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Once you have put in the relevant information, you can compare car insurance premiums. Make sure to consider price, the level of cover you need, and any additional extras you want to add on.
Compare quotes across 175 providers[1] to find the cheapest car insurance for your needs.
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With premiums at all-time highs, it’s more important than ever to try and reduce the cost of your cover. Fortunately, we’ve compiled 11 tips for getting cheaper car insurance:
Don’t immediately accept the auto-renewal quote from your existing provider. Instead, you can use Independent Advisor to shop around for a quote from 175 insurers.
By comparing car insurance quotes, you can make sure you are not missing out on the best deal available for someone with your driving profile.
Your current insurer will send you a renewal quote about a month before your policy is due to end, but the best day to buy car insurance is three weeks before your renewal is due.
With a telematics car insurance policy, your insurer will fit a black box in your car that will monitor your driving habits. Drive well and you’ll get cheaper cover.
Young drivers can reduce their car insurance premiums by adding an older driver (for example, a parent) as a named driver. However, lying about who the ‘main driver’ is to get cheaper premiums is known as fronting and is illegal.
Make sure you only purchase the optional extras you really need. Otherwise you may end up paying for policies you won’t use.
If you can afford it, it’s best to pay your premium up front each year. Your insurer may offer the option to pay monthly, but this will cost extra, as you’ll be paying interest on top.
Every year you don’t make a car insurance claim, you will build up a no-claims bonus that can reduce the price of your premium. Over time, this discount could range anywhere from 30 to 60 per cent.
If you cause minor damage (for instance, damage your bumper), pay for repairs yourself. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay an excess, and your no-claims bonus will be affected.
Installing security modifications, such as immobilisers, trackers or dash cams, can reduce your premium, as they make your car safer and claims easier to prove.
Third party
Third party car insurance is the minimum level of cover required. It includes:
Average cost of cover: £804.40[2]
Third party, fire and theft
Third party, fire and theft includes:
Average cost of cover: £703.71[2]
Comprehensive
Fully comprehensive car insurance includes:
Average cost of cover: £559.07[2]
After running more than 580 quotes using our driver profiles, we found that Hastings YouDrive was the cheapest policy available 36.43 per cent of the time.[5]
That’s closely followed by Allianz, which was the cheapest car insurance policy for 22.85 per cent of quote journeys, with Saga in third place on 12.54 per cent.
Interestingly, black box policies made up more than half (51.72 per cent) of the absolute cheapest car insurance policies available overall.
Of course, the cheapest car insurance policy for your needs may differ from the providers listed below.
| Policy | Frequency as cheapest policy (%) | Is it a telematics policy? |
|---|---|---|
| Hastings YouDrive | 36.43% | Yes |
| Allianz | 22.85% | No |
| Saga | 12.54% | No |
| Admiral Essential | 4.81% | No |
| Insure the Box | 4.47% | Yes |
| Admiral Littlebox | 3.26% | Yes |
| Quotemehappy Connect | 2.75% | No |
| Admiral | 2.58% | Yes |
| Bell | 2.58% | Yes |
| Sainsbury’s Bank Essentials | 1.37% | No |
“Cheap car insurance can be reliable if you do the following:
Understanding how much each factor affects your premium can help you get cheaper car insurance. That’s why we manually run hundreds of quotes every month using our three customer profiles: a 21-year-old driver, a 41-year-old driver, and a 61-year-old driver.[6] These bespoke profiles are designed to capture a snapshot of the average UK driver, across three points in their life.
From the extra cost of higher mileage, to how much you can save by changing your voluntary excess, we’ve then done the work to figure out what matters most when it comes to the price of your cover.
We’ve organised our findings into two categories: those you control and those you can’t. This empowers you to make the right choices for your household when you come to compare car insurance.
While there’s not much difference between buying your car insurance three or four weeks before the policy start date, getting it any later can mean paying more unnecessarily.
On average, buying your policy seven days before its start date is 7.46 per cent more expensive than purchasing it four weeks before it begins. And if you buy it the day before your policy runs out, it’s even worse – you’re looking at a 25.82 per cent increase to your premium.[7]
| Days before start date | 21-year-old average premium | 41-year-old average premium | 61-year-old average premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 days | £1,349.37 | £589.22 | £390.94 |
| 21 days | £1,338.71 | £591.92 | £401.70 |
| 14 days | £1,349.60 | £594.36 | £403.85 |
| 7 days | £1,450.23 | £634.65 | £419.07 |
| 1 day | £1,712.29 | £780.72 | £461.61 |
In the eyes of insurers, the more you’re on the road, the more likely you are to have an accident. That’s why the higher your annual mileage, the more you’ll pay for cover.
For our 21-year-old driver, we found that for every extra 3,000 miles they drove, it added an average of £74.37 to their premium in June 2024, down from £100.32 in May. That fell to an extra £36.30 for our 41-year-old motorist, and to £38.53 for our 61-year-old.[8]
| Mileage | 21-year-old average premium | 41-year-old average premium | 61-year-old average premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 | £1,471.60 | £623.47 | £421.05 |
| 6,500 | £1,473.70 | £661.54 | £466.97 |
| 9,500 | £1,540.85 | £688.19 | £518.61 |
| 12,500 | £1,694.71 | £732.36 | £536.65 |
On average, we found that fully comprehensive car insurance was 65.14 per cent cheaper than third party-only cover, and 22.29 per cent less expensive than third party, fire and theft.[9]
| 21-year-old average premium | 41-year-old average premium | 61-year-old average premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third party | £6,712.69 | £1,995.31 | £883.44 |
| TPFT | £1,901.87 | £869.07 | £547.87 |
| Comp | £1,466.19 | £660.72 | £438.29 |
While it can be a bigger upfront cost, paying for your car insurance annually rather than monthly can dramatically reduce your premium.
On average, you can save 20.51 per cent if you pay annually instead of monthly.[10]
Our 41-year-old driver saw the biggest percentage saving, with annual cover 24.72 per cent cheaper than the monthly option. But in terms of the pound-saving, our 21-year-old motorist benefited the most by paying annually, saving £275.02.
| 21-year-old average premium | 41-year-old average premium | 61-year-old average premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | £1,466.19 | £660.72 | £438.29 |
| Monthly (total) | £1,741.21 | £824.02 | £517.37 |
| £ difference | £275.02 | £163.30 | £79.08 |
| % difference | 18.76% | 24.72% | 18.04% |
A higher voluntary excess (i.e. the amount you pay when making a claim) will reduce the cost of your premium. But how much can you save?
We found that, on average, our 41-year-old driver’s premium was £9.47 cheaper for every £50 they added as a voluntary excess. In comparison, our 21-year-old driver paid £11.25 less per £50 excess, while for our 61-year-old driver it was £8.54.[11] However, always make sure you can realistically afford to pay the excess you select.
| Voluntary excess | 21-year-old average premium | 41-year-old average premium | 61-year-old average premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0 | £1,571.06 | £727.97 | £484.16 |
| £50 | £1,546.74 | £723.59 | £478.35 |
| £100 | £1,509.52 | £705.74 | £465.69 |
| £150 | £1,497.84 | £685.57 | £448.74 |
| £200 | £1,488.49 | £677.00 | £440.79 |
| £250 | £1,473.70 | £661.54 | £421.05 |
| £300 | £1,474.28 | £651.53 | £423.78 |
| £350 | £1,467.66 | £647.68 | £413.19 |
| £400 | £1,458.74 | £638.81 | £403.12 |
| £450 | £1,463.75 | £635.00 | £400.06 |
| £500 | £1,458.53 | £633.26 | £398.79 |
While it’s true that the longer you build your no-claims bonus, the cheaper your car insurance will be, the rate of discount isn’t consistent.
For instance, our 41-year-old driver’s premium fell from £981.63 to £738.16 after building a three-year no-claims bonus – a saving of £243.47.[12]
However, we then found that, for every additional three years you fail to make a claim, you could save on average £32.56.
| No-claims bonus | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| 0 years | £981.63 |
| 3 years | £738.16 |
| 6 years | £648.62 |
| 9 years | £615.88 |
| 12 years | £602.21 |
| 15 years | £581.46 |
| 18 years | £575.37 |
Adding a named driver can dramatically change how much you pay for car insurance, depending on their age and experience.
For example, we found that, on average, your quote is 47.54 per cent more expensive if you add a younger driver to your policy as a named driver.[13] In comparison, adding a named driver that was the same age as the main driver caused quotes to become on average 9.43 per cent cheaper.
When it comes to adding an older driver, meanwhile, it depends on the age of both motorists. Our 21-year-old driver saved 7.90 per cent by adding their more experienced 41-year-old father. However, our 41-year-old driver saw their average quote jump 2.58 per cent when adding their 61-year-old mother, while our 61-year-old suffered a 14.07 per cent increase when adding their 81-year-old parent.
| 21-year-old average premium | 41-year-old average premium | 61-year-old average premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No named drivers | £1,450.23 | £634.65 | £419.07 |
| Younger named driver | £1,847.39 | £1,520.15 | £1,128.28 |
| Same age named driver | £1,324.85 | £680.81 | £345.38 |
| Older named driver | £1,344.00 | £651.49 | £504.78 |
All cars fall into an insurance group from one to 50 – the more powerful and luxurious your car, the higher the group it will be in and the more you’ll pay.
So when buying a new car, it’s worth bearing in mind how it’ll affect the cost of your cover. For example, there’s a £190.93 difference between insuring a MINI Cooper and a BMW 1 Series 116 – both models that feature in the top 10 most popular cars in the UK in 2024.[14]
| Rank | Car make and model | Average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Puma (2020, 1.5L, ST) | £649.04 |
| 2 | Nissan Qashqai (2016, 1.6L, N-Connecta DIG-T) | £634.65 |
| 3 | Kia Sportage (2016, 1.6L, 2) | £661.40 |
| 4 | Audi A3 (2016, 1.4L, S LINE TFSI 150 5 Door) | £748.17 |
| 5 | Nissan Juke (2016, 1.6L, N-CONNECTA DIG-T 190 2WD) | £643.16 |
| 6 | Volkswagen Golf (2016, 1.4L, SE TSI BLUEMOTION TECHNOLOGY 122 5 Door) | £625.88 |
| 7 | BMW 1 Series (2015, 116 1.6L, I Sport 5 Door) | £771.92 |
| 8 | MG HS (2019, 1.5L, EXCITE) | £645.25 |
| 9 | Volkswagen T-Roc (2017, 1.5L, SE TSI EVO) | £601.46 |
| 10 | MINI Cooper (2016, 1.6L, S 184) | £580.99 |
Your choice of car plays a big part in determining your car insurance premium. And this is especially true if you go electric[15]:
| 21-year-old average premium | 41-year-old average premium | 61-year-old average premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | £1,473.70 | £661.54 | £421.05 |
| Electric | £2,470.25 | £739.88 | £469.73 |
| Difference | £996.55 | £78.34 | £48.68 |
Even if both cars are valued the same, electric cars are typically in higher insurance groups and cost more to repair, making cover more expensive.
Most car insurers offer discounts if you insure more than one vehicle with them. Don’t assume these policies will be cheaper though – compare car insurance quotes for multi-car policies with single car policies.
Even if you’re a new driver, your age plays a huge part in determining your car insurance premium.
For example, we found that a 17-year-old driver with no experience behind the wheel was quoted on average £5,371.07 for their cover.[16] Within 10 years, the average quote for the same driver with no experience was £1,636.02.
For the 30 years between 32 and 62, meanwhile, the cost of cover on average dropped £76.77 every five years.
Prices don’t keep falling as you get older, however. For instance, between 67 and 82, we found cover increased an average of £268.28 every five years.
| Age (with no experience) | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| 17 | £5,371.07 |
| 22 | £2,594.76 |
| 27 | £1,636.02 |
| 32 | £1,354.55 |
| 37 | £1,326.43 |
| 42 | £1,292.38 |
| 47 | £1,142.62 |
| 52 | £1,079.20 |
| 57 | £1,122.69 |
| 62 | £1,098.66 |
| 67 | £1,139.29 |
| 72 | £1,092.15 |
| 77 | £1,466.69 |
| 82 | £2,171.76 |
DID YOU KNOW?
Under-25s have seen their premiums jump by almost 67 per cent[17] for the 12 months to February 2024, according to Consumer Intelligence, compared to a rise of 49 per cent for the over-50s.
By taking some typical jobs in the biggest industries in the UK, we found out how dramatically your profession can affect the cost of your car insurance.
For example, despite both working in health care, the average quote for a 41-year-old private care assistant was £117.23 more expensive than the same driver working as a paramedic.[18]
Based on our results, you’re likely to pay more for your cover if your job involves shift work, late nights, and more time on the road.
| Profession | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Paramedic | £612.46 |
| Engineer | £619.70 |
| Administrator | £650.62 |
| Web developer | £656.00 |
| Civil servant | £661.54 |
| Shop assistant | £672.92 |
| Construction worker | £675.49 |
| Teacher | £677.29 |
| Nurse (NHS) | £714.18 |
| Waiter | £728.77 |
| Care assistant (private) | £729.69 |
Where you live will also affect your car insurance premium – for example, the higher the average claim in your area, the more you’ll pay for cover, regardless of your driving history.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to the latest ABI data, drivers in Northern Ireland make the most expensive claims, at an average of £5,700. By comparison, the average in England and Wales is £4,900, and in Scotland it’s £4,200.[19]
Broadly speaking, the more secure your car is at night, the less you’ll pay for car insurance – with an interesting wrinkle.
Parking on your private driveway is on average 2.78 per cent cheaper than parking on a street away from your home. Surprisingly, it’s also 9.10% cheaper to park on a driveway than a locked garage.[20]
Although this may seem counterintuitive, you’re more likely to damage your car driving into a tight garage than onto a driveway.
| 21-year-old average premium | 41-year-old average premium | 61-year-old average premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driveway | £1,154.76 | £613.38 | £414.36 |
| Locked garage | £1,169.07 | £616.24 | £451.33 |
| On street near home | £1,181.60 | £630.42 | £486.97 |
| On street away from home | £1,203.69 | £669.18 | £452.61 |
It’s an unfortunate fact of driving that, chances are, you’ll need to make a car insurance claim at some point in your life. But how much does it affect the cost of your cover?
Well, it depends whether you were at fault. On average, we found that quotes disclosing a claim resulting from an at-fault accident cost 4.07 per cent more than if the same driver had made a claim for a non-fault accident.[21]
| 21-year old non-fault accident | 21-year old at-fault accident | 41-year-old non-fault accident | 41-year-old at-fault accident | 61-year-old non-fault accident | 61-year-old at-fault accident | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year ago, 1 year no-claims bonus | £1,481.97 | £1,590.68 | £780.51 | £810.94 | £681.75 | £717.93 |
| 2 years ago, 2 year no-claims bonus | £1,251.78 | £1,341.54 | £762.76 | £796.33 | £630.16 | £689.12 |
| 3 years ago, 3 year no-claims bonus | £1,179.54 | £1,236.40 | £636.51 | £638.02 | £564.60 | £584.02 |
| 4 years ago, 4 year no-claims bonus | £1,062.97 | £1,082.66 | £631.31 | £638.02 | £566.97 | £566.97 |
It’s an unavoidable fact that car insurance has become a lot more expensive in the last year. On average premiums rose 25 percent from 2022 to 2023[22], according to the ABI, while between January and March 2024 prices hit another record high.
| Year | Average annual premium (ABI) | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | £471 | -1% |
| 2020 | £465 | -1% |
| 2021 | £434 | -7% |
| 2022 | £434 | 0% |
| 2023 | £544 | +25% |
But what’s behind this increase?
“Although the price of car insurance has become unmanageable for many households, steps are being taken to try and bring prices down. In February 2024, the ABI published its ‘Roadmap to Tackle Insurance Costs’ – its recommendations included greater transparency around insurance groups, cracking down on car insurance fraud, and lowering the IPT.”
Admiral Group – which includes not only its namesake Admiral brand, but also Bell, Diamond and Elephant – is the biggest car insurance provider in the UK, based on the value of its motor premiums in 2023.[24] This gives Admiral Group an estimated market share of 13 per cent, compared to U K Insurance (which owns Direct Line and Churchill) at 11 per cent and Aviva at 10 per cent.
However, despite being the biggest car insurance company, Admiral Group isn’t always the cheapest. In fact, Admiral Group sits in third place, behind Hastings and Allianz, in terms of how frequently brands owned by those companies are the absolute cheapest policy available for our driving profiles.[25]
In terms of claims, meanwhile, all of the top 10 biggest car insurance companies have an acceptance rate of 95 to 100 per cent[26]. However, the percentage of claims complaints and average claims payouts do differ.
The percentage of general (not just motor) insurance complaints upheld against the top 10 car insurance companies also varies. For example, U K Insurance had 71.59 per cent of complaints to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) upheld against it between July and December 2023, compared to just 43.87 per cent for Ageas.[27]
Yet, when looking at complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), the roles are reversed: Ageas had 42 per cent of closed case complaints upheld, compared to 27 per cent for U K Insurance.[28]
| Rank | Motor insurance company | Underwritten by | Frequency as cheapest policy (%) | Total value of premiums 2023 (£bln) | Estimated UK market share in 2023 | Claims complaints as % of claims (2022) | Average claims payout (2022) | FCA H2 2023 complaints upheld (%) | FOS H2 2023 complaints upheld (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Admiral Group (including Admiral, Bell, Diamond, Elephant) | EUI Limited | 13.23% | £2,568 | 13% | 5-10% | £3,000-£3,500 | 64.65% | 27% |
| 2 | U K Insurance (including Direct Line, Churchill, Darwin, Privilege) | U K Insurance Limited | 1.72% | £2,048 | 11% | 5-10% | £3,000-£3,500 | 71.59% | 27% |
| 3 | Aviva (Aviva, Quotemehappy, One Call) | Aviva Insurance Limited | 2.75% | £1,951 | 10% | 5-10% | £3,000-£3,500 | 62.14% | 30% |
| 4 | Hastings | Advantage Insurance Company Limited | 37.63% | £1,484 | 8% | 5-10% | £2,500-£3,000 | 54.98% | 40% |
| 5 | AXA | AXA Insurance UK Plc | 0.52% | £1,233 | 6% | 5-10% | £2,500-£3,000 | 58.38% | 36% |
| 6 | LV= | Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Limited | 0.34% | £793 | 4% | 0-5% | £1,500-£2,000 | 52.58% | 29% |
| 7 | esure (Sheila’s Wheels, esure) | esure Insurance Limited | 0.00% | £769 | 4% | 5-10% | £3,000-£3,500 | 70.85% | 33% |
| 8 | Ageas | Ageas Insurance Limited | 0.00% | £762 | 4% | 0-5% | £3,500-£4,000 | 43.87% | 42% |
| 9 | NFU Mutual | The National Farmers’ Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited | 0.00% | £707 | 4% | 0-5% | £3,000-£3,500 | 63.30% | 26% |
| 10 | Allianz | Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Limited | 22.85% | £594 | 3% | 0-5% | £1,500-£2,000 | 52.58% | 29% |
To help you make a decision when comparing car insurance quotes, we’ve reviewed some of the UK’s biggest providers. In the table below you’ll find a link to each review, as well as our Independent Advisor score for every car insurance provider we’ve reviewed.
This takes into consideration the provider’s Trustpilot score, Defaqto and Fairer Finance ratings for its standard or mid-tier comprehensive policies (or main policy option where applicable).[29]
Find out more about how we review car insurance.
All information correct as of 27 June 2024
If you feel like you need a bit of extra cover outside of what is offered by your policy, you can look into an insurer’s optional extras.
Provides you with roadside assistance if your car breaks down. Levels of cover will vary between insurers and can include anything from vehicle recovery to onward travel cover.
This covers the costs of replacing and reprogramming lost or stolen car keys.
Courtesy car insurance will see your insurer provide you with a car to drive if your car is being repaired following an accident.
Provides cover for driving your car in countries outside of the UK.
Some insurers sell specialist electric car insurance. These policies cover things like damage to the car’s battery and cover for portable charging cables.
Offers financial protection against legal fees if you’re involved in an accident that’s not your fault. This may include personal injury, excess recovery and loss of earnings.
This covers the cost of draining and cleaning your tank, or the cost of repairs, if you put the wrong fuel in your car.
An optional cover which protects your no-claims discount (NCD) from one (or more) ‘at fault’ claim each year.
Provides cover for lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings left in the car.
Covers damages to your car’s windscreen, including repairing chips and cracks as well as full replacements.
“If things like key cover and windscreen cover are not included in your policy, they could be worth adding on, depending on what kind of car you’ve got. The cost of replacing some car keys can be well over £500. If you know you can’t survive without a car, then you may want to get a policy that offers a courtesy car no matter what has happened to your car. Personally, I don’t think motor legal expenses insurance offers a lot of value – so that’s probably one you can skip.“
Learner driver insurance
If you’re learning to drive, you can take out specialist learner driver cover to allow you to practise in someone else’s vehicle
Telematics insurance
By having an electronic device installed in your car through a black box or telematics insurance policy, you can save yourself money in the long run by proving you’re a safe, trustworthy driver
Temporary car insurance
If you need to drive someone’s car for a short amount of time, you can take out temporary car insurance rather than unnecessarily apply for a full, 12-month policy
Business car insurance
If you use your car for business purposes, such as driving around to various places to work or meet clients, you will need to get business car insurance to be properly covered. This comes in three categories: Class 1, 2 and 3
Low-mileage car insurance
If you drive under the average UK annual mileage, say if you’re retired or have started working from home, you could get cheaper car insurance by taking out a low-mileage policy
Pay-as-you-go car insurance
If you’re an infrequent driver, you could take out pay-as-you-go car insurance, where you pay for every mile you drive. This could be good if you have a second car you don’t use very often
Named driver insurance
As the main driver, you could make your car insurance cheaper by adding a more experienced named driver to your policy. Alternatively, becoming a named driver may save you money if you don’t drive very often, and only semi-frequently need to use a loved one’s car
Over-50s car insurance
It is possible to take out specific over-50s car insurance that includes a number of additional benefits, including multi-year fixed prices, enhanced European cover, and emergency any-driver cover
SORN car insurance
Even though you aren’t required to have insurance if you’ve issued a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), you may still want cover to protect your vehicle from damage or theft while parked
We have put together a list of popular questions to help you along in your car insurance purchasing journey, with answers from our car insurance experts.
The number of people looking to switch policies has increased over the last few months, as drivers seek cheaper car insurance. According to the latest ABI data, 47.4 per cent of all policies in the UK between January and March 2024 were ‘new’, ie not a renewal of an existing policy.[30] That compares to just 39 per cent 12 months prior.
| Period | Renewed premiums | New premiums |
|---|---|---|
| Jan-Mar 2022 | 61% | 49% |
| Apr-Jun 2022 | 62% | 38% |
| Jul-Sep 2022 | 61% | 39% |
| Oct-Dec 2022 | 60% | 40% |
| Jan-Mar 2023 | 61% | 39% |
| Apr-Jun 2023 | 59% | 41.2% |
| Jul-Sep 2023 | 59% | 41.4% |
| Oct-Dec 2023 | 55% | 45.2% |
| Jan-Mar 2024 | 53% | 47.4% |
If you’re a new or younger driver, you are unfortunately going to face much higher premiums than older drivers with more experience. This is because, statistically, drivers aged 17 to 24 have a higher risk of making a claim, and that claim being more expensive.
For example, the ABI points out that while only 7 per cent of UK licence holders fall into that age bracket, 17 to 24 year olds are involved in 24 per cent of all fatal collisions.
The easiest way to calculate the value of your car is to use one of the many calculators available online. Examples include Auto Trader, What Car? and Webuyanycar. These calculators will typically ask for your registration number, and your current mileage, as well as some specific details to get a more accurate figure.
Whether you choose to pay for your car insurance on a monthly or annual basis will depend on your financial circumstances. If you can, it is cheaper to pay your premium upfront. This is because, if you pay monthly, you’ll end up paying interest on top.
However, there are potential benefits to paying monthly. It can be more manageable to pay month-by-month, even if it is not cheaper. And by regularly making these payments, you may be able to improve your credit score.
How long your car insurance quote is valid for will depend on the provider in question. In theory, you could get one quote on a Monday, and a different quote on a Tuesday. A lot of providers will save your quote for up to 30 days; but even then, the price could go up or down depending on external factors.
When you get a car insurance quote, providers will carry out what is called a ‘soft’ credit check. This means that the provider can see some details of your credit history, but without the check appearing on your credit report. If you pay for your car insurance upfront, providers will only conduct a soft credit check.
If you choose to pay on a month-by-month basis, however, insurers will carry out a ‘hard’ credit check. This is a more in-depth assessment that’ll take into account your full credit history. Importantly, this check will appear on your credit history, and may affect your credit score.
Insurance providers run a hard check when you choose to pay monthly, as you are essentially entering into a credit agreement where you are paying back the yearly cost of your insurance, plus interest.
The easiest way to estimate your annual mileage is to look at the figure recorded on your most recent MOT, and take away the mileage recorded on the MOT before that. Of course, your personal circumstances may have changed in that time. For example, you may have moved, or got a new job. So always make sure to factor in such changes into your estimates.
If you’re new to driving, or don’t have two MOTs to hand, you can estimate your annual mileage manually. A good way to do this is to calculate how far you drive in an average week, multiply that by 52, and add a little extra to cover those times you drive outside your standard routes. Make sure to consider your commute, your shopping habits, any regular commitments, and people you frequently visit.
All car insurance is registered on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). You can check if your car is insured by visiting askMID.com. You’ll need to confirm the car is registered, owned, or insured by yourself or your employer, or if you are a broker working for a client. You need car insurance, unless you officially register your car as off the road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
For every year you don’t make a claim on your car insurance, you can receive a discount on your next premium. The more years without a claim you build up, the bigger the reduction. This is known as your no-claims bonus, or no-claims discount.
Different providers will have different limits for how many years you can build up, and how much your policy can be discounted by.
Often car insurance providers will charge you for making changes to your policy. Sometimes these fees can be as much as £25 a change. Certain providers may allow you to make changes for free online, but charge if you make the change over the phone.
If, and how much, you are charged when you cancel your car insurance will depend on the timing.
If you cancel your policy within the 14-day cooling-off period, you either won’t be charged a fee, or you’ll pay less than if you cancel after those two weeks are up.
However, once the cooling-off period ends, you could pay anywhere between £30 and £60 to cancel your policy.
According to the latest data from Consumer Intelligence the average private comprehensive car insurance quote has gone up 56.4 per cent year-on-year, for the 12 months to February 2024.
Figures from the ABI, meanwhile, paint a slightly different picture, with the average price of motor insurance up 33 per cent to £635 year-on-year, based on its figures from January to March 2024.
If you have an accident, you must inform your car insurance provider, even if you don’t intend to make a claim. If you fail to let your provider know about an incident, you could find your insurance declared void.
If you have simply stopped driving your car, you still legally need to have car insurance.
However, if you have stopped driving your car, and declared it off the road via a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), you don’t need to have car insurance in place. The moment you start driving it again, you’ll need to take out a new policy.
If you have a unique vehicle with different insurance requirements to a standard car, you could consider a specialist policy, such as:
American car insurance
If you’ve imported a car from the US with left-hand drive, you may need to look into American car insurance. This could take the form of a classic car policy, low-mileage cover, or even business car insurance if you hire it out for special events.
Classic car insurance
Although the age of a classic car can vary from insurer to insurer, there are benefits to taking out a specialist classic car insurance policy for your vintage vehicle.
Disability car insurance
If you’re a disabled driver with a modified vehicle, you could look into specialised disability car insurance. This can include cover for modifications, as well as any specialist equipment you regularly transport, such as a wheelchair.
Electric car insurance
With electric car insurance, your policy could potentially include cover for your battery, injuries caused by your charging cable, and even out of charge recovery if your car’s out of juice.
When compared to a UK driver we found that, as a non-UK resident, on average it costs[31]:
Dr Sabri Mohammad says: To find the best car insurance providers in the UK, you should consider various factors, such as coverage options, customer service, pricing and customer reviews. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you identify the best car insurance providers:
Dr Sabri Mohammad says: While a cheaper car can lead to lower insurance costs due to lower repair and replacement values, many other factors also influence insurance premiums. These include safety and security features, repair costs, engine size, driver profile, insurance group rating and claims history for the specific model. It is important to consider all these factors when estimating insurance costs for a particular vehicle.
Dr Sabri Mohammad says: Driving courses, such as advanced driving, defensive driving, Pass Plus for new drivers, refresher courses for senior drivers and company-sponsored programmes, can lead to significant insurance discounts. These courses help improve driving skills, reduce accident risk and demonstrate responsible driving behaviour to insurers. Always check with your insurance provider to see which courses qualify for discounts and the potential savings they offer.
Dr Sabri Mohammad says: Choose an excess level that aligns with your financial capacity, risk tolerance and driving habits. A higher excess can lower your premiums, but it increases your out-of-pocket costs when you make a claim. A lower excess does the opposite. Aim for a balance that offers manageable premiums without exposing yourself to significant financial strain if you need to make a claim. Always review your policy terms and consult with your insurer for personalised advice.
Dr Sabri Mohammad says: When choosing a class of cover for your car insurance, the available options are third party only (TPO), third party, fire and theft (TPFT) and comprehensive. You should consider:
Choose the class of cover that suits your budget, risk tolerance and vehicle value, and remember to consider your specific needs and circumstances.
Dr Sabri Mohammad says: Car insurance claims can be rejected for several reasons:
To prevent claim rejection, ensure you:
By following these guidelines, you can minimise the risk of claim rejection and ensure smoother claims processing.
Dr Sabri Mohammad says: Protecting your no-claims bonus (NCB) can be a wise choice, but it depends on your individual circumstances. NCB protection allows you to make a certain number of claims without affecting your NCB, thereby maintaining your premium discounts. Protecting your NCB can provide peace of mind and financial stability, especially if you have a high NCB. However, it’s important to balance the cost of protection against the potential benefits. Evaluate your claims history, policy terms and personal risk tolerance to determine if NCB protection is the right choice for you.
