Question 1

How can I find out who is my car insured with?

Accepted Answer

Most insurers send e-mail confirmations when you take out car insurance, so a simple way to check is to search your inbox with the phrase “car insurance”. You could also go through your paperwork to see if you have any hard copies of car insurance documents. Another way is to check your bank account to see if you’ve been paying an insurer – you’ll then need to give them a call to confirm your car insurance is with them. You can check whether your car is insured at all by entering the registration number online at the Motor Insurance Database (MID).

Question 2

How do I change my car insurance provider?

Accepted Answer

It’s always good to shop around when your car insurance policy is coming up for renewal as you can often get cheaper car insurance by comparing quotes. If you find a better deal, you just need to contact your current insurer before the renewal date to tell them you don’t want to auto-renew. You can cancel your car insurance policy at any time and switch. But cancellation costs often mean it’s better to wait until your annual policy is coming up for renewal.

Question 3

What are the top car insurance companies in the UK?

Accepted Answer

The top 10 car insurance companies in the UK by market share from largest to smallest are: Admiral, Direct Line, Aviva, Hastings, AXA, Liverpool Victoria, esure, Ageas, RSA and NFU Mutual.

Question 4

Can I claim if I’m in an accident and I only have third party cover?

Accepted Answer

You can make a third party insurance claim if you’re in an accident. The insurer will decide who is responsible, but if they say it was your fault, you’ll have to pay for any repairs to your own vehicle.

Question 5

Can I claim if I’m in an accident with an uninsured driver?

Accepted Answer

If an uninsured driver hits your vehicle, you can make a claim as long as you have fully comprehensive car insurance.

If you have third party or third party fire and theft car insurance, you can’t claim through your insurance, but you can apply for compensation through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

Question 6

Will my no-claims discount be affected?

Accepted Answer

Your no-claims discount could be affected if you make a claim - as the name suggests, you get a discount on car insurance when you renew if you don’t make any claims, so the more claims you make, the less of a discount you could get.

Question 7

What other types of cover can I get?

Accepted Answer

Car insurance has evolved over the years to take into account different driver requirements. This means that aside from simply being able to buy comprehensive or a third-party policy you can look for policies that are designed for a particular type of policyholder. Examples include:

Short term cover – also known as temporary car insurance, this is an option for people who don’t keep a car on the road all year round or who perhaps own one, but need a car for anywhere from a few hours to a few months. This might be to move home or go on a driving holiday.

Driving abroad –comprehensive car insurance policies tend to allow you to drive up to 90 days in the EU, with third party cover. However, you can buy add-ons to your policy that’ll allow you to drive for more days or provide comprehensive cover.

Business use – if you have a car or van that’s only used for work, rather than travelling to work from home, business use insurance could be right for you. It includes cover for tools and other cargo and takes into account higher mileage.

Multiple cars – if you’ve got more than one car at home, whether they belong to you, members of your family or others who form part of your household, you can save money by getting all of your cars covered by one policy. You can even get multicar insurance if your family live and keep their cars at different addresses.

Telematics – often called black box insurance. With this type of insurance, a GPS transmitter is installed behind the dashboard of your car to monitor your driving. Good driving, such as not speeding or braking sharply, can lead to lower premiums, making it ideal for young careful drivers.

Question 8

What factors affect my car insurance price?

Accepted Answer

Insurers base quotes on a wide range of factors, all of which are analysed to build up a risk profile. For example, they’ll consider:

Your age, as young and inexperienced drivers tend to make more claims.
Your car, as powerful models cause more damage in a collision and are pricier to fix.
Your address plays a role, especially if you’re in a crime hotspot
Points on your licence or convictions.

These are just some of the aspects. The list goes on.

Question 9

What additional cover can I get with my car insurance?

Accepted Answer

Even if you only consider comprehensive car insurance policies, you’ll still find theyvary in what is covered as standard. Yes, all feature the essentials, such as damage and injury to yourself, others and property. But policies may come with certain additional cover as standard, including cover for lost keys or for replacing windscreens or child car seats (even if they don’t appear to be damaged). Others offer paid-for extras. You need to check the small print before buying to check what’s included.

Question 10

How does car insurance work?

Accepted Answer

Car insurance protects you financially in the event of you having an accident and causing damage to your car or someone else’s cat (and potentially also in the event of you causing injury to someone else). All cars and drivers have to be insured as a legal requirement in the UK - people who drive without the proper insurance can be fined, get points on their licence and even be banned from driving.

Question 11

How does my job affect my car insurance?

Accepted Answer

When insurers offer policies for car insurance, job titles make a difference because they offer insight into the level of risk that might be associated with the policy holder. For instance, journalists often see a higher cost because the perception is that they’re always driving and always in a rush.

Question 12

Can car insurance be cancelled?

Accepted Answer

Car insurance can be cancelled at any time, but you might incur fees and charges depending on your policy and when you decide to cancel it. If you cancel it within the standard 14-day cooling-off period, you won’t be charged extra, but any time outside that could cost more than you expect, so it’s important to check your contract.

Question 13

When is my car insurance due?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, car insurance policies last a year and will auto-renew, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying the same or less than you already were. Most drivers start looking for a new, cheaper quote about a month before their insurance is due for renewal. You can check if your car’s still insured by searching for it at the motor insurer’s database.

Question 14

When is the best time to renew car insurance?

Accepted Answer

The best time to renew car insurance is about two-to-four weeks before your current policy expires. Most policies auto-renew but you won’t necessarily pay the same price, especially if your circumstances have changed. It’s important to shop around for a better deal, so you should be looking at your options in plenty of time before your current deal expires.

Question 15

What car insurance is the cheapest?

Accepted Answer

There is no single cheap car insurance policy. The price you pay is determined by your personal details and driving history. It’s important to shop around for the cheapest quote offered but how cheap it is will depend on you.

Question 16

Why is my car insurance so high?

Accepted Answer

Your high car insurance could be down to a number of factors, including your age (younger drivers typically pay more for insurance), location (high crime rates in your area increase the risk of damage to your car), type of car (more expensive cars are more expensive to insure) and driving history (if you’ve had an accident, your premiums will typically increase).

Question 17

Why is car insurance so expensive for new drivers?

Accepted Answer

Car insurance is expensive for new drivers because they’re statistically more likely to have an accident owing to their relative lack of experience behind the wheel. The latest numbers from Uswitch’s car insurance statistics report show that those in the 17-24 age bracket are responsible for over 70% more collisions per vehicle mile travelled than those in the 25-29 age bracket, and pay 15% more for their car insurance as a result.

Question 18

Why do car insurance quotes vary so wildly?

Accepted Answer

Car insurance quotes tend to vary because insurers have different ways of calculating risk, which means it’s important to ensure you shop around to get the best car insurance deal possible.

Question 19

What happens if I don’t have car insurance?

Accepted Answer

Driving without insurance is illegal, so it’s vital to make sure you’re covered before you get behind the wheel. The vehicle needs to be insured and you need to have the correct insurance to be driving it. If you’re caught driving a car without the right insurance, you could receive a fine and points on your licence or a driving ban.

Question 20

What is the maximum fine for driving without insurance?

Accepted Answer

The maximum fixed penalty fine for driving without insurance is £300, and you could also get six points on your licence. However, if the case goes to court, there is no limit to the fine you could receive and you could be completely disqualified from driving.

Question 21

Is third party, fire and theft car insurance right for me?

Accepted Answer

Third party, fire and theft car insurance is the second-most comprehensive type of car insurance. Unlike comprehensive car insurance, it doesn’t cover you if you’re in an accident that was your fault. It could be right for you if you think you’re a very safe driver, but those with doubts may feel happier with a comprehensive policy.

Question 22

Is comprehensive car insurance right for me?

Accepted Answer

Comprehensive car insurance covers everything you’d get with third party, fire and theft insurance, and also covers your car, even if you have an accident that’s your fault. It’s the best option for those who want to be fully covered when driving.

Question 23

Will my car insurance cover everything?

Accepted Answer

The only car insurance that covers everything - including damage caused by you as opposed to someone else - is comprehensive car insurance.

Question 24

Does it matter what I use my car for?

Accepted Answer

Your car insurance price will vary depending on what you use your car for, because insurers will use that information to decide your level of risk of having an accident. The three main classes are:

Social, Domestic and Pleasure
Social, Domestic, Pleasure and Commuting
Personal business use

Cars in the Social, Domestic and Pleasure class tend to work out the cheapest in terms of insurance because they’re likely to be used the least.

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Find the car insurance provider that suits you

How can I find out who is my car insured with?

How do I change my car insurance provider?

What are the top car insurance companies in the UK?

How much does car insurance cost?

Are car insurance costs increasing?

How do I get cheap car insurance quotes?

Other ways to cut car insurance costs

Pay your premiums annually

Make sure you don’t have unnecessary add-ons

Maximise your no-claims discount

What car insurance is the cheapest?

Why is my car insurance so high?

Why is car insurance so expensive for new drivers?

Why do car insurance quotes vary so wildly?

Types of car insurance cover

Fully comprehensive car insurance

Third party, fire and theft

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