Car insurance

Car insurance can provide you with cover if you’re involved in a car accident. It’s also a legal requirement if you own or drive a car, unless you declare the vehicle off-road (SORN) and keep it on private property. 

If you’re caught without insurance, you could be fined a minimum of £300 and given six penalty points. If you end up in court, you might be given an unlimited fine and disqualified from driving.

If your car is involved in an accident, car insurance could provide cover for:

• injuries to you or other people
• damage to your car
• damage to another vehicle
• property damage
• Car insurance could also cover you if your car is damaged by fire, attempted theft, or if it’s stolen. 

Not all policies offer the same cover, so always read the small print and make sure you’re happy with any exclusions or limitations.

Car insurance is always a balance between cover and price. There’s no way to choose until you see what the different options will cost you – then you can weigh up the cover you get against the cost of the premiums. 

The price you pay will depend on all kinds of things, including your age, occupation, driving experience, the car you drive and how you use your car. 

Don’t assume that a third party policy is the cheaper option simply because it offers the minimum level of cover. 

To find car insurance that suits you:

To get a car insurance quote there are a few things you’ll need to tell us about.

• Your car – either your registration number or the car’s make, model and age. You’ll definitely need the registration number to buy a policy.
• How you use your car – for pleasure and commuting, or for business purposes too.
• No claims discount (NCD) – how many years you have (you’ll need proof from your current insurance provider if you’re switching to a different one).
• Your driving history – any accidents, insurance claims and driving convictions from the past five years. Be honest, or you could invalidate your car insurance policy.
• Additional drivers – details of any additional drivers you want to add to the policy.

You'll also need to provide a few personal details: your name, how old you are, where you live and the type of job you do.

Most importantly, you should compare our cheapest car insurance quotes. But there are plenty of things that could help you save money on your car insurance:

1. Choose your car wisely. See the cheapest cars to insure.
2. Increase your voluntary excess. Find out more about car insurance excess.
3. Limit your mileage. Read about the effects of annual mileage on car insurance.
4. Build up a no claims discount. Read no claims discounts explained.
5. Consider a telematics policy – also known as black box insurance.

For more ideas, check out our top tips for cheap car insurance.

The average car insurance premium in Q1 2019 dropped marginally over the last quarter and now stands at £736^^. But it will always depend on your circumstances.  

And that’s just the average. When you shop around, you could find cheaper policies. That’s why it pays to compare the market. 

^^Based on the Premium Drivers report (April 2019)

Paying an annual lump sum for car insurance is usually cheaper than paying monthly. A monthly payment plan could mean you pay more for your car insurance as you might be charged interest on the instalments.

Comparing car insurance can save you time and help you find a better premium. Whether you’re insuring a new vehicle or looking for a renewal quote, shopping around could save you up to £219**. 

We’ll show you policies based on price, policy cover level, add-ons or annual or monthly payment terms – helping you compare based on your needs. 

**Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during February 2019 50% of customers could save up to £219.14 on their car insurance premium.