Practical Tips For Getting Cheap Car Insurance

Car insurance is one of those necessary evils that can't be avoided. While the price is generally rather high, it's better than the trouble you'd be in were you caught without it. Furthermore, expensive though it is, it is possible to bring the price down if you know which things increase the price.

The first consideration is obviously the type of car you get, and you should always get a quote on the auto insurance before you purchase a new vehicle as it may be more or less than your previous get-around. A few things that will increase or decrease the price of the car are the size of the engine - with larger engines obviously being more to insure due to their power; the price of the car - as this will make it more expensive to replace or repair should you damage it as well as making it more tempting to steal; how old it is as this will effect the price; and any modifications you make to it - as the perception is that someone who modifies their car is more likely to enjoy driving fast. Again though if you find a car you like then it's always worth getting a quote on the insurance as even some cars with big engines can be surprisingly cheap. For example, many vintage cars cost less to insure than newer ones (providing they aren't really expensive 'classic cars'), with old Volkswagen Beetles for example being very cheap to insure (and in the UK cars built before 1972 are also exempt from tax). If your car is not worth a lot itself then you will probably also only need 3rd Party insurance which is considerably cheaper.

Another way to lower your car insurance is to build up a no-claims bonus. Most insurance companies offer this and it means that your insurance will lower each year that you don't have an accident. It's important to note however that if you go a long time without driving then the no claims bonus will wiped and you'll have to start again. It can be sensible then to get yourself insured on a friend or relative's car as a named driver during spells where you don't own a car yourself. In some cases having someone else as a named driver on your insurance can even decrease the price. Some insurance companies also offer loyalty incentives and will bring down the price if you stay with them for long enough.

There are also things you can do yourself to lower your auto insurance. If you're a young driver for instance then you may be wise to take your 'pass plus' which will teach you additional skills such as motorway driving and can thereby decrease your insurance quote. You can also bring down your car insurance by keeping your vehicle safer to prevent theft. If you have an immobilizer installed in your car or off road parking some insurance companies will also give you a lower price for that.