After so many experts have warned us that the cost of automotive insurance is up, what happened? It fell! It is mainly due to the growing impact of online purchases.
In the second half of 2005, the average automotive insurance premium increased from £ 470.17 to £ 462.15. But it was the silver surfers who have benefited the most. In the past six months of last year, drivers over 65 have seen their average bonus fall by 4.5 %, going from £ 342 to £ 347. What is the most surprising is the huge differences in bonuses between suppliers. 40% differences between the most expensive and cheapest are frequent.
It seems that most motorists are not aware of it since each year, half of them automatically renew their insurance with their current insurer. Additional 19 % take the trouble to obtain only one competitive quote.
And readers will be surprised to know who sells expensive fonts. A recent survey in "Which", the consumer magazine, shows that Norwich Union - the largest insurer in the United Kingdom - did not lead in any of the 36 categories of drivers questioned. Direct Line, another well -known name, only succeeded in one first place.
It depends on the marketing strategies for major brands. They built their customers with low prices and abundant advertising, then gradually increased prices. They clearly rely on apathy and brand loyalty to keep their customers. And with 50% automatic renewal, it works!
But if you decide to shop, be careful. A low price is not everything. Some policies have very low prices but skimp elsewhere.
For example, when your car is in repair, do you want a courtesy car? Some fonts pay only about £ 100 for stolen audio equipment. Is it sufficient? Do you want to ensure your personal effects while they are in your car? And above all, some full fonts will not provide a third -party cover if you drive another person's car - even with their permission!
Before you decide, it is wise to consider all these aspects.
But to come back to the price, if you think the prices are the cheapest on the internet, you are right! Internet quotes are normally 5 to 10 % cheaper than telephone quotes.
During their internet purchases, most people are looking for the cheapest estimate, then read the details of the cheapest policy to verify that they provide the coverage they need. You can search for the best offers by looking for "car insurance", but some of the insurance sites at reduced prices are easier to find if you type "car insurance at reduced prices" or "cheap car insurance".
But please remember, when the time for renewal arrives, do shopping again. Do not renew automatically! It's so easy on the internet that I found this year. My previous insurer quoted me £ 945 and I finally bought it for £ 702. A saving of £ 243 for 30 minutes of work.
