The ‘best’ car insurance doesn’t exist
Sorry, we can’t tell you what the best car insurance policy is, because it doesn’t exist.
No single car insurance policy suits everyone – we’re all different. The best car insurance deal for you could be totally different to what’s best for the next person, because you need a policy tailored to your individual circumstances.
Here are some pointers to help you get the best car insurance deal for you and no one else.
Get the best car insurance for your car
The right type of insurance will often depend on the value of your car.
If your car is worth less than £1000, then the best car insurance for you would usually be third party, fire and theft cover. This way, if you make a claim, other parties involved will still be compensated. Also, in the event of a fire or theft you will be covered.
If your car is only worth £800 then it is not worthwhile paying for fully comprehensive cover every year -the yearly premium for that could be more than your car is worth.
Obviously the decision is up to you, and you may want the extras that come with comprehensive cover.
Get the best car insurance for drivers
The more drivers you add to your policy, then the more expensive it will become. But sometimes it’s unavoidable and if your additional drivers are experienced, and the car you are sharing is of a high value (i.e. over £5000) then you may wish to take out comprehensive insurance.
If you can avoid adding drivers who will only be using your car infrequently then you will make large savings. Often, it is more economical to take out temporary insurance every once in a while for other drivers, rather than have them included on your policy.
Get the best car insurance for your age
If you are a young driver, car insurance companies will penalise you heavily for your inexperience. But there are ways to keep these costs down. See you tips for getting the cheapest young driver car insurance.
If you are an older driver with an expensive car then you may be best searching for quotes for comprehensive cover. In the event of an accident, damage to your car will be repaired, as well as damage to the other cars involved. Comprehensive cover also includes cover for things you may not have even thought of, such as windscreen damage and personal injury.
Also, if you are experienced and have a clear driving record, with a no claims bonus, your premium should be relatively low. This may mean you are able to afford a higher level of cover, such as fully comprehensive. It’s worth remembering that individual insurers offer different options on their comprehensive cover. If there is something specific you would like covered, then you should ask the insurer.
Get the best insurance for your no claims bonus
The more no claims bonus you and your additional drivers have, the greater the discount you will get on your car insurance premium.
For example, if you have five years no claims bonus then you will get up to a 65% discount off your insurance. The theory behind this is that the fewer claims you have made in the past, the fewer you will make in the future – and this is exactly what insurers are looking for. The same applies to all different levels of insurance cover. However, your additional drivers must be aware that their no claims bonus’ won’t usually continue to build up whilst they are on someone else’s policy.
There are some insurers that specialise in increasing additional drivers’ no claims bonus, so there are options if this is important to you.
Get the best car insurance for you
Use a price comparison site to compare quotes from lots of different insurers quickly and easily. Don’t just go on price alone though, make sure you’re getting the right level of cover to; cheap car insurance is a false economy if you don’t get the cover you need when it comes to making a claim.
*60% of car insurance customers could save up to £200 (Consumer Intelligence data, December 2011)
Compare car insurance with uSwitch today.
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