Car insurance is one of those common expenses that we all wish we didn’t have to pay. Unfortunately, if you want the convenience of having a vehicle on the road, then you need at least the minimum amount of car insurance.
The good news is that even though you must have car insurance to drive your vehicle, you don’t necessarily need to pay over the odds for it. There are plenty of ways that you can reduce the expense of your insurance premiums, and even make sure that you choose the cheapest possible service, to begin with. Here are just a few tips for finding the cheapest insurance for your car.
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Collect Quotes from Comparison Websites
Price comparison websites are a fantastic place to get started when you’re trying to get your hands on the cheapest possible car insurance. After all, the worst thing you can do when you’re trying to keep costs low is to simply go for the first quote you’re given. Head to a comparison site and check what kind of support you can get from multiple providers. Remember to look carefully at the kind of cover you’re getting from each provider too. A surprisingly cheap rate could mean that you get less protection for your vehicle.
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Choose your Excess with Care
Another great way to bring down the cost of your car insurance payments is to choose the right excess. If you’re willing to fork out a little bit extra on your excess – which is the amount, you’ll need to pay if you need to make a claim- your insurer will also allow you to pay lower premiums. However, it’s important to make sure that you choose your excess with caution.
Setting the bar extremely high can be a dangerous route – particularly if it makes claiming on your car insurance practically pointless. Know the difference between compulsory and voluntary excess and how it applies to your situation.
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Don’t Modify your Car
Modifications to your vehicle can have a serious impact on the price of your insurance. Importantly, it’s not just boy racer modifications like flashing lights and enhanced engines that make a difference. Even the smallest modifications, such as new alloys could be enough to take your premiums up a notch or two.
The best way to avoid overpaying is to check with your insurance provider before you make any modifications. The good news is that changes which boost the safety of your vehicle can drop your insurance prices lower, like a new alarm or immobiliser.
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Pay Annually for Cover
When you sign up for car insurance, your provider will give you the option to pay for your coverage in one of two ways. Either you can shell out cash on a monthly basis, or you can pay an annual lump sum. A lot of people find it easier to pay monthly and spread the cost of their insurance out over a long period of time.
However, if you do have the money saved up to pay your insurance annually instead, you can save some serious cash. Paying for cover monthly is a lot like taking a loan out from your provider. Some providers even charge you for setting up the monthly payment plan, so keep that in mind when choosing your payment method.
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Choose your Occupation Carefully
Although it’s important to be honest in your car insurance application, it’s worth noting that using the right words for your occupation can make a big difference in the long-term. Insurers look at many different factors when determining how much you should pay for your car insurance, and your occupation is one of them.
For instance, if you work in publishing, and you write down “journalist” as your occupation, you might end up paying a lot more than you would if you wrote “reporter” instead. Additionally, if you’re unemployed, putting down the occupation of “homemaker” can save you money.
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Remember to Haggle
Insurers reserve the best deals for car insurance for new customers, to try and attract new people. This means that the more time you spend with your policy, the more it will end up costing you. The good news is that you can always switch to a different provider if the price gets too high. At the same time, it’s worth noting that you can also haggle over the amount that you’re paying.
Consider asking your provider why you’re paying a certain amount and if there’s anything you can do to reduce the fees. If they say now, you can tell them that you’re going to switch to another provider and see if they jump to try and save your custom.
