Car insurance

Car insurance is not all about price...

When it comes to car insurance, it’s important to make sure you have the right cover. Focusing mainly on getting cheap car insurance could cost you hundreds, even thousands, of pounds if you make a claim on your motor insurance.

If you compare car insurance, you can get the cover you need for a price that you can afford.

The three levels of cover

• Comprehensive car insurance: This covers you, your car, passengers and property, as well as any third parties involved in an accident. It also protects your car against vandalism and theft. Some policies will let you drive other cars too.
• Third party, fire and theft car insurance: This covers third parties involved in an accident, but also provides protection against theft and damage caused by fire. It will not pay out the damage to your vehicle.
• Third party car insurance: This is the most basic level and covers any compensation you may have to pay for injury to others. This includes any damage to third-party property. This cover is the minimum legal requirement for motorists in the UK.

What car insurance cover should you get?

Types of car insurance

• Multi car insurance can cover two or more cars in your household
• Black box insurance monitors your driving using a telematics box, which is a device that sends information and statistics about your driving
• Learner car insurance is a policy designed for learner drivers with a provisional licence
• Taxi insurance is a specialist vehicle insurance policy designed to cover cars used for commercial hire
• Short term car insurance is a temporary car insurance policy which provides cover for a short period of time.

Find the best car insurance policy for you

When searching for the best car insurance policy for you, there are a few key things to keep in mind.

• Cover before cost: Decide the type of cover you need based on your driving habits and circumstances. Then find the best deals for you.
• Type: Choosing between comprehensive cover and third party can by tricky. If the car you’re insuring is newer and you can’t afford to replace it, comprehensive cover is a better option. If you’re car is more than 10 years old, or with more than 100,000 miles on it, third-party cover may be the better option.
• Excess: This is the minimum amount you pay when you make a claim. The higher the excess, the cheaper your premiums will be. It’s important to choose an excess you can afford.

Should you add extras?

You can customise your policy and extend your cover by adding extra benefits. These include:

• Legal cover - here is how to work out if you need it
• Breakdown cover
• Cover for lost or stolen keys
• No claims protection
• Cover for driving abroad

See the full list of the car insurance extras that could be worth adding to your policy.

Check your policy to see if any of these are included as standard, and if not, consider whether it is worth the additional cost to add them.

Which car insurance extras are worth having?

How do I get car insurance quotes

One of the best ways to get personalised car insurance quotes, is to use a car insurance comparison. You’ll likely need to provide some details that may include:

• Car model and make: If you know your car’s registration number you can provide that, but in most cases your car’s make and model is enough. You also need to say any modifications you’ve made.
• Usage: This usually includes whether you use your car for general commuting, socialising and business purposes. You also need to say how many miles you travel in a year.
• Personal information: Your name, age, address and employment.
• Your licence: The kind of licence you have can affect your insurance. This is also where you can add any other driving qualifications you may have.

How to get the best deal on car insurance

There are steps you can take to get cheap car insurance quotes.

• Lower your risk: You can reduce risk by fitting your car with an approved alarm, or parking your car in a garage or driveway. It also helps to own a car that’s from a low insurance group. These are popular cars that are cheaper to repair or replace.
• Lower the price: You can get a better deal if you pay your insurance premium annually, rather than monthly instalments. It also helps if you add experienced drivers to the cover, even if they don’t use the car that often.
• Shop around: Comparing car insurance quotes will help you find the best deal possible. Just make sure you don’t compromise on cover for cheap insurance. Ask for a discount: It never hurts to ask. If you find a quote with a different insurer, ask your provider to beat or match the offer. It’s not a guarantee, but chances are car insurance companies want to keep your business.