Saving Money on Your Car Insurance
As car insurance is a mandatory requirement for anyone driving in the UK, attempting to save money on it is a common pastime for many British motorists.
Some are inevitably going to pay more than others, such as very young drivers who will nearly always be paying more than somebody who has a clean licence and has been driving for many years.
But there are ways you can at least help minimise costs, and in some cases, with very little effort.
Up your excess A quick call to your current insurer can be a good start, as offering to pay a higher voluntary excess - an initial fee you agree to stump up yourself after an incident before payouts kick in - could reduce your premium.
So if your current voluntary excess is £200, ask yourself if you can afford £300 or £400 in the event of a claim.
It may make all the difference.
Effectively working with your insurance company and its approach can be beneficial in general.
The more you reduce the risk of something happening to your car, the more likely it is that your premium will go down.
When providing a policy, many car insurance companies will ask where you regularly keep the vehicle, with the option usually 'on the street', 'on a drive' or 'in a garage'.
Those who park their car on the street all the time may find that their premium is reduced simply by always parking on a private driveway or, better still, in a garage.
Also, think about what will happen to your car if you're planning to move house - some postcodes are linked to high car crime and this can up the cost of your premium considerably, another potential pit fall to bear in mind.
Secure your car Perhaps you've got a drive or a garage already which you don't use because it's full of junk - so you could try having a clear out.
Then secure your vehicle in it overnight, checking with your insurance company to find out whether or not this will reduce your costs.
Improving the security of your vehicle in general is a good start, and fitting a car alarm may also cut your premium.
Remember that some modifications, however, will often actually increase the cost of your cover, so beware - and make sure all improvements including security upgrades are done by a professional.
Limit your mileage Policies are often also reduced by simply minimising the miles you cover in your vehicle every year, so driving less can also help.
Perhaps you drive about 7,000 miles a year but could reduce this to below six by changing your travelling habits.
Something like this may also reduce the cost of your premium.
Finally, ensure you're a responsible driver.
This might sound blindingly obvious, but even three points on your licence after one speeding ticket can up the cost of your premium.
Do it two or three times and your car insurance may become almost unaffordable.
So, speeding is not only dangerous, it's also an extremely expensive habit and one which can see you banned if you accumulate enough points.
Getting a new car insurance policy after completing a driving ban, is, unsurprisingly, an expensive prospect.
Some are inevitably going to pay more than others, such as very young drivers who will nearly always be paying more than somebody who has a clean licence and has been driving for many years.
But there are ways you can at least help minimise costs, and in some cases, with very little effort.
Up your excess A quick call to your current insurer can be a good start, as offering to pay a higher voluntary excess - an initial fee you agree to stump up yourself after an incident before payouts kick in - could reduce your premium.
So if your current voluntary excess is £200, ask yourself if you can afford £300 or £400 in the event of a claim.
It may make all the difference.
Effectively working with your insurance company and its approach can be beneficial in general.
The more you reduce the risk of something happening to your car, the more likely it is that your premium will go down.
When providing a policy, many car insurance companies will ask where you regularly keep the vehicle, with the option usually 'on the street', 'on a drive' or 'in a garage'.
Those who park their car on the street all the time may find that their premium is reduced simply by always parking on a private driveway or, better still, in a garage.
Also, think about what will happen to your car if you're planning to move house - some postcodes are linked to high car crime and this can up the cost of your premium considerably, another potential pit fall to bear in mind.
Secure your car Perhaps you've got a drive or a garage already which you don't use because it's full of junk - so you could try having a clear out.
Then secure your vehicle in it overnight, checking with your insurance company to find out whether or not this will reduce your costs.
Improving the security of your vehicle in general is a good start, and fitting a car alarm may also cut your premium.
Remember that some modifications, however, will often actually increase the cost of your cover, so beware - and make sure all improvements including security upgrades are done by a professional.
Limit your mileage Policies are often also reduced by simply minimising the miles you cover in your vehicle every year, so driving less can also help.
Perhaps you drive about 7,000 miles a year but could reduce this to below six by changing your travelling habits.
Something like this may also reduce the cost of your premium.
Finally, ensure you're a responsible driver.
This might sound blindingly obvious, but even three points on your licence after one speeding ticket can up the cost of your premium.
Do it two or three times and your car insurance may become almost unaffordable.
So, speeding is not only dangerous, it's also an extremely expensive habit and one which can see you banned if you accumulate enough points.
Getting a new car insurance policy after completing a driving ban, is, unsurprisingly, an expensive prospect.
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