Shopping Around For Your Car Insurance

Making what money you have stretch that little bit further is something we’ve all made attempts to do, especially over the last couple of years.

The fallout from the recent recession in the UK has been felt in every household – the cost of living is increasing, many companies have introduced pay freezes and unemployment is high, at around 2.4million. These factors and many more have left the vast majority of us desperately looking into the different ways that we can reduce our outgoings.

One major outlay that millions of us require annually is car insurance. Just mentioning it is enough to send a shudder down the spine, as we all dread that time of year when the renewal offer arrives in the post, or if you’ve just bought a new car and need instant cover. Car insurance quotes can be astronomically high, depending on your personal circumstances, especially if you’ve just passed your driving test.

Fortunately, there are measures you can take to attempt to keep costs to a minimum, mainly by taking the time to shop around – and not just on the Internet. Having said that, the web is undoubtedly the first place you should check as there are a wide variety of price comparison sites that will give you an instant range quotes from all the major players in the car insurance industry. In a minute of minutes, you’ll get a clearer idea about what it’s likely to set you back being a vehicle owner.

Some of the savings will almost leave you lost for words. Moneysupermarket, a well-known price comparison website in the UK, claim that customers could save as much as £675 (approx. $1100), thanks to their database of over 100 insurance companies to choose from.

You can also clearly see if things like legal and windscreen cover and a courtesy car in case of emergency are all included in the price and what difference it’ll make if you pay in one lump sum or monthly.

With competition fierce and plenty of businesses vying for your custom in the market place, we find ourselves nicely placed in the middle of a price war so make sure it works in your favor, as getting value for money is essential. Car insurance will still work out to be expensive, but at least you’re safe in the knowledge that you’ve got the best deal available.

On the subject of getting value for money, never be afraid to ask for discounts. This is particularly relevant if you’ve been with the same company for several years as it could mean you end up saving yourself more than if you swap insurers. Also, try approaching companies with a view to starting a multi-car policy, if you and someone you live with both need to get covered. This is another way to slash insurance costs.