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^Correct as of June 2026.
Car insurance protects you financially if your car is damaged, stolen, or involved in an accident. You pay a premium and in return your insurer covers costs such as repairs, medical bills, or compensation to others involved, depending on your level of cover.
Yes, you need car insurance to drive legally on UK roads. Car insurance offers financial protection if your car is involved in an incident that damages property or a vehicle, or injures another person.
If you’re caught driving without valid insurance, you could face penalties including a £300 fine and six points on your licence. If you end up in court, you could face an unlimited fine and be banned from driving.
The amount you’ll pay for your car insurance policy depends on a range of factors, including the level of cover you need. Your personal risk profile – based on things like your age, driving history and annual mileage – plays a key role too.
Here’s how much car insurance typically costs in the UK:
Policy type | Price per year5 |
|---|---|
£593 | |
£962 | |
£1,302 |
Find out more: how your car insurance premium is calculated
Usually, yes. Car insurance for young drivers is often more expensive because they're more likely to make a claim than older drivers.
Here's what different age groups typically pay for annual car insurance6:
Age group | Comprehensive | Third-party, fire and theft | Third-party only |
|---|---|---|---|
17-24 | £1,338 | £1,619 | £2,162 |
25-29 | £700 | £1,028 | £1,267 |
30-39 | £551 | £830 | £1,088 |
40-49 | £486 | £664 | £958 |
50-59 | £387 | £510 | £824 |
60-69 | £320 | £414 | £619 |
70+ | £356 | £427 | £543 |
Insurance providers look at various factors to assess risk and calculate the cost of your cover. As well as your age and driving experience, these include:
Where you live and where you keep your car at night – for example, you could save £150 on car insurance by parking on your drive instead of the street6
Your annual mileage
Your claims history
The type of cover you get
Any additional drivers on your policy
Optional extras you want to add.
Did you know?
According to the ABI, UK car insurance providers paid out a record £3.2bn in claims in the second quarter of 2026. The average claim cost £4,900 – 4% more than the previous quarter.
Windscreen repairs in particular rose sharply by 7%, costing insurers £283 on average.
Find out why auto-renewing your policy is a bad idea, plus how to get a cheaper quote without breaking the rules.
First things first. If you drive a car, you need insurance, so make sure you get it.
But don't auto-renew if you already have insurance, because you're then limited to that particular provider's price.
If you use a comparison site, you get a much wider range of quotes, so you're playing the odds. The chances are for most people there'll be a cheaper deal, but there might not be. But if you don't check, you don't know.
Sometimes, legitimately playing around with a few variables can save you money. First thing, legitimately changing your job title. On car insurance question sets, there might be more than one job title that accurately reflects what you do. So sometimes playing around, as long as you're not lying, playing around can sometimes get you a cheaper deal. Also, legitimately adding a responsible second driver can sometimes bring the cost down as well, so it's worth checking. But really importantly, don't put them down as the main driver if they're not going to be. That's something called fronting, which is against the law.
But being a responsible second driver sometimes cuts costs, so it's worth checking.
You can find even more tips in our guide to getting cheaper car insurance.
This is the amount you’re willing to pay on top of the compulsory excess if you make a claim.
Our data shows that young drivers (17-24) typically save £394 by adding a £100 voluntary excess compared to those who add nothing6.
Remember that a higher excess may lower your premium, but you’ll need to pay more if you make a claim.
Opting for monthly instalments tends to be more expensive in the long run, as you’ll be charged interest.
People who pay a lump sum upfront typically pay £500, compared to £714 for those who pay in monthly instalments6.
Getting extra training, especially if you’ve recently passed your driving test, can help build your confidence and safety on the road – and lower your premium.
We found that drivers with a Pass Plus qualification typically pay less than £484 for their car insurance, compared with £908 for those without an additional driving qualification6.
This can be especially effective for young drivers, who could save £422 by adding a named driver to their policy5.
But beware of car insurance fronting, where a more experienced driver falsely claims to be the main driver to get a cheaper premium. It’s a type of car insurance fraud and is illegal.
When calculating your quote, insurance providers factor in the value of your car and how expensive it would be to replace or repair. Generally, more expensive cars cost more to insure for that reason.
For example, people in their 30s typically pay £64 less to insure a car worth £10,000-£19,999 compared with one that's worth £20,000-£29,9996.
So, if you’re after a cheaper car insurance deal, choosing a car in a lower insurance group could help.
Cars are placed in insurance groups, ranging from 1-50. Lower value vehicles tend to be in lower groups and are generally cheaper to insure. Use our insurance group checker to find out which group your car is in.
Your quotes can vary wildly between insurers. Even if your renewal quote looks reasonable, you might be able to find cheaper cover elsewhere, so it's always worth comparing quotes.
You could save up to £485 when you compare car insurance with us1.
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This is the key information we’ll need in order to give you personalised prices from a range of insurance providers.
We’ll need the registration number or the car’s make, model and age.
We’ll also need to know whether you use your car for pleasure or business, and an estimate of how many miles you drive in a year.
Let us know your name, age, address, and job details. We’ll need the same for any other drivers you want to add to your policy.
Tell us about your no-claims discount (NCD) if you have one, plus your driving history.
If you can, provide your driving licence number. This could potentially lower your quote with some insurance providers.
Got your renewal quote? See what else is out there
Auto-renewing means you'll only see one price. Compare car insurance quotes with Compare the Market to explore your options. The best time to compare quotes is 21-28 days ahead of renewal.
There are three main types of car insurance. Here’s what they do and don’t typically cover:
Comprehensive insurance provides the highest level of cover and includes...
Damage or injuries to other people, fire damage and theft
Repair costs if your car is damaged in an accident, regardless of who’s at fault
A pay-out in the event your car is written off
It doesn’t automatically let you drive other cars or cover theft from an unlocked vehicle, so it’s important to check the terms of your policy
Third-party, fire and theft insurance is the middle tier of car insurance and includes...
Damage and injuries to other people
Fire damage
Theft
If you’re at fault for an accident, it won’t cover repairs to your own vehicle or your medical costs
Third-party only insurance is the minimum level of cover you need to legally drive on UK roads
You’ll only be covered for damage and injuries to other people
It won’t cover you or your car
It usually works out more expensive than comprehensive cover, and some providers no longer even offer it
Despite offering the highest level of cover, comprehensive policies can sometimes be the cheapest option.
Third-party policies are often more expensive as the drivers who choose them may be considered higher risk by insurance providers.
You could save up to £709 per year by choosing comprehensive insurance over third-party5.
You need business car insurance if you use your car for work purposes other than commuting.
Temporary car insurance offers cover for anything from one hour to 28 days.
Multi-car insurance is when you insure more than one car registered at the same address.
Involves installing a telematics device in your car. According to our data, 69% of young drivers (17-24) save money with telematics cover6.
European car insurance covers driving abroad in Europe.
Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) car insurance means you only pay for the amount you actually drive. Best suited to low-mileage drivers.
Lease car insurance is designed for a car you lease rather than own. Leased cars don’t typically come with car insurance as standard – you’re responsible for sorting your cover.
There are many car insurance upgrades available, but you’ll usually have to pay to add them to your policy. Think carefully about the cover you want so you don’t end up paying more than you need to.
Breakdown cover could help you carry on with your journey if your car breaks down or if it won’t start outside your home.
If you or your partner are killed or seriously injured in a car accident, personal accident cover could provide compensation.
Motor legal protection can cover legal expenses that result from a car accident that wasn’t your fault, up to an agreed limit.
Excess insurance can cover the amount you have to pay towards a claim on your insurance.
Lost keys cover could help replace or reprogramme lost or stolen car keys.
A no-claims discount is your reward for not making a claim. You can protect it by adding this cover to your insurance.
Misfuelling cover (also known as wrong fuel cover) could reimburse you for the cost of draining and cleaning your tank.
It may also cover additional repairs if you fill up with the wrong type of fuel by mistake.
GAP insurance could help if your car is written off and your insurance provider’s payout is lower than what you paid for it or still owe on finance.
It could come in handy if you have a new, leased or financed car and want extra protection against value depreciation.
Very possibly. Some providers specialise in covering specific types of drivers or situations, for example:
Learner drivers – if you have a provisional licence, you’ll typically pay £583 for learner driver insurance6
Young drivers – if you don’t have much experience
New drivers – if you’ve just passed your test
Student drivers – if you’re away at college or university. Students typically pay £1,295 for car insurance6
Over 50s – if you’re an experienced driver
Named drivers – if you’re named on someone else’s policy
Disabled drivers – if you have health issues or drive an adapted vehicle
Occasional drivers – if you borrow a car from time to time
Drivers with convictions – if you have points on your licence or have been disqualified. Drivers with no motoring convictions typically save £176 on their car insurance compared to drivers who have convictions6.
We can help you find the right cover for all sorts of cars, including...
There’s no set definition of a classic car, but insurance providers consider it to be one that’s at least 15 years old.
We can help you find car insurance for classic cars manufactured in 1970 or later. The typical cost to insure a classic car is £664 per year6.
High-performance cars can be attractive to thieves, and they’re likely to be driven faster than regular cars – so, it’s not surprising that sports car insurance can be expensive.
Compare car insurance with us and we'll help you find the right deal for your pride and joy.
Cars imported into the UK can sometimes be more expensive to insure. According to our data, the typical annual premium is £9606.
The premium can partly depend on where they’ve been imported from: ‘grey’ imports, from outside the EU, can be pricier to insure – particularly if they’re more powerful or high-spec than the average car.
‘Parallel’ imports come from the EU, and might not cost much more to insure than a car bought in the UK. Whichever import type it is, it’s important to find the right cover for your imported car.
Some modifications, like fitting an immobiliser, could cut the cost of your car insurance. Other popular modifications, such as alloy wheels, exhaust system changes and tow bars, might increase it.
Drivers whose cars have no modifications typically save £41 per year compared to customers with modified cars8.
Understand how car modifications can affect your car insurance quote and find the right cover for you.
Sales of electric cars are growing. According to the RAC, over 86,000 new electric cars were registered in the UK in March 2026 – the highest on record.
Electric car owners typically pay £11 less than petrol car drivers, and £54 less than diesel drivers, for their annual car insurance6.
Green cars include electric and hybrid vehicles as well as cars that run on biofuel, hydrogen or LPG. Find out more about insuring your hybrid car.
Find out more about car insurance, including types of policies, typical costs and how to save on your premium
Yes, your job title can affect the cost of your car insurance. If your job means you spend more time on the road, there’s more risk of you being involved in an accident. A courier, for example, may be considered a higher risk than an office administrator.
Jobs that tend to attract younger workers could also result in a higher premium. This is because young drivers are statistically more at risk of having an accident.
Not necessarily. The insurance provider will only carry out a full credit check if you want to pay for your car insurance monthly.
Providers may look at your credit score (a soft search) when you compare car insurance quotes. But this is just to check your details and won’t affect your score.
To estimate your vehicle’s mileage:
Work out how many miles you drive every week, then multiply by 52 to work out your annual use.
You can also check your MOT certificate or car service record, which will show how many miles you’ve driven. You can use this as a basis to calculate your future mileage.
Mileage can affect your car insurance premium – the more you drive, the more of a risk providers consider you to be.
It’s important to be as accurate as you can when estimating your annual mileage too. If you underestimate, it could invalidate your policy. If you overestimate, you could end up paying more than you need to.
To work out your car’s value, you can use a free valuation tool such as the one from AutoTrader. Or look at used car listings to see the prices of models similar to yours for age, condition and mileage.
When you compare car insurance quotes with us, we’ll give you a valuation figure based on the car’s current market value, where possible. You can change this if it doesn’t look right.
Some insurance quotes last as long as 60 days, but some can change at any point. Check your quote to see how long it’s valid for.
When you compare car insurance with us, you can save your searches. Remember, though, you won’t necessarily get the price that you saved when you come back to buy your policy.
Yes, you can switch insurers mid-policy, but it can be expensive. If you cancel your car insurance policy within the 14-day cooling-off period, you might have to pay an admin fee.
But you’ll get a refund minus the days the policy was active for, unless a fault claim has occurred.
If you cancel after the cooling-off period, you’ll likely need to pay a cancellation fee as well. You could get a refund, depending on the circumstances and whether you pay for your policy annually or monthly.
Bear in mind that you normally need to complete a full 12-month policy to earn your no-claims discount (NCD). So you'll likely lose any NCD for that policy year if you cancel early.
To make a claim on your car insurance:
Contact your insurance provider directly.
Get a crime reference number from the police if your car has been stolen or vandalised.
Gather the information you need to give to your insurance provider, including details of the other driver(s) and any witnesses.
You must always tell your insurance provider if you’ve had an accident – whether you claim or not. If you don’t tell them, you could invalidate your policy.
There are a few reasons why your insurance claim might be rejected. It could be that:
You’re not covered for what you’re trying to claim for
There’s a dispute over who’s at fault in an accident
The provider believes you’ve invalidated your car insurance – for example, not telling them about something they should know.
If your claim is turned down and you don’t think it’s justified, there are steps you can take to dispute a rejected claim.
If you made a claim last year, you’re likely to pay more for your car insurance on renewal. People who have claimed in the last five years typically pay £605 for cover, while those who haven’t pay £5806.
In fact, your premium may go up even if you had an accident and didn’t make a claim. This is because the insurance provider might consider you a higher risk of having another accident.
Even if it wasn’t your fault, an accident could affect your car insurance premium. Your no-claims discount shouldn’t be affected if it’s protected, but your basic premium is still likely to go up.
The more claim-free years you have, the lower your car insurance premium. Drivers with 10 or more claim-free years typically save £445 on their insurance, compared to those with between one and three claim-free years6.
If you share your car with one of your parents, having them on your policy as a named or additional driver could reduce your premium. But they mustn’t be on the policy as the main driver if they’re not. This is a type of insurance fraud called fronting and it’s illegal.
You don’t need insurance if your car is off the road as long as you officially declare a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). However, this means your car won’t be covered if it’s damaged while parked up.
And you won’t legally be able to park or drive the car on a public road until insurance is in place and the SORN has ended.
Sometimes. You’ll need to check the policy details to be sure that you’re covered to drive someone else’s car with a comprehensive policy.
If your policy doesn’t include this cover, you could be added as a named driver to the other person’s policy.
Alternatively, you could opt for temporary car insurance.
If you make alterations to your car insurance policy, such as adding a named driver, you may have to pay an admin fee. And you’ll usually need to pay a fee for cancelling your policy or missing a payment.
With a telematics policy, you might have to pay a fee if you go over the specified mileage.
Fees can vary widely among providers, but they will all be set out in your policy documents. You may be able to avoid some of them if you make changes via your online account.
Taking a driving course, such as Pass Plus, might lower the cost of your premium, but this is entirely up to the individual provider.
Drivers with a Pass Plus qualification typically pay less than £484 for their car insurance, compared with £908 without an additional driving qualification5.
Based on their own claims experience, some insurance providers may assume that taking an advanced driving course may make you less likely to be involved in an accident.
And if the course makes you a safer driver, this should help keep down the cost of your car insurance in the longer term.
Car insurance prices can rise if your circumstances haven't changed. For example, if you have a new job, if you’ve moved or got a more expensive car.
Wider market trends also affect car insurance costs. The ABI says that high repair costs are starting to push premiums up.
If your renewal has gone up, it's worth comparing quotes to see if you could find a lower price elsewhere.
Sam Wilson is Head of Commercial Finance at Compare the Market and one of our core insurance experts on motor, home, van, motorbike and pet insurance products.
With over seven years at Compare the Market, Sam has a detailed understanding of how customers shop for insurance, what drives differences in premiums, and how small changes — such as shopping around at renewal or reviewing cover — can make a meaningful difference to what people pay.
Sam regularly comments in national and trade media on insurance costs, value for money and consumer savings, helping people understand how to get a good deal without focusing on price alone.
1 Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during June 2026, 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.
2 Based on Compare the Market data from August 2025-July 2026
3 Correct as of 1 July 2026.
4 Based on Trustpilot ratings (July 2026).
5 51% of our customers were quoted less than £592.26 for their comprehensive car insurance in June 2026.
51% of our customers were quoted less than £961.96 for their third party fire and theft car insurance in June 2026.
51% of our customers were quoted less than £1,301.37 per year for their third party car insurance in June 2026.
6 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in August 2026.
7 Based on the % of respondents claiming they have used Compare the Market in the last 12 months vs. other leading PCWs. Source: Savanta BrandVue Financial Services, National Representative Survey of 12,257 respondents (June 2026)
8 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.
What our expert says...
“Our research in August 2026 shows that car insurance costs have fallen by more than £200 since June 2024, with the average premium now £593.
“All age groups have benefited from cheaper prices. Under 25s have seen their quotes fall by almost £500, but still pay considerably more than older drivers.
“Cheaper premiums provide welcome news for drivers, but some providers have started to put their prices up in the last couple of months. So if you’re coming up to renewal, now is a great time to compare deals and see if you could save.”