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Posts Tagged ‘Price Comparison Sites’


03.08.2010

How To Find The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

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in Car Insurance
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In September, one of the UK’s largest car insurers announced that they expect car insurance premiums to rise 10-20% in the next twelve months. There are many reasons for the rise – The Motley Fool blames the floods, for instance, while Admiral Insurance says that the rise is due to the fact that premiums have been kept artificially low for the past several years. The news has many UK drivers seeking cheaper car insurance premiums than they are currently paying.

You’d think that finding the cheapest car insurance company would be a simple matter, but there’s more to it than just checking the prices at all the companies and telling you “X Insurance Company will insure your car for less”. The fact is that auto insurers include far too many variables when devising their quotes for any responsible advisor to tell you point blank that any one company is the “cheapest” insurance company in the UK. We can, however, tell you how to find the best car insurance option for your particular situation. Here are some tips to help you find the most economical auto cover.

- Search online for the best and cheapest cover.

Online insurance search sites allow you to solicit quotes from many different insurers using the same information. Checking price comparison sites will give you a baseline for comparison, but it’s important to look beyond the comparison sites. Be aware that many insurers are not represented on most comparison sites, so you may be missing out on cheaper rates if you only look online.

- Look to non-traditional and newer insurers for the best prices.

In a recent experiment, one of the bigger comparison sites searched 33 insurers using a variety of risk profiles. The results? Newer insurers and companies not best known for offering car insurance consistently came out among the cheapest premiums, with Marks & Spencer coming out at the top of the list of cheapest insurers consistently. However, they cautioned, with all the variables that are used by car insurance companies, your results may be different.

- Be sure to take your safety discount and any loyalty discounts you have with your current insurer into account when comparing premium quotes.Many insurers offer perks for staying with them, especially if you’re considering switching companies. Be sure to count decreases in excess and safe driver discounts when you’re considering the costs of changing car insurance companies.

- Don’t be afraid to bargain. When you submit your information to several auto insurance companies for a quote, you’ll be armed with the ammunition you need to get the best deal possible. If you’re satisfied with your current insurer, but have got a lower quote elsewhere, you might find they’re happy to offer you a lower rate to keep your business. Ring them up and let them know that you love their service, but you’ve been quoted a lower premium by another company and ask if they can match it. Be specific. You might be surprised to find how much they value your business. And if they don’t – you’ve got that lower quote, don’t you?

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13.07.2010

Five Steps To Beating Rising Car Insurance Premiums

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in Car Insurance
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Following announcements from leading motor insurers in 2007, premiums for UK car insurance are expected to rise by 10-20% in 2008.

A range of causes have been quoted from a rise in claims due to unforeseen events such as the recent floods to premiums already being artificially low for some years. Whatever the reason, a further hike in motoring costs coupled with increases in other non-discretionary costs of living mean that 2008 could be an expensive year for millions of UK residents.

Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to counter these inflation busting increases on your motor insurance.

STEP 1 – Don’t believe the hype

In spite of what the adverts tell you, there’s far more to finding the cheapest cover than simply comparing the quoted rates. It’s a complex, multi-variable product, and deserves your attention because of this. Have a good think about how and when you use your car and what type of cover and options you do and don’t need. Many of us continue to renew policies with options we don’t need and are unlikely to use.

STEP 2 – Search online for the right cover and the lowest price

The primary benefit of searching online is that you can compare cover and premiums from several dozens of companies using the same information. Price comparison sites will give you a baseline to work from, but be aware that not all comparison sites are equal. Some make assumptions about your needs and get quotes that may be higher or lower than you will be offered. Look for comparison sites that guarantee the accuracy of the premiums quoted.

STEP 3 – Look to non-traditional and newer insurers for the best prices

A surprising study run by a consumer advocacy group ran profiles through 33 insurance companies via multiple price comparison sites, and checking a number of risk profiles. The end result was that newer insurers, and insurers not known for doing motor cover consistently came out with the cheapest premiums. Don’t close your eyes to a good price just because the company isn’t “known” for car insurance.

STEP 4 – Get cover that matches your driving needs and habits

Many of us just buy a standard car insurance policy with cover options that we are unlikely to need or use. If you’re a low mileage driver with a standard policy you could be wasting hundreds every year. There is even a new ‘pay as you drive’ policy that uses a GPS device installed in your car so that your premiums are linked to your personal driving habits including mileage, the roads you use and time of day you use them.

STEP 5 – Reduce the risk and make the most of discounts

Premiums for any insurance are based upon risk, so to reduce your premiums try and reduce the risk of needing to claim on your policy. Factors such as where your car is parked, how it is used and how secure it is are all factored into premiums. A little known trick that can work with some insurers is to add a low risk named driver to your policy. A female over the age of thirty with a clean driving record can cut your premiums by 5-10%.

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