Compare Our Best Car Insurance

How To Compare The Best Car Insurance For You

Car insurance is essential for any vehicle owner in the UK. Not only is it a legal requirement, but it also provides financial protection against unforeseen events. But finding the ‘best’ insurance can mean many things to car owners and varies depending on what you need. For some, best means tailor made for you, and for others it might mean the cheapest. The reality though is your quotes will be bespoke to you and your vehicle, factoring many different aspects of your life, into that quote. Just your postcode can alter how much you pay. Finding the best car insurance therefore comes down to the best for your needs, and each insurance firm will offer you variations within that cover, that you have to unpick.

So to find the best for you, lets strip it down and get back to basics and remind yourself of the main factors of how car insurance is influenced in it’s pricing:

Variations of Cover

• Third-Party Only: This is the minimum legal requirement. It covers damages to another person’s vehicle or injury to others but does not cover your vehicle.
• Third-Party, Fire and Theft: Alongside Third Party coverage, it insures your car against fire damage or if it’s stolen.
• Comprehensive: The most extensive cover, it includes all Third Party, Fire & Theft benefits, and covers damages to your vehicle, even if the incident falls as your fault.

Cost & Excess

While the overall premium cost is a primary factor, it’s equally important to consider the excess – the amount you contribute towards a claim. A policy might have a lower premium but a higher excess, which could prove costly in the event of a claim. Keep a look out to double check this.

No Claims Bonus (NCB)

Insurers reward safe drivers. If you haven’t claimed in the past year, you earn a NCB for each year you do not claim. This can significantly reduce your premium so make sure you have this information to hand when obtaining quotes. Ensure that the insurer recognises and offers discounts for accumulated NCB, most do, but also be prepared to evidence it if required. .

Extra Add On Options:

Look for policies that offer beneficial add-on’s that you feel work well for you and your circumstances. For example, a courtesy car would be very important to a single car household reliant on their vehicle for the work commute or school run if their car was being repaired, but not so much to a multiple car family who can help each other out. Add on examples are:

• Breakdown cover: Assistance if your vehicle breaks down.
• Legal expense cover: Covers legal costs in case of a dispute.
• Courtesy car: Provides a replacement vehicle if yours is under repair.
• Windscreen cover: Insures against damages to the car’s windscreen.
• Key cover: In case you lose your car keys.
• Personal accident cover: Financial protection against severe injuries.
• European cover: If you travel frequently to Europe.

Policy Restrictions

Always read the fine print. Some policies might have stipulations like a maximum annual mileage or restrictions on where the car can be parked overnight.

The Policy Information

Insurers consider various aspects to determine your premium. Your new policy will need to factor many elements of your driving profile, including:

• Vehicle type: All cars fall into insurance groups based on their make and model. These groups determine, in part, how much it is to insure. Another factor from your vehicle is how much it is worth. The more it is worth, the higher the premium.
• Your location: Areas with high theft rates might attract higher premiums. Where you park it overnight and during the day can affect costs, being in a public space or private driveway will change the security risks.
• Driving history: A clean record could mean lower rates. You can further improve your driving profile by considering advanced driving qualifications.
• Usage: A car used for commuting might have a different rate compared to one used for leisure. How far you travel in mileage each year will need to be calculated to fine tune the policy requirements.

Additional Considerations

• Multi Car Household – discounts can often be found in multi-car policies
• Payment for your policy can usually be offered as a one off up front payment or spread over the year with an initial deposit. Work out what is best for your situation but usually it will be cheaper to pay upfront in full.
• Telematic or Black Box Policies can be really beneficial to get new drivers insured. The device monitors drivers, to encourage safety, and rewards the driver with lower policy costs.
• Specialist Insurers should be explored if you have a vehicle that sits outside the standard range such as classic, imports or modified.