Insurance
companies reward safer drivers. By making a few small yet crucial changes to
your car and your motoring habits, you could knock a good chunk off your annual
car insurance premium. Here’s how to go about it.
1.
Drive more safely: It’s as simple as that. A safe driver is less likely to be
involved in accidents that might jeopardise their no-claims bonus – and a
no-claims bonus of five- to ten- years can represent almost 70 per cent off
your premium with companies like Ensure and Cooperative. If you’re a born
boy-racer, you might even think about insuring your no-claims bonus so that you
don’t lose it in the event of an accident.
2.
Make your car safer: Owners of ‘safer’ cars are likely to be charged a lower
premium on their car insurance. If you decide to change your car, you should
check with your insurer that the new model won’t be significantly more
expensive to insure. To make your existing car safer, consider fitting an
approved alarm, immobiliser or tracking devise. This can represent a discount
of between 5% and 10% depending on your insurer. Lastly, think carefully about
your parking options. Cars which are parked in garages are on driveways are far
cheaper to insure than those which are kept on the roadside. See if you can
negotiate off-street parking, or clear the junk out of your garage and keep
your car in there.
3.
Agree to a mileage restriction: It’s a simple calculation – the more time you
spend on the road, the more likely you are to have an accident. Some car
insurance companies will offer you the option of restricting your mileage in
order to save money on your premium. Others, such as Norwich Union, working in
conjunction with ASDA Finance, even offer a ‘pay-as-you-drive’ car insurance scheme aimed at
younger and low-use drivers.
4.
Prove your ability: You may be a careful driver, but it’s important to offer
your car insurance company proof of this. By joining the Pass Plus scheme or
taking an advanced drivers course, you can show them that you are a low-risk
proposition. Some insurers will offer discounts of up to 35 per cent to those
prepared to take further driving lessons.
5.
Don’t compromise your policy: Adding a young and inexperienced driver to your
policy may be false economy. It is likely that the premium will be calculated
on the youngest driver, who will generally not have a no-claim bonus.