We’ve all had the issue of being quoted an extremely high price on our car insurance, so how can you save money on your premium? After all, car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK.
Usually car insurance premiums cost several hundred pounds each year, but thankfully we know a few ways you can get cheaper car insurance. In this blog, we explain everything you need to know to get the best deals possible.
1. Call a specialist
Our first tip is also our best tip, call a specialist. Ultimately, the best way to get the best quote possible is to talk to an expert. Relying on price comparison sites is often people’s ‘go-to’ when trying to save money, but not every insurance company is listed on those sites.
Comparison sites and online quotes are generated by a computer and can’t be altered. Speaking with an insurance specialist like the experts at Sterling not only ensures you’re answering questions correctly, but it also means you get to speak with a real human being who is actively trying to reduce your premium and get you the best quote possible.
2. Limit your annual mileage
A popular way of saving money on your car insurance is by limiting the amount of mileage you can do each year. If you drive less than the average number of miles per year, you may be entitled to a discount.
In the UK, drivers typically drive between 10-12,000 miles per year in their car, but if you set a limit of 7,500, 5,000, 3,000 or even 1,500 miles per year, you can make a pretty hefty saving.
3. Add extra drivers to your insurance policy
If you know of a low risk driver that may use your vehicle during the policy, adding them to the insurance will in turn reduce the price. When people drive vehicles that other people also use, they tend to treat that car more carefully. That means adding drivers can get you a discount. The discount may be very significant if the driver (or drivers) you add also have a lot of experience.
4. Renew your insurance far in advance of it expiring
Insurance companies prefer people who are well organised as it shows that you are less likely to take risks. If you’re someone who gets a quote at the last minute, you’re more likely to be charged more than if you get a quote a few weeks in advance of your current policy expiring.
For that reason, it’s a good idea to get a quote far in advance of when you need it to help save money. Companies are usually happy to quote up to one month ahead of time.
5. Make sure to let your insurance company know about any no claims bonus you’ve built up
We all know earning a year’s no claims bonus (NCB) can save you a huge amount, but did you know the savings continue each year until you’ve built up an NCB for around 5 years, by which point the savings could be close to 65%? However, this bonus can only be applied to a single policy, and you have to have been earning it on annual insurance policies all that time.
So, even if you haven’t claimed for a few years, there’s still a chance you could have no NCB available to use. Thankfully, if you speak to a specialist insurer, they can often take into account your years of claims-free driving and offer an equivalent discount, or close to it.
6. Earn an advanced driving qualification
A lot of specialist insurers will offer a discount for people who have an advanced driving qualification, such as an Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM Roadsmart) course pass or, for new drivers, a Pass Plus certificate, so If you’ve completed one of these, make sure you mention it, just in case it saves you a bit more money.
7. Compare the different levels of cover – comprehensive cover might be cheaper
There are different levels of insurance cover, from the very basic third party only (TPO – which just covers damage you cause to others) and thirty party, fire and theft (TPFT – which covers fire, theft and usually vandalism cover for your vehicle too), to comprehensive (often known as fully comp, which covers accidental damage to your car, and usually a level of windscreen insurance too).
Although comprehensive insurance covers a lot more, it may actually work out less expensive, simply because more insurers will offer prices – giving better choice and help save money.
A good specialist broker will always check to see if ‘fully comp’ could actually save you a few pounds, but you should also try it out yourself. And remember: adding extra voluntary excess can usually drop it down even more, but that usually only helps for comprehensive insurance quotes.
8. Avoid monthly fees by paying in one go
Insurance companies and brokers often need to charge interest if you opt to pay by instalments rather than all in one go. This means extra charges that you could avoid by paying upfront.
If you have a credit card with a low interest rate – or even 0% – consider using that if you’re able to, and avoid interest charges from the insurer or their finance providers. Remember: paying monthly instalments does not mean you can simply stop paying and stop the insurance; you’ll still need to pay for the policy in full (less any refunds offered by the insurer, if applicable).
9. Upgrade your vehicle’s security
If you can lower the chances of your vehicle being stolen and never recovered, then you might see lower insurance costs too. Upgrading your vehicle’s security is a good way to make it more secure. Insurers tend to give discounts for devices listed by Thatcham, and better discounts for Category 1 devices than Category 2. If in doubt, ask your insurer what they might give a discount for.
10. Consider fitting a dashcam
As dashcams may be able to help settle a disputed claim, some policies give discounts for having a good quality dashcam fitted and working.
11. Don’t lie to the insurer
We cannot stress this one enough. Some people feel tempted to try and mislead insurers by stating incorrect facts when they get their quote. However, this will always come back to bite you. If you claim, then a false set of statements when you took out the policy will probably mean it was not valid. Even if you don’t claim, insurers share information and so you will probably get found out anyway. It’s simple, always tell the truth.
Where can I get an affordable car insurance quote?
Whichever car you have, Sterling can provide you car insurance that suits your individual needs. All we need is information about you, your car, and your driving history to try and provide you with the best deal possible. Call us today for our very best prices on 0344 381 9990.
