The time of year where your insurance is ready to be renewed can be something that many drivers dread. With the cost of maintaining your vehicle being one thing, the cost to insure can sometimes be an exceedingly high number on top. One of the most expensive mistakes you can make is allowing your car insurance policy to automatically renew. We checked out what GoCompare had to say on ways to drive that cost down:
- Limit your mileage – fewer miles mean you are perceived to be a lower risk for insurers.
- Pay annually – If you can afford it, paying your insurance in a lump sum makes it cheaper, if you are paying monthly, insurers are able to add interest, meaning your overall payment is higher.
- Improve vehicle security – Think about installing devices such as alarms, steering wheel locks and so on.
- Shop around for the right quote, there are a lot of insures that can offer you different policies, do not just go for the first one you come across.
- Think about what vehicle is best for you and what insurance group it is in before purchasing.
- Add additional drivers to your policy, if they are experienced, this could lower the price.
- Build up your no claims bonus discount. This can make a massive difference to the cost of your insurance. Many can end up reducing an average 24% off the price you first paid after 5 years of claim-free driving.
When you chose to renew your car insurance will also impact the price, you can buy insurance up to 29 days before the policy start date and ‘lock in’ the price you are quoted that day.
GoCompare states that their customers saved over 40% on average by buying their car insurance 26 days before their renewal date, compared with those who renewed on the day.
So next time your insurance is up for renewal, have a think about these top tips, it might even be worth setting a reminder a month before, so you have plenty of time to get the right deal for you and you aren’t caught out on the day with no options!