Money

Drivers pay DOUBLE for car insurance depending on where they live – the most expensive regions revealed 


DRIVERS in London pay almost twice as much for car insurance than those living in the South West, new figures reveal.

Typically, motorists in London fork out £1,102 a year for – £366 more than the national average of £736, according to comparison site CompareTheMarket.com.

 Drivers pay almost double for car insurance compared to motorists in other regions of the UK
Drivers pay almost double for car insurance compared to motorists in other regions of the UK

Drivers in the South West of England spend the least on cover at £557, which is nearly half the amount those in the capital pay for the same policy.

The comparison site compared premiums sold around the country between the start of 2018 and 2019 to find out where you’d need to live to take out the cheapest car insurance.

The second cheapest region for cover is Scotland, where on average drivers pay £581.24 a year – 21 per cent less than the national average.

Motorists in Wales are the third cheapest at £673.34 for annual cover, while those in Northern Ireland pay only £14 more than the national average.

How to save on car insurance

CAUGHT driving without insurance will see you slapped with a huge fine – but it doesn’t come cheap either. Here are some tips you can follow to get you the best ideal on your insurance:

  • Buy 21 days in advance – Purchasing a policy three weeks in advance can cut your bill in half. Buy 30 days in advance it could cost you hundred because there aren’t as many policies out there. Taking out a policy too late and insurers will deem you a higher risk and whack up your premium.
  • Never accept a renewal quote – Your policy could double overnight if you’re not careful. Make sure you put a reminder in your phone of when it’s up and shop around for a better deal.
  • Check more than one comparison site – These sites offer different deals so it’s best to look at more than one site at the 21 day mark to see what they can offer.
  • Check Direct Line and Aiva separately – Two of the biggest companies aren’t on comparison sites so you’ll need to check them too to see if they can offer you a better deal.
  • Don’t wait for a renewal – If you find a better deal elsewhere, you can cancel your existing policy and get a refund for the rest of the year. There will be a fee though – usually £50 – so take that into consideration when you look at how much you can save.

Drivers in the North West, which includes cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, are charged the second most expensive rate at £839.79 – but it’s still £262 cheaper than those in London.

Car insurance is affected by local crime rates that could put your car more at risk and also the type of locations where there have been plenty of accidents before.

For example, more accidents happen in towns and cities compared to more rural areas, and where crime rates are typically lower.

These figures may seem high but the latest Premium Drivers report actually showed that costs have dropped by £100 between December 2018 and February 2019 following the announcement of changes into the way whiplash claims are calculated.

The Civil Liability Act – which will come into force in April 2020 – will make it more difficult for drivers to falsify whiplash claims in order to get a payout.

Even though premiums historically fluctuate around this time of year, the stats show that prices have dropped by £65 a year this year compared to £35 in previous years.

Dan Hutson, head of motor insurance at comparethemarket.com, said: “People have flocked to high employment areas in recent history but doing so clearly comes at a cost.

“The reasons behind the additional costs for city drivers are fairly clear, with people living in London likely to have a higher risk profile as a result of the higher crime and accident rates.

“But, for Londoners struggling with their car insurance bills, it is essential to shop around to ensure you are on the most competitively priced policy.”

Insurers are urging drivers to take out “black box” policies to lower their premiums – but look out for the catches which could actually push up costs.

A single mum from Slough has revealed how she slashed car insurance bill by almost £550 a year with a “drive as you go” policy.


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