10 tips to drive down rising car insurance costs

Any hints on where to insure for a 17 year old boy who has just passed his test?

Useful guidance but really the majority is common sense. I would add one more - don't have a crash. Ever. Insurers - you could do more to promote loyalty. Why seek to sting those who've insured with you before? You might rely on inertia but people are becoming more and more savvy. Why not view the relationship as longer-term and take advantage of the opportunity to cross-sell?? Seems blindingly obvious to me...

Even when using comparison sites be careful. In my experience the headline quote doesn't include essential extras such as NCB protection and sometimes the excess quoted is ridiculously high, £1000 in one instance.

11/ Ditch the car. Any single able bodied individual living in a city with reasonable transport links doesn't need four wheels.

12/ Walk...fun,educational and healthy!

For many years my wife’s car has been insured with HSBC Insurance.as has my own. She has had no accidents, claims or whatever for something approaching 10 years at least. Her latest renewal notice indicated the renewal premium would be some £220+. As it was only £153.11 in 2008 I telephoned to ask if there was a mistake as an increase of something approaching 50% appeared excessive. After some deliberation I was informed that was correct and they were not prepared to consider making any reduction.

I shopped around on the internet and using ‘go compare car insurance’ accepted a quote for £169.19 with, if anything, slightly better cover – a saving in excess of £50. My reason for writing is not because of the amount saved, but to relate that the company insuring the car now is - yes the same one HSBC Insurance!!

get a classic car

Try going through qiudco.com after finding the best deal on comparison sites some insurers offer cashback up to £70.

Avoid automatic follow on renewals.....

Just ring up existing insurer and bask for Best Price and/or say you will move if they give no discount..... saves fannying about ringing around or using www.

Remember some policies are cheaper because they are cheapo i.e offer less cover!

Ask about any exclusions and keep a note of time and date of call and name. In case of probs as they will record it.

Remember most Ins Co are conmen. They just want your premiums and then will try to avoid paying out.

SO ALWAYS READ YOUR T & C'S CAREFULLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO CLAIM AND DO THIS BEFORE YOU FILL IN ANY FORMS.

NEVER TELL LIES, BUT HEY EVEN SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS THINK BEING "ECONOMICAL WITH THE TRUTH" IS OK!

Try diamond insurance for 17 year old, I wouldn't use comparison sites they probably take commission I went direct to the insurers web site as it was cheaper, increase excess £500 voluntary or whatever seems reasonable to you, add both parents as additional drivers or anyone else over 30 in household as long as they drive the car at some point, mileage 5000 seems reasonable although it is hard to judge in their first year, dont lie to them it will invalidate your cover should the worst happen, Hope this could be a possible way to cut the costs,

I know it's not car insurance but about 10 years ago my son had a £500 bike as a named item on our house insurance. After a few years he bought a new bike (another £500) to replace the old one which was worn out and within a couple of weeks it was stolen before we had got around to putting it on the policy.

I put in a claim thinking there is no way they will pay this but they did and I have stayed with the company ever since .

It's NFU - National Farmers Union by the way and no I am not a farmer.

I would have to say from my experience that if you go with the big boys the claims and contact facility is better, and the smalprint not so small, but you pay for that, as having used some of the minors in the past ,left with a feeling of hope nothing goes wrong as their systems can be catch 22 .. and lots of add ons, so take time-few hours if you have it-and shop round. Try the moneysavingexpert site as it seems to be customer friendly.

Dear Andrew - I worry about the habit of paying very young drivers' insurance for them. It shields them from the enormous risk the rest of us take in sharing the roads with them. A chap should earn his own premiums - it may induce more care in the process of earning NCB. Maybe save their lives even. And mine.

I have had a rather big shock with car insurance, i had renewed my policy at the beginning of Sept this year and unfortunatley lost my job on the 24th Sept rang the insurance company to chance my occupation from packer to unemployed and they have charged me another £168.15 because i have lost my job i am so upset about losing the job then to get this shock of having to pay this extra money out is

terrible, but what choose had i got? i went online to get some quotes thinking my insurance company was penalising me, however all car insurance companies were charging more for the unfortune of been out of work, these insurance companies have got a great deal to answer for; i understand if i was a new driver but i have over 17 years no claims but that still made no difference; i really think we would all be better going back to the horse and cart at least the roses would benefit instead of the insurance companies.