Cheap car insurance tips

There are many ways that you can get cheap car insurance and the internet is a great place to start. For one, you have a wider choice of providers and even better, you have access to them right from your own living room instead of having to traipse around the high street looking for the right policy.

Considerations
The type of vehicle you drive will heavily influence how much your motor insurance will cost. Therefore, even before you buy a car, thought should be given to how much it would cost to insure it. It's all well and good thinking how great it would be cruising around in that little sporty number, but the insurance for it could go through the roof.

There are also different types of cover and choosing the most suitable for your needs could ensure you get cheap car insurance. Of course, if your car is a brand new model straight out of the showroom then your choices are probably limited to fully comprehensive. However, if you buy a second hand car of a fairly low value, then your choices could be more flexible. For instance, you could choose to take out third party, fire and theft insurance which is cheaper than fully comprehensive.

How secure is your car?
Do you park your car out on the street in front of your home? If you do, then the cost of your car insurance could be more than if it is parked in a garage or on a private driveway. Another point to consider is upping the security on your vehicle. Buying and installing additional security features such as a steering wheel lock, an immobiliser or even a tracking device could knock down the cost of your motor insurance.

Excesses
Weigh up the pros and cons of offering to pay a higher excess for your car insurance. The excess is the amount that you pay in the event of a claim before your insurance company pays the rest. All insurance providers will state a minimum amount of excess they expect you to pay but you can elect to pay more. This is often known as a voluntary excess and insurers will normally discount your premiums if you offer to pay a higher excess. Do remember however that you would have to find this payment in one lump sum if you made a claim on your insurance.

Compare car insurance policies to see what policy features and benefits come as standard. Often, you may find that there are some policy features that you don't need but will still be paying for if they are included in the cost of the insurance policy. The Tesco Compare car insurance service allows you to compare the major policy features against one another, enabling you to find the policy that gives you the protection you need.

Shop around at renewal time
Another cheap car insurance tip is to never stick with the same company when it comes to renewal time without first shopping around.

It can be tempting to just keep renewing your motor insurance - it is certainly easy. However, many insurers know this and can take advantage of this Achilles heel by charging you more than they need to. While you might have got a great deal on your insurance a couple of years ago, insurance companies can often push up the amount you pay each year. By taking the time to look around to see if you can get a better and cheaper car insurance deal you could save a great deal of money.