Special Report Cost of Motoring

10-step plan to save on insurance TODAY

How long have you had car insurance with the same company?

If the answer is more than a year, then you could be paying well over the odds for your car insurance.

Change your policy TODAY – you don’t have to wait to re-new.

Many companies will cancel your policy with a refund and although in some instances you may have to pay a small penalty (with some insurers you won’t), this could be a lot less than what you save.

Ten steps

So if you're feeling the pinch of the credit crunch and you need cover for less, here's Parker's ten steps to save on insurance...

			Clever comparison Don't just shop around; shop around smartly
			Buying new? See what the dealer can offer When it pays to take advantage of incentives
			Don’t forget the basics Why honesty really could be the best policy
			Play the job title name game Describe your job differently to save
			Add a named driver… or two Why an extra person can mean cheaper cover
			Added extras mean added cost Be careful of policy add-ons
			Paying monthly? Don’t get caught out You could end up paying more than you should
			Go direct to the insurer’s site to save more Cutting out the middle man cuts costs
			Choose the right time to phone Time your call to and pocket big rewards
			Be savvy when it comes to payment How to squeeze the last penny from your insurance

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Have your say

Know any clever tricks for cheaper cover?

Post a comment and tell us what you think about this article.

Added: 23 September 2009 14:08

Ref Mike Caffrey's comment about insurance being built in to the price of fuel. This idea was first mooted, I believe, in the mid-50s, and road tax was included with basic insurance. Was a good idea then and still is but, for some reason, governments have not accepted it. What could be easier than a law that states 'if a vehicle has fuel in it, then it is taxed and insured'. No more un-insured drivers driving un-taxed cars - brilliant! Won't happen, I'll bet.

Mike Harrison, Kingston upon Hull

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Added: 05 September 2009 16:06

im with steph on this one, i was paying £800 on a 1.9 16v renault 19 cabriolet (group 15) then only £600 on a 3.0 fourtrak (although its only group 8 which doesnt make sense because of the engine size) and had a quote this afternoon for a 1.4 puma (group 9)....wait for it.....£2100!!!!!!!

jonny, swansea

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Added: 18 August 2009 15:28

I am told the reason premiums are escalating so much at the moment is that many drivers are not taking out insurance and driving without.More expensive premiums will just add to that trend.Its about time the government thought outside the box a bit .They could cover all vehicles with minimum third party insurance through a tax on petrol and leave drivers to choose if they want to buy additional cover for theft,fully comp etc.That way every vehicle on the road would carry the minimum insurance.

mike caffrey, malton

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See all 14 comments for this article

Added: 15 June 2009 02:11

these insurance companies are big cons! the know that it is a legal reqirmeant to get insured so they are able to push thier prises as high as they please! should be allowed to happen!!

jason, croydon

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Added: 28 May 2009 15:18

great tips and advice there.
only the insurance group doesn't always work, i had a mini cooper S(group 16)fully comp for £600 with the post office, changed to a diesel Astra(group 11)half way through the policy,total cost for the year £1100. had to pay extra £230 for a less powerful car with a lower insurance group... what sense does that make???

chappy with the saxo VTS, all the boy racers buy those and crash them pushing up your premium, blame silly young boys for your cost£1600sounds ri

steph, west midlands

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Added: 11 April 2009 23:11

hi i gt a polo 1.4 and im with direct line and im the 3rd driver named polocy and im paying £1800 for my insurance its crazy cos im 17 any tipss guys???

masi , london

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Added: 06 April 2009 02:34

I think insurance companies are just a big con. I drive a group 5 car, I'm nearly 21, never claimed and coming to the end of a policy that costs over £180 a month!! I'll be shopping around next month for a quote after receiving a no claims discount, not holding my breath though. Because I am male and young I am automatically an idiot in their eyes. Insurance should be capped I think or the individual should be investigated more rather than generalising.

Aaron, Essex

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Added: 24 February 2009 19:54

Cheers for the advise i am currently £800 a year Third party and if i want to go fully comp it jumps to 1400 a year and adding my dad as a named drive i am going to be £835 fully comp, what a saving for the added security

john, abrdeen

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Added: 19 December 2008 12:26

I had my renewal through last year from Direct Line and it had jumped from £55 per month to around £60, I went online on to their website, put the same details in and had a quote of £33 per month. I rang them and queried this with them and they reduced my premiums from a potential £60 to £33 per month.

Al, Manchester

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Added: 25 November 2008 23:29

Direct Line! their policy allows named drivers to build up no claims bonuses, so when i was 17 i was insured on my Dad's Saxo for £700 (he has full no claims) a year later, I'm on a 1.25 fiesta Zetec for £650! the no claims only works if you're insured with Direct Line, but its worth then using them when you're the only driver. I suppose thats why they do it...

Adam, Chesterfield

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Added: 27 September 2008 01:16

1998 Nissan Almera 1.6 £1400, TPFT
22, past 3 months ago, Student, 0 NCD, low crime area in scotland, parked in public, no alarm, SDP+C, 10,000 miles.
HSBC with Fortis: £512. I was getting quoated £1000+ untill I added my gf, 22 driving for 1 year with her own car, any girl with similar driving credentials would do. I found that parents and other older ppl didnt help at all. Always buy your insurence on the phone cos online makes many false assumptions which increase the price. Good luck

Andrew Morrey, Sleaford

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Added: 11 September 2008 10:31

Great tips.....
im trying to insure a 1.6 SAXO VTR im
19
0 NCB
Student
Secure parking
6000 annual
TPFT

and im being quoted for £1900 cheapest...?

So fustrating considering the car is only worth 1300!!!!! i am a sensible driver and also the are i live in is group C when its one of the nicer areas of harrogate....

The insurance companies seem to not want to haggle at all........

Tobes, Harrogate

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Added: 29 August 2008 09:39

I took out a policy with Churchill insurance online. The following year they sent me my renewal premium so I decide to check for better deals again on line. I was surprised when the best deal turned out to be with Churchill but £20 less than they quoted by letter.So when shopping about on line it pays to check with the company you are already insured with.

Peter Whalley, Maldon

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Added: 26 July 2008 07:53

nothing to say but the 10 tips were great fantastic learnt a lot but need to put it in practice lol
many thanks
mohammed

mohammed, huddersfield

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