Car Insurance How Can I Lower
My Insurance Premiums? by Michael Challiner
During the last few years, the average car insurance
premium has virtually been at a stand still. The
reason is price competition. There are now over 100
car insurance companies fighting for your business
and competition is fierce.
There are always
bargains to be found as companies cut their premiums
to attract motorists in the hope you'll remain loyal
and stick with them in following years. Indeed,
every year, 23% of us renew our motor insurance with
our existing insurer.
But in recent years the Internet has created a
revolution in the marketing of car insurance. It
makes shopping around so easy without the need to
make loads of phone calls and without spending time
threading yourself through the automated phone
systems beloved by so many call centres.
But you'd be wise to remember that the lowest
insurance premium is not always the best. For example, some
insurers have recently pushed up the level of claims
excess they want you to pay as this helps them
provide you with a much lower quote. You should also
check out whether a courtesy car is provided if your
car is in for repair. You might also feel you want
legal insurance cover and automatic windscreen
replacement. An accident helpline can also very
useful in the middle of an emergency! You'll need to
phone the broker or insurance company you're
thinking of dealing with in order to check out these
points.
17 Top Tips
for cheaper car insurance
Get your online quotes through car insurance
brokers. Their computer systems will search for the
best quotes from 40 or more car insurers and save
you lots of time. When you've got their cheapest
insurance quote, phone them to discuss the relative merits of
the cheapest quotes they found.
Garage your car at night. Insurance companies know
that a car left on the road at night is much more
vulnerable to theft and damage. If you don't have a
garage, if possible keep it on your drive.
Update the estimate of your mileage each year. If
you've moved home or changed your job you may have
shorter commuting journeys. If so, your premiums
should be less.
Your premium can be influenced by your job.
Landlords, journalists, and professional footballers
to name but a few, all pay more! Go for a job that's
a bit more boring! Accountants and civil servants
pay less!
Getting married could save money on your car
insurance, particularly if you're male and under 30.
If you're under 25, add an older experienced driver
with a good riving record onto your policy as a
named driver. But don't let him be too old! –
insurance premiums start rising again after age 60!
Consider paying a higher accident excess. The
average excess is about £100. If you are prepared to
increase you claims excess, your premium will fall
significantly.
If you have cheap or old car, consider buying just 3
rd Party cover. Get quotes for 3 rd Party and
comprehensive insurance and weigh up the savings.
Are you aged between 18 and 21? Then consider pay as
you go insurance. Norwich Union has recently
introduced the first pay as you go insurance policy,
which charges you exactly for the miles you drive.
It also charges more for the miles you drive between
11 and 6 at night. The system works through a Global
Positioning System which is fitted to your car for a
one off fee of £199. The GPS black box tells Norwich
Union how many miles the car's been driven and they
send you an monthly invoice.
A new driver? Spruce up your driving technique by
taking some more driving lessons. New drivers can
slash their insurance costs by as much as 35% by
taking Pass Plus lessons. These give you extra
training for driving in rush hour traffic, motorway
driving and night driving. Lessons cost between £15
and £30 per hour. (www.passplus.org.uk). You can
also reduce your premium if you've taken a course
with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (www.iam.org.uk).
Buying a new car? Then check out the insurance group
before you buy. Cars fall into one of 20 insurance
groups with 1 being the cheapest and 20 the most
expensive. If the proposed insurance premium is too
high, chose a car that's in a lower group.
High spec and performance cars attract thieves and
are more expensive to repair - so they always cost
more to insure. Consider something with a little
less voroom!
It's hard we know, but try hard not to speed! Most
insurance companies will ignore one fixed penalty
fine but get more and your premium will rise.
Got 4 or more years no claims discount? Pay the
extra get the discount protected.
Fit a satellite navigation system. Some insurance
companies have noticed that sat nav cuts the
accident rate by letting drivers concentrate on the
road. Insurers will soon be giving discounts if you
have it fitted.
Get a engine immobiliser or alarm fitted. It could
save you between 5-8%.
Got more than one car in the home? Some insurers
will give a discount for insuring them all in one
policy.
Michael writes for Brokers Online who offer Cheapest
Life Insurance Cover and most UK financial services
including cheap car insurance.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
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