A guide to motor insurance

Car insurance is not only a legal requirement it is essential to protect your loved ones, your car, your possessions and of course you. To help you find the right cover for your needs at a competitive price we have provided a few useful hints and tips below.

Shop around for the lowest premiums

Firstly and most importantly, shop around for your insurance. Each insurance company calculates its rates differently and premiums can vary by as much as a thousand pounds in some cases. So, as a general rule contact at least three companies, if the premiums are roughly the same then you are probably not going to save much by continuing.

Review your insurance annually

Do not assume that because your insurer was cheapest last year it will be the next. It is quite common for insurers to win customers by offering cheap rates in the first year knowing that they can raise them in the future years without the customer realising. So shop around each and every year to make sure your premiums remain competitive.

Getting the best quote

When filling in a quote form providing the insurer with all the relevant facts can help you knock pounds off your quote, such as:

• Use your garage and tell your insurer that you are doing it.
• Be accurate on your annual mileage, over stating will impact your premium.
• If you do just under 10,000 miles a year, make sure you put 9,999 rather than 10,000 in the estimated mileage box. Just 1 mile could move your mileage into a different bracket and get you cheaper insurance.
• Only insure what you need to insure, so don't include drivers on your policy who never drive.
• Changing the excess levels on your policy can save you money, but make sure you are aware of the impact of these excess levels should you need to make a claim.
• If you get married - tell your insurer as many treat husband and wives as lower risks and thereby reducing your insurance premium.
• Buy online. Many insurance providers offer discounts for customer who use the Internet because it is a cheaper distribution method for them. Discounts can be as much as 20%. We have included links to some insurance providers who could save you money, why not give them a try?

Warning

What every you do do not lie or withhold information that is requested to reduce your premium. This could invalidate your insurance and could lead to you being prosecuted for fraud.

Some insurance myths

• Insurance companies have no way of checking if I have lied about a past claim - Wrong, insurers have a number of systems they subscribe and share information with. Just because an insurance company takes your business doesn't mean you have got away with it. Most insurers will only check the information you give when you make a claim. If they find that you have lied you could find that the claim is not paid and you may even be charged with fraud.
• Women are safer drivers - this is certainly true for young drivers due to the fact that women mature slightly faster than men. But by early 20's this is no longer the case and there is no evidence to suggest that women are safer drivers. However, there are some insurers that specialise in women only policies and offer some very significant discounts - get a quote from Sheila's Wheels who specialise in insurance for female drivers.