Find cheaper insurance with these tips

Car insurance prices can be hefty, especially for newer drivers, but it’s a mandatory cost if you want your car on the road. There are a few ways you can lower your car insurance costs, besides shopping around, so if you are savvy you can make a good saving.

Pick your car well

Not all cars are created equally. A smaller engine, for example, will have a lower insurance premium than a larger engine. It’s important to look at the history of your car, the mileage and the make. If in doubt, pick a few cars you are interested in and try to get quotes for each.

Check what you’re getting

That cheaper insurance quote might not work out cheaper in the long run – you need to check what benefits come with it. If you are involved in an accident and your insurance only covers the bare minimum, you could find yourself spending a lot more money on things such as car rentals than you would have if you had paid slightly more originally. You’ll also want to check what the excess is on your insurance, otherwise you could end up fronting most of the costs.

Install a black box

These are doom words for many, but a black box can help to improve your driving while saving you some money. This will record your speed, distance travelled, what time of day you drive and also how you brake. You can check how you’re doing online, so you can correct any mistakes. They aren’t as restrictive you might believe, so if you aren’t commuting long distances every day then this will often work out much cheaper for new drivers. It’s worth getting a quote for both with a black box and without, as while it can be a lot cheaper for some it can be more expensive for others.

Drive a lower mileage

Not only will driving less save you petrol costs, but it can save you insurance costs too. Some insurers will give a lower premium if you drive a low mileage. If you can walk somewhere, it’s worth walking – leave the car at home for your next school run.

Park in your garage

Do you have a garage used solely to store all of your junk? It might seem easier to just park your car on your drive, however you can save money by parking it in a safer spot. While a drive will save you more money than parking on the street, it’s worth going the whole way. In addition, think about installing some anti-theft devices to help reduce your premium even further.