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Car Insurance can be expensive, the good news is that there are proven ways to bring this cost down without compromising on the cover you need. Here are seven tips that could save you hundreds of pounds on your next policy.
1 January 2026
Summary: Car insurance is a significant annual expense for UK drivers, with average premiums now reaching £456 per year. However, there are several proven strategies that can help reduce your costs without sacrificing cover. The most effective ways to lower your car insurance premium include comparing quotes 20-26 days before your renewal date, paying annually rather than monthly to avoid interest charges, increasing your voluntary excess, adding an experienced named driver to your policy, improving your car's security features, accurately reporting lower mileage, and registering on the electoral roll to improve your credit score. By combining these approaches, UK drivers could potentially save hundreds of pounds on their annual car insurance costs. This guide explains each method in detail, with practical advice on how to implement them safely and effectively.
Timing matters more than most people realise when buying car insurance. Research consistently shows that getting quotes 20-26 days before your policy ends tends to give you the best prices.
Why does this window work so well? Insurers see last-minute buyers as higher risk - the thinking being that organised, lower-risk drivers plan. If you wait until the final few days before your renewal, you could end up paying significantly more for the same cover.
Set a reminder in your phone or calendar three to four weeks before your renewal date. This gives you enough time to shop around without the pressure of your current policy expiring.
It's tempting to spread the cost of your insurance across twelve monthly payments, especially when budgets are tight. However, this convenience comes at a price.
Drivers who pay monthly instead of annually typically pay around 20-30% more each year. This is because monthly payments are essentially a credit agreement, and you're charged interest on the amount you owe.
If you can afford to pay upfront, it's worth doing so. If not, consider setting aside a small amount each month into a savings account so you can pay annually when your next renewal comes around.
Your excess is the amount you agree to pay towards any claim before your insurer covers the rest. There are two types: compulsory excess (set by the insurer) and voluntary excess (the amount you choose to add on top).
By volunteering to pay a higher excess, you're telling the insurer you're confident in your driving and unlikely to make small claims. This reduces their risk, which in turn reduces your premium.
A word of caution though - only increase your voluntary excess to an amount you could genuinely afford to pay if you needed to make a claim. There's no point saving £50 on your premium if you'd struggle to find £500 in an emergency.
This tip might seem counterintuitive - surely adding more drivers increases risk? But adding the right kind of driver can lower your premium.
This works best when you add an older, more experienced driver with a clean driving record. Their positive driving history can help balance out your risk profile, particularly if you're a younger or less experienced driver yourself.
However, there's an important rule to follow: you must be listed as the main driver if you're the person who uses the car most often. Listing someone else as the main driver when it's really you is called "fronting" and it's illegal. If you're caught, your policy could be cancelled and you could face prosecution.
Insurers calculate premiums based on risk, and one of those risks is theft. If you can show that your car is well-protected, you may be rewarded with a lower premium.
Security features that can help include alarms, immobilisers, steering wheel locks, and tracking devices. Many modern cars come with some of these as standard, but aftermarket additions can help too.
The key is to make sure your insurer knows about these features. When getting quotes or renewing your policy, check that all your security measures are listed. It's a simple step that could make a real difference to your premium.
The logic here is straightforward: the more you drive, the more likely you are to be involved in an accident. If you're a low-mileage driver, make sure your insurer knows.
Someone driving 5,000 miles a year presents a very different risk profile to someone covering 12,000 miles. If your circumstances have changed - perhaps you now work from home, or you've moved closer to your workplace - update your estimated annual mileage when you renew.
That said, honesty is essential. Underestimating your mileage to get a cheaper quote could backfire badly. If you need to make a claim and your insurer finds you've been driving significantly more than you declared, they could refuse to pay out or even cancel your policy altogether.
This one surprises many people, but being on the electoral roll can genuinely help reduce your car insurance premium.
Here's why: insurers often check your credit score as part of their assessment. Being registered to vote helps verify your identity and address, which improves your credit file. A better credit score can lead to better insurance quotes.
Registering is free and takes just a few minutes online. Even if it only makes a small difference to your premium, it's an easy win - and you get to have your say in elections too.
Want to see how much you could save? Compare car insurance quotes via Brumble in just minutes.
Sources
1. Good Housekeeping - Here's how to pay less for car insurance https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/consumer-advice/car-advice/a33890452/car-insurance/
2. MoneyHelper - How to get cheaper car insurance https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/blog/car-insurance/five-ways-to-lower-your-car-insurance-premium
Which? - The tactics you should and shouldn't use to reduce your car insurance premium https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/the-tactics-you-should-and-shouldnt-use-to-reduce-your-car-insurance-premium-aRVHb5z2M79f
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