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As a new driver, you’ve already been stung with significant costs when it comes to getting your license. Many, many driving lessons (which certainly aren’t cheap), theory tests, driving tests- and then more lessons if you fail- it can add up to a scary amount. But once you have your licence in your hand it’s just the start, and as a new driver it’s really not made easy for you at all. It’s not even the cost of your car that’s the main expense, but insurance which is always going to be pricey when you’re first starting out. Thankfully as you go on and gain driving experience (and hopefully, no claims bonuses) it will start to get lower but the first few years can be tough. Here are some of the ways you can help to lessen the blow.
Shop Around
Chances are friends and family will recommend insurers to you, however what’s cheap for them won’t necessarily be for you. So when you’re looking to buy car insurance, it’s important to get as many quotes as possible. As well as using price comparison sites, it’s also worth phoning up direct insurers- these are sometimes cheaper as they don’t pay to be placed on comparison sites. Telematics box insurance is common for new drivers and can help to bring down the cost, here you will have a small device installed into your car which will send feedback to your insurer. Driving safely will reward you with lower prices.
Consider Your Vehicle
You might have a particular type of car in mind that you want to drive, you might have even been saving up for it while doing your lessons. However if you’re getting consistently high quotes then it might be worth switching to something else. Car insurance can vary dramatically between different models, even those that are a similar age, style and engine size. Run quotes for lots of different cars before purchasing, and make your final decision with insurance costs in mind. It might be a case of driving a car that’s cheap to insure for a couple of years, and getting the car you really want a little later down the line. Don’t forget to look into running costs, road tax, repairs and other things that will factor into to the overall price of the car.
Reword Your Job Title
It’s important to mention first that you absolutely shouldn’t lie on your car insurance quote. Giving the wrong information could mean that in the event of an accident, your insurer refused to pay out which could put you in an incredibly sticky situation. However, what you can do is reword your job title which can actually reduce your premiums. For example, a ‘chef’ can be charged sometimes hundreds more than ‘kitchen staff. While you will still need to be truthful, it can be worth your while to run quotes with different wordings of your job title. Even saving a few hundred pounds over the year makes all the difference when you’re already paying a fortune.
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