Owning a car gives you so much freedom and independence, but it doesn’t come cheap. The cost of the vehicle, repairs, fuel costs and tax all need to be taken into consideration. One of the highest costs a driver has to cover however is their insurance. If you’re a new driver, have had accidents or points in the past especially the costs really can soar. Having a clean driving record and many years of experience are the best ways to get cheap insurance, but since there’s not much you can do about that in the here and now, here are some things you can do to bring down the cost.
Shop Around
If you’re staying loyal to one insurance company you could be costing yourself serious money. When your renewal letter comes in the post it’s easy to just think ‘fine’ and let them auto continue with payments. But the insurance market is very competitive, and as a consumer this means you can shop around and find the best deals so it’s imperative you do so if you want to save money. Once you have your best quotes saved, you could call some of the direct companies, these aren’t listed on price comparison sites so can sometimes be a little cheaper.
Switch Your Vehicle
If you’re getting consistently high quotes when looking at car or van insurance even after shopping around, it could be worth switching your vehicle. Particularly if it’s something you’re struggling to afford, as a slight change to what you drive could make a massive difference to what you pay for insurance. Have a look at what’s out there within your budget and run some quotes through a price comparison site. Smaller engines and slightly newer vehicles will generally be cheaper, but the prices can vary dramatically even between those that are similar so do your research. Selling your car and buying something else with the money could save you some serious cash on your monthly bills. You will also need to take tax costs and running costs into account to make sure it’s worthwhile.
Reword Your Job Title
Strangely, what you have listed as your job title can affect your insurance quote. While you can’t lie about what you do since this is fraud, you can change the description and the way things are worded. Calling yourself a ‘chef’ as opposed to ‘kitchen staff’ for example could add hundreds of pounds onto your policy. Do some research, play around with different wording and see if there’s a way you can reduce that cost further. While it might only be a small percentage saving, those hundreds of pounds are much better off in your pocket than in in the pockets of insurers!
Car insurance is an unavoidable cost, but a few small changes could save you a huge amount of money. Don’t just renew your policy without checking or take the first quote. Shop around, do your research and you could save yourself a whole lot of money.