Car insurance is as important as purchasing and/or maintaining the car itself. Every year a large number of drivers are caught driving without insurance. The market is flooded with choice and consumers often find a cheaper quote well after they have spent too much on their existing one. More importantly it is part of he law, you must have car insurance. In this day and age, legal agencies scour the streets easily able to pick up on cars with no car insurance thanks to new technology aimed at stopping those trying to cheat the system. Although the cost can be high and the search long and tiring, it only has to be done a few times a year and will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. This article aims to provide a few tips on how to find the best insurance policy for you and keep those premiums down.

First and foremost, if you are going to buy a relatively expensive car on the high end of the market then expect premiums to reflect that, if you’re younger and getting excited about driving a new sports car then expect the insurance bill to be steep.

Looking after your car is another obvious tip. Insurance companies are concerned about the safety of your car and what could happen to it. If you keep it on the street instead of the driveway every night, you are leaving yourself open to risk and the possibility of theft and damage. Inner cities are the riskiest for insurers, consequently premiums are higher. You will get a small discount for keeping your car on your driveway rather than in the street, and a much better one if it is locked away in a garage overnight.

Adding security is also paramount, you can deter car crimes by fitting an alarm or immobiliser to keep your premiums down. In this regard, the best is a Thatcham recommended security device, particularly a 'Thatcham Category 1', the highest level of security. If your car is high value, it is well worth investing in and will impress insurers.

Without a doubt, the most important tip to is do your research and know as much as you can about car insurance. Car insurance is available almost everywhere now and the internet is a virtual encyclopaedia of information and quotes. Companies that are relatively new to the insurance market, like Sainsbury’s, offer highly competitive quotes in order to break into the business. You can also reduce your premium by paying a higher excess. Most insurers will insist on a minimum amount that you have to contribute to any claim. This is called an excess payment. Insurers ask mature drivers to contribute £50 or £100 towards the cost of a claim while younger drivers can often be asked to pay more. By offering to pay a higher excess, you can cut your premium substantially.