Lowering Car Insurance for Young Drivers

5 Easy Steps to Reduce Your Car Insurance

If you want to save money when you purchase your car insurance, particularly as a young driver, here is a simple 5 step plan that works every time. You can save money online rather than ploughing through the Yellow Pages.

STEP 1 - Choose the right cover 
Take Third Party Cover only. Assuming you are like most new drivers, your first car is usually a cheap one. If it is worth up to a few hundred pounds, or even up to £1000, then consider getting the very basic level of cover - Third Party Cover only. If you think that is too risky, and you feel your car is worth more, then go for Third Party Fire & Theft Cover. You will still save a lot over Fully Comprehensive Cover and you will still be covered for most non-fault claims.

STEP 2 - Lower your chosen cover still further
All of the following can bring your chosen level of cover down even more - Get a cheap Group 1 or Group 2 rated car, make a point of your low mileage (if your car is only for local journeys), consider fitting an alarm / immobiliser (if your car doesn't have one), keep your car off-road or garaged overnight, don't have cover you don't really need like a courtesy car (it all gets added to your premium), increase your excess, take the Pass Plus test if you are newly qualified, take an advanced driving test, put an experienced named driver on your policy, don't pay by direct debit (use a low rate credit card).

STEP 3- Get at least 5 targeted online
You simply must put aside about an hour to complete a few online quote forms. It may sound like a bind, but if we can show you which companies to contact, brokers are the best place to start, then you could be saving £200 - £500 for 1 hour's work!

STEP 4 - Check the results

If you want to take a crack at further reducing these quotes then do the following. Take the three cheapest quotesfrom the above listed price comparison / broker sites, and then go to each individual insurers web site. You then request one separate quote from each of these three companies. You do this because it is not uncommon for a Direct Insurer to look at your young driver car insurance quote and lower it even further.

STEP 5 - Contact your current insurer

Once you have secured your definitive lowest quote it is time to contact your current provider. You then give your current insurer the opportunity to beat your best quote. 

Student Car Insurance

Choose the right policy cover

Do you really need Fully Comprehensive insurance? If your car is worth several thousand pound then the answer is probably yes. If you have a cheap runabout, it may not be necessary and basic Third Party cover may well be enough.

Voluntary excess

If you agree to accept a higher voluntary excess (the amount you agree to pay in the event of an accident), the lower your premium is likely to be. Just make sure you can afford to pay the amount should the worst happen.

Avoid modifying your car

Try not to modify your car as will directly affect the rates you will be quoted. For example by adding alloy wheels to a car, that were not standard at manufacture, you could alter the insurance group rating applied to your particular vehicle. The insurers work with the manufacturers so that a particular model of car can be insured to a standard. If you modify your car and don't tell your insurer then you risk not getting paid out if you need to claim.

Make your car more secure

Get a professionally fitted alarm serves two purposes - Thieves will probably not attempt to steal your car in the first place and insurers sometimes offer additional discounts. Always remove any valuables from your car, or hide them away if you have to leave them in the vehicle.

Be truthful 
Make sure your application is true to the best of your knowledge. You enter into a contract with an insurer in good faith. If you lie, then need to make a claim, an insurer can refuse to pay out on the policy. Once you have insured your car you must then inform any changes in your circumstances, that may affect your policy, to your covering insurance company. This would include -

• car modifications
• moving house
• points on your driving license
• other people using your car

Avoid sports cars

If you are student then chances are you're well under 25. After 25 your premiums will start to come down significantly. Until then, you don't want to take your premiums even higher buy owning a sports car. Most small super minis fall into the lower insurance groups - 1 to 4, and most family cars in the 5 - 11 group. Get a car with a small engine that is cheap to run and your car insurance will be more manageable.

Be a careful driver

Being a considerate and careful driver, with a good attitude to other motorists, is the best way to avoiding accidents. You will build up a good history of no claims bonuses and gradually lower your premiums each year. 

Car InsuranceNews

Smashing times ahead

According to Lloyds TSB Autolease, one of the UK’s leading contract hire and leasing companies, October and November sees a big increase in replacement glass bills to their vehicles.

It is brought about by the onset of Winter and changes to GMT from British Summertime. As the nights draw in more quickly, this provides even greater opportunities for thieves to increase break-ins to susceptible vehicles.

We all know the dangers of leaving items on show in cars, that attract the would-be thief, but dimly lit car parks also provide a haven for car crime to soar.
Lloyds figures show:

•   Replacement body glass up 55% in October/November

Driving during the Winter brings its own hazards. Darker nights mean headlights should always be on, and a reduction in speed is a must when frost has been forecast.

Failure to plan your journey and to anticipate the prevailing road conditions is one of the biggest reasons for car insurance claims in the Winter months ahead.

The answer reducing these increased risks is fairly simple, slow down and park your car in well lit areas. This will also avoid you making extra claims on your car insurance and pushing up premiums.

Guide for learners and young drivers

Limit your mileage

If you have a low annual mileage then you may qualify for a discount. Do not be tempted to deliberately underestimate your mileage though.

Just passed your test?
If you have recently passed your driving test, look at whether it would be cost-effective to complete the Pass Plus training programme to qualify for car insurance discounts. 
Size matters...
A car with a smaller engine usually means you'll get a cheaper quote. Also, don't modify it either by adding alloy wheels or a big exhaust to improve performance.

Guide for learners and young drivers

Increase your excess

Consider increasing your voluntary excess payments on your car insurance policy. You can add as much excess as you like but please bear in mind that you should make sure you can afford to pay the car insurance excess should the worst happen

Upgrade your alarm
By installing a category grade 2 or three Thatcham alarm, some car insurance companies give up to a 10% reduction in their premiums.
Can you park your car off road or in a garage?
By parking your car in a garage you could vastly reduce the chances of it being damaged or stolen. You could also get a lower car insurance quote and this could help reduce the premium by around 5%.