Cheaper Car Insurance

It might seem pointless trying to get cheaper car insurance premiums. The law says everyone has to pay it, so why bother trying to shave off pennies here and there?

Well the truth of the matter is that there are in fact many substantial savings which can be made when searching for car insurance and it will generally be the case that different deals will appeal to different people. Too many people are still guilty of simply taking out the first insurance policy to jump at them, in the belief that they simply do not have the time to spare comparing various options and weighing up the differences in schemes, with many taking the view that the differences are only very slight.

You may be able to save money on your car insurance simply by using the vehicle less, or not at all. Alternatively, you may be entitled to a discount for being safe, mature, or female. There is an almost endless list of individual characteristics which insurers will take into account when vying for your custom.

Smaller Cars
Some insurers base their premiums on the size of your engine. This is because high-power cars are more likely to be going faster at the time of any accident, which probably means they will cost more to repair.

If money is a major factor when considering your car insurance cover, it may be worth thinking about down-grading to a smaller vehicle, which could also provide better fuel economy and so save money in petrol costs.

Parking
If you have a driveway or garage your insurer is likely to think your car is safer when parked up and may offer a discount accordingly. Locking your car in a garage overnight is an easy way of proving to your provider that it is not at risk of theft or damage.

Some insurers may offer a discount if your car is to be parked off-road for an extended period. If you are certain you will not be using it any time soon, it might be worth registering a statutory off-road notice (SORN). Cars registered with a SORN are exempt from needing insurance.

Low Mileage
If you do not travel much, you may qualify for a discount from your insurance provider, or may be able to shop around for a better deal using your mileage as leverage.

Again, the logic behind this one is simple - the more you drive, the more likely you are to have an accident. Insurers may see low-mileage drivers as a safe prospect.

With the advancement of global positioning systems, some insurers will charge you per mile, rather than at a fixed rate. This is generally known as pay-as-you-drive and may result in substantial savings if you drive very little.

Older Drivers
The UK Department for Transport acknowledges that older drivers are more experienced, tolerant and courteous, leading to an overall lesser chance that they will be involved in an accident.

Companies such as Saga offer discounted cover to the elderly based on this advice. For Saga, you must be over 50 to be able to take out a policy. Further savings may be made by applying online, which Saga rewards with a 20 per cent discount.

Your Work
Depending on what you do for a living, insurers may expect that you will drive further over the course of a year. There is a good chance that your premiums will vary accordingly, as the more you drive, the more chance there is of you having an accident.

If your job means that you drive very little, you may be able to use it as a bargaining tool in reducing renewal costs, especially if you can get a quote from a rival company which will take your occupation into account.

Sensible Driving
While it is difficult to prove you are a sensible driver right away, over time your insurer will build up a picture of your driving habits based on the number of claims you make. Each consecutive year that you don't make a claim adds to your no-claims bonus, which increases your chance of receiving a discount.

Some companies will only insure drivers with a substantial no-claims bonus, typically four years or more. If you fall into this category it might be worth looking for a deal from one of these insurers.