"Car insurance prices have reached record highs in the last 12 months largely because of inflation increasing the prices of parts and labour. There's also ongoing supply chain issues which means delays to repairs. This all adds to the cost of claiming. The cost of living crisis has affected all of us and clearly motorists haven't escaped this."
"The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says there’s been an 18% year on year increase in motor insurance claims. This totalled over £2.5 billion in the second half of 2023 - the highest quarterly figure since 2013."
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How can I get cheap car insurance quotes?
Car insurance prices are high, but you can still find cheaper car insurance with these tips:
Check your mileage
Make sure your mileage is accurate. If you overestimate you could be paying more than you need to. If you underestimate you risk invalidating your policy. That's because you're only covered for the amount of miles you give when you're getting a quote. The average yearly mileage is around 6,600 miles(2).
Add a named driver
If you add an older, more experienced driver to your policy, your car insurance price could drop. That's because this type of driver is seen as low risk by insurers. But if you add someone who's younger and has less experience, your insurance price could go up.
Buy your policy early
According to our research, 18 days(2) before your insurance runs out is the best time to buy car insurance. But generally, it's cheaper to buy your insurance earlier as it suggests to insurers that you're more careful and organised.
Check your job title is correct
Make sure your job title accurately describes what you do. Some jobs titles have higher insurance prices than others. For example, accountants pay £1,056(2) for their insurance and a postman pays £699(2). Don't change your job title just to get cheaper insurance. You risk invalidating your policy.
Park securely
If you park in your driveway, your car insurance price is £334 cheaper than if you park on the road outside your house(2). If you haven't got a driveway or garage, there are other ways you can make your car more secure.
Pay annually if you can
It's cheaper to pay for your insurance annually, rather than monthly. This is because insurers charge interest for spreading the costs.
For more practical advice, read our tips on how to get cheap car insurance, or see the cheapest cars to insure.
(2)Based on Confused.com data, December - February 2024.
How much does car insurance cost?
Car insurance costs have been climbing over the past few years with the average price across the UK now standing at £941. But you could bag yourself a cheaper price than this by comparing quotes. In fact, you could save up to £539* by choosing not to renew with your current provider.
Your age, along with lots of other factors play a big role in the cost of your car insurance. Younger drivers generally see higher prices, while older groups with more driving experience see cheaper prices.
Where you live can also affect your insurance price. If you live somewhere where there's a high number of insurance claims you could pay more.
Average cost of car insurance by policy type
Comprehensive
£941***
Third-party fire and theft (TPFT)
£1,736(4)
Third-party only (TPO)
£2,174(4)
Comprehensive cover offers the most protection, and is often the cheapest of the 3 policy types. This is why it’s important to shop around and compare policies before choosing your policy. TPFT & TPO policies give you less cover and are typically more expensive for a number of reasons - for example high risk drivers choosing them in the hope of getting a cheap policy.
Whichever policy type you're looking for, we make it easy to compare your options. Insurance is better when you use Confused.com
Age | Annual price*** | Monthly price,(excluding interest costs) |
---|---|---|
17 year olds
|
£2,919
|
£243.25
|
17 - 24 year olds
|
£2,184
|
£182
|
20 - 29 year olds
|
£1,701
|
£141.75
|
30 - 39 year olds
|
£1,144
|
£95.33
|
40 - 49 year olds
|
£905
|
£75.41
|
Over 50s
|
£643
|
£53.58
|
Over 60s
|
£578
|
£48.16
|
Over 70s
|
£587
|
£48.91
|
***Confused.com price index for Q1 2024.
(4) Confused.com data, January - March 2024.
We work with 163 trusted insurance companies1, giving you plenty of choice.
What type of car insurance do I need?
The type of car insurance you need depends on the level of cover you want. For example, the lowest level of cover is third-party. This only covers damage you cause to other vehicles. Here are the 3 main types of car insurance policy:
Comprehensive
Third-party fire & theft
Third-party only
Why are car insurance costs going up?
Other types of car insurance
We don't just compare standard car insurance, we also compare specialist policies for different types of drivers and cars:
Upgrades to enhance your car insurance
Your car insurance policy might not cover everything, even if it's comprehensive. So you could consider these upgrades:
Legal cover
This pays for any legal action after an accident. For example, if you have an injury after an accident that wasn't your fault, your legal cover pays to take the other driver to court. It usually costs around £20-£30 to add it to your car insurance.
Courtesy car
With this upgrade, your insurer gives you a temporary courtesy car while yours is being repaired. You should have this until the garage has finished fixing your car. You might have this already if you've bought comprehensive car insurance.
Breakdown cover
If your car breaks down, someone can rescue you with breakdown cover. The breakdown company might be able to fix your car at the roadside. If it can't fix the car, it can arrange for you to be towed home or to a nearby garage. This depends on the type of breakdown cover you have though, so check your policy wording carefully.
Windscreen cover
If there's a chip or crack in your windscreen, or if it's completely shattered, you can cover the cost of repair or replacement with windscreen cover. This might be included if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, so it's worth checking before you upgrade.
Personal accident cover
If you have a serious injury or die because of a car accident, personal accident cover can help. It pays out if you're off work for a while and you're losing income because of an injury. It can also pay a lump sum to your family if you die. This might already be included in your policy, but it's best to check how much you're covered for on your policy documents.
Why use Confused.com?
-
Renewal reminders
We'll send you reminders when your policy is due so you never miss the best time to compare. Alternatively, our app is a great way to keep track of your policies.
-
Exclusive deals
We work closely with our insurance partners to get the best deals and exclusive discounts so you can save even more.
-
Customer fairness and protection
We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and take your finances seriously. We ensure you are treated fairly. -
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Other types of cars to insure
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Insurance guides to help you
See more guidesFrequently asked questions
How do I work out my car’s value?
When you get a quote, we’ll estimate the market value of your car based on averages of the make, model, and age. If you want a more accurate idea of your car’s value you can use our free car valuation tool.
Do insurance quotes affect my credit score?
When you get quotes through our site, you’ll usually see ‘soft searches’ on your credit report. These are nothing to worry about. They’re only visible to you and don’t affect your credit rating. A ‘soft search’ is usually just used to confirm your identity.
The only time you’ll see a ‘hard’ search is if you choose to pay for your car insurance monthly. This is because the insurer needs to check you can cover the payments of the contract, usually over 12 months.
What is a no-claims bonus (NCB)?
Each year you drive without making a claim on your car insurance, insurers reward you with a year of no-claims bonus (NCB). The more NCB you have, the bigger the discount you get, as you’re seen as lower-risk and less likely to claim in the future. Some insurers might ask you for proof of your NCB - you should be able to get this from your previous or current insurer.
Can I drive someone else’s car?
You might be able to drive someone else’s car if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy. Check your certificate of motor insurance which should tell you whether your policy has the Driving Other Cars (DOC) feature. Not all policies offer it.
Even if you have it, it only entitles you to third-party cover on someone else’s car and should only be used in emergencies. If you want to be fully covered for a short time, consider a temporary car insurance policy, or get yourself added as a named driver.
Can I add someone to an existing car insurance policy?
Yes, you can add named drivers to your car insurance policy. To add another driver, you’ll need their:
- Age
- Occupation
- Details of any accidents and claims
- Details of any motoring convictions
Depending on the driver, this might raise or lower your car insurance costs.
It's important to remember that the person who does the bulk of the driving should be listed as the main driver. And any named drivers only use the car occasionally.
What are the FCA insurance renewal guidelines and how do they affect me?
In an effort to treat customers fairly, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has created rules that stop insurance companies from penalising loyal customers. This was a practice known as price walking.
The rules state that insurers are required to offer customers who renew their policy a price that's not higher than if they were a new customer buying in the same way. The FCA believes this should save customers £4.2 billion over the next decade.
This doesn't mean that your renewal price is going to be less than last year. A range of factors come into how car insurance prices are calculated, but you shouldn't be penalised by staying with your existing insurer.
But there still might be savings to be had. Even if your price is the same or a bit cheaper than last year, it's always worth shopping around.
Page last reviewed: 03 June 2024
Reviewed by: Louise Thomas