-eat buffet, an excess - in the insurance sense - is the amount you pay towards any claims you make.
For example, if your excess is £250 and you have had an accident that caused £1,000 worth of damage to your vehicle, you will pay £250 and the insurer will stump up the rest.
Be careful when deciding on your excess. The larger the excess the cheaper the premium, but a large excess may leave you out of pocket if you need to claim.
Third party, 'third party, fire and theft' and comprehensive: What is the difference?
As well as understanding an excess, knowing the difference between the three main types of car insurance is a must:
1. Third party
Third party is the minimum level of cover you need to legally drive or even keep a vehicle that has not been SORN-ed (see Gov.uk for more). It can be the cheapest option but it covers very little, only
protecting others on the road, and property like walls, homes and streetlights, from your bad driving.
So, if an accident's your fault, third party pays for the damage you cause to another driver's vehicle and their property and protects any passengers. It will not cover you for any damage to your own vehicle so you will be expected to pay this cost yourself.
2. Third party, fire and theft
Third party, fire and theft is an extension of third-party only insurance but it also protects your vehicle if it is stolen, or if it catches fire.
3. Comprehensive
Comprehensive is the widest level of cover available. If you have an accident and it was your fault you can claim the cost of repairing your car and any other damage you may cause to a third party. The cover also includes accidental damage, vandalism and usually windscreen repair.
You may be able to drive other people's cars, although this is likely to only be up to the level of third-party coverage. You may also be covered to drive hire cars. These are not standard features so check with your insurer before you buy so you are clear about what is included. (see does my policy cover me to drive other vehicles? for more).
Other vehicles: Does my policy cover me to drive them and can other people drive my car?
Obviously car insurance will cover you to drive your own vehicle but some comprehensive policies insure you if you are driving the cars of your friends and family - with their permission of course. You may also be covered to drive hire cars too. However, if your comprehensive cover allows you to drive other vehicles this is usually only up to the level of third-party coverage - so no theft or fire damage is provided.
If you are the generous sort, you can add other drivers to your policy - known as named drivers - and they'll be covered to drive your car. Even if you are not the generous sort, adding a second responsible driver can also help lower the cost of your cover.
No-claims discounts: What are they and do they need to be protected?
As insurers like less risky policyholders, they will reward you if you are able to go a long time without making a claim. For every year you are claim-free your insurer may give you a discount at renewal.
The more years you can go without making a claim, the larger the discount will be at renewal. For instance, an insurer may give you a 30%-40% discount if you can go without claiming for the first year of your policy and then give you an extra 10% discount if you can repeat the trick in your second year.
You can also pay a small fee to protect your no-claims discount, meaning you can retain your discount even if you claim. It is worth considering, especially if you have a history of making claims. However, an accident is still likely to see your premium rise, regardless of the impact of your discount.
Going abroad: What if I want to use my car overseas?
If you drive your car outside the UK but within the EU (eg, a day trip to France) or other European countries such as Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, an EU directive means you'll automatically get third-party only cover, even if you dont tell your insurer.
This means you'll be driving legally, but under the third party extension of your policy, so your car won't be covered for damage or theft. This third party cover applies even if you have a comprehensive UK cover. But some policies come with full Europe-wide insurance, covering you across the continent.
If yours doesnt, call your insurer giving your dates of travel and the countries you'll visit (or plan to pass through, even if it's only for a few hours) to extend the policy cover, but there may be a charge.
Our research shows some providers, including Direct Line, Churchill and Privilege, offer this free if youre only going for up to three days, but thats not a universal rule. You can be charged around £20-£30.
If you extend your trip, youre likely to have to pay extra possibly around £15-£30 more.
Dont forget about breakdown cover. See our full Breakdown Guide for more.
Buying car insurance
Applying for a quote: How honest do I have to be?
You have to be completely honest when you are applying for a car insurance quote.
Car insurance is expensive but no matter how tempted you are to say someone else is the main driver, or to pretend you have no points on your licence, never lie.
It can invalidate your insurance and can even lead to prosecution. However, being specific rather than vague about your job (some jobs are considered riskier than others) can help you cut costs. See our car insurance job picker for more.
Got a car but hardly drive it: Do I still need insurance?
Even if you are only driving your car every now and then it must be insured. The Continuous Insurance Enforcement scheme, which came into force in January 2011, means all cars must be covered - unless they are not in use and off the road. It aims to crack down on uninsured drivers by matching up the database of cars on the road with insured drivers.
The only way out is to apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), declaring your car will never be driven. See Gov.uk for more.
Mileage: What impact does it have on my insurance?
The less you drive, the cheaper your insurance may be. Where possible, try to reduce your mileage. This may sound trite, but actually the real key is incorporating the extra insurance cost when you make long journeys, not just the cost of petrol compared to taking the bus or train (see the Cheap Trains guide).
Many simply get a quote for 10,000 miles per year, MoneySavers have reported that 5,000 is the cheapest quote - but we haven't tested this. If you use your car for business travel, always declare this rather than just including the business miles as personal trips, or the policy may be void.
Accidents: Do I need to tell my insurer if I have a prang but don't claim?
If you have an accident and damage someone else's car but decide to cover the costs yourself, strictly speaking you should still tell your insurer about it.
If you do have an accident and your insurer subsequently finds out about it, it could result in higher premiums regardless as the insurer will consider you more of a risk.
In addition, a problem may arise if you have a second accident and it is found to be related to work undertaken for the first. If this does happen it would most likely result in non-payment of the claim, rather than cancellation of your insurance or being reported for fraud, but could still end up costing you £1,000s.
Change in circumstances: Do I need to notify my insurer?
If any of your circumstances change it is important that you tell your insurer. If you don't and then try to claim, even for an unrelated issue, your whole policy may be invalid.
You should tell your insurer about any change, even if it's just your address. This is crucial as it reduces potential problems in the event of a claim. Trying to get insurance after you've had a policy cancelled is very difficult and expensive.
A change in circumstances includes moving jobs, as insurers believe this can affect your risk. You may also save on insurance if you're in a stable relationship - for instance, living with a partner rather than listed as single.
Young drivers: I'm under 25, is there a way I can cut my insurance premiums?
The cost of car insurance for under-25s is dropping fast but it's still eye-watering for some. The average price for a 17-22 year-old is £1,242. But there are many ways to help cut this cost, including getting specialist young drivers insurance. For more information see our Young Drivers Insurance guide.
Now you know the basics of car insurance, follow our step-by-step guide to slashing the cost of your premium, starting with 10 car cover need-to-knows.
10 ways to cut car insurance costs
Did you know the average driver faces an annual insurance premium of £549, with drivers under the age of 25 paying more than £1,200 for their cover? Here are our top 10 car insurance cost-cutting tips that can save you £100s.
Don't assume third party is the cheapest
You would expect third party cover to be the cheapest because it is the lesser cover, just covering the person you bump into and their car. Yet dont expect car insurance to be logical.
With some insurers the mere fact you have selected comprehensive, which includes your car too as well as fire and theft, means you'll be assessed as a lower risk (based on actuarial history) and that can outweigh the fact you get more cover, to make it cheaper.
There are no hard rules here, its a matter of trial and error, yet if youre just looking for the very cheapest cover, never only check third party.
My auto renew quote was £210 for 3rd party only. I went to a comparison site and got comprehensive breakdown cover & free car hire with the same company for £40 less. Forumite DobbieSloan
Should I get third party or comprehensive cover?
Third party cover is generally most suitable for those:
Comprehensive is a good idea if your car is worth more than £1,500, and is more important the more valuable your car is. Many insurers will only offer comprehensive cover for cars over a certain value anyway.
A responsible 2nd or 3rd driver can cut costs
It may seem counter logical, but covering an extra driver can reduce rather than increase your cost in some cases by £100s or £1,000s. Here are seven quick tips on how to do it most effectively
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Car insurance is all about risk. Thats why it can work. If youre a high-risk driver and you add someone who is a much lower risk as a 2nd (and/or 3rd) driver, they can bring down the average risk and you may get a cheaper policy.
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This isnt just for young drivers. While it works well for young drivers (see our Young Drivers' Car Insurance guide) as they are automatically seen as a high risk and know many people, like their parents who may be lower risk, it can work for anyone but of course, it's especially powerful for those with costlier insurance.
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The better the driving history and lower their risk, the more impact it should have. Those with a good driving record are likely to help make the most savings, but anyone who's a lower risk can help. By law insurers cant discriminate over gender, but age, driving experience and history can make a difference.
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This is about trial and error, not logic. Your mum may increase the cost, your brother may cut it, or vice versa. It's just a question of trying different quotes and seeing what happens.
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Different insurers respond in different ways. One may cut your costs adding your uncle, another may increase it. A quick way to check is by varying quotes on comparison sites it's easy to do, see our top comparison sites list below.
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The second driver should be someone who would reasonably drive your car. So dont add Lewis Hamilton, unless you happen to be his brother (and even then racing drivers are likely a very high risk so I wouldnt bother) - but your mum, son, best mate or gran should be ok - as long as they would drive the car.
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Never add someone as main driver if theyre not. This is known in the industry as 'fronting' and is fraud. If you do it and are caught, you can face a criminal conviction and your insurance will likely be invalid.
Here are some successes to get you started...
As a young new driver my insurer wanted £5,000 but after adding mum and dad it dropped to £1,900. @Faevouritexox
Took your advice and added my mum to my car insurance and saved £500 #mumstheword.@mazzyb5
Tweak your job description - some save £100s
Another quick win is tweaking your job description (legitimately of course). An illustrator is often cheaper than an artist, an editor than a journalist, a PA than a secretary.
Have a play with our Car Insurance Job Picker tool and see if small changes to your job description could save you cash. Remember, never lie as this will be considered fraudulent. If it worked for you, share your success stories with our forum users.
Thank you @MartinSLewis after rewording my job occupation on car insurance I have managed to save £400. @JenStaCreations
I did this too thanks to @MartinSLewis from creative director to marketing manager = saved £300+ Crazy world isn't it? @fabsternation
What if I am unemployed?
If you don't have a job, you face a potential fivefold jump in insurance costs by declaring you're unemployed. The same hikes don't apply to homemakers (housewives/househusbands). If that's you, say so to avoid a hike in costs.
However, only enter homemaker if you're genuinely not seeking work or receiving benefits which require you to seek work. Otherwise, it's fraud. Read the full MSE News story: Unemployed walloped with high insurance.
Beware paying monthly
A monthly payment plan for your insurance is essentially a high-interest loan. For example, if your premium is £1,000 but you are paying an APR of 25%, your insurance will actually cost £1,140 once you factor in the interest.
So either pay in full, or if you can't afford it, use a credit card with a lower APR rate (or better still, a 0% credit card for spending, ensuring your repayments are big enough to clear it within a year).
If paying by credit card, check if the insurer or provider charges a fee for doing so - though the fee is usually less than the interest charged on monthly instalments.
Never auto-renew. Loyalty is expensive
Nothing better illustrates car insurers preying on loyal customers than Sarah Cooper's tweet. "My car insurance renewal is £1,200. New policy with same company is £690. How do they justify this?" They don't. They just do it.
Insurers charge increasing amounts each year, knowing inertia will stop policyholders switching. If your renewal is coming up, jot it in your diary to remember it. Compare comparison sites and then call your insurer to see if it can match, or even beat, the best quote you found. If it can, you're quids in.
I hadn't had any accidents or incidents yet my renewal went up almost £200. I left and went elsewhere for £70 less plus £60 cashback.Forumite Zipman23
My auto-renew price for two vehicles including a 21-year-old named driver son on smaller vehicle was £1,024. I followed the advice given in the guide to get a better deal with Direct Line for £590. Forumite Rawhide
What will insurers charge me to stay?
As well as insurers refusing to offer you the special rates that are available to new customers, there is often an administration fee charged for renewing your policy.
Here's a list of some of the policies which impose a renewal fee. If you know of any others, tell us so we can add them to this list of shame.
How can I haggle?
For more haggling tips, read the full Haggle On The High Street guide together with The Top 10 Firms To Haggle With.
Don't pimp your ride. Lock it down
For those over the age of 50, 'pimping your ride' involves decking it out with fancy alloys, windows and spoilers. The more changes you make to your car, barring security ones, the more you'll be charged. Always tell your insurer about any modifications and whether you made them or not, or it may invalidate your policy.
Even more savings are there for the taking if you can protect your vehicle by securing it. Fitting an alarm or immobiliser (especially one approved by Thatcham) will reduce the bill substantially.
What counts as a modification?
A modification is anything that isn't part of the standard vehicle specification, including factory-fitted optional extras such as alloy wheels.
Only buy add-ons if you know their value
Insurers often try to sell you additional products such as windscreen or breakdown cover. Avoid buying these if you don't need them and, if you do, always check out the cost of the cover individually first.
Many insurers make a large mark-up by selling add-ons at higher rates than you can get elsewhere. Also, some of these add-ons may already be included in your policy, so read all the terms and conditions carefully.
Insurers can also throw in free add-ons (like those listed below) in your first year as a sweetener but after that you'll need to pay. To grab these freebies follow these three steps;
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Make sure you switch insurers every year to avoid paying for add-ons.
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Check what's on offer via comparison sites as insurers often have exclusive offers set up with them which you can't get by going direct.
Always try to haggle with your current insurer. Ask if it can offer you a better deal than a rival and, if not, don't be afraid to switch to a provider that will.
What are the typical add-ons?
Windscreen cover
Windscreen cover may differ from provider to provider but, at its most basic, it pays out if your windscreen is damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced. Your windscreen is usually covered under your comprehensive car insurance policy but separate cover will pay to repair your windscreen without claiming on your car insurance. This means no excess and no impact on your no-claims discount.
Legal expenses
This doesn't bear thinking about but say you've had an accident that left you badly injured and you needed to claim damages for your ongoing medical costs. This cover will help you reclaim these costs from the insurer of the driver at fault, with the help of a legal team, so you are not out of pocket. It will also help recover your excess in the event of an accident where a third party was involved and can be traced.
Courtesy car
Courtesy car cover provides you with a replacement vehicle if you have an accident, or need to make a claim. There are different levels of courtesy car cover - some will only cover you if your car can be repaired, while others will cover for complete write-offs, or if your car is stolen.
Breakdown cover
Breakdown cover varies but, at its most basic level, it ensures your vehicle can be recovered from the roadside and fixed on the spot (or taken to a local garage if it can't be repaired there and then). You can increase the cover to get assistance if your car is spluttering in the driveway or to get a hire car if you need a short-term replacement. For more info see our Cheap Breakdown Cover guide.
Excess insurance
As its name suggests, excess insurance is designed to provide the funds to pay your excess in the event of a claim. There are two types of excess insurance: the first, known as 'single cover', only covers one policy, while 'multi-cover' will insure excesses you have across a number of different policies.
Key cover
If you lose your car keys, key insurance can cover the cost of replacing both the key and the lock. Key cover typically comes without an excess and some policies can be extended to also cover members of your family.
Free add-ons in the first year
As competition to get your business is high, free add-ons for the first year are sometimes offered to entice you to sign up.
From year two onwards, unless you remove the add-on or successfully haggle (see Car and Home Insurance Haggling tips for more), you will be charged. Here is a list of typical add-ons where legal expenses cover is c. £25 and basic breakdown cover from £28.
Set the right excess without breaking the bank
It's worth considering going for a policy with a higher excess. A higher excess will result in lower premiums but make sure you can afford the premium in the event you need to claim. Many people will find claiming for less than £500 of damage both increases the future cost of insurance and can invalidate no-claims bonuses, meaning it's not always worth making a claim.
So why pay extra for a lower excess? A few insurers will substantially reduce premiums for a £1,000 excess, so try this when getting quotes. The downside of this is if you have a bigger claim you'll have to shell out more, so take this into account.
Grab long-lasting quotes to lock in todays price
Prices are predicted to rise 10% in 2015, according to the AA, yet some insurers such as Aviva*, LV*, Nationwide and more have quotes that are valid for 60 days. They let you get a quote two months before your renewal is due, and keep that price, beating any possible future premium increases.
That quote should still be valid even if you get another quote nearer the time and the price has gone up however the price is fixed subject to you not changing any of your details.
List of 20 insurers which allow you to lock in quotes early
The following are just some of the insurers that will let you lock in a quote at least 30 days before renewal.
You can switch mid-year, dont wait for renewal
Dont assume switching is only for those at renewal. This is very important when prices are rising, as they are this year. This means you may find switching early saves anyway, especially if you didnt follow the full cost cutting system in the past. There are three things to watch when doing this.
- You can usually cancel existing policies and get a refund for the rest of the year, providing you havent claimed.
- There will normally be a cancellation fee of around £50 so your savings from switching should outweigh that to make it worth it the longer youve got to go the more likely you'll be better off switching to save rather than waiting.
- You wont earn the current years no claims bonus if you switch so you'll need to be making a substantial saving in order to make this work.
Yet even with those three blockers it can be worth while, heres a couple of case studies to inspire you...
You gave us the confidence to challenge our car insurance mid-policy as we were paying £40 a month. Now we're paying £16. Andy
In November my insurance was £1,200. Now, with a little help from turning 25, I have done a mid-year price check and it's £230! Miriam
Will my insurer remind me when it's time to renew?
Insurers usually send out notifications at least 21 days before renewal. This doesn't leave much time, and you can end up rushing to find a cheaper price.
To avoid being forced to decide quickly, put a warning in your diary six weeks before your renewal date, so there's plenty of time to sort out a new provider. Alternatively, use the free Tart Alert which sends a reminder text or email.
List of 22 insurers and cancellation fees
The following are just some of the cancellation fees charged by insurers if you cancel cover outside of the 14-day 'cooling-off period' and if you've not made any claims during the current year.
Step 1: The top comparison sites
Once you know the basics from our top 10 tips for cutting costs, it is time to visit the comparison site to get quotes.
There is no one comparison site which, used on its own, will always save consumers the most money. As no single site captures the entire market, combining a number of sites is the best way to make a really meaningful saving.
Comparison sites zip your details to a number of insurers' and brokers' websites to find the cheapest quotes. They don't all compare the same sites, so it is best to combine them. We've analysed the comparison sites to find the ones that produce the cheapest quotes.
We've also conducted separate research to see if quotes from comparisons match up to the prices on insurers' own websites, how easy it is to use the sites, and the speed at which the sites deliver results. (See how the order is picked .)
The order below is for typical drivers, see the tabs below if the combination of comparison sites is unable to save you £100s.
Some comparison sites include 'free' gifts for every policy you take out. At CompareTheMarket.com there's a soft toy meerkat (you can choose from eight) for each new policy plus 2for1 cinema tickets (see Meerkat Movies deals for full details). At Confused.com you'll get a 'Brian the Robot' toy with every new home or motor policy.
Comparison sites: Should I be worried about the security of my data?
There are not usually any issues with the security of the data held on price comparison sites but in December 2013 Comparethemarket was forced to review its systems after an investigation revealed a lack of a password-protection which meant personal data including address, value of home contents and marital status were all at risk of being hacked. Read more in the MSE News story Compare The Market reviews security.
Typical driver
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
Typical driver insurance
This is you if youre aged over 25 with one car, which isnt a company car.
Quick reference
Our system in a nutshell but for a full whys and wherefores see below
Our comparison site order in full technicolour detail
No single site captures the entire market, so combining a number of sites is the best way to make a really meaningful saving. If you missed our explanation of how we pick our comparison sites, please see the top comparison sites section above.
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- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
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- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none? No
- Prices match insurer's site more than 80% of the time
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Tick-box for marketing calls? Opt-out
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- Received marketing calls when we asked for none? No
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? No
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Tick-box for marketing calls? Opt-out
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If you still haven't found a deal you're happy with, or want to push the envelope, there are some more options to try.
Try these comparison sites if you have time - each takes around 5-10 minutes: MoneySuperMarket*, QuoteZone*.
Temporary car insurance
Borrowing a friend's car for the weekend or need to hire a vehicle to move house? It's possible to get temporary insurance for one to 28 days.
Most insurers will cover drivers between the ages of 18 and 75 but some set the minimum age at 21. You may also find it difficult to find cover if you have many points on your licence or a long history of claims.
Insure Daily*, Tempcover.com*, Confused.com* and the RAC offer policies.
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
If you still haven't found a deal you're happy with, or want to push the envelope, there are some more options to try.
Try these comparison sites if you have time - each takes around 5-10 minutes: MoneySuperMarket*, QuoteZone*.
Multiple car insurance
This is you if you have more than one car. A multi-car insurer is not always cheapest so check the price of each individual car first by looking at comparison sites, the insurers not on them, and special deals they miss before you buy (listed in our quick reference box below).
If you don't have time and just want the quickest multi-car quote check via these insurers and be aware that specialist multi-car insurers may cost you more.
Sometimes it works!
Admiral offered us a multi-car policy and our insurance dropped to £500.
...and sometimes it doesn't!
We managed to save over £200 this year. Renewal quote from Admiral for 2 cars = £575. Privilege 1 car = £190, M&S 1 car = £160, Total = £350.
Quick reference
Our system in a nutshell but for a full whys and wherefores see below
Our comparison site order in full technicolour detail
No single site captures the entire market, so combining a number of sites is the best way to make a really meaningful saving. If you missed our explanation of how we pick our comparison sites, please see the top comparison sites section above.
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- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
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- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none? No
- Prices match insurer's site more than 80% of the time
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Tick-box for marketing calls? Opt-out
-
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none? No
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? No
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Tick-box for marketing calls? Opt-out
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If you still haven't found a deal you're happy with, or want to push the envelope, there are some more options to try.
Try these comparison sites if you have time - each takes around 5-10 minutes: MoneySuperMarket*, QuoteZone*.
Company car insurance
Comparison sites always assume you own the car you're trying to insure. However, many people drive a car owned by their employer, but have to insure and tax it themselves.
This means comparison sites, while useful for benchmarking, don't do the trick. First, try a couple of specialists, then see how prices from the comparisons stack up.
Online quotes for company-owned cars
LV*
The only insurer we could find which gives quotes online for vehicles owned by companies is LV*.
Go through the quote process and it'll ask who owns the car. Then the quote you get will be based on this. This by no means translates to LV being the cheapest choice - but it's very useful to get an idea of what you should be paying.
Give us your feedback on LVSpecialist brokers and insurers: Time for phone-based legwork
This is a good time to look to the old-fashioned, pre-online comparison route - insurance brokers. They can only look at a smaller range of insurers, but they can also dig into the detail, and tell you if a policy covers company cars.
It's worth phoning up as many of the following as you can. It's free to talk them but they're paid via commission. Try Adrian Flux, Alan Boswell, Arthur J. Gallagher, Endsleigh*, Swinton and Footman James.
To further hone the price you can, hit the phone again and talk to these insurers: AA*, Admiral*, Churchill*, Diamond and Direct Line*.
Combine comparison sites
Remember, comparisons don't all compare the same sites, so the best strategy's to combine them. We've analysed them, using a large range of monthly data, primarily focused on which ones produce the cheapest results.
We also factored in separate research on the accuracy and quality of the comparisons. (See how the order is picked.)
No single site captures the entire market, so combining a number of sites is the best way to make a really meaningful saving.
-
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Marketing calls: You have to opt out of calls
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none: Yes
-
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? Yes
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none? No
- Prices match insurer's site more than 80% of the time
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Tick-box for marketing calls? Opt-out
-
- Received marketing calls when we asked for none? No
- Prices match insurer's site more than 90% of the time
- Price for add-ons clearly displayed? No
- Excesses match what was asked for? No
- Tick-box for marketing calls? Opt-out
-
If you still haven't found a deal you're happy with, or want to push the envelope, there are some more options to try.
Try these comparison sites if you have time - each takes around 5-10 minutes: MoneySuperMarket*, QuoteZone*.
I'm struggling to get cover
If you have a number of points on your licence or you have made many claims before you may find it hard to get cover.
If you've been caught once for an offence such as speeding, it's likely you'll have three penalty points on your driving licence. However, one strike doesn't change your risk profile. It's when you reach four points or more that you should change the way you act.
First click on 'typical driver' and compare the comparison sites listed. If you think you can find cover cheaper elsewhere consider enlisting the help of a broker (search on the British Insurance Brokers' Association website to find someone local).
If you have claimed in the past and this is affecting your premiums, consider protecting your no-claims discount (see should I protect my no-claims discount? for more).
You may even be able to fast-track your no-claims bonus. The Admiral* Bonus Accelerator policy gives you one year's no-claims bonus after just 10 months of being insured. This can speed up how quickly you hit the big discount territory.
However, always choose based on the price you pay now. Factoring in a slightly higher premium today for a reduced one in future is fine - but don't pay way over the odds, as the benefits in years ahead aren't guaranteed.
Even if you don't claim to keep your no-claims discount, the price of a policy can rise simply because you may be assessed as a higher risk in the future.
Consider telematics
Despite some confusion, telematics is not an 1980s
games show hosted by Noel Edmonds (that was Telly Addicts!). Telematics prices your premiums dep
A device inside your car monitors your actions behind the wheel. So the better youre driving, the less you pay for cover. Remember, telematics policies have more aliases than a rap group. If you're looking at 'black box', 'smart box', 'pay-as-you-drive' or 'usage-based' insurance then you're looking at a telematics policy.
It works! Forumite vic.star says: "I'm with Insure The Box - a telematics insurer. I paid £980 for my first year (I was 21 when I took out the policy) compared to the cheapest on comparison sites of £1,400!"
The black box feeds data back to your insurer, which takes this into account to reward you. If you can prove you're more Driving Miss Daisy than Fast & Furious you can get money back on your premiums, high street shopping vouchers or better prices at renewal. Full info
How do they judge you?
Its not just a case of keeping your hands at ten and two and shifting smoothly up the gears. Insurers will take the following into account.
- The time of day or night you drive (11pm to 5am may cost more).
- Your speed (stick to the limit).
- Gentle braking reactions (hard and sharp stopping is not good).
- Gentle acceleration and cornering is good (don't treat your local roads like Silverstone).
Telematics providers will charge you more if you speed or start cornering like Lewis Hamilton. In addition, you won't earn rewards if you don't drive responsibly. With insurance so expensive, any money back on your cover should be an incentive in itself.
While your insurer will be following your driving closely, there are relatively few restrictions on when and where you drive.
Some insurers, such as iKube and Co-op*, have curfews in place, meaning driving at certain times (usually between 11pm and 5am) could result in a fine or an increase in premiums.
Now jump to step 4 for how to haggle down the best price.
Step 2: The ones comparisons miss
Comparison sites let you compare 100s of insurers in quick time but they don't capture the entire market.
Some insurers do not appear on comparison sites at all and some deals - including multi-car discounts - are only available by going directly to an insurer's website.
The insurers not on comparison sites
Three of the biggest insurers on the market, Direct Line, Aviva and Zurich, only offer their products directly and aren't on comparison sites. Benchmark your cheapest aggregator quotes against the premiums offered by these sites to see if you can slash costs further.
-
Direct Line*. Get 10% off for every additional vehicle you add to your policy or if you have any other Direct Line product, get 10% off with Direct Line Together.
-
Aviva*. Grab up to 20% off online and an extra discount of up to a third by adding a second car or van to your policy.
-
Zurich. Get a courtesy car following an accident on standard policies, if you use one of its approved repairers.
Step 3. Hot deals comparisons miss
While comparison sites offer a large chunk of the deals available in the market, others are only available directly from insurers or brokers. If any of the providers below are among your cheapest on comparison sites, use the links below to buy instead and take advantage of special deals.
*
Use this MSE blagged link to buy a car insurance policy by 11.59pm on 15 November and receive a £55 John Lewis voucher. The voucher will arrive within 120 days of your policy start date. The deal is for new customers only (those who have never had an AgeUK motor policy).
Read more to ENSURE you get the voucher
Online deals have to track properly in order for you to get your voucher. A few things can prevent that, so please make sure that you:
1) Don't exit your browser and reopen it while signing up for the deal, as this can stop it tracking correctly.
2) Check your spam folder once youve signed up for the deal in case your voucher is sent there. Also, remember it will take up to 120 days after your policy start date for your voucher to arrive.
In the unlikely event that you don't receive your voucher 120 days after your policy start date, please email insurancehelp@moneysavingexpert.com and include your policy number and start date. We will then pass this onto the provider to ensure you get a quick response.
Free RAC breakdown cover*
Post Office*
Buy a new motor insurance policy directly from Post Office* and you will get Roadside and Recovery vehicle based cover free for a year. This only applies to policyholders aged 49 or under at the time of purchase.
The option to upgrade the cover is available and costs £20 to include At Home cover or £40 to include At Home and Onward Travel cover for one year.
Multi-car deals are not available via comparison sites
Comparison sites do not currently offer multi-car discounts which can save you up to 25% by insuring more than one car on the same policy. If you have two or more cars in your household check the providers that offer discounts below.
Additional providers which also give a multi-vehicle discount are Aviva*, Churchill*, Direct Line* and Privilege*. Discounts vary and depend on your circumstances but all of these are worth adding to your list to try.Step 4: Haggle
Haggling is not a must - especially if you want to try a new provider - but if you are looking to renew with your current insurer it is well worth getting on the phone to negotiate.
Once you've followed the steps above and got the overall cheapest price, get on the phone and haggle. If your insurer can beat or match your best quote it saves the hassle of switching policy. If that doesn't work and you're still in the mood, enlist the help of a broker.
"I just saved around £300 haggling with Admiral (prompted after the news article on MSE). And they were really friendly to boot."
Forumite thrifteemee
For more haggling tips, read the full Car and Home Insurance Haggling guide along with Haggle On The High Street and 2013's Top 10 Firms To Haggle With.
Step 5: Get cashback
Once you know who your cheapest provider is, you need to check there aren't any hidden cashback deals, as these can be as high as £60.
If your second or third cheapest quotes weren't too much more expensive, see if cashback's available for them too, and find the overall winner.
It's important to be aware that the cashback is coming from the comparison site, not the insurer, so getting the cashback relies on its ability to pay.
Things you need to know before getting cashback...
Never count the cash as yours until it's in your bank account
Cashback is never 100% guaranteed. There can be issues with tracking and allocating the payment. Many cashback sites are small firms with limited backing, and you've no protection if anything happens to them.
Withdraw the cashback as soon as you're allowed
Money held in your cashback site account has no protection at all if that company goes bust. Always withdraw it as soon as you're eligible.
Clear your cookies
While it shouldn't be a problem, if you've used comparison sites before, there is a minor risk that the cashback may not track due to cookies on your computer - so it's good practice to clear those first (read About Cookies).
If you're new to cashback sites, make sure you read the Top Cashback Sites guide for pros and cons before using them. Otherwise, use the Cashback Sites Maximiser tool to find the highest payer for each insurer.
Step 6: Check your policy
Always double check the policy terms. Once you've found the cheapest quotes make two important checks.
Double check the quotes. Click through to the insurance provider's own website to double check the quotes, as to speed up searches some comparison sites make a few assumptions (see what to check).
Examine the policy's coverage.
Check whether it's suitable. If you want free car hire if your car is being fixed, is it included? While you're there, it's worth playing with the policy details to see if you can lower the price further. Look at the excess, and whether adding drivers cuts the cost.
So how much can you save?
Following the steps above often produces huge savings. Those who normally just accept their insurer's renewal regularly see £100s shaved off the cost. And significant numbers of MoneySavers report getting deals for under £100.
Our record-ever price of 96p for a year is below. Since then we've had some for under £50 but nothing that comes close so if you've beaten it, let us know.
Barbara's story: 96p for a year's fully comp cover
In October 2009, civil servant and grandmother Barbara Wakerell smashed the old £14 record for using this car insurance system (see MSE News: 96p car insurance).
Policy price: For Barbara, the cheapest was £120.96 from Swinton Insurance for a fully comprehensive policy, with protected no claims bonus, and including a courtesy car.
Insurer cashback: The company had its own £70 cashback promo.
Cashback site: She then got a further £50 via using a cashback site.
All added together, that meant the total cost of the insurance was just 96p. She said:
I'm always looking for a bargain so when I found my car insurance for £120.96 I thought I was doing well. But when I also got £120 cashback I realised I had done really, really well. Can anyone beat that? Barbara Wakerell
Douglas's story: £26 for a year's car insurance
Welshman Douglas Evans explains how he cut his £280 per year car insurance premiums to just £26
Courtesy of Channel 5. Originally from It Pays To Watch!
How to complain about your insurance provider
The insurance industry doesn't have the best customer service reputation and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others. Common problems include claims either not being paid out on time or at all, unfair charges, or exclusions being hidden in the small print. Its always worth trying to call your provider first, but if not then
Free tool if youre having a problem
If the complaint isn't resolved, Resolver will escalate it to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.
Important: if your issue is about a voucher or incentive that was part of an MSE Blagged deal, then instead just let us know by emailing voucherhelp@moneysavingexpert.com as thats usually quicker.
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