Car Insurance Questions and Answers
Where do I start?
Shop around, or let a broker do it for you.
As many as a quarter of all drivers just renew their current insurance at the end of the year without even checking to ensure they're still getting the best deal.
With prices for fully comprehensive insurance premiums rising on average by 20% or £100 per year, it pays to spend some time phoning round to see if you can reduce your payments.
Research carried out by the AA shows that one hour spent either searching online, or on the phone can on average save a third on the renewal quote.
I shopped around last year and found the cheapest car insurance. Won't it still cost less than the rest?
Insurance companies rely on people not changing every year, so offer great discounts to attract new customers. They also make regular changes with the way they assess risks, due to fluctuations in hte criteria of current claims, so although your details may not have changed, you may be seen as a greater or lesser risk from year to year.
Should I choose the cheapest deal?
No, unless if it comes from a well known insurer, and the level of cover matches what you currently have. In order to provide the lowest premiums, some insurers increase all of the "hidden charges", such as if you want to add a second driver to the policy, or change the car a few months down the line. Always ask about everything you can think of, and scan the smallprint carefully.
How can I reduce my car insurance premiums?
Read our Reducing your premiums tips for some simple ways to reduce your payments.
Will adding security features bring down the cost of insurance?
If depends on the security feature, the car, and your insurer. You need to ask the insurer before you take out insurance if there's any security measures which can reduce your premiums - it varies a lot.