Sports Car Insurance

Given that car insurance companies offer premiums based on the risk posed by you and your vehicle, it's no surprise that sports car insurance can be expensive.

High performance sports cars are capable or high speeds, and are comprised of expensive parts and materials which would be costly to replace in the event of an accident. Their high-value also makes them theoretically more attractive to thieves, combining to make a perfect storm of potential risk in the eyes of insurance companies.

Things to consider in a sports car insurance policy

If you are likely to be taking your sports car to a racing track in the future you will need to check if your sports car insurance policy covers you for it. If not, you should speak to the insurer to find out if the extra cover will increase your premium.

Specialist insurance companies may offer additional incentives, such as discounts if you are a member of a car owners' club. They may also offer an 'agreed valuation' on your car, giving you the peace of mind in knowing exactly what your vehicle is insured for.

Some classic sports car insurance providers may offer a limited mileage policy, offering a cheaper premium in exchange for a limit to how much you drive the vehicle.

Lowering the cost of insuring a sports car

As you are likely to be facing higher premiums for your high performance vehicle, you can limit any further increases by limiting the number of modifications you make to it.

Any modifications which enhance the performance of the vehicle or that increase its value are likely to have a detrimental effect on your premium and make it more difficult to find cheap sports car insurance quotes.

If you are yet to buy the sports car of your dreams, check which insurance group it belongs to first. All vehicles are assigned a car insurance group, from 1 to 50, with cars in the 50 band being the most expensive to insure.

Agreeing to a mileage limit could also be beneficial. If you are lucky enough to own a convertible car that you only drive during the summer months, for example, you should tell your insurer, as it may reduce the premium.

If you have any named drivers on the policy, try to limit them to drivers aged 25-years-old and older.

Opting for a higher voluntary excess may lower you premiums to a certain extent, but you should remember that the voluntary excess you agree to is not a hypothetical figure, so you should choose a sum you would actually be able to afford in the event of a claim.

Keeping your car parked in a secured location overnight and installing insurer-approved security devices like immobilisers, car alarms and steering wheel locks can also help to lower your sports car insurance premiums.

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Car insurance for students

For many young people, going away to university is their first experience of living on a budget. Running a vehicle can be a huge burden on a tight budget, so for students, getting cheap car insurance is important.

Finding cheap student car insurance can be difficult though, because students are seen by insurers as a high risk group.

If you have moved away for your studies, your new address might also have a detrimental effect on the quotes you are offered, as insurers consider the crime rates in the area where the vehicle is kept when they assess your premium.

As a student then, you may be tempted to go for the lowest possible quote available, but you should consider the terms of the policy and what it offers rather than simply opting for the cheapest student car insurance.

Saving money on car insurance for students

Choosing a sensible car with a small engine and no modifications is a common sense way of saving on your insurance premiums, as high-performance vehicles with expensive parts tend to attract higher rates.

If you find that fully-comprehensive cover amounts to more than your actual car is worth, it may be worthwhile comparing the quote against theft only and third party, fire and theft policies. Our comparison tool makes it easy to toggle between the different types of cover to quickly gauge the difference in premiums.

By spending some money on installing security equipment like an immobiliser or car alarm you may be able to lower your premium, provided the insurer approves the equipment.

Agreeing to a mileage limit with the insurance company might help to lower the costs, but you must not agree to a limit which is unfeasible.

Some insurers offer no-claims 'accelerator' policies, where you can earn a year's worth of no-claims discount in as little as nine months.

Shopping around and using our price comparison tool will help you to get a broad view of the market. At moneysupermarket.com we compare more than 100 insurance companies to help you find a competitive deal.

If you have recently passed your test, you might want to consider taking the Pass Plus advanced driving course. It may save you 10% or more on your premium in your first year of driving.

Consider what policy extras you will genuinely need. If you were forced to take your car off the road for a period, would you need a courtesy car to get you between home and university, or would you be able to use public transport in the meantime?

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Weekly car insurance

This is having a big impact on motorists, with 65% of the motorists we surveyed admitting that they have been forced to alter their driving habits over the past twelve months as a result of rising running costs. Young driver car insurance prices have been particularly badly hit by these rises.

However you no longer have to pay a huge one-off 12 month car insurance fee, with a variety of more flexible options now becoming available. One of these options is weekly car insurance, which ensures that you are not paying for cover that you don't need and also allows you to adapt to unforeseen situations.

Weekly car insurance and young drivers

Weekly car insurance has the potential to save young motorists a significant amount of money.
It could be that you are a young student living away from home, who will not be using their car in non-term time. If this is the case then it is a huge waste of money to pay for a twelve month long insurance policy which will mostly go unused. Only paying for the weeks that your car will be in use might be a far cheaper option.

One limitation of this is the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) regulations which mean that it is now illegal to own a vehicle which is not covered by an insurance policy at all times. However, you could get over this by paying for a separate car insurance policy for an older and more experienced driver who is living at home. Given the large disparity in prices between young and old drivers, this could still prove to be a cheaper option than paying for a twelve month policy for a driver under the age of 21.

Another possible scenario which is not impacted by CIE would be if an older motorist requires a younger driver to share driving duties with them for a short period of time, perhaps for the duration of a holiday. Paying for a twelve month policy featuring such a driver would add a significant amount to car insurance premiums. A far cheaper option might be to purchase a weekly car insurance policy for that young driver, allowing them to legally share the driving with the older driver for this short period of time.
Weekly car insurance deals therefore have the potential to help motorists combat rising car insurance costs which have impacted on young drivers more than most.

Further weekly car insurance benefits

You don't have to be a young driver to take advantage of weekly car insurance deals. Drivers of any age or gender could find themselves in a situation where they need insurance cover on a vehicle for one week only. It could be that their regular vehicle is undergoing repairs or that they will be sharing the driving with a friend or family member while on a trip.

What ever the reasons, purchasing a weekly car insurance policy could well work out to be a cheaper option than being featured on an annual policy.

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Car insurance for women drivers

It's official: women are statistically better drivers than men, or at least they do not make as many claims on their car insurance. And when they do make claims, they tend to be cheaper than those lodged by male motorists, perhaps a minor bump rather than a complete write-off. In addition, government figures show that men account for more than 92% of UK driving convictions and 98% of all convictions for dangerous driving. The statistics are good news for female motorists because their cleaner claims records result in insurance companies offering cheap women's car insurance quotes. Women pay on average £150 less for their car insurance than men.

But for how long? The European Court of Justice recently ruled that insurers cannot charge men and women different premiums because of their gender as it constitutes discrimination. The change will come into effect in December 2012 and some experts predict that car insurance premiums for women under the age of 25 could rise by 25% to 30%. In other words, unisex premiums could add about £400 to the annual cost of car insurance for a young woman.

The ruling comes at a time when car insurance premiums are already rising. They have gone up by 34% in the past couple of years and the average premium for a woman between the ages of 17 and 24 is now £1,002.

Reducing women's car insurance prices

The rise in car insurance premiums makes it all the more important to get a good deal on your car cover. Some insurers specifically target female motorists, but it is wise to scour the whole market for a good deal. And remember to shop around when your insurance is due for renewal. Loyalty doesn't always pay so you shouldn't automatically stick with your existing firm. Women drivers can compare quotes from more than 100 insurers through moneysupermarket.com and typically save £280 a year on their car cover.

• The type of car you drive can have a big effect on your premiums. Generally speaking, the smaller the engine, the lower the price of cover. Insurers categorise cars into groups and they could in future place greater emphasis on your car's insurance group because they will no longer be able to add gender to the premiums equation. You can find further information about this on our car insurance group's page or on the website of the Association of British Insurers at www.abi.org.uk.When you have chosen your car, try not to drive it to excess. If you drive fewer miles you are likely to have fewer accidents, so you should be eligible for cheaper car insurance premiums.
• The security of your car is important because it can lower the risk of a theft claim. It often pays to fit your vehicle with an approved alarm and immobiliser. Where possible, you should keep your car in a locked garage, or at least off the street.
• If you can avoid making a claim, you can potentially reduce your premium by up to a third in one year with a no claims discount (NCD). 
• All motor insurance policies include a compulsory excess, which is the amount you pay towards any claim. If you opt for a bigger voluntary excess, you should be rewarded with a lower premium. 
• Insurers usually allow you to pay your insurance premium in monthly installments to spread the cost. It can be convenient but it is also more expensive because you'll be charged interest, so try to pay up front if you can. 
• If you have older children who can drive, remember that if you add them to your own insurance policy it will bump up the premium.

Can male motorists benefit from cheap car insurance for women?

It is possible for a man to piggyback on cheap woman's car insurance premiums by registering as a named driver on her policy. This is often even possible if the policy has been purchased through a women only car insurance company.  The man must not, however, be the main driver and registered owner of the vehicle. Also remember that named drivers do not accumulate a no claims discount, so a saving in the short term could end up costing more in the long term.

The tactic can work the other way round, too. If the man is the main driver and he registers a woman as a named driver on his policy. This can result in cheaper motor insurance for men.

However, there are a number of other ways that motorists from both genders can reduce the cost of their car insurance. For information on this, check out our money saving tips page.

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Car Insurance Brokers

If you want to shop around for your insurance but don't have the time, a car insurance broker might be the right solution for you.

An insurance broker does a large amount of the work for you when it comes to sourcing car insurance; their job is to deal with insurance companies on your behalf in order to find you the best cover for your needs.

The difference between a car insurance broker and an insurance agent

An agent is a person (or business) who is contracted to an insurance company in order to sell insurance for them. Larger agencies may have contracts with multiple insurers, but you should always remember that agents are representatives of the insurance companies, and as such premium payments to the agent are equivalent to paying the company direct.

How motor insurance brokers work

A car insurance broker, on the other hand, refers to a person or company who researches the market on a customer's behalf. Brokers do not work for any insurance company, Brokers work for you instead.
A broker will first ascertain your needs as the customer, before submitting information to relevant insurance companies. This is another way in which agents and brokers differ: Agents can put policies live themselves, whereas a motor insurance broker can only introduce the client to the insurer for them to accept or reject.

A premium set up by a broker can be a little more expensive than one organised by an agent however, as the broker's fee is included in the premium. You should be entirely aware of how much the broker is charging before entering into setting up a car insurance policy with them.

Of course, an insurance broker is limited by the number of companies they have relationships with - here at moneysupermarket.com we compare over 100 insurers and brokers in order to help you find the best deal for your needs.

Our car insurance tools allow you to quickly enter your details and then compare quotes from a wide range of companies prepared to offer you a policy - saving you time as well as money spent on broker's fees.

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Car Insurance Advice

Every driver will have had their own experiences with car insurance, and will have different views on buying car insurance, making a claim and saving money on premiums.

At times, this can make getting car insurance advice difficult as there are so many conflicting opinions.

Advice on buying car insurance

Although it is important to get an affordable policy, making sure you have the appropriate level of cover for your needs is more important.

You must ensure that all the information you give in relation to your policy is accurate to the best of your knowledge. If the motor insurance information you supply is in any way incorrect or misleading, you may find the insurance provider refusing to pay out in the event of a claim.

If you are going to be the main driver of the car, don't be tempted to have a more experienced driver 'front' the policy for you in a bid to get a cheaper quote. This all-too-common practice is illegal, and could leave you un-insured in the event of a claim.

Consider carefully what level of cover is most suitable for your needs, and choose a voluntary excess amount that you would genuinely be able to afford if you were forced to make a claim.

Money-saving car insurance advice

The less experience you have behind the wheel, the more you are likely to have to pay for car insurance. Some good young drivers' car insurance advice is to add an older, more experienced driver to the policy to lower the price.

Installing security equipment that is approved by your insurer, such as an immobiliser, a steering wheel lock or a car alarm can sometimes bring your quotes down, as well as keeping the vehicle parked in a secure location, like a locked garage, overnight.

Increasing the amount of voluntary excess you are willing to pay in the event of a claim can help to lower your quotes to a certain extent, but you should only ever choose a genuinely affordable excess amount.

Carefully consider which optional extras you will actually need. For example, some bank accounts offer free breakdown cover - so there's no need to pay more on your premium for it if your bank already provides it for free.

Keeping modifications to a minimum, agreeing to a mileage limit with the insurer and paying the whole premium in one payment as opposed to monthly instalments are also things which might have a beneficial effect on your premium.

Try our comparison tool to quickly check if our car insurance advice can save you money on your premium.

Advice on making a car insurance claim

Being involved in a car accident can be one of the most stressful situations you can find yourself in. For most of us, the process is completely new and can be confusing.

The first thing to do is to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. Your policy documents should provide you with a number to call, and be sure to have your policy reference number to hand to help the insurer deal with claim efficiently.

Make as thorough a record of the accident as possible whilst it is still fresh in your mind. The shock of the collision will only make it harder to recall the details later on. Write down what happened from your perspective and if necessary; take some photographs of the scene and the damage caused.

Once you have given the insurance company all the details they need, they will send you some documents relating to the claim. Make sure you keep them in a safe place

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4x4 insurance

Why is 4x4 insurance so expensive?

There are a number of reasons why 4x4 insurance prices are more expensive than car insurance for smaller vehicles like the Vauxhall Corsa or Ford Focus.

One of the biggest reasons is the damage that 4x4 cars could potential cause to other vehicles. Car insurance premiums are calculated partly based on how much it would cost to repair any damaged sustained to the insured vehicle or the property of others which is being covered by the insurer. With 4x4's more likely to cause significant damage to other people's property, the premiums that car insurance companies are willing to offer naturally reflect this.

At the same time, spare parts for 4x4 vehicles tend to be more expensive as they are expected to be more durable. This will also negatively impact upon car insurance prices.

Get the right 4x4 insurance package for you

There are three levels of car insurance cover which are available. The lowest legal minimum is third party cover, where an insurer agrees to cover the costs of damage caused to other people's property but won't cover the cost of repairs to your own vehicle. The next level up from this is third party fire and theft, where an insurer will agree to cover costs accrued through fire damage or theft to the insured driver's car.
The most complete level of cover available is fully comprehensive, which covers the costs of repairs to your vehicle as well as others. This generally costs a little bit extra, but does ensure more peace of mind in helping to avoid potential unexpected bills. However, not everyone will be able to afford this, and as ever you should opt for the level of cover which best suits your needs.

Another thing to bear in mind on your car insurance search which is particularly relevant to 4x4 car owners is that off-road use is not included on all insurance packages. If you are intending to get your wheels a little bit muddy, make sure that you have a 4x4 insurance package which agrees to cover the use of your vehicle off-road. Failing to do so could lead to the insurer refusing to pay out in the event of damage being caused by an accident which occurred while off-road.

Get a cheap 4x4 insurance quote

If you are struggling to cope with the running costs of your 4x4 it doesn't mean that you have to give up the vehicle. Taking just a few minutes to compare 4x4 insurance quotes on the moneysupermarket.com website could help you make significant savings.

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Business Car Insurance

If your job requires you to drive your own vehicle for business purposes, then you need a higher level of coverage than just social, domestic and pleasure and commuting.

Business car insurance is designed for road users who use their car as part of their working day.

What type of business car insurance do I need?

When applying for business car insurance, you can expect to be asked for some information about what your business use entails, and how much work-related mileage you will accumulate.
Private and occasional business use policies cover the main driver or their spouse who only occasionally have to drive a vehicle for work, but in a vehicle that is not registered in the businesses' name. It must not be used for an essential part of the job, like that of a door-to-door salesperson, for example.
Private and business use policies cover the same parameters as private and occasional business use policies, but in this case the vehicle can be registered to a business and cover any driver.

Commercial travelling policies cover people for whom driving is a permanent aspect of their job, such as a travelling salesperson.

It is very important to be clear which of the three types your business use belongs to, because failing to understand the difference could leave you under-insured, and in the event of a claim you may find the insurer refusing to pay out.

Keeping the cost of business car insurance down

You may be able to negotiate a cheaper business car insurance quote with your insurer by agreeing on a mileage limit. This method relies on you being able to prove that you only travel limited distances, so you should only agree to a feasible limit.
As with any insurance policy, you may be able to lower your premium by installing security devices that are approved by the insurer, such as an immobiliser or steering wheel lock.
Parking your car in a secure location like a locked garage overnight is also looked upon favourably by insurers. If your car is parked in a secured business premises overnight, then tell your insurance company.
If you are buying a new vehicle which you are likely to be using for business purposes, you might consider one with a smaller engine as they tend to attract lower car insurance premiums.

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European Car Insurance

Millions of people take their car onto the Continent every summer, but how many of them have adequate car insurance for European travel? Most drivers assume their insurance policy is the same in Europe as in the UK. But it could be a costly mistake as many insurers do not automatically offer comprehensive cover abroad. Experts estimate that one in ten motorists sustain damage to their car while driving abroad, so it is important to get an appropriate European car insurance policy before leaving the UK.

Is it illegal to drive in Europe without comprehensive cover?

If your car is insured in the UK, you can legally drive in most European countries, including countries outside the EU, such as Switzerland. But you will only have the minimum legal level of cover. A green card, or International Certificate of Motor Insurance, is no longer a legal requirement within the EU, but it can be useful because it proves you have the minimum insurance cover required to drive on European roads. You can usually get a green card from your insurer, but it is not a substitute for insurance. In some countries, it would not even provide as much protection as third party cover in the UK. 

What does European Car Insurance cover?

If you plan to drive in Europe, it's a good idea to find a policy that offers the same level of cover as in the UK. But no two policies are exactly the same, so you need to read the small print carefully. Remember too that the cheapest policy is not necessarily the best.

Insurers will usually cover motoring abroad only for a certain number of days during the policy year, often up to 90 days. But the limits vary between insurers, so check that the cover is adequate. If you expect to exceed the limit, you might be able to negotiate a deal for extended European car insurance cover.

Some insurers offer temporary or short term European car insurance that will typically cover your car for between one and 28 days. If you plan only one, short motoring trip to the Continent, temporary cover might be cheaper than standard cover in Europe, but you should still scrutinise the policy details.
  
You should also make sure that the policy includes the countries you intend to visit. Some insurance policies, for example, will only cover countries that belong to the European Union. Don't forget to include countries that you might drive through en route to your destination. 

Does my policy include breakdown cover?

Breakdown cover in Europe is not automatically added to a European policy, even if it is standard on your UK insurance. However, most experts recommend European breakdown cover as it can be a lifeline to a stranded motorist. 

 

Is European motor insurance expensive?

The cost of European car insurance depends on the insurer, the car and the level of cover provided. But repairs and replacement parts for your car can be more expensive abroad - and some insurers charge a higher premium to offset the risk.

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Gap Insurance

Some say that buying a car is the worst investment you can make, as it depreciates in value so quickly.

If your car is stolen or written off, and you are forced to file an insurance claim, the insurer would only pay out against the value of the car at the time the damage was done, as opposed to the price you paid for the vehicle.

Car gap insurance (sometimes called value protection insurance) protects against this shortfall, covering the gap between the insurance payout and the value of the vehicle at the time you bought the car insurance policy.

The benefits of buying gap insurance with helpucover.co.uk

As helpucover.co.uk does not have to pay commission or showroom overheads, they can offer the best gap insurance premium possible.

Unlike many gap insurance providers, helpucover.co.uk lets you spread the cost of the premium by paying in monthly instalments (up to a maximum period of 36 months.)

Most importantly, the cover you buy is provided directly by the insurer, which means huge savings in comparison to dealership prices.

Why buy Protector Gap Insurance?

If the current economic climate is making you feel reluctant about buying a new car, protector gap insurance could give you some peace of mind as it removes the anxiety of losing value on your car through depreciation.

Not only does motor gap insurance mean you wouldn't have to make up the difference yourself, it also means you would get back a similar car to the one which was written off or stolen.

Applying for gap insurance cover is quick and easy, and the cover is available for vehicles up to seven years old.

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Taxi Insurance

If you are a taxi driver, or are a considering becoming one, you will need to insure your vehicle. Of course, taxi insurance is a little different to conventional car insurance and is quite often more expensive due to the increased risk involved.

What to consider when looking for private hire insurance

Insuring a vehicle for private hire use can be a little more difficult than insuring a personal vehicle - after all, a taxi needs to be practical for its purpose, so buying a small hatchback with a smaller engine capacity is not really a choice for those looking for cheap taxi insurance.
This often means that you are forced to buy a large, fuel hungry vehicle with a large engine which can be costly in terms of both insurance and fuel - the high mileage typically done by taxi drivers often exacerbating the matter.

What can you do to save money on your taxi insurance?

There are things you can do to save yourself money however. For example, diesel vehicles are less thirsty, and will often be cheaper to run in the long run, despite being more expensive per litre of fuel. You should also check the car insurance group of any vehicle you are looking to purchase - a lower group often means not only are you more likely to get cheap taxi insurance, but that your vehicle will also be safer and cheaper to repair should you ever have an accident.

Of course, insurers will still consider your driving history when you apply for a taxi insurance quote online, and for this reason (amongst others) it is advisable for you to keep your license clean - a speeding conviction can make your premium around 20% more expensive, for example. You will also find that your taxi insurance will get cheaper as time goes on, in similar fashion to 'normal' car insurance - for example, once you have held your taxi badge for 12 months you may find that your premiums decrease, and drivers with a history of driving company vehicles will sometimes receive a discount from their insurers.

What types of private hire and taxi insurance are available?

There are also a number of different types of taxi insurance you can purchase, the three main ones being Policyholder Only, Named Driver, and Any Driver over Set Age. Policyholder only is generally cheaper to purchase, as the more names added to the policy the more expensive it will become.
You should also consider purchasing taxi breakdown cover - many private hire insurance providers offer this with their insurance, and as such paying a little more for it can often work out to be a good financial move. The same also applies to public liability insurance; as you will be transporting members of the public it is a good idea to cover yourself should they be injured in your vehicle and decide to sue.

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Car Insurance Groups

The amount you pay in car insurance premiums is a reflection of the risk the insurer thinks you pose.
One of the considerations an insurer will look at is the vehicle you are insuring, including its value, power and performance.

As such, every vehicle is designated a 1 to 50 rating based on which car insurance group or band they belong to.

Until January 2010, vehicles were grouped from 1 to 20. The old grouping system was replaced by a more comprehensive system that banded cars from 1 to 50, with one being the lowest and 50 being the highest and most expensive car insurance group.
Group 1 vehicles will tend to be cheaper, low-specification models with smaller engines. Conversely, Group 50 vehicles are high-end high-performance models like Aston Martins.

How car insurance group ratings are determined?

There are at least six factors that determine the insurance group of a car.
Insurers consider how much the vehicle would cost to repair in the event of a claim. They also consider how long it would take to repair, as the longer the repair takes, the higher the cost of labour will be.
Other factors include; the value of the vehicle brand new, the cost of parts for the vehicle, the performance of the vehicle and how secure the vehicle is against thieves.

It therefore stands to reason that vehicles in the lower end of the car insurance grouping system are ones which are secure, and cheap to run and repair.

Checking a vehicle's insurance group

Before buying a new vehicle it is probably worth checking which car insurance group it falls into before you buy, so that you can gauge an estimate of its premium - or at least whether it will be higher of lower than your current vehicle.

 

Reducing the cost of high insurance group cover

If the vehicle you drive falls into a higher car insurance category, there are still things you can do to lower the price of your insurance premium.

As with any insurance policy, there may be savings to be made by agreeing to a mileage limit with your insurer. A restriction on mileage will be seen as a limiting the chances you will make a claim by the insurer.

Driving in a conscientious and sensible manner will help you to build up a no-claims discount, and shopping around for your quote using our comparison tool will help you to find competitive quotes.

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Find cheaper car insurance

Car insurance can be an expensive business and it often involves a large initial outlay that, all being well, you'll never see a return on.

But there are several ways that you can cut your car insurance costs, so take note of our simple tips and you may save yourself some mon

Check your mileage

One of the criteria that car insurance companies base their policy prices on is the number of miles you cover each year. So check your current usage and make sure you're not paying for miles that you're not actually using.

It's best to try and work out exactly how many miles you'll drive over the course of a year, factoring in your daily commute to and from work and any extra miles you drive outside of this.  But make sure your figures are accurate as going over your agreed mileage will invalidate your policy.

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Check your cover

There are generally three types of cover provided by motor insurers; Fully Comprehensive, Third Party, Fire & Theft and Third Party.

Each policy differs in the level of cover offered, Third Party being the most basic and Fully Comprehensive being the most complete and the level of cover can be reflected in the price so try to work out which policy is best suited to your needs when comparing prices.

However, it is no longer the case that Fully Comprehensive is the most costly option so be sure to compare all types of policy and you may find that you can actually get a better level of cover at a lower price.

Alter your voluntary excess

The general rule of thumb with voluntary excess is that the more you are willing to pay up front when making a claim, the lower the premium, so you may well be able to save money by increasing the excess on your policy.
But, again, be sure to compare policies with varying levels of voluntary excess as our research has shown that the savings are nominal once you reach a certain level of voluntary excess.

Minimise optional extras

Many policies will offer a series of optional extras such as legal expenses and courtesy cars but these all come at a cost. So work out which, if any, extra benefits you need on your policy and take off the ones that you don't as this will help lower the price of your premium.

Value your vehicle

Make sure that you are honest with the valuation of your vehicle as it is misguided to assume that the higher you value your car, the more money you will receive in the event of a claim.
The truth is that, no matter what you value your car at; insurers will only pay out the current market value of a vehicle in the event of claim so pushing up the price of your car will do nothing other than push up the price of your premium.

Buy online

Automated online applications cost a lot less to process and so many insurers will offer a discount to customers that buy their car insurance online.

It is also a good idea to pay for your policy up front if possible as you will avoid any interest charges imposed on monthly instalment plans and some companies even offer a discount for payment in full.

Make your car more secure

Fitting your car with an approved alarm and immobilizer, such as a Thatcham 1 of Thatcham 2 can reduce the cost of your car insurance. If you have a more expensive car then insurance companies may insist that you get a sophisticated tracking device fitted before they will insure you.

Watch where you park

Keeping your car in a securely locked garage overnight can help reduce the price of your policy. Over 50 per cent of vehicle thefts occur at night so in keeping your car in a locked garage you are reducing the risk of theft and this will most likely be reflected in the cost of your car insurance.

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Car insurance for teenagers

More and more teenagers are taking to the roads, with most choosing to buy a car rather than relying upon sharing a parent's vehicle.

Locating a suitable car is only one part of the mission however: the other important part is that of finding affordable car insurance so you can enjoy driving your new car knowing that you are covered.
Generally the cost of a teenage driver insurance policy is higher than for an experienced driver. The reason for it being higher is mainly down to the simple fact that new drivers, particularly younger drivers have less experience on the roads.
Finding insurance with an affordable premium can prove a frustrating and time consuming task when searching individual companies, answering the same questions over and over again.

How to save money on teenage car insurance

In order to increase your chances of finding cheap car insurance for teenagers it is important to consider the following points:

Fight the urge to buy a high performance car or one with modifications, as a teenage driver these types of cars will only up your premium, wherever possible stick to the smallest sized engine. This will help to lower the insurance prices you are quoted.

Don't opt for an expensive car in the first instance, instead go for one that is in good working condition but not top of the range. You will pay a higher premium if your first car is a costly make or model.

Weigh up the cost of third party, fire and theft cover versus a fully comprehensive policy. It may be cheaper to take out a TPFT policy but this isn't always the case and you may be able to secure better coverage at a similar price.

Check if potential insurers will quote you a cheaper price if you accept a larger voluntary excess. This is the amount of money you opt to contribute if you do have an accident.  Having a bigger excess may reduce your premium but remember to set this at a level you could afford in the event of a claim. 

Finally, shop around with our comparison tool and quickly compare teenage car insurance quotes from dozens of companies to find competitive prices

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Car Warranty

Car repair bills tend to strike when we least expect it. Whether it's a mechanical or electrical failure, the combined cost of parts and labour can often come as a shock.

A car warranty provides peace of mind against these kinds of surprises, and many people buy brand new cars because of the typical three-year warranty that comes with them, ensuring that any repairs needed during this period are paid for by the manufacturer.

An extended car warranty serves the same purpose, and doesn't cost the earth.

Would an extended car warranty benefit me?

Very few of us understand the inner-workings of the vehicles we drive. As a consequence, we leave ourselves vulnerable to expensive repair bills due to the general 'wear and tear' of the vehicle's parts.

If your vehicle's head gasket were to fail, causing overheating, the problem could cost as much as £1,000 in parts and labour.
For this reason, moneysupermarket.com has teamed up with Warranty Direct, the UK's leading provider of new and used car warranties, to offer customers comprehensive mechanical and electrical insurance.

The warranties provide peace of mind when it comes to expensive repair bills, because the car warranty covers parts and labour up to the value of the vehicle itself. The warranty also covers the cost of repairs arising from general 'wear and tear' of covered parts, which is a rare feature of an extended car warranty insurance policy.

Also, they cover any repairs needed on covered parts as a consequence of the failure of uninsured items, which often happens when a vehicle fails.

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