UK Motor Insurance Advice
I don’t know about you, but I almost resent having to pay my motor insurance, however it is something of a necessary evil. Apart from the fact it’s a legal necessity, it can also cover you in the event of accidents, theft and fire.
So how do you go about getting the best deal? In order to get the best deal you need to ask and answer 3 main questions, they are:
- What type of cover should I go for?
- How do I find the cheapest motor insurance company?
- What can i do to make my premium cheaper?
This page contains of short and simple answer to each of these questions. You can however click on the links (underlined text) for a more in-depth explanation of each sub-question or subject.
What type of cover should I go for?
You have 3 levels of cover available to you, they are:
Third part only (TPO)
Third party fire and theft (TPFT)
Fully comprehensive (FC)
If you have a cheap car worth only a few hundred pounds then it’s often more cost effective to opt for third party only insurance. This is due to the fact that the extra cost of TPFT & FC insurance is often worth more than the value of the car. However if you car is worth a bob or two (say, over a £1000) then it’s usually worth opting for a higher level of cover. If your car is stolen or burnt out and you only have TPO, then you’ll receive nothing from your insurance company which could cost you thousands, depending o the value of your car. FC insurance goes one step further and will pay to repair or replace your car if you’re found to be responsible in the event of an accident.
How do I find the cheapest motor insurance quote?
Unless you get very lucky then the only way to get the cheapest quote is to shop around and compare quotes. This could take anything between 30 mins to 3 hours, but the difference in quotes is often in the hundreds so its worth taking the time to compare. Lots of brokers claim to do the searching for you but they aren’t usually the cheapest so make sure you get a few quotes.
It’s also worth remembering that the cheapest quotes aren’t always the best. So go with a company that you feel you can trust even if it costs a bit more. Some of the smaller and less ethical companies will do anything to avoid paying out if something goes wrong and often hit you with extra charges and sudden premium increases.
We have compiled a directory of the leading UK motor insurance companies making it easier for you to compare quotes.
What can i do to make the premuim cheaper?
There are a number of ways in which you can reduce your premium. Some are simple and easy to do like making sure you buy online to save anything between a 5% and 20% and others, such as passing your advanced driving test require quite a lot more time and effort.
- Keep your car to yourself
- Get more driving qualifications
- Buy online
- Compare quotes and shop around
- Help prevent car theft
- Pay more excess
- Drive your car less
- Get a car with a smaller engine
- Drive safely (build up no claims bonus)
- Change jobs
- If your male, you could get a sex change
- Stay aged between 25 and 70
- Move house
- Stay out of trouble with the law
- Shop around before you renew your premium
- Always be honest with your answers