Cheaper Car Insurance
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There are lots of different
car insurance companies all trying to get your business, and if you shop around you can make real savings. Compare prices before you renew your policy each year, because the company you were with might not now be the one offering the best deals.
Generally speaking, more expensive policies give greater cover and better customer service. It might not be worth paying a lot for the highest possible levels of cover if your car isn't worth a lot and you don't really use it that much, but getting enough cover and balancing any savings against any potential shortfalls if you do have to claim is very important.
For instance, would you be able to manage without a car if yours was stolen or out of action while it was repaired? In that case you might need an insurance policy which included hire car costs. If you would get by ok without a car for a while, then by doing without hire car cover you can get much cheaper insurance.
Breakdown cover is an important part of many policies, but it can mean your insurance will cost a lot more, particularly if that cover extends beyond the UK to include other European countries. If you don't really need it, or have found separate breakdown cover cheaper elsewhere, this can help you to get a lower car insurance premium.
If you can manage to pay in one annual payment instead of in monthly instalments, some companies will give you a discount. Inform your insurance company if your annual mileage decreases for any reason and this will save you pounds. Don't forget your occupation is taken into account too, so if you get a new job that is closer to home, your new job title as well as your mileage could lead to savings.
If you are still struggling to get your premium to a level you are happy with, consider raising the excess on your policy because this will make your car insurance cheaper. However, be realistic about what you could actually pay if you did have to claim. A small saving on your insurance is not worth it if you end up with a policy that would not protect you from financial hardship if your car is stolen.
If your car needs repair work done that is covered by your insurance policy, you will normally need to get a number of quotes for the work and wait for your insurer to look at the quotes and authorise the work. This can take a while, so for a higher price some insurers will send you to a preferred garage if you need any repair work which saves you the hassle of getting all the quotes.
Lastly, if you are getting your own car insurance for the first time but you have been a named driver on another policy, some insurers will put this time towards your own no claims bonus. It may be worth paying slightly higher premiums to protect your no claims bonus if you do have to make a claim. It is a gamble, but you would probably regret not having this cover if you did lose your no claims bonus because the additional cost next time you renew would certainly be more than the protection cover would cost.
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