Top tips to keep your car insurance costs down this summer
Car insurance prices have fallen by 4% in the last year - but they are still higher than they were last year. Here's some ways to make sure you're not left out of pocket
Car insurance is a legal requirement for motorists, and despite a 4% drop in prices over the past year, costs remain higher on average than they were last year.
Regrettably, these steep prices disproportionately affect young drivers, with 17 year olds bearing the brunt.
According to Compare the Market, as reported by Which?, newly-qualified 17 year old drivers are shelling out an eye-watering average of £3,075, marking a 53% surge from the previous year.
These figures gradually decline as the age of newly qualified drivers increases, with 27 year olds paying 35% less than their younger counterparts.
So, what can drivers across all age groups and experience levels do to cut their costs?
One effective strategy suggested by Which? is to switch providers.
Contrary to the belief that company loyalty results in lower prices, drivers renewing their car insurance in the first quarter of this year found they were actually paying more.
A survey of 2,000 drivers by Confused.com revealed that 75% reported an increase in their renewal quote, with an average rise of £94.
The comparison site also found that 45% of those quoted a higher renewal price could save £90 by shopping around for a better deal.
If you're reluctant to switch providers or find it would still be slightly cheaper to stay with your current provider, then there are other ways you can save a bit of money while still insuring your car.
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Go Annual - You can save hundreds by doing one payment for the whole year opposed to multiple monthly payments.
Renew early - Renewing your cover a few weeks in advance rather than a few days will often get you a cheaper price.
Keep mileage down - It might sound silly as you don’t insure your car not to drive it but limiting the number of miles on your clock may help you avoid being hit with a higher premium.
Tweak your job title - Tweaking how you define your job, without lying, could actually save some pennies. So if your job title states ‘barber’ try ‘hairdresser’ or ‘hair stylist’ to see if you can get your insurance slightly cheaper.
Haggle - If you’re really not wanting to switch but the rest of these tips haven’t worked then haggling with your provider could help bring the price down but there’s no guarantee.
These are all valuable tips that could help lower your car insurance costs. For those seeking more information on how to secure cheap insurance from the outset, consumer group Which? has a comprehensive guide on shopping around for the best deal.
For young drivers looking to dodge astronomical prices immediately after passing their test, black boxes might be the answer. Despite often coming with limitations, they can assist in reducing costs and heightening driver awareness on the road.
