Anyone who drives a vehicle in the UK needs to have insurance. That’s a simple fact and a legal requirement. But choosing the right insurance isn’t just a matter of picking the cheapest policy; there are a lot of factors that can influence how much you pay. Whether you choose third party, fire and theft or fully comprehensive, the premiums are dictated by a variety of factors. So what can you do to bring your costs down?

Age and gender
Statistics show that young drivers are statistically more likely to have an accident than more experienced drivers. Approximately 90% of driving bans and convictions are issued to young, male drivers, and insurance companies tend to see them as ‘higher risk’ than those who have several years experience of driving. The magic age is 25 – once you’re past that you will find that your insurance premiums drop. After 25, insurance companies consider you to be a safer driver, purely because you have more experience of driving on the road and are less likely to succumb to the temptations of speeding. However, it does work in the opposite direction as well, and as you get close to statutory retirement age, you may find your premiums start to increase. Women drivers are statistically less likely to have accidents because they are considered to be more cautious drivers, travel shorter distances and when they do have an accident, tend to make lower insurance claims than men. As a result, women-only insurance providers offer good deals for female drivers, and can even offer better deals for younger women drivers.

Your driving history will also influence your insurance premiums. Companies reward those who do not make claims on their car insurance through a no-claims discount. The longer you go without making a claim, the more your insurance premiums go down. You can also build up your no-claims bonus and if you switch insurers, there are some providers who will take your no-claims history into account when they quote you. However, a claim could cut your no-claims bonus or even wipe it out altogether, and acquiring penalty points on your license may also affect your premiums adversely.

Other factors
Where you live has a lot to do with how much car insurance you will pay. If you live in an area that has a reputation for being a crime spot, the insurance provider will consider the risk of theft or vandalism damage as high. This will affect your claim. If you live in a rural area or a low-crime neighborhood, your insurance premiums will be lower, particularly if the vehicle is garaged. But if your postcode puts you in a high-risk area, you can make a difference to your premiums by fitting approved alarm systems or vehicle tracking devices.

What kind of car you drive will also affect what kind of insurance you are offered. The more valuable your car is, the more expensive it will be to repair or replace. This obviously sends the premiums up. Smaller cars that have not been modified or are economical are cheaper to insure, and some insurance providers are making special provisions for people choosing eco-friendly cars such as hybrids that have lower carbon emissions or use alternative fuels. Not only are these cheaper to insure, but they’re also cheaper to run and even the road tax is lower.

There are other factors that will affect how much insurance you pay, such as whether you use your car to commute, if you have additional named drivers on your policy and your annual mileage. But if you’re looking to make savings on your insurance, the best idea is to shop around using comparison sites or by talking to your current car insurance provider. You may not be able to do much about where you live or your gender, but by making other small changes you can bring the cost of your car insurance premiums down.

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