Car Insurance basics

Introduction

Comprehensive car insurance is the best way of giving you peace of mind whether you or another party are at fault in an accident with your car. You should understand how car insurance companies operate and how your personal circumstances affect the cost of your insurance. For example if you're a woman, young driver or own a performance or classic car there are a number of factors that can help you reduce your car insurance premiums. Shopping for car insurance is the only way to save money on car insurance and nowadays you can do it quickly and easily online.

Getting an Insurance Quote

There are many different ways to get a car insurance quote and the most convenient and time friendly is to do it online. And a great benefit of some online quote services is if you don't complete your quote request you can save it and retrieve it later and you won't have to enter all the details again. So enter your details once in a simple online form and choose the level of cover required. When comparing quotes make sure they are like for like. Before you buy a new vehicle, get quotes for different models and coverage levels. For example, some online car insurance quotes includes a lifetime guarantee on paint and bodywork repairs, a free courtesy car whilst yours is being repaired by our recommended repairer and up to £250 towards emergency overnight accommodation. When you get a cheap car insurance quote, remember that the price is only half the story. Remember that even if you do like the quote and take out the policy you still have a 'cooling off' period so if you read the small print and you missed something before you took the policy cover then you have every right to cancel.

Insurance Quote Discounts

Online car insurance offers great cover, and further discounts when you buy car insurance online. If you are the spouse or partner of the policyholder you could earn up to 70% discount when you insure your car with the same company. Obviously the more No Claims you have the bigger the No Claims Discount Bonus will be. Be aware though that in the event your policy is cancelled within the first three months, you must repay any discount given. Some insurance companies will give you a discount if your car is parked in a garage or behind locked gates at night. Young drivers are often offered discounts if they undertake further driver training on recognised courses, such as the Pass Plus scheme in the UK. Senior drivers are often eligible for retirement discounts reflecting lower average miles driven by this age group. This discount benefits drivers who drive their cars infrequently but has no actuarial value since it is unverified.

Conclusion

By applying online you can get multiple free car insurance quotes from one application. You still need to do your homework and ensure you have understood the Terms and Conditions from each insurance company. The cheapest quote is not always necessarily the best quote as it may mean you have a higher 'excess' in the event of an accident. The bottom line is get as many quotes as possible from a single online source and then take your time before finalising on the company to use. This will be time well spent and can save you £100's.



About the Author

Paul Haughney is an online car insurance specialist offering independent advice on car insurance options for young and new drivers at http://www.newdrivercarinsurance.co.uk/female-driver-insurance.html