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Five
Tips for potentially lower Car Insurance Online
Buying
car insurance online is a quick-and-easy way to find
the best deals in the market. Not only can you use the
internet to compare quotes, you can also take advantage
of the premium discounts that many insurance companies
offer to online buyers.
But how can you ensure that you really are keeping your
car insurance premiums as low as possible? Here is a
quick guide to finding the cheapest online deals.
1.
Make sure you tick the right boxes.
Every insurer will ask you a series of personal and
motoring questions before they offer you a quote, and
certain answers could result in a vastly increased premium.
There are some cases in which this can’t be helped
– those with minimal no claims bonuses, for example,
are bound to end up paying extra – but sometimes
it’s possible to make manageable changes which
can make a significant difference to your insurance
premium.
Negotiating a garage or off-street parking for your
car rather than leaving it on the road is one way to
avoid paying extra. If your car isn’t worth a
fortune, you could consider insuring only for third
party, fire and theft, while fitting a security lock
or immobilising device can also help make a difference.
Young drivers should also consider sharing their parents
insurance rather than taking out their own, as insurance
for under 25s can be extremely expensive.
2.
Shop around
Don’t be drawn in by glossy promotions or dazzled
by big names – the best way to find good car insurance
deals is to consider a whole range of providers. Internet
sites like Confused.com
and Insurancewide.com can search up to 50 providers
to identify the right policy for you.
Remember,
though, that sites like this don’t always list
every company – you may need to do some research
of your own. Contact a few independent insurers, such
as ASDA car
insurance and co-operative insurance, to make sure
that you can’t get a better car
insurance quote. The market is becoming increasingly
competitive as more companies get in on the act, and
you, as the customer, can take advantage of this.
3.
Don’t be afraid to haggle
Car insurance quotes are not written in stone. Once
you’ve found what you think is the best deal,
take it to other companies and see if they will better
it. The best approach may be to take the quote to your
existing insurer, who might be prepared to better it
in order to keep your custom.
And if you’re shy, why not conduct your haggling
online? Most companies now offer online enquiry forms,
which remove the need for person-to-person transactions
even when you have a special request to make.
4.
Pay the premium in full
It might be tempting to spread the annual cost of your
insurance by paying in monthly instalments, but in the
end you will end up paying significantly more. It’s
best to bite the bullet and pay the premium in full
– or, if you can’t afford this, why not
take out a 0 per cent credit card and use it to take
the hit? Just make sure you can clear the debt before
the interest-free period expires.
5.
Drive carefully
Speeding offences, points on your licence, claims on
your insurance: all of these will represent a hefty
increase to your annual premium. Most insurers will
pay no attention to a first speeding offence, but after
this you could be looking at an annual premium increase
of up to 50 per cent. If you’re confident in your
driving then you might also consider agreeing to pay
more for damage before you make an insurance claim.
In some cases, this can result in a reduced premium
of up to 10 per cent. Drivers with no claims bonuses
of four years and over can also earn up to 40 per cent
off their premium.
