Beat the rising cost of car insurance with our helpful tips

car-insurance-keys

With recent statistics from the AA estimating that car insurance premiums have risen by 15% in the last year, pushing the average cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy up by £128.71 a year to £971.40 for an annual policy, here are our top tips to help you get the very best quote for car insurance to help beat the rising cost of cover.

At the top of the list for tips for cheaper car insurance is, shopping around. Comparing quotes from a range of providers, as opposed to just letting your current policy renew automatically, is the first piece of advice an insurance expert will give you. Head to an insurance price comparison website to compare a range of quotes in one go.

If you know your premium is coming up for renewal, try to save up so you can pay it off in one lump sum as paying off your premium month by month through a direct debit can add approximately 11% to the overall cost of your cover compared to paying outright at the start.

Increasing your voluntary excess is another way to help lower your insurance quote, however don’t be tempted to set your excess at too high a rate as if you are involved in an accident, this is the amount you will have to pay before your insurance covers the cost.

If you’re a young driver, consider adding an older driver to your policy as a named driver if they also use your car, or look into taking out a telematics insurance policy. These policies work by placing a box in the car which records data that is then used to calculate the cost of the driver’s policy. If you’re a careful driver and you don’t use your car at peak hours and rack up high mileage, you could benefit from lower premiums with these types of policies.

Follow our top tips to find the very best rates on annual car insurance.

Losing your job could cause your car insurance to increase

car-insurance-keys

When you’ve been made redundant, the first thing you will probably consider doing is tightening your belt, but unfortunately for some drivers, losing their job has had a negative effect on their car insurance as they’re hit with a rise in their premium.

In a case highlighted in The Mirror this week, 51-year-old Tony Costello revealed how his car insurance rocketed from £630 a year to £861 after he contacted his insurance company to inform them that he’d been made redundant.

After checking the small print on his insurance policy, Mr Costello found that his car insurer, Tesco, had stipulated that loss of employment can affect the cost of the premium.

The Association of British Insurers also reiterated this point, saying that many insurers increase the cost of cover after the policyholder loses their job as statistics there is an additional risk factor once a person becomes unemployed. There’s also an argument that the driver is likely to be on the road more as he or she is out looking for work and attending interviews.

The car insurance company in Tony’s case said that the additional £231 which had been added to the cost of his premium after he became unemployed would be refunded should he find work, although an admin cost of £15 would apply to each change made.

6% of drivers willing to take on another’s penalty points

speed-camera-sign

6% of drivers in the UK admitted that they would be willing to take on the penalty points notched up by a friend or relative, despite the fact that it is an illegal offence to do so.

The research into British driver’s attitude towards penalty points was carried out by LV Car Insurance. They discovered that 3,823,544 UK licence holders in the UK currently have penalty points, 82% of which are for speeding. Drivers caught breaking the speed limit can be hit with a fine, and will also have anything from 3 – 12 points added to their licence, anyone with 12 or more points on their driving licence is disqualified from driving.

With this in mind, 66% of drivers said they would be willing to take the penalty points for a family member, partner or friend to prevent them being disqualified from driving. 59% of drivers would take the rap for another to protect the livelihood of the driver receiving the points if the addition of points to their licence would mean them losing their job.

21% of drivers said they would take the points for a friend because they believe that person is a safe driver, despite having committed a driving offence. 6% of motorists admitted they were paid to take the points for a friend or relative.

However taking penalty points to save another driver is a criminal offence, and one that the police are looking to clamp down. New speed cameras equipped with video recording devices are being trialled which will take a clear photograph of the driver which will then be compared against the photo kept on record at the DVLA which will make it harder for drivers to pass their points onto others.

Car insurance provider notes trend in fuel efficient cars

Skoda Fabio Greenline

Leading high street car insurance provider, Swinton, has noted an increase in the number of motorists choosing fuel efficient cars.

The rising cost of fuel is having a direct influence over the type of cars UK motorists are choosing to purchase it seems, as a survey by Swinton found that 57% of those drivers they spoke to said the cost of fuel was the most important factor they’d consider when buying a new car.

It often follows that cars which are economical on fuel, offer reduced emissions and therefore benefit from reduced road tax rates, or in some cases, free road tax for those which are the most environmentally friendly. The reduced road tax rates help to lower the cost of motoring yet further for cash strapped UK motorists, so it’s not surprising more drivers are opting for reduced CO2 emission cars.

To assist their customers in their quest to find fuel efficient cars, Swinton have drawn up a list of the most economical cars on the market in the UK. Amongst the top 10 most fuel efficient cars as compiled by Swinton you’ll find the Smart Fortwo cdi which averages 85.6 miles to the gallon, and the Skoda Fabio Greenline which offers 83.1mpg on average and the Audi A3 1.6 TDI which provides 78mpg.

Drivers consider switching to more fuel efficient cars to save money

Fuel Tax Plan

Fuel Tax PlanMore UK drivers than ever are considering switching their car to a more fuel efficient model, a survey by a leading car insurance comparison website has revealed.

The poll was carried out by moneysupermarket.com and found that 50% of those it questioned would seriously consider changing their car for a more fuel efficient vehicle as rising petrol and diesel costs, and car insurance premiums, are taking their toll on the average motorists.

With fuel prices and car insurance premiums at a record high, some drivers in the UK are even contemplating ditching their car altogether in favour of public transport as many are finding the spiralling cost of driving expenses too much to handle.

Out of those drivers who took part in the moneysupermarket.com poll, 10% said that the cost of car insurance for a particular vehicle also had a direct bearing on their choice of car, with many opting for cars which are cheaper to insure, in an attempt to keep motoring costs down.

In light of the findings of the study, moneysupermarket.com say that it’s more important than ever for motorists to shop around for a deal on car insurance, as those who do compare a range of quotes, will be able to get more for their money.

Festival-goers advised to check their car insurance policy before setting off

music-festival

Those heading off to festivals over the summer months are being advised to check their car insurance policies before setting off.

Post Office Car Insurance are recommending that festival-goers double check their car insurance cover so as to ensure they are covered for damage and theft while away at their chosen event.

With many people choosing to take expensive equipment away with them such as personal computers, music systems, mobile phones, and for the girls, hair straighteners, some insurance policies may not cover these items if they are stolen from your car while away at a festival.

The Post Office is calling for all those attending festivals this summer to get in contact with their car insurers before they leave in order to clarify the terms of their cover, and possibly buy extra insurance if their current cover isn’t adequate.

Simple precautions are also advised by insurers to help avoid being targeted by thieves such as keeping all valuables out of sight if they are left inside your vehicle.

If you’re travelling with friends to a festival and are planning to share the driving, it’s important you add any extra drivers to your car insurance policy before letting them get behind the wheel.

Car insurance customers at risk this bank holiday weekend

Micheldever Tyre Services

Millions of car insurance customers will put their lives at risk this bank holiday weekend by not checking their tyres.

Research by Micheldever Tyre Services, a leading supplier of tyres and experts in automotive care, found that more than 30% of the cars owned by motor insurance policyholders that are brought into its flagship outlet in Hampshire have at least one illegal tyre.

A year ago, only 19% of cars had one or more un-roadworthy tyres.

More than 80% of the cars brought in also have badly worn tyres with a tread depth below 2mm, which urgently need replacing.

Car insurance customers who drive with tyres that are not roadworthy not only risk causing accidents, which could harm themselves or others, but could also incur a fine and penalty points on their licence, which would result in higher motor insurance premiums.

There are more than 31 million cars registered in the UK and these figures from Micheldever suggest that around 1.5 million car insurance customers could be flouting the law with illegal tyre treads.

Motor insurance customers running risks with car maintenance

car maintenance

Millions of motor insurance customers in the UK are running risks with their car maintenance in a bid to save money on motoring costs, it has been claimed.

Car manufacturer Ford found that one in five UK motor insurance policyholders have no breakdown cover.

Due to rising road tax and fuel costs, roadside assistance cover is neglected by younger car insurance holders, with 28 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds forgoing any cover.

All of this is surprising considering recent independent research from consumer group Which? revealed that one in six motor insurance customers experience at least one breakdown a year.

“It’s a story we hear often but while trying to avoid the cost, many of these drivers could regret skipping basic maintenance and roadside cover” said Mike Weatherston, group service marketing manager at Hendy Ford.

Recently, Motor Codes offered drivers a checklist to follow to ensure they were not ripped off by car servicing or repair garages.

Car insurance holders should be advised of the cost of repairs before they are undertaken, technicians should talk to them about the work they have carried out in layman’s terms and the garage should collect customer feedback to improve, according to the self-regulatory body.