Compare cheap car insurance quotes with Money Expert
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Whether your current policy is approaching its renewal date, or you’ve just bought a new car and need cover so you can drive it, you could save yourself up to £490* by comparing car insurance policies with Money Expert.
Tell us about you and your car
We’ll need some basic personal information, as well as details on the make, model, and age of your car.
Tell us what type of cover you need
Let us know what type of policy you’re after, and provide some detail about how you use your car.
Choose the right policy
We’ll show you a bespoke list of policies, generated based on your requirements. All you need to do is pick the one that’s right for you.
We'll show you quotes from a hand-picked list of over 110+ different insurers, including:
What level of car insurance do I need?
What is fully comprehensive insurance?
Fully comprehensive insurance offers the highest level of cover available. You will be covered if your car is damaged or written off, if your vehicle is stolen or catches fire, as well as any medical expenses.
Comprehensive policies can often be quite different, so you should always check what is covered before you buy.
Who is it for?
Most drivers. Fully comprehensive policies almost always offer the best value for money. Always check what each insurance provider actually includes in their fully comp policies.
Find out more: Fully comprehensive car insurance
Key features
Highest level of cover available.
Often the most expensive level of insurance.
Covers damage if you're involved in an accident, theft, medical expenses, fire damage, and theft of your vehicle.
What is third party, fire and theft?
A third party, fire and theft (TPFT) policy will cover the costs of damage to another person, their vehicle, or property, if you are found at fault for causing the damage.
If you’re involved in an incident and are found responsible, you will not be covered for any repairs or medical bills. You will be covered against theft, damage done during an attempted theft, and fire damage to your car however.
Who is it for?
Not many people. Third party, fire and theft cover actually tends to be more expensive that fully comprehensive cover, but offers less in the way of protection.
Find out more: Third party, fire and theft cover
Key features
Damage to another person, their property, or vehicle, is covered.
You’ll be covered if your car is stolen or involved in a fire.
Damage to your car and yourself isn’t covered if you are found at fault.
What is third party only insurance?
Third party only (TPO) car insurance is required to drive your car in the UK legally. Your insurer will pay out if you damage another person’s vehicle or property, but they will not cover any repairs you need to make to your own vehicle.
Who is it for?
The budget conscious. Third party only cover doesn’t offer much, but will often be the cheapest form of insurance available – this isn’t always the case though, and it can prove false economy even when it is.
Find out more: Third party car insurance
Key features
The minimum legal requirement for driving your car in the UK.
Covers other people’s vehicle or property if you damage them in an accident.
Usually the cheapest insurance available to drivers.
How much does car insurance cost?
The price of your cover depends on a number of factors, including the type of cover you choose, your no claims bonus, and your age and driver profile.
| Type of cover | Average premium cost1 |
|---|---|
| Fully comprehensive | £973 |
| Third party, fire and theft | £1,422 |
| Third party only | £2,559 |
1Average annual cost based on quotes delivered to 59,564 Money Expert customers between Jan-Aug 2021
How does the type of cover you choose affect your insurance premiums?
This might seem counterintuitive, but fully comprehensive car insurance policies tend to actually be the cheapest, despite offering the most cover.
We found that fully comp policies cost an average of £973 a year, while TPFT comes in at £1,422, and third party-only as high as £2,559.
A key reason for this is that drivers with third party-only cover are more likely to be involved in accidents.
How to get cheaper car insurance
There are certain things you can do to improve your chances of getting offered cheaper quotes, regardless of what kind of car you drive or what your profile as a driver looks like.
Pay upfront
Paying upfront annually works out cheaper, as no finance arrangement is needed.
Improve your security
Security devices like steering wheel locks will push down your premiums, as will parking off-road.
Increase your voluntary excess
Higher excess can mean lower premiums. Don’t make it too high though, in case you need to claim!
Build up your no-claims discount
If you don't claim, your no-claims bonus will lower your premiums.
Drive fewer miles
Driving fewer miles per year will reduce the price of your policy.
Get a telematics policy
Installing a black box, or telematics device, can help lower your premiums.
Add-ons to consider when doing a car insurance comparison
There are a number of different add-ons that you can purchase to enhance your cover. Some of these will be particularly useful for certain types of driver (e.g. European cover if you drive abroad often), and some more useful in a general sense (e.g. breakdown cover).
All of them cost money, but some can save you money in the long run. We’ve outlined some common add-ons here to help you decide if they’re right for you.
Personal accident cover
Provides you with compensation if you or a passenger is injured or killed in an accident.
No claims discount protection
Allows you to make a certain number of claims per year which do not affect your no claims discount.
Lost or stolen keys
Your insurer will cover the cost of replacing your keys if they’re lost or stolen.
How your driver profile affects the cost of your car insurance premiums
Car insurance prices will vary depending on certain key facts about you, the driver. Older, more experienced drivers tend to be offered cheaper quotes, for example. Have a look below to find out how these different factors are likely to affect your premiums, and how to find the cheapest car insurance quotes given your circumstances:
Younger drivers – especially under-25s – will pay much more than their older counterparts for car insurance, other things being equal. This is because drivers aged 17-24 are statistically far more likely to be involved in road traffic accidents than those aged 25+. You’re not totally out of luck if you’re a younger driver though – getting a telematics policy, or adding a named driver can help bring down your costs.
Find out more: Car insurance for younger drivers
Car insurance gets cheaper as you get older, right up until around the age of 70-75. After that, cover can get more expensive as the likelihood of you having a medical condition that affects your safety behind the wheel increases. Nevertheless, even for drivers over 80, you can still expect to pay less than most below the age of 60.
Find out more: Car insurance for older drivers
If you’re new to driving altogether, no matter your age, you can expect to pay a bit more for your cover than an experienced driver would. Choosing a smaller, less powerful car for your first set of wheels can be a good way to cut costs down. If you’ve already bought your car, then choosing a policy with limited mileage while you build up some experience (and a no claims bonus) can be a good idea.
Find out more: Car insurance for new drivers
Insurance providers are legally prohibited from charging you more for your cover on the basis of your disability. However you will likely have particular needs that might not be covered by standard policies, including cover that takes into account any modifications to your vehicle like wheelchair lifts or adapted steering wheels.
Find out more: Car insurance for disabled drivers
Car insurance gets a lot more expensive if you’ve got a criminal conviction or points on your license. As a result, it’s all the more important to make sure you get a good overview of what your options are by comparing as many policies as possible.
Find out more: Car insurance for convicted drivers
If you drive your car for a living, you’ll be using it in ways that might exceed what a normal policy would cover. Your mileage will be much higher than a normal drivers’ for example, and you might need cover in case of injury to your passengers.
Find out more:
What type of car do you want insurance for?
Smaller, less powerful cars tend to be cheaper to cover because they’re less likely to be involved in accidents. Popular and inexpensive cars also tend to be cheaper to cover because replacement parts are easier (and cheaper) to get hold of.
Some types of car will have unique requirements that mean you might need a specialist policy to cover what you need. If you drive an electric car, you’ll want cover for batteries and charging cables. If you’ve modified your car, for performance or accessibility, you’ll want to ensure that your modifications are insured.
Why use Money Expert?
You could save up to £490*
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Deals from over 110 auto insurance providers***
Finding cheap car insurance with Money Expert couldn't be simpler. We only need a few details about you and your car to compare deals from over 100 insurers. The whole process only takes a few minutes!
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Great service. Saved me £140 per annum!
Thomas Bewick
22/02/2022
Very helpful informative service.
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17/02/2022
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26/02/2022
Simple and easy saved me £s over the year
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14/02/2022
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10/02/2022
Why Have My Car Insurance Costs Increased?
If you’ve noticed an increase in your car insurance costs recently, it could be due to changes in your personal circumstances. Moving home, getting a new job or buying a different car could all have a knock-on effect on your monthly premiums.
However, if nothing’s changed on your end, your costs may have increased due to inflation. Car insurers are finding replacement vehicles and repairs more expensive, so are passing these costs onto consumers.
Consumer Intelligence reports that car insurance premiums have experienced a record 22% increase from May-Aug 2023, making it more important than ever before to compare policies and ensure you’re getting the right deal for your needs.
FAQs
Am I covered by my insurance when driving someone else’s car?
This depends on the type of cover you have. Most types of third party cover only insure you while driving your own car, but that doesn’t mean that every comprehensive car insurance policy will cover you while driving a car that’s not yours. If you need to drive another person’s car, look into getting extra cover as an add-on, taking out temporary car insurance, or becoming a named driver on someone else’s policy.
Can I cancel my existing car insurance policy?
In most circumstances, it is possible to cancel your current car insurance policy, but you may incur a fee by doing so. The best time to cancel is usually in the initial cooling-off period or around the time your car insurance is due to renew. However, if you want to cancel part-way through a contract, it’s best to speak to your provider to find out exactly how this could impact you financially.
How long is my car insurance quote valid for?
The length of time your car insurance quote is valid for depends on the provider offering it to you. Most quotes will be valid anywhere between 10 and 60 days, but some may change days after you receive them.
Why was my car insurance claim rejected?
Car insurance claims can be rejected for a wide range of reasons. For example, an insurer could refuse a claim for something not covered under your policy or when it’s not clear who’s fault an accident was. Insurers can also reject claims if you’ve done something to invalidate your car insurance, such as failed your MOT.
How does a no-claims bonus work?
For every year that you don’t make a claim on your car insurance, your no-claims bonus will apply a discount to your premiums. Keep in mind that every no-claims bonus works differently and some will have a cap on the number of years it will be effective. Depending on how much your no-claims bonus saves you, it can sometimes be better to hold off making a claim for minor incidents.
What are the new car insurance rules and will they affect my premiums?
New car insurance pricing rules were introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority in 2022, which means that car insurance companies must not charge existing customers more than new customers when their policy renews. This could mean that your premiums won’t increase as much as in previous years, but due to car insurance costs rising across the board, it’s still worth using a car insurance comparison service to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your needs.
What is telematics and do I need it?
A telematics device, also known as a black box, can help to lower the cost of your car insurance. The device needs to be installed in your car and will monitor your driving, making sure you’re driving safely and within any agreed-upon limits. If your car insurance premiums are higher than you’re comfortable paying, telematics car insurance cover could be worth considering.
How do I make a car insurance claim?
The way you make a claim on your car insurance will vary depending on what’s happened and the process set out by your provider. Generally, you’ll need to:
· Compile evidence of the car accident or incident that occurred
· Familiarise yourself with your policy’s terms and conditions
· Inform your insurer of the events as soon as possible (ideally within a day)
· Fill in any relevant forms and gather documents so that your claim can be processed
· Pay any excess charges you’re presented with
Explore Car Insurance Guides
Still have questions? Whether you’re trying to decide between comprehensive and third party car insurance, or want more tips on reducing your costs, check out our in-depth car insurance guides.
Insurance for 4X4s
A Guide to Insuring Your New Car
Insuring American Cars
Declaring SORN
Car Insurance for Unemployed Drivers
Top Tips for Saving Money
Classic Car Insurance
Learner Driver Cover
Last reviewed: 1 December 2023
Next review: 1 January 2024