How to Get Cheap Car Insurance Quotes Online

Car Insurance Guides
June 13th, 2025
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance Quotes Online

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Finding cheap car insurance quotes online can feel like a lot to take in. There are many insurance companies out there. They all offer different insurance policies and many types of cover. If you know how car insurance costs and the car insurance premium are set, you can get a better deal. When you use the right tools, you will have more ways to save money.

Why Should You Compare Car Insurance Quotes Online?

What Are the Benefits of an Online Car Insurance Comparison?

  1. Representative Cost Savings
    When you use Free Price Compare’s insurance comparison website, you can see that the cost savings, in many cases, can be up to 14%. This happens when you compare the price to what you get from your current insurance supplier.
  2. Quick Access to Multiple Insurers
    You do not need to call each insurance company one by one. In just a few minutes, you get prices from more than 20 providers. This makes finding car insurance costs so much easier.
  3. Customisable Level of Cover
    You can choose a level of cover that fits what you need. The options are third party, comprehensive car insurance, or TPFT insurance. TPFT insurance means you get cover for third party, fire, and theft. You can add extras to your plan, like breakdown cover, windscreen cover, and personal accident cover.
  4. Transparent Pricing
    Online quotes show car insurance costs in a clear and open way. You will see how much excess you have to pay if there is a car accident. You also find out if there are extra fees, for example for low-deposit or temporary car insurance.

How Do Insurers Calculate Your Premium?

What Factors Affect Car Insurance Costs?

Factor Impact on Premium
Age and Driving Licence Status New drivers or young drivers pay more; a full driving licence holder often gets a claims discount.
Claims Bonus A 5-year claims bonus can reduce your premium by up to 60%.
Level of Coverage Highest level of cover (comprehensive) costs more than third party.
Annual Mileage & Usage Lower usage (e.g., <5,000 miles/yr) can unlock discounts.
Vehicle Value & Modifications Classic car insurance policies differ from typical policies.
Location & Garaging Parking in a secure garage vs. on-street affects risk of theft.
Voluntary Excess Amount Choosing a higher excess lowers your premium.
Credit Score & Payment Method Some insurers use credit checks; monthly payments may incur fees.

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Step-by-Step: Getting Cheap Car Insurance Quotes Online

1. Gather Your Details

Before you start, have the following ready:

  • Please give your full name, where you live, and your licence details.
  • Share your vehicle registration number, the make or model of the car, and tell us your yearly car usage or mileage.
  • Let us know who your current insurance supplier is and say when your car insurance will need renewal or when it will run out.
  • Tell us how many years’ claims bonus or claims discount you have.
  • Say what level of cover you want. You can choose third party, TPFT insurance, or comprehensive car insurance.

2. Choose the Right Comparison Site

Using a trusted car insurance comparison site can save you time and money by showing you quotes from multiple insurers in one place.

At Free Price Compare, we make it easy to find competitive quotes tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking for third-party cover or fully comprehensive policies, our platform helps you:

  • Compare savings – See real-time offers from top insurers
  • Filter by add-ons – From breakdown cover and legal protection to windscreen repair and personal accident cover
  • Use our car insurance calculator – Get an instant estimate based on your vehicle and driving history

Tip: Don’t just compare prices — check what’s included in each policy to make sure you’re getting the right level of cover for your situation.

3. Enter Your Information Accurately

  • Make sure the details on your driving licence and your address are right.
  • If you give the wrong mileage, your insurance policy may not be valid.
  • Let them know if you want add-ons like breakdown cover, windscreen cover, or personal accident cover.

4. Compare Quotes by Level of Cover

Insurer Third Party TPFT Insurance Comprehensive Representative Cost
Vavista £210 £250 £425 13% savings
Prima £230 £275 £440 12% savings
Darwin £225 £270 £430 14% savings
Santander £240 £290 £455 11% savings

5. Factor in Optional Add-ons

  • Breakdown cover: This often adds about £30 to £60 to what you pay each year.
  • Windscreen cover: A windscreen cover can cost an extra £10 to £20 for the year.
  • Personal accident cover: You might need to pay £5 to £15 more each year to get personal accident cover.
  • Legal cover: A legal cover usually costs you another £15 to £25 every year.

6. Check for Hidden Fees

  • Some insurers can have administration fees when you renew car insurance or if you need to make a change during the year.
  • A low-deposit car insurance or temporary car insurance might cost more over the year.

When Is the Best Time to Get Quotes?

What Is the Best Time to Renew or Switch?

  • 30–60 days before renewal: The insurers most often send renewal invites between 30 to 60 days before the renewal time. The prices in these invites are likely to go up.
  • Quarterly reviews: You should check new quotes at the start of every Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4. There is a good chance you find a good deal at these times.
  • After gaining bonus years: Your claims bonus will go up each year. It’s a good idea to look for new offers when your policy has its anniversary.

How to Use a Car Insurance Calculator

Most of the sites with car insurance also have a car insurance calculator tool. You can use this tool to help you.

  1. Input Vehicle Details: Enter your registration, value, and engine size.
  2. Set Level of Cover: Pick the level of cover you want, like third party, TPFT insurance, or comprehensive.
  3. Add Optional Extras: You can choose extras such as breakdown cover, windscreen cover, or personal accident cover.
  4. Adjust Excess: You may increase your excess if you want to lower your cost.
  5. View Quotes: Check all quotes side-by-side to see the representative cost savings.

Advanced Tips to Lower Your Premium

Can You Reduce Your Insurance Costs Further?

1. Boost Your Claims Bonus

  • Do not make small claims. You can pay for little repairs on your own.
  • If you do not make any claims for five years in a row, you might get a claims discount of up to 60%.

2. Opt for Usage-Based Telematics

  • Young driver insurance with black-box devices can help you save up to 25% on what you pay.
  • You pay based on your real usage, like the number of miles you drive, not on guesses or what most people do.

3. Bundle Policies

  • You can get a discount if you have your home insurance policy and car insurance policy with the same insurer. This is called a multi-policy discount. It is a good way to save some money on your insurance policy. A lot of people like to keep their car insurance and home insurance with one insurer. You just need to ask your insurer about this to see if it works for you.

4. Consider Classic Car Insurance

  • If you have a vintage car, you may pay less money when you choose a special classic car insurance plan. This type of car insurance can give you an agreed value for your car.

5. Shop for Temporary Cover

  • If you want car insurance that is not for a long time, temporary car insurance may cost from £5 to £10 a day.

Average Car Insurance Premium by Level of Cover

Common Questions About Car Insurance Cover

What Level of Coverage Do I Need?

Level of Cover What It Includes Typical Cost Impact
Third Party Liability for damage to others’ vehicles Lowest
Third Party, Fire & Theft (TPFT insurance) Adds cover for fire damage & theft +20–25% vs 3rd party
Comprehensive Car Insurance Covers your vehicle, third parties, and more +40–60% vs 3rd party

What Is the Excess on a Car Insurance Policy?

  • Compulsory excess: The insurer will set this amount for you. For example, it can be £100.
  • Voluntary excess: You pick this amount on your own. For example, you can add £50 more. This can help make your premium lower.

How Does Breakdown Cover Work?

  • Most insurance companies give roadside help and recovery as an extra service.
  • You can make this better by adding cover that starts at your home. You can also choose to get cover while in Europe.

Will My Premium Go Up After a Car Accident?

  • Yes, if you make a claim, it will often bring your claims bonus back to zero.
  • You might want to use legal cover when you are not at fault. This can help if you have a dispute and may keep your premium from going up.

Correct as of 12 June 2025

FAQs About Cheap Car Insurance Quotes Online

What affects car insurance costs?

Car insurance costs can go up or down for many reasons. A few things that can change how much you pay are your age, your driving licence record, where you live, how much your car is worth, the miles your car has done, if you have a claims bonus, and the level of cover you pick. New drivers and young drivers often pay more for car insurance. This is because they are seen as a bigger risk by insurance companies. If you have a clean licence and a good driving history, it can help you get lower insurance costs.

How does a black-box insurance policy work?

Black-box or telematics policies keep track of how you drive. If you drive in a safe way and do not go over your miles, you can get lower prices for your insurance. This is very good for young driver insurance.

What are representative cost savings?

These savings are the average amounts that you can see on different comparison sites. They use real customer data for this. For example, Free Price Compare’s insurance comparison website shows that you could save up to 14% when you compare it to your current insurance supplier.

When should I use temporary car insurance?

Temporary car insurance is great when you only need to use a car for a short time, like for one day or over the weekend. This kind of car insurance gives you more flexibility. It may even cost less than adding someone else to your or another person’s car insurance plan. The price for temporary car insurance can start from only £5 to £10 each day.

Is it better to renew early or wait?

The best time to look for quotes is 30 to 60 days before your renewal. If you wait until the last minute, many companies will make the prices go up. When you compare early, you can get lower prices and better choices. This way, you may save money and feel good about what you pick.

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