The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
- CAR INSURANCE
- CAR INSURANCE
- TOOLS
- PROVIDERS
- GUIDES
- BROADBAND
- HOME SERVICES
- VPN
- HEALTH
It doesn’t take long for you to compare car insurance quotes – and it’s even quicker if you make sure you have everything you need ahead of time:
You’ll need:
You’ll need to decide on:
Once you have put in the relevant information, you can compare car insurance premiums. Make sure to consider price, the level of cover you need, and any additional extras you want to add on.
Compare quotes across 172 providers[1] to find the cheapest car insurance for your needs.
With Independent Advisor, you can get a car insurance quote from a source you can trust.
Save money
By comparing premiums, you can potentially find cheaper car insurance than the renewal quote given to you by your existing provider.
Tailored quotes in minutes
It only takes a few minutes to get a tailored car insurance quote once you start putting in your details.
Compare quotes with confidence
Our guides equip you with everything you need to know about comparing car insurance, so that by the time you pick your provider, you’ll have full confidence that you’re making the right decision.
With premiums at all-time highs, it’s more important than ever to try and reduce the cost of your cover. Fortunately, we’ve compiled 11 tips for getting cheaper car insurance:
Don’t immediately accept the auto-renewal quote from your existing provider. Instead, you can use Independent Advisor to shop around for a quote from 172 insurers.
By comparing car insurance quotes, you can make sure you are not missing out on the best deal available for someone with your driving profile.
Your current insurer will send you a renewal quote about a month before your policy is due to end, but the best day to buy car insurance is three weeks before your renewal is due.
With a telematics car insurance policy, your insurer will fit a black box in your car that will monitor your driving habits. Drive well and you’ll get cheaper cover.
Young drivers can reduce their car insurance premiums by adding an older driver (for example, a parent) as a named driver. However, lying about who the ‘main driver’ is to get cheaper premiums is known as fronting and is illegal.
Make sure you only purchase the optional extras you really need. Otherwise you may end up paying for policies you won’t use.
If you can afford it, it’s best to pay your premium up front each year. Your insurer may offer the option to pay monthly, but this will cost extra, as you’ll be paying interest on top.
Every year you don’t make a car insurance claim, you will build up a no-claims bonus that can reduce the price of your premium. Over time, this discount could range anywhere from 30 to 60 per cent.
If you cause minor damage (for instance, damage your bumper), pay for repairs yourself. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay an excess, and your no-claims bonus will be affected.
Installing security modifications, such as immobilisers, trackers or dash cams, can reduce your premium, as they make your car safer and claims easier to prove.
“It’s also important to pay attention to the fees and excesses associated with the policies, as these are both creeping up. You never know when your circumstances are going to change, but many policies will charge you upwards of £50 for making a change or cancelling your policy.”
In theory, a third party policy should be the cheapest car insurance as it only offers the minimum level of cover, but in reality, fully comprehensive cover is often the best value for money, while also offering the most cover.
For example, in February 2024, the average third party premium was more than 55 per cent more expensive[2] than comprehensive cover. This is based on annual policies bought through MoneySuperMarket.
It’s an unavoidable fact that car insurance has become a lot more expensive in the last year. On average premiums rose 25 percent from 2022 to 2023[5], according to the ABI, while between October and December 2023 prices hit record highs.
| Year | Average annual premium (ABI) | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | £471 | -1% |
| 2020 | £465 | -1% |
| 2021 | £434 | -7% |
| 2022 | £434 | 0% |
| 2023 | £543 | +25% |
But what’s behind this increase?
On top of that, there’s also the insurance premium tax, which makes up 12 per cent of every premium, and now averages nearly £100 a year across car and home insurance policies.
Because of all this, now, more than ever, it is a good idea to use a price comparison website in order to find the cheapest car insurance you are eligible for.
“Although the price of car insurance has become unmanageable for many households, steps are being taken to try and bring prices down. In February 2024, the ABI published its ‘Roadmap to Tackle Insurance Costs’ – its recommendations included greater transparency around insurance groups, cracking down on car insurance fraud, and lowering the IPT.”
The car insurance provider that is cheapest for your needs might not be the cheapest for someone else’s. However, between October and December 2023, MoneySuperMarket found that One Click was the cheapest car insurance provider, with an average quote of £355.
This narrowly beat Swinton Essentials, which averaged £356. RAC then came in third place, with an average premium of £369.[8]
| Provider | Average quoted premium | Compared to overall average |
|---|---|---|
| One Click | £355 | -45.3% |
| Swinton Essentials | £356 | -45.5% |
| RAC | £369 | -43.3% |
Car value
One of the factors used to calculate your car insurance premium is the value of your car, as this will inform how expensive it is to repair in the event of a claim.
Car type
All cars fall into an insurance group from one to 50 – the more powerful and luxurious your car, the higher the group it will be in and the more you’ll pay.
Voluntary excess
The ‘excess’ on a car insurance policy is the amount the policyholder pays in the event of a claim – then the insurer pays the rest. A higher excess will reduce the cost of your premium; however, always make sure you can afford to pay your voluntary excess in the event of a claim.
Mileage
You’ll need to state your estimated annual mileage when you buy car insurance. This figure will be on your MOT certificate. Low mileage means fewer chances of an accident, and, in turn, lower premiums.
Address
Where you live will also affect your car insurance premium – if you live in a high crime area, you’ll pay more.
Did you know?
According to the latest ABI data, drivers in Northern Ireland make the most expensive claims, at an average of £5,700. By comparison, the average in England & Wales is £4,900, and in Scotland it’s £4,200[9].
Multi-car discounts
Most car insurers offer discounts if you insure more than one vehicle with them. Don’t assume these policies will be cheaper though – compare car insurance quotes for multi-car policies with single car policies.
No-claims bonus
Building up a no-claims bonus will help to reduce your car insurance premium. If you decide to switch providers, this can often be carried across to a new policy.
Parking
Where you park your car during the day/night matters too. You’ll attract lower premiums if you can keep your car in a garage or in a private car park, than if you leave it parked on a public road.
Age
Depending on how you drive, insurance premiums generally fall with age. Young drivers pay more due to their lack of driving experience and because, statistically, they are more likely to have an accident.
Did you know?
Under-25s have seen their premiums jump by more than 73 per cent[10] for the 12 months to November 2023, according to Consumer Intelligence, compared to a rise of 57 per cent for the over-50s.
If you feel like you need a bit of extra cover outside of what is offered by your policy, you can look into an insurer’s optional extras.
Provides you with roadside assistance if your car breaks down. Levels of cover will vary between insurers and can include anything from vehicle recovery to onward travel cover.
This covers the costs of replacing and reprogramming lost or stolen car keys.
Courtesy car insurance will see your insurer provide you with a car to drive if your car is being repaired following an accident.
Provides cover for driving your car in countries outside of the UK.
Some insurers sell specialist electric car insurance. These policies cover things like damage to the car’s battery and cover for portable charging cables.
Offers financial protection against legal fees if you’re involved in an accident that’s not your fault. This may include personal injury, excess recovery and loss of earnings.
This covers the cost of draining and cleaning your tank, or the cost of repairs, if you put the wrong fuel in your car.
An optional cover which protects your no-claims discount (NCD) from one (or more) ‘at fault’ claim each year.
Provides cover for lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings left in the car.
Covers damages to your car’s windscreen, including repairing chips and cracks as well as full replacements.
“If things like key cover and windscreen cover are not included in your policy, they could be worth adding on, depending on what kind of car you’ve got. The cost of replacing some car keys can be well over £500. If you know you can’t survive without a car, then you may want to get a policy that offers a courtesy car no matter what has happened to your car. Personally, I don’t think motor legal expenses insurance offers a lot of value – so that’s probably one you can skip.”
Although car insurance tends to be split into third party, third party, fire and theft, and fully comprehensive, there are a number of other specialist policies you may need to take out at one time or another. These can include:
If you’re learning to drive, you can take out specialist learner driver cover to allow you to practise in someone else’s vehicle
By having an electronic device installed in your car through a black box or telematics insurance policy, you can save yourself money in the long run by proving you’re a safe, trustworthy driver
If you need to drive someone’s car for a short amount of time, you can take out temporary car insurance rather than unnecessarily apply for a full, 12-month policy
Although the age of a classic car can vary from insurer to insurer, there are benefits to taking out a specialist classic car insurance policy for your vintage vehicle
If you use your car for business purposes, such as driving around to various places to work or meet clients, you will need to get business car insurance to be properly covered. This comes in three categories: Class 1, 2 and 3
If you drive under the average UK annual mileage, say if you’re retired or have started working from home, you could get cheaper car insurance by taking out a low-mileage policy
If you’re an infrequent driver, you could take out pay-as-you-go car insurance, where you pay for every mile you drive. This could be good if you have a second car you don’t use very often.
As the main driver, you could make your car insurance cheaper by adding a more experienced named driver to your policy. Alternatively, becoming a named driver may save you money if you don’t drive very often, and only semi-frequently need to use a loved one’s car
It is possible to take out specific over-50s car insurance that includes a number of additional benefits, including multi-year fixed prices, enhanced European cover, and emergency any-driver cover
To help you make a decision when comparing car insurance quotes, we’ve reviewed some of the UK’s biggest providers. In the table below you’ll find a link to each review, as well as our Independent Advisor score for every car insurance provider we’ve reviewed.
This takes into consideration the provider’s Trustpilot score, Defaqto and Fairer Finance ratings for its standard or mid-tier comprehensive policies (or main policy option where applicable).
All information correct as of 18 April 2024
We have put together a list of popular questions that you may have, to help you along in your car insurance purchasing journey
If you’re a new or younger driver, you are unfortunately going to face much higher premiums than older drivers with more experience. This is because, statistically, drivers aged 17 to 24 have a higher risk of making a claim, and that claim being more expensive.
For example, the ABI points out that while only 7 per cent of UK licence holders fall into that age bracket, 17 to 24 year olds are involved in 24 per cent of all fatal collisions.
Car value is one of the things providers assess when pricing up your car insurance quote, and is tied to which car insurance group a vehicle falls into. Broadly speaking, the cheaper or more common your car is, the less it will cost to repair or replace, and therefore the lower your premium will be.
However, a cheap car isn’t a guarantee of cheap car insurance, as there are a number of other factors insurers take into consideration, such as age and location, before giving you a quote.
The easiest way to calculate the value of your car is to use one of the many calculators available online. Examples include Auto Trader, What Car? and Webuyanycar. These calculators will typically ask for your registration number, and your current mileage, as well as some specific details to get a more accurate figure.
Whether you choose to pay for your car insurance on a monthly or annual basis will depend on your financial circumstances. If you can, it is cheaper to pay your premium upfront. This is because, if you pay monthly, you’ll end up paying interest on top.
However, there are potential benefits to paying monthly. It can be more manageable to pay month-by-month, even if it is not cheaper. And by regularly making these payments, you may be able to improve your credit score.
How long your car insurance quote is valid for will depend on the provider in question. In theory, you could get one quote on a Monday, and a different quote on a Tuesday. A lot of providers will save your quote for up to 30 days; but even then, the price could go up or down depending on external factors.
When you get a car insurance quote, providers will carry out what is called a ‘soft’ credit check. This means that the provider can see some details of your credit history, but without the check appearing on your credit report. If you pay for your car insurance upfront, providers will only conduct a soft credit check.
If you choose to pay on a month-by-month basis, however, insurers will carry out a ‘hard’ credit check. This is a more in-depth assessment that’ll take into account your full credit history. Importantly, this check will appear on your credit history, and may affect your credit score.
Insurance providers run a hard check when you choose to pay monthly, as you are essentially entering into a credit agreement where you are paying back the yearly cost of your insurance, plus interest.
The easiest way to estimate your annual mileage is to look at the figure recorded on your most recent MOT, and take away the mileage recorded on the MOT before that. Of course, your personal circumstances may have changed in that time. For example, you may have moved, or got a new job. So always make sure to factor in such changes into your estimates.
If you’re new to driving, or don’t have two MOTs to hand, you can estimate your annual mileage manually. A good way to do this is to calculate how far you drive in an average week, multiply that by 52, and add a little extra to cover those times you drive outside your standard routes. Make sure to consider your commute, your shopping habits, any regular commitments, and people you frequently visit.
All car insurance is registered on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). You can check if your car is insured by visiting askMID.com. You’ll need to confirm the car is registered, owned, or insured by yourself or your employer, or if you are a broker working for a client. You need car insurance, unless you officially register your car as off the road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
For every year you don’t make a claim on your car insurance, you can receive a discount on your next premium. The more years without a claim you build up, the bigger the reduction. This is known as your no-claims bonus, or no-claims discount.
Different providers will have different limits for how many years you can build up, and how much your policy can be discounted by.
Often car insurance providers will charge you for making changes to your policy. Sometimes these fees can be as much as £25 a change. Certain providers may allow you to make changes for free online, but charge if you make the change over the phone.
If, and how much, you are charged when you cancel your car insurance will depend on the timing.
If you cancel your policy within the 14-day cooling-off period, you either won’t be charged a fee, or you’ll pay less than if you cancel after those two weeks are up.
However, once the cooling-off period ends, you could pay anywhere between £30 and £60 to cancel your policy.
By comparing quotes, you can find the best car insurance for your needs. There’s a lot of choice, and the best insurer for one driver won’t necessarily be the cheapest option for someone else.
According to the latest data from Consumer Intelligence the average private comprehensive car insurance quote has gone up 67.2 per cent year-on-year, for the 12 months to November 2023.
Figures from the ABI, meanwhile, paint a slightly different picture, with the average price of motor insurance up 34 per cent to £627 year-on-year, based on its figures from October to December 2023.
If you have an accident, you must inform your car insurance provider, even if you don’t intend to make a claim. If you fail to let your provider know about an incident, you could find your insurance declared void.
If you have simply stopped driving your car, you still legally need to have car insurance.
However, if you have stopped driving your car, and declared it off the road via a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), you don’t need to have car insurance in place. The moment you start driving it again, you’ll need to take out a new policy.
Choosing car insurance can be overwhelming. From which level of cover to pick, to figuring out what is included as standard, there can be a lot of information to wade through.
That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve combed through the policy documents of some of the biggest providers, as well as all the latest data, in order to gauge just exactly what is on offer and how you can get cheaper car insurance.
We consider the most important factors that determine the quality of a car insurance policy to be:
Find out more about how we review car insurance.
