People could be saving hundreds of pounds per year on their private or commercial vehicle insurance, yet many people don’t want the hassle and opt to stay with their existing provider.
Some just accept the renewal quote they receive without even checking if they could make a saving by switching. The good news is that the days of spending half a day on the phone to get quotes are gone. Instead you can get quotes from loads of insurers, compare policies, and make a decision all with just a single simple form.
There are many other ways you can reduce your car insurance premiums and below we share some of our top tips to help you save money when your renewal comes around.
The Quick Fix
The easiest way to save money on your insurance is by using a comparison site like Quotezone.co.uk. With Quotezone, you only need to enter your details once. They then use your details to get a quote from every insurer they work with. This provides you with dozens of quotes to compare in a very short space of time. Comparison sites work equally well whether you’re looking for a private vehicle policy or cheap motor trade insurance. There are a couple of UK insurers that don’t appear on comparison sites, and you may also want to check these out through their own websites. The main two that don’t appear on comparison sites are Direct Line and Aviva.
It’s also important not to just select the cheapest policy. Sometimes the lowest price will also be the best policy, but it’s important to check the policy features to make sure you are comparing like for like. Although you can select things like your level of excess and annual mileage, it’s wise to check the policy has all the key features and level of cover you want.
If you’re particularly loyal and want to stick with your current insurer, then a comparison site gives you the ability to get genuine quotes you can then use to ask them for a discount. This will let you know if they are as loyal as you’re trying to be.
Alter Your Policy
Another great way to save money on your insurance is by ensuring your policy only covers what you need it to. It might be convenient to have all your family members on your policy, but if they are only likely to use the vehicle for a few days per year, leave them off and add them just for the period needed.
Make sure your insurer is aware of all the security fitted to your vehicle. If you don’t have much security, consider fitting an approved alarm, immobiliser, or tracker. Most newer cars will be fitted with ample security as standard, so ensuring you know what’s on your car and declaring it to the insurance can help you to make a saving.
If you have a low excess, consider increasing it slightly to bring the cost of your premium down. If you have an accident that isn’t your fault, you can reclaim your excess from the other driver’s insurance. While a higher excess will reduce the cost, we’d advise against raising it too high in case you do need to pay it out at a later date.
Have a Clear Out
Is your garage full of junk? Garaging your car can equate to decent savings on your policy. Clear out the junk and use the garage for its intended purpose. Maybe you can even have a garage sale and raise some money towards your insurance renewal.
Start Using Telematics
Telematics is a black box for your car that records crucial information about how and when you drive. It will record details like how aggressively you accelerate or brake, what time of day you drive, and how cautious you are. This type of system can start reaping rewards for cautious drivers, particularly young drivers that are perceived as higher risk. Some insurers will provide all the equipment and offer an upfront discount if you take out a telematics policy.
Be More Accurate About Your Mileage
How many miles you do per year matters to insurers. If you say you do ten thousand miles as a guess, but actually drive around six thousand, then giving your insurer a more accurate figure could reduce your premium further. It’s estimated that you can save approximately ten pounds for every thousand miles you reduce your annual mileage by.
There are other little things you can do to help. The insurance market is a competitive one, so don’t be afraid to haggle. If they want your custom enough, they will be prepared to fight for it. When the time comes to pay for your policy, avoid monthly direct debits wherever possible, as they usually come with additional charges and a percentage interest rate attached.
