"Looking for car insurance in the UK?"
Here are some tips to help you get the best deal: 1. Bump up your 'excess'.
You are at liberty to increase the amount you'll pay in the event of a claim, before the car insurance UK company stumps up. If the minimum they ask for is £100, but you volunteer £500, your premiums can be lower.
2. Get third party fire and theft on older cars.
Face it: old Bessy may not be worth getting 'fully comp' on. Three years of fully comprehensive may be worth more than the car itself!
3. Buy a mediocre car.
A smart car is a thief magnet, and is usually more powerful. Drivers are likely to drive more recklessly in a sports car. Some are expensive to repair. These factors cause the car insurance UK to be higher. Do your research before you buy. Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Premiums are based in part on the car's price, repair costs, its overall safety record, and the likelihood of it being stolen.
4. See if you can get a low mileage discount.
If you're a Sunday driver, or drive certain distances to and from your place to work, some car insurance UK companies will give you a discount. If you get it, limit your driving as much as possible. If you commute to work, use public transportation instead of the car. When you go away on holiday, fly, take the boat or train.
5. Location, location, location.
The cost of insurance varies according to where you live. Live in a rough neighbourhood, and it costs more. Inner cities are the riskiest for insurers, so premiums are consequently higher. You can get a much better rate if your car is locked up in a garage every night.
6. Be a better risk.
If you have other kinds of insurance UK like home insurance you might get a multi-policy discount. Many insurers will give you a break if you buy more than one type of insurance. You might also get a discount if you have more than one vehicle insured with them. Some insurers reduce rates for long-standing customers. Other discounts can be for older people, driver's education, teetotallers, multiple vehicles, anti-theft devices, and distance to college for students.
7. Consider listing all drivers on your policy.
Your wife or children will benefit if they can show they've driven the family car accident-free for years. You might save money by leaving them off, but they may lose out later when they get a car of their own.
8. Shop around.
Ask your friends and relatives, browse the Yellow Pages, call car insurance UK agents or companies for general info, and a few for quotes later on. Some sell through their own agents, some through independent agents who offer a range of policies from different insurers, others don't use agents at all. They latter sell directly to consumers over the phone or via the internet.
9. Maintain a good credit history.
This can cut your premiums. To protect your credit rating, pay your bills on time, don't obtain more credit than you need and keep your outstanding balances as low as possible. Check with Experian and Equifax that your credit record is up-to-date. Have any errors corrected, so that your record is accurate.
10. Monitor the policy.
Call your insurer to keep your car insurance UK policy up-to-date, inform them of any changes (new driver, new car, new job), and ask occasionally about any discounts.
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