Compare Car Insurance

Your vehicle information

Start by entering your vehicle number plate and verify your vehicle to make sure we are showing correct details about your car. Car insurance cost varies per car and it depends on various factors such as car model, engine type, fuel type and annual mileage.

Your claim history

It is important to provide your previous claim history (for the last 5 years) as it will affect your insurance prices. If you have a no claims bonus, it will help reduce your car insurance costs.

Your personal details

The insurance company will need to know your personal details such as name(s), age and occupation and you will also need to answer a few questions about your driving license.

Other driver information

If you add an additional driver or drivers then you are required to provide their personal information. By adding additional drivers it could affect the prices offered by an insurer.

Type of policy

Your tailored prices will be based on type of policy you go ahead with. You can choose from fully comprehensive, third party fire and theft and third party only.

Voluntary excess

You will be asked to set up a voluntary excess while taking out a car insurance policy. The higher the excess the lower the monthly premium will be. However, you will need to pay both the voluntary and compulsory excess when making a claim so ensure you select a realistic figure for this so it does not put you off making a claim.

It is very important that you have above information when you are ready to compare car insurance T&C's apply

In the United Kingdom, It is against the law to drive without car insurance. Car insurance protects you, other motorists and damage to property incurred during an accident.

The available car insurance policy options are -

• Third party only - is the minimum requirement for all vehicles
• Third party fire and theft - provides cover to other people involved in the accident and protects your car in case your vehicle is damaged in a fire or stolen.
• Comprehensive insurance- provides full cover to your car and other involved in the accident

We recommend you to take a look at the pros and cons of all the different types to make an informed decision.

Each car insurance quote is different. To provide you with a car insurance quote we will need the information listed below.

• Driving License Details
• Car Registration Number
• Estimated annual mileage
• Where your car's parked during days and night
• Purpose of your car such as business use, commuting, social etc.

If you haven't claimed on your car insurance for a consecutive period of time, then you should get cheaper premiums. The No claims bonus/discount only applies to one car.

Pay your premium annually

You can reduce your insurance cosy by around 20% by paying annually. If you are paying monthly or quarterly you can save lots of money by switching to annual payment.

Get a Black Box installed

You can ask your insurer to install a telematic or a Black Box device that records your driving habits such as mileage and speeds which can show that you are a safe driver and as a reward, they will reduce your premiums.

Use your no claims bonus

If you have a history of no claims then you are most like to get better rates offered by insurance companies.

Reduce annual mileage

If you are driving less miles annually this can help to show that you have a low risk of having an accident which can also help reduce your annual premium however, do not lie about your annual mileage as any incorrect details will invalidate your policy.

Avoid auto renewal

Usually auto renewal is lot more expansive then comparing car insurance with us, over a third of UK motorists let their insurer auto renew their policy thus not getting the best price. Compare motor insurance with and see how much can save by switching away.

Increase Voluntary excess

Most of the insurance companies are likely to offer you better rates if you are willing to increase your voluntary excess. You are liable to pay voluntary excess and compulsory excess in the event of an accident so make sure this amount is realistic for you to both afford and still claim if you need to.

Avoid car modifications

If you modify your car most insurance companies will charge you extra for any modification carried out to cover the cost of replacement or any repairs. Generally, insurers don’t like to provide vehicle cover on modified cars which means few suppliers will prove you with quotes.

Vehicle security

A lot of the newer cars have a factory fitted immobiliser, if yours doesn’t you should consider installing immobilisers and alarms within your vehicle to reduce risk of theft and reduce your renewal quotes. Motor insurers generally prefer “Thatcham approved? devices and these will offer the greatest savings. Thatcham Research are an independent company that rank each immobiliser and alarm into different categories and the top perform earn “Thatcham Approved? status.

Fully Comprehensive

It offers highest level of cover for you and will be bit more expensive when compare to other types of policies. However, it covers your vehicle and cover the cost for 3rd party vehicles in an accident. It also covers, fire and theft. Some fully comprehensive policies also allow you to drive any other vehicle on a 3rd party only basis.

Key information

• Offers highest level of vehicle cover
• Provides cover for your and 3rd party vehicle
• Provides cover for theft and fire
• One of the most expensive covers but the most comprehensive

Third party fire and theft

It is cheaper than comprehensive cover but it will only provide you with basic third party cover which means it will cover damages to other car(s) (a third party) in an accident that is your fault but not yours, it also covers theft and fire.

Key information

• Usually cheaper than Comprehensive cover
• Provides cover for other people’s property and injuries
• Provides cover if your car is stolen or involved in a fire
• If you are responsible for damages than it won’t cover you or your car

Third party only

Third party only cover tends to be the cheapest and will only pay out if you have damaged another person’s property or a vehicle. It will not pay out for any repairs that you carry out on your own vehicle nor will it pay out if your vehicle is stolen or is involved in a fire.

Key information

• Legally required cover for you to drive a car
• One of the cheapest vehicle insurance cover available
• Provides the most basic cover
• Only covers third party and their property damages
• It will not provide any cover for you or your vehicle

The cover you require is entirely dependent on your personal circumstances, such as the vehicle you drive, where and how you drive. You can choose to add additional add-ons such as legal cover, hire car included and windscreen protection to help you find the right motor cover policy. You can compare car insurance quotes with us to find cheaper policy which suits your needs.

Young drivers insurance

Policies for younger drivers tends to be on higher side due to lack of driving statistics show that it is a high risk group for accidents. You can reduce your premium by taking advance driving certification and higher Voluntary excess but this needs to be a figure that you can afford and will also not put you off making a claim.

Learner drivers insurance

Learning to drive in the UK can be very expensive and stressful, if you are learning how to drive in your car, your family’s car and friend’s car then you need to get a learner drivers insurance policy. Your cover would vary depending on the level of cover you go ahead with but it can give you valuable experience on the road without paying for a qualified instructor (an experienced driver over the age of 25 must be in the car with you when you drive).

Multi car insurance

Multi car insurance is specifically designed for those who have more than one car within their family. By insuring multiple cars with the same insurer, you can save hundreds of pounds as they offer more discount to insure all of the cars with them. You can insure all cars under 0ne policy which means less paper work too.

Classic car insurance

It is a special type of insurance and designed to insure classic cars which are usually a lot more expensive and in some cases older than 30 years. Classic car insurance is for vintage cars.

Telematics vehicle insurance

This is also known as a black box, your insurance provider will monitor you’re driving habits via mobile app or a black box installed in your vehicle. If you are a safe driver, you insurer might reduce your insurance premium.

Business car insurance

If you are using your car for business purposes or your employer requires you to drive on behalf of them then you should look to get business car insurance policy. You can do this very easily at the start of the quote when it asks if you will be using the car for SDP (social, domestic and pleasure), SDP and commuting or SDP, commuting and business

Short term car insurance

If are borrowing a car from friends or family for short term then short term insurance can be for you. You are only driving car once in a while, short term insurance can cheaper than annual policy.

European car insurance

All motor insurance policies come with a cover which allows you to drive in most of the EU countries; however you may be required to purchase additional cover for some countries.

Over 50’s car insurance

Over 50’s insurance can be cheaper due to vast driving experience. Some insurers offer specialised cover for those who are over 50’s

Courtesy car

When you are involved in an accident and your car is damaged, your insurance provider can provide you with a courtesy car while your car is being repaired by an approved garage.

No claim bonus

No claim bonus helps you get cheaper cover every year. Every year you don’t claim on your insurance you can add a year to your claim free period. You can also protect your no claim bonus when agreeing to take out new policy. Your insurer will send you proof of no claim bonus with your renewal offer.

Break down cover

Break down cover offers three different levels of cover you can choose from

• 1) Recovery and home start
• 2) Roadside assistance and recovery
• 3) Roadside assistance

You can get cheaper break down cover by comparing and buying separately so make sure you compare car break down cover prices too.

Personal injury cover

Personal injury cover can help you get compensation for any injuries caused by a car accident. Claim limits can vary per supplier and in some cases passengers are covered too.

Lost or stolen keys cover

If your keys are stolen or lost, lost key cover can help you fund the cost of replacing your keys and if required the locks. Some of the smart keys can be very costly to replace these days, that’s without taking into any consideration of other cost whilst you can’t use your vehicle such as hiring another vehicle.

Legal expenses cover

If you are involved in a car accident which is not your fault, legal assistance cover can help you recover expenses from the person who is responsible. It can also help you defend any claims bought against you.

Windscreen replacement and repair cover

It provides covers for the repair of cracks and chips to your car’s windscreen, some insurance companies proved this cover for free. If your windscreen can’t be repaired, it can also provide a cover for replacement windscreen; however you might have to pay an agreed windscreen excess which is considerably lower than a new windscreen.

Car insurance groups are one of the main factors used to make an informed decision about the risk insurance providers might face when providing a cover for the car. If car found in higher insurance group, your premium will be higher too.

There are 50 types of insurance groups. Group 1 being the cheapest and group 50 being the most expensive type which was introduced by Thatcham back in 2007.

Car Insurance is essential, of course, but with so many potential features and options, it can seem complicated when it comes to choosing your policy. Don't be put off finding the right policy, however. We aim to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible and that includes helping you out with the answers to some of the most common questions.

Your no claims bonus is given to you by your insurer if you don't make a claim, but it won't last forever. This discount on future premiums can really cut the cost of your car insurance when it's time to renew, but you will normally lose it after a period of not having any insurance.

Discounts of as much as 60 per cent can be offered by some insurers for your no claims bonus, but it will usually disappear after two years if you don't drive and have insurance. This means that you would then have to start building it up again from scratch.

The simple answer to this is that the details will depend on your chosen car insurance policy, although there are some basic rules to understand.

All UK insurance for vehicles will give you a minimum of third party cover, allowing you to drive in some European countries. At the time of writing, these were

• EU countries, including Ireland
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Andorra
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Serbia
• Norway
• Switzerland

Your insurance may also offer extra cover for damage to your vehicle or theft. It is also worth checking out the most recent government advice before you leave.

The easiest way of finding out what your car insurance covers you for when abroad is by contacting your insurer or reading your policy documents. Make sure to take note of the details. Even if your policy says that you will be covered for driving abroad, you need to be aware of the level of cover offered and the time limits on any cover.

Don't just assume that you will get fully comprehensive cover when you are abroad just because you have it in Britain as many policies will only provide basic cover when overseas.

There may also be limits as to how long you will be covered when driving abroad. It may be what is known as a continuous limit, such as no more than 14 consecutive days in a row, or it may be an annual allowance.

You will also need to consider whether you need a green card, which was first designed to make it as simple as possible to drive between European countries.

At the time of writing this guide, you don't need to have a green card to drive in these countries, either, but you will in the likes of Albania, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. The green card is a means of proving that you have adequate vehicle insurance when you are driving abroad.

If you are driving in the rest of the world, you may have to carry the green card to prove that you have the particular country's minimum required insurance cover. This includes when driving in the likes of Tunisia, Morocco, Israel, and Iran.

You can contact your insurer in order to get a green card and they will either post one to you or give you instructions on how you can download and print one. If you want one sent by post, make sure that you leave at least six weeks before you travel. You should also be prepared to pay an admin fee.

You might also require extra insurance for caravans, trailers, and your vehicle. You can check out the travel advice for particular countries on the government website at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

You may have to show this green card if you are stopped by the local police, if you are involved in a crash, or if you are crossing borders between countries.

The internet makes it simple to insure your car. At Free Price Compare, you simply put in your registration and we can deliver the car insurance quotes you need with the minimum hassle and fuss.

This means that you don't even need to think about working out how much car insurance you need. All you will need to consider is policy specifics, such as what sort of excess you want to pay, what level of cover you need, and whether you want any add-ons to your basic policy.

Your quotes - and the amount that you will pay for your car insurance will depend on a range of factors. These include everything from what you do for a living to where you live and park your car.

One of the facts insurers will look at when calculating your insurance will be your age and this will have a major impact. Figures show that drivers aged between 66 and 77, for example, will pay around a third of what 18 to 20-year-olds will be asked to pay [1].

Other information which will create what is known as your risk profile is what car you drive, your occupation, how secure your vehicle is, where you live, how your car is used, your no claims bonus and claims history, your chosen policy type, and your excess.

Finding cheap car insurance as a young driver can be challenging as this group is deemed to be more likely to be involved in an accident. There are things you can do to mitigate how much you pay, however. Let's take a look at some ideas that could help to keep down the cost of your car insurance as a young driver:

Consider car type

Opting for a car in a lower insurance group can help to keep costs down. Every car is put into a UK insurance group numbered from 1 to 50 and generally, the lower the number of the group, the cheaper your car insurance will be. Make sure you check out the insurance group before buying your car.

You should also resist the temptation to modify your car, unless the modifications are to increase its security. Even then, you need to make sure that any devices you use are industry-approved and declare them to your insurer. Some modifications could leave you unable to get insurance as a young driver, such as superchargers.

Black box insurance

Black box insurance can be a way to show your insurer that you are a responsible, trustworthy driver and can help your bank balance in the process. If you choose to go down this road, you will have to have a black box in your vehicle to monitor your driving, but the use of telematics technology can reward you for driving well. It will not reduce the cost of your very first insurance policy, but it can save you money when it is time to renew.

Opt for a higher excess

Committing to a higher voluntary amount that you will pay in the event of a claim can reduce the premiums you pay. Do ensue that it is affordable in the event of a claim.

Adding an older driver

This is not the same as a parent adding a child to their car insurance as this could be classed as illegal if the younger party is actually the primary user of the vehicle. If someone says they are the main driver of a vehicle when they are not, this is known as insurance fronting, and is illegal. The opposite is allowed, however, and adding a parent to your policy can reduce the premium.

Compare specialist insurance

Comparing specialist young driver insurance can help to ensure that you don't pay more than you need to for your car insurance policy.

Keeping your vehicle safe and secure

Your insurer may charge you less if your vehicle is kept safely, for example, in a garage. Security devices such as immobilisers and alarms may also help.

Key protection covers you in the event that your car keys are lost or stolen. It can cover everything from calls out from locksmiths to replacement keys and locks. It can provide a one-stop point of access to get the situation sorted out.

This type of cover may seem extravagant until you consider how technologically advanced and sophisticated car keys are, and how this is only likely to increase in the future. This means that they are far from cheap to replace and the process may take some time. This is why some insurers will ensure you have a hire car until you get your new keys. Another bonus is that some insurers will let you make a car key claim without it having an adverse effect on your no claims bonus.

Certain insurers can include key protection as standard with a car insurance policy, whilst others will ask you to pay extra for the add-on. If you're considering this type of cover, however, it is important to check out the details as the specifics can differ depending upon the policy you choose. For example, some insurers will only offer cover if you have your car keys stolen. In this instance, you will not be covered if you simply lose them.

If you don't want to include it in your car insurance policy, there is also the opportunity to buy separate car key cover. Some policies of this type will even insure other keys at the same time, such as the key to a property.

Once again, however, it is important to look at the specifics of what is covered. The main details to consider are any limits on the cost of new keys, cover for reprogramming or replacing an immobiliser or other vehicle security features, cover for expenses, courtesy car, and the availability of an emergency helpline.

It is also important to think about what is unlikely to be covered by car key protection. This includes factors such as damage caused by wear and tear, problems with the car's locks, damage or loss when someone else has your keys, stolen keys when you haven't got a crime reference number, and upgraded car keys.

The cost of key cover is generally very reasonable, especially if you compare prices and car insurance deals. How much it will cost will depend on a variety of factors, however, such as the model and make of your car and the type of key you have. Some keys are much more advanced, such as transponder or smart keys, and this will mean you are likely to pay more for your cover.

Motor legal protection, which is also commonly called car insurance legal cover, can have many benefits, from helping you to recover your excess when an accident wasn't your fault, to ensuring that you are in a position to defend yourself if someone brings an action against you.

It will cost extra to add this to your standard insurance policy but it can be invaluable if you have to make a claim against another driver or protect yourself from a claim without needing to worry about the legal costs.

Motor legal protection can cover a wide range of different legal expenses. These include personal injury to your passengers or yourself, vehicle damage if you're not covered by a fully comprehensive policy, loss of earnings in the event that you cannot work due to injuries from a crash, and other expenses such as insurance excesses.

It is important that you understand that having legal cover won't give you claim-related compensation as it is designed to only cover the legal costs. It should be remembered, however, that legal costs alone can often amount to a significant sum of money.

There is no legal requirement for you to carry your car insurance documents in your car but you may decide that you want to for convenience.

A police officer could demand that you produce your car insurance certificate but there is no legal obligation for you to have it with you at the time. You will simply have to make sure that you present it at a police station. This must be done within seven days.

To prevent you having to make a trip to the police station, it can pay to have your documents in the glove compartment. This way, they will be at hand if you do need them.

Having said this, many documents we now have are held in digital form and can be accessed quickly and easily using a mobile phone.

Car insurance does not usually include breakdown cover as standard, but this can be included as a paid-for add-on. Then, the breakdown cover may or may not include vehicle recovery, depending on the circumstances of your breakdown and the type of cover you have chosen.

You may get a discount for bundling your car insurance and breakdown cover together, but some insurers will only give you basic breakdown cover. If vehicle recovery from wherever you happen to be is an important factor for you, then make sure you choose this before deciding on your cover.

There are different types of breakdown cover available and this can impact on whether vehicle recovery is included. Firstly, you will need to know whether you or your vehicle are covered.

Personal cover means that a named person rather than a vehicle is insured, while vehicle cover means a specific vehicle is covered.

If you want to be sure that your policy will include vehicle recovery, check that your policy covers national recovery alongside the usual roadside repair. This means that you will be towed to a location within the UK if your car breaks down and cannot be revived. If you are travelling abroad, you may also want to ensure that you have European recovery in place.

Other features to look out for when choosing car insurance with breakdown cover is whether home starts are covered and if you would be eligible for onward journey assistance.

You may be shocked after a car accident, but it is vital that you try to maintain composure and carry out a few tasks that can really help you in the future.

Firstly, stop your vehicle, turn off the engine and switch on the hazard lights. Check for any injuries and call emergency services if required. Call the police on 999 if there are any injuries, the road is blocked or there is other damage, you think that the crash may have been caused intentionally by the other party, such as in the case of crash for cash scams, the other driver seems to be drunk or under the influence of drugs, or the other party flees the scene or has no insurance.

If you don't need to call the police immediately, you should report the crash to them within 24 hours. You can do this online by calling 101, or speaking to an officer at the station. At the scene of the crash, make sure that you exchange complete details with the other driver or drivers. This includes full name, contact number, registration number and address. You should also exchange the details of insurance companies, together with the registered owner of the vehicle, and try to get contact details of anyone who witnessed what happened.

Never admit responsibility or apologise for the accident at the scene. This will protect you in terms of liability if it turns out that the crash wasn't your fault. Another important task to complete at the scene is to take down some notes. These should include:

• Details about the other vehicle involved. Take pictures if you can.
• The date and time of the crash.
• Driving conditions such as road quality, lighting, and weather.
• Damage to the vehicles involved.
• Injuries to anyone involved.

Use your mobile phone to take photographs of the crash scene, including damage to vehicles and their positions.

If you can, try to phone your insurance company at the scene, although you should simply try to do this as soon as you possibly can.

There is not usually a limit to how many claims you can make on your car insurance. You should remember, however, that the more claims you make, the more expensive your insurance premiums will become. This is because insurers look at your risk profile and will consider that previous claims could equate to more claims in the future.

If you don't know how many claims you have made, you can check out your claims history by getting in touch with your provider for details. They will be able to give you information such as what pay-outs were made, what kind of claim you made, and when it was made.

There is also information available on the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE). This is a database containing information about all incidents that have been reported to insurers. It even includes incidents which don't result in an actual claim. The CUE record will hold details of car insurance claims for six years. You can request information about the information held on the CUE database by filling out an online form at mib. Just be aware that it is often much quicker to go straight to your insurer to get the information you need.

You can also find out about your insurance history by filling out an access request form on the Motor Insurers' Bureau website at mib.