Green car insurance quotes
Green car insurance quotes
If you’re replacing your car, making a green choice not only helps protect the environment, it can save you money when it comes to finding car insurance.
Stuck with your old car? Don’t worry, you can still do your bit – find out what it means to ‘be green’ when it comes to car insurance.
What is green car insurance?
With the government committed to reducing 80% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, there are plenty of incentives to go green when choosing your car insurance.
Options include:
- Finding the right insurance for your eco car.
- If you have a regular car, choosing an insurance provider who’s doing their bit for the environment by offsetting emissions.
Why should I look at eco cars?
Regular petrol and diesel cars emit a combination of gases from their exhausts every time they’re in use. With air pollution in the UK responsible for up to 40,000 deaths every year, it’s time for all of us to look at what we can do to help reduce the pollution from our cars.
What is an eco car?
An eco car has lower or no emissions or uses sustainable fuel.
What are the options for eco cars?
Eco technology is advancing all the time, but some eco-friendly cars you may have heard of include:
- Hybrid cars: these cars use a regular (combustion) engine and a battery powered motor. They have lower emissions because they use both energy sources to run. Example: Toyota Prius
- Electric cars: these use an electric battery to run, make almost no noise and need to be plugged in to recharge. Example: Nissan Leaf
- Biofuel cars: these use fuel made from plants and even old cooking oil, along with a little bit of regular fuel like petrol or diesel. They aren’t available in the UK as passenger cars, but are used for some commercial and agricultural vehicles such as buses and tractors.
- Hydrogen cars: hydrogen is put into the car’s fuel tank and converted into power. The only waste product these cars emit is water. They’re not widely available in the UK. Example: Honda Clarity FCV.
- LPG cars: Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) burns cleaner than traditional petrol and diesel. By converting your regular petrol car to LPG you can run it off both fuels. You can’t buy a new LPG car in the UK at the moment.
Registrations of electric and ‘alternative fuel cars’ increased by more than 26% from July 2017 to July 2018 as more and more of us choose greener options when replacing our cars.
But if plugging your car in at bedtime or converting your existing car to LPG isn’t for you, there are still ways to drive with more consideration for the environment.
How can I help the environment if I drive a regular car?
Even if you drive a petrol or diesel car and aren’t considering changing any time soon, there are still things you can do to lower the impact of your car’s emissions. Here are some handy tips that will not only help the environment but could potentially save you money too.
Bigger isn’t better when it comes to driving green
The bigger the car, the higher the emissions and fuel costs so think about whether you really need that seven-seater, especially if you usually drive alone.
Sharing your journeys reduces emissions and saves you money
If you can find other people making the same journey to work as you, it can make environmental and economic sense to share the costs and leave one of your cars at home.
The lighter the load, the less fuel you need
Losing a few kilos will reduce the amount of fuel you use and you don’t have to lose your passengers or your spare wheel. Try:
- Clearing out the boot and back seats to save some pounds
- Half filling your fuel tank if you’re only making short journeys
- Losing the roof rack
What else should I know about reducing my fuel consumption?
- Two wheels are better than four: a four-wheel drive uses about 4% more fuel than a two-wheel drive, even if it’s the same style and size, so think carefully about how you’ll use your car – you probably won’t need a 4x4 if the only off-roading you do is parking on a raised kerb.
- Anticipate road conditions: read the road, drive smoothly, avoid sharp acceleration and heavy breaking. These will mean you’re breaking less harshly and using less fuel.
- Check your tyres regularly: under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.
Is eco insurance for cars cheaper?
It will depend on your policy, your car and how you drive. However providers such as Admiral, The Co-operative and Tesco do offer cover for certain alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), which can save you money.
Is there special insurance for eco-cars?
Having an eco-friendly car doesn’t automatically put you in some special ‘green insurance group’ although there are some specialist insurance providers. But insurance providers will consider your car’s performance when quoting prices and a less powerful eco car may attract lower premiums and tax, whoever you insure it with.
How can I find a green insurance policy for my regular car?
If you drive a petrol or diesel car and want to drive more considerately you could think about telematics insurance, also known as black box insurance. A black box or smart phone app will record how and when you drive, which could result in savings from your insurance provider.
You might also consider whether you want a green insurance provider to cover your eco or traditionally fuelled car. This could mean your insurance provider plants trees to offset your car emissions or that they use garages that focus on recycling car parts and components.
Greener driving doesn’t always have to be about having a car that you need charge up every day. It’s about making informed choices – and that’s where we come in, because we’re here to help you find the right deal by comparing the market for you.
