Drivers in the UK are suffering the crunch of rising insurance premiums, petrol prices and the cost of maintaining their car-with many motorist either opting for public transport or jumping from insurer to insurer in search of the best deal.

The UK's 13 million drivers who pay for car insurance monthly are spending £624 million extra over those opting to pay in a single annual lump sum. With motoring costs increasing all the time, petrol now £478 more expensive than a year ago and with car insurance up four per cent, drivers are missing out on savings by paying monthly. For many motorists, spreading the cost of car insurance over 10 to 12 months makes the policy appear more manageable. However, this short-term relief costs motorists more in the long run, costing them a minimum of £50 on top of their monthly premium.

With many car owners opting to pay monthly installments on their car insurance they are suffering the weight of increased interest costs which is hitting their pockets hard over the course of the year. In light of this and rise in petrol prices, consumers are becoming more slavish towards driving their vehicles for relatively small trips, opting instead to cycle or take public transport.

Some though are insistent on driving their cars and as a result are jumping from one insurance provider to another in their search for the best deal.The most recent figures from MoneyExpert.com's Switching Index shows that some 5.9 million people switched car insurance provider in the past six months, as the pressure grows on consumers to find the best deal.

Experts are suggesting that drivers should think twice before agreeing to monthly payments on their car insurance. They suggest that consumers are not concentrating less on the actual cost of the policy and thinking more about interest on monthly instalments. Some insurance firms, such as Virgin, do not charge for monthly instalments, while paying for insurance by using a 0% offer on a credit card could also keep down costs. Most insurers charge a heavy fee for the privilege of paying by monthly instalments - ranging from between 13% and 29% APR. Paying your insurance in one lump sum can work out cheaper than paying monthly or quarterly. Insurers may also give a discount if you pay by direct debit.

Other ideas to save may be more obvious but are not always acted on. Consumers are often blasé about car security. A car alarm, immobiliser or tracker makes it less likely that your car will be stolen and therefore should reduce your premium. If you do fit such security devices, make sure that they are approved by your insurer. It's worth calling your insurer to see which ones will cut your car insurance quote the most.

Another option is to protect your no claims bonus. Your no-claims bonus (NCB) grows for each year you drive without making a claim on your car insurance. You can protect your no-claims bonus even if you do claim by paying a little more. An NCB of five years or more can entitle drivers to a 60%-75% discount on car insurance premiums.