If you’re from Northern Ireland, you probably won’t be surprised to find out that the average cost of car insurance in Northern Ireland is more costly than it is in the rest of the UK. But how can you reduce your insurance costs? Read on to find out our tips on lowering your premiums.
Why is car insurance so expensive in Northern Ireland?
The NI Assembly published a paper on the comparative costs of car and home insurance in 2011 as a way of exploring why premiums were comparatively high in Northern Ireland. They discovered that this was the result of a number of different factors.
Higher proportion of younger drivers
According to the research, there is a slightly higher proportion of the population within the 16-29 year age group. As younger and less experienced drivers are considered a higher risk for insurers, it’s likely that this is increasing average car insurance costs.
Travel patterns
Research suggests that people in Northern Ireland travel further than others in the UK. It’s likely that this could contribute to an increase in insurance premiums.
Infrastructure
Compared to other areas of the UK, NI has a higher proportion of non-major roads such as B roads, C roads and unclassified roads. The research suggested this could contribute to higher insurance costs.
Traffic flows and casualty rate
Traffic flows have increased significantly over the last couple of decades, more so than other areas of the UK. The paper suggests that unless road safety has risen significantly in line with this increase in traffic, this could increase the associated risk for insurers.
In fact, NI does have a higher accident rate per person. This is likely to be a result of the factors above.
Compensation rates and legal costs
Around 40% of claims relating to road traffic accidents reach the courts in Northern Ireland, whereas only 3.5% reach the courts in England and Wales. As a result, legal costs are significantly higher for the average road traffic accident.
According to the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), compensation rates are higher in Northern Ireland than they are in the rest of the UK too. This could result in insurers increasing their prices to cover these higher costs.
In light of all this, here are some of the best ways to reduce insurance premiums in Northern Ireland.
1. Choose a less powerful car
Cars with a powerful engine tend to be more expensive to insure. This is because faster and higher powered cars are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident. By choosing a less powerful car, you can reduce your Northern Ireland car insurance premiums. This is particularly true for young or first time drivers who are more likely to get into an accident and more likely to face high insurance costs.
2. Build up your NCB
Your no claims bonus (NCB) relates to the number of years you’ve been driving without making a claim. As a general rule, for every year you go without needing to make a claim, your insurance premiums will fall.
As a result, it can be a good idea to try and build up your NCB. Some insurance schemes can even offer protected no claims bonus, where your NCB isn’t affected even if you need to make a claim.
3. Drive fewer miles
Whilst those in Northern Ireland tend to drive more miles than those in other parts of the UK, you might want to consider trying to drive fewer miles each year. Limited mileage policies can be particularly effective at helping you cut costs.
4. Join a car club
It’s the industry’s best kept secret: if you join a car club, you could get discounts on your insurance of up to 20% with Sterling NI! Being a car club member tells us that you’re passionate about your vehicle, which means you’re less likely to be a major risk to insurers.
5. Compare insurance prices
Comparing insurance plans and prices can help to reduce your insurance premiums significantly, especially if you’re doing this every year when your renewal is due. It usually helps to explore other options outside typical comparison sites. For example, insurance brokers like Sterling NI can help you compare quotes that you might not be able to find on other sites.
A lot of the time, you’ll often be able to get a more tailored quote with an insurance broker, which is ideal if you find yourself paying extra for features you don’t particularly want.
6. Keep your car secure
Improving car security can help protect your vehicle from being stolen. This includes keeping your vehicle in a garage rather than on a public road, and installing Thatcham-approved security devices like trackers and immobilisers. Make sure to lock your garage overnight as the majority of thieves operate in the evenings and during the night.
7. Buy your insurance early
In general, it’s best to buy your insurance policy a few weeks before your policy is due to expire, rather than waiting for the final day to renew.
8. Pay upfront
Paying upfront for your insurance policy rather than paying in monthly installments usually works out cheaper.
9. Consider a black box device
Although black boxes are sometimes viewed negatively, they can have a significant impact on your insurance premiums, especially if you’re a young driver. At Sterling NI, we reward safe driving with discounts of up to 60% off your insurance premium. Our black box insurance also isn’t as restrictive as other telematics providers; for instance, we don’t give you a curfew or penalise you for driving at night.
10. Increase your voluntary excess
Your voluntary excess is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim in the event you need to make one. Increasing your voluntary excess can help to reduce your premium, though you must be prepared to pay this in the event you have to make a claim.
It’s important to note that your voluntary excess is usually added to your compulsory excess, which is set by your insurer, so make sure you add these two figures together when calculating the total amount you’d have to pay should you need to make a claim.
At Sterling NI, we offer excess protection. This can cover the amount of excess you need to pay in the event of a claim.
11. Complete a PassPlus course if you’re a young driver
As younger drivers are less experienced on the road, they often face extremely high insurance premiums. But passing additional driving qualifications can help to reduce your insurance quite significantly. This is because courses like PassPlus help improve your driving skills, which can make you a safer driver. This, in turn, translates to low cost insurance premiums.
Call Sterling NI for an affordable insurance quote on 071 385 6784.
