Car Insurance in the UK

With the way today’s economy is looking, it’s important that you cut costs wherever you can. From lowering your home energy costs, to limiting the use of your car, there are many relatively simple ways that you can save money. Cutting back the costs of your motor insurance premiums is another way to cut costs. From 1996 to 2004, auto insurance premiums in the United Kingdom increased by nearly 70%! There’s no reason you should pay an arm and a leg for your insurance premiums. Here are some simple suggestions on how to cut back these costs.

AA Research: According to research done by theaa.com, you can save around 30% on your auto insurance premiums if you shop around first. There are plenty of specialist brokers out there for drivers under 30 who may not have had motor insurance in their own name, as well as specialist brokers for those with driving convictions. Specialists focusing on female drivers include Girl Motor and DiamondInsurance.com while 4 Young Drivers and Admiral specialize in young drivers.

Internet Based Auto Insurance: The biggest reason for cheaper car insurance is the growth in internet insurers on the market. Online auto insurance companies are able to offer lower prices because they don’t have the same costs associated with traditional insurance companies. Additionally, websites like Confused.com can search the entire market for the lowest quote, saving the customer time and money.

Secure Your Car: Make sure your car is fitted with an alarm and immobilisers (most cars manufactured after 1997 offer these features as standard). If your car was manufactured prior to 1997, having it security fitted could reduce your auto insurance premium by 10 to 20%, depending on the insurer. Parking your car on the drive or in a garage can further reduce your car insurance. Keep in mind that all security devices must be approved by Thatcham in order to benefit from motor insurance discounts.

Reduce Your Mileage: By keeping your mileage down, your premium will go down. The idea here is the less you drive, the less likely you are to have an accident.

Fewer Claims, Cheaper Insurance: While this may fall under ‘common sense,’ it’s still worth a mention. The more accidents you have, the higher your premiums will go. By avoiding motoring convictions you are more likely to keep your motor premiums at a reasonable level. According to Confused.com, one motoring conviction, for example, will raise your premium by 20%. If you are prone to convictions, there are companies like insureyourmotor.com that specialize in insuring UK drivers with convictions.