At a glance
Car insurance may cost more if your job involves shift work, high stress, or long hours
Risk profiles for different jobs can vary between providers, so it’s a good idea to compare policies
Always tell your insurance provider about any job changes
Tweaking your job title could change your premium price but always be honest and accurate.
Why does my job title affect my car insurance?
Car insurance providers consider that people in some occupations are more likely to make a claim. So how you describe what you do can have an impact on the premium you’re quoted.
Even if you only use your car for commuting, some types of jobs are considered a greater risk than others, so insurance providers want to know this information.
It’s not the only thing they look at – there’s a range of factors providers use to assess your risk level – but it is one that can have an impact.
Which jobs carry a greater insurance risk?
Jobs that insurance providers consider higher risk include warehouse workers, healthcare assistants and chefs. These are jobs that typically involve long hours, high stress and shift work.
In contrast, job titles that tend to be linked to the cheapest car insurance include civil servants, teachers and administrative assistants.
Jobs that tend to attract younger workers may result in higher quotes, as young drivers are considered risky. The same goes for occupations where people work late or irregular hours, are self-employed or are likely to be in a hurry.
Sometimes it’s clear why a particular job may attract a higher premium, but sometimes the reason for the pricing is surprising. For example, HGV drivers often enjoy the lowest premiums. Although they’re on the road a lot, they typically have extensive driving experience and need a high level of training to operate an HGV. These factors help place them in a lower-risk category.
However, different insurance providers have different rules and methods for working out a driver’s risk, so the only way to see how this affects price is to compare quotes.
How does being unemployed affect car insurance?
You may have to pay more for your insurance if you’re unemployed. Insurance providers may consider unemployed drivers higherrisk.
This is partly because you could be driving at any point in the day, rather than being at work. UK statistics also show that a high number of unemployed people fall into the 16-24 age range – the highest-risk category for car insurance.
If you’re a stay-at-home parent or retired, it may be better to choose that, rather than unemployed, as your employment status on your application. But don’t ever be tempted to lie. It could cost you a lot more than any savings you might make from using the wrong job title.
Do I have to tell my insurance provider if I change jobs?
Yes, you do need to tell your insurance provider if you change jobs. Different jobs may come with different risk profiles. If you don’t let your insurance provider know about a job change, it could invalidate your policy.
Find out more about making changes to your car insurance policy.
I have more than one job, what do I do?
You need to tell your insurance provider about each job you do, as their risk profiles may be different. They’ll typically focus on your main job most of all when calculating your premium.
Can I adjust my job title to get cheaper car insurance?
Some jobs have more than one description, so you can adjust your job title as long as you’re still telling the truth about what you do.
For instance, if you adjust your job description from artist to illustrator, you may see a difference in price. Likewise, saying you’re a GP rather than simply a doctor may get you a different premium.
However, it’s vital to be honest and accurate in what you tell your insurance provider. Saying you’re a nurse when you’re actually a carpenter is likely to make your policy invalid.
Insurance premiums for different job titles won’t be the same for every provider, so it’s always worth comparing. It’s not the most exciting way to spend your time, but checking different accurate job titles could make a noticeable difference in the end. Just make sure you choose the closest match that honestly describes your role.
Read our guide on how to get cheaper car insurance
What else do insurance providers consider besides your job?
Your job’s not the only thing that insurance providers take into account. They’ll also consider:
Your car’s registration, make, model and age
Your annual mileage
Whether you have a no claims discount
Your driving history, including claims and convictions
Your age and address
Where you keep your car at night
Details of any named drivers on the policy
How you use your car, such as for work, social trips, or shopping.
Read more about how car insurance premiums are calculated.
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Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
As an award-winning journalist, author and broadcast commentator, Kate has been writing about personal finance for more than 20 years. She’s the former Money Editor for The Independent.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
