Cheapest car insurance in the UK

What’s the cheapest type of policy?

While there are several different kinds of insurance policies that offer different levels of cover, usually the cheapest type is liability insurance or third party car insurance.

This is the minimum level of cover you are legally required to have to drive on UK roads. Third party car insurance covers the cost of compensating the damage that you may cause to someone else’s vehicle. This kind of policy will not cover any expenses incurred to repair the damage to your own car.

When does it makes sense to buy the cheapest car insurance?

The obvious reason to buy the cheapest car insurance is when it’s the only policy you can afford. However, often it makes sense because of your particular circumstances. If your car is relatively old and not highly valuable, comprehensive insurance, which can be expensive, may not make as much sense as simple third party cover. It might also make sense when you only need the insurance for a limited period of time.

What affects the cost of car insurance?

There are a number of factors that make car insurance more expensive for one person than another. These can include:

• Age
• Car make and model
• Address
• Average yearly mileage
• Driving history

Cheapest car insurance providers

The cheapest insurance for you depends on what you’re looking for in a policy, plus other factors such as your driving record, location, demographics and car. The cheapest car insurance company for one driver might not be the same one for another.

These insurers tend to have the cheapest rates overall, but you might see different quotes depending on your individual circumstances.

Cheapest car insurance for men

Admiral and LV had the lowest rates for men in the most age categories, though Elephant also had the lowest rates for certain drivers and very relatively low-cost across the board. When you get quotes, you might not see these rates, since your actual rates will be based on factors like the car you drive, where you live and your driving history.

Cheapest car insurance for women

Admiral and LV had some of the lowest rates for women too, but Saga narrowly made the list too for certain drivers over 50. While this is the absolute lowest rate you could get from these insurers, not every driver will qualify due to other factors that play into rates, such as your car, driving record and address.

To keep things as representative as possible, we took several quotes within each age range and took an average for both male and female categories. We also assumed that the driver had a clean record, no-claims discount and passed their test at 17 and added on the relevant number of years’ no claims to the policy quote.

You can find the full driver/vehicle profile below:

• Driver/vehicle profile

  To generate these quotes we used the following information:

  • Vauxhall Corsa Energy A/C VVT 90 (2018 Model)
  • Manual transmission
  • Petrol
  • Factory fitted alarm system
  • The car is not modified
  • Used for social, domestic and commuting purposes
  • 10,000 mileage per year
  • The car is parked in a work car park during the day
  • The car is parked on a driveway at night
  • Five years no claims discount
  • No driving or other convictions

Compare cheap car insurance providers

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Name	Product	Available cover	Details	Link
Admiral Comprehensive		Third party only, third party fire and theft and comprehensive	Courtesy car and windscreen repair included. Unlimited cover for standard audiovisual equipment.	Get a quote	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
LV= Comprehensive		Third party only, third party fire and theft and comprehensive	Replacement lock cover, misfuelling and accident cover and lifetime guarantee on eligible repairs* Multi-car discount available	Get a quote	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Elephant Comprehensive		Third party only, third party fire and theft and comprehensive	Great value straight forward car insurance. Fully loaded cover including courtesy car sports cover and stereo cover. Even more cover as standard	Get a quote	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Churchill Comprehensive		Third party only, third party fire and theft and comprehensive	Replacement, upgrade or the money in case of write-off. Vandalism and uninsured driver promise. Multi-car options and discounts available.	Compare quotes	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Direct Line Comprehensive Finder Award		Third party fire and theft and comprehensive	Guaranteed hire car as standard. Taxi to get you and all of your passengers, pets and belongings to one destination within the UK if you've been involved in an accident. Multi-car options and discounts available.		Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Hastings Direct Standard		Third party fire and theft and comprehensive	Windscreen and windows glass cover included as standard in Direct and Premier cover. Cover for new and young drivers available.	Compare quotes	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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How can I get cheaper car insurance rates?

There are many ways to lower your insurance premiums such as:

• Only pay for the cover you need. Resist adding optional extras unless you’ve decided you need them. Consider dropping comprehensive cover on an older car.
• Try a higher excess. Consider raising your excess, which is the amount you have to pay when making a claim before you get reimbursed. A higher excess means lower premiums.
• Nominate your drivers. You should see lower premiums by adding an older and experienced driver to your policy.
• Be a safe driver. Take a defensive driving course to get a safe driver discount and some new skills, and keep your claims history and tickets to a minimum.
• Park in a safe location. Cars kept in locked garages are cheaper to insure than those parked on the street. Consider installing antitheft or security features for lower premiums.
• Shop around to compare price. Switch car insurance instead of renewing, especially if you’ve been through any big life changes like getting married or moving. You can also use comparison quotes to ask for a price match from your current insurer.
• Build a safe driving record. If your record is better, you might get cheaper car insurance. Consider not claiming for minor accidents if you can cover the costs yourself, as a no claims history can keep future premiums down.
• Choose your car wisely. High-powered, luxury and expensive vehicles cost more to cover, so stay away from them if you want to save money on insurance. A cheaper car in a lower insurance group will not only save you money at the point of purchase, but will continue costing you less for its entire life.
• Pay annually. If the annual cost of your car insurance is too much to pay all at once, many insurers will let you pay your premium in instalments throughout the year. While it may save you from paying a lump sum, it typically costs more overall once interest is added.
• Reduce your mileage. You could get a low mileage discount if you reduce the miles you drive. Carpool or take public transport if you can, or plan your errands for one trip per day instead of taking lots of little trips.

What can I consider removing?

You could consider dropping certain added extras from your policy to get big savings on the cheapest car insurance rates. Make sure this option works for you before cutting any of the following extras:

• Courtesy car cover
• Break down cover
• Driving abroad cover
• Courtesy car cover
• Windscreen cover
• Replacement key cover

Find the cheapest car insurance cover for you

The cheapest policy for one driver might not be the same for another. Every driver will get a unique quote based on their driving history, the vehicle they drive, their age, amongst other factors.

Cheap car insurance for younger drivers

One of the unfortunate realities of car insurance is that younger drivers tend to pay more for car insurance than older drivers. That’s because statistically, younger drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident, and insurers see this group to typically be a higher risk.

That said, there are ways to get a good deal on car insurance as a young driver, including:

• Choosing your car wisely. High-powered, luxury and expensive vehicles cost more to cover, so stay away from them if you want to save money on insurance. A cheaper car will not only save you money at the point of purchase, but will continue costing you less for its entire life.
• Building a safe driving record. If your record is better, you might get cheaper car insurance. Consider not claiming for minor accidents if you can cover the costs yourself, as a no claims history can keep future premiums down.
• Taking a driving course. Taking a defensive driving course can help convince insurers that you’re responsible on the roads.
• Avoiding monthly payments. If the annual cost of your car insurance is too much to pay all at once, many insurers will let you pay your premium in instalments throughout the year. While it may save you from paying a lump sum, it typically costs more overall.

Cheapest car insurance for low mileage drivers

If you’re someone who, despite having plenty of experience, doesn’t drive often, you could qualify for a low-mileage discount and reduce your premiums.

• How to cut down on your miles and qualify for a low mileage discount

  • Install a telematics device or “black box” so that your insurer can see exactly how far and how safely you’ve driven.
  • Plan your errands for one trip per day instead of taking lots of little trips
  • Take the most direct route to your destination

Cheap car insurance traps

• Automatic renewal. This might be easy, but it’s not cheap. Insurers offer better deals to new customers than they do to existing ones, so don’t blindly renew your policy each year. Always check quotes from multiple providers, including your current one. If your insurer quotes you a lower new customer price than you’re currently paying, try asking for a discount. Premiums are always changing, so getting the cheapest car insurance means always looking at other options.
• Not knowing how your coverage works. Check the fine print on your policy before signing up, and ask yourself if you know exactly what’s covered, what’s an optional extra and what’s not covered.
• Making too many claims. Before you make a claim, remember that your claims history will influence the future cost of your premiums, and you may have a high deductible to pay. If the accident wasn’t too severe, the excess alone might cost more than the damage and it might not be worth being hit with increased premiums.
• Too good to be true. Price is obviously an important factor when shopping for cheap car insurance, but don’t just choose a policy based on price alone. Compare the features, benefits and limits of several policies on the market. If you find much cheaper car insurance from one insurer, look for the catch.
• Sky-high excess. You can save money by selecting a higher excess in return for cheaper premiums, but if your excess is too high it may make it too expensive for you to ever make a claim. A good excess is high but affordable.
• Letting others drive your car. If you have a policy that lets you nominate specific drivers or drivers above a certain age, don’t let an excluded driver take the wheel. They are usually not covered at all in the event of an incident.

Bottom line

The car insurance policy that works for you won’t necessarily work for someone else. And because of this, it’s important you consider your insurance options carefully.

There will be factors that you can alter, which should have a positive impact on the overall cost of your cover such as lowering your mileage, driving safely and carefully, shopping around and paying up front.

Remember that “cheapest” doesn’t always mean “best” and opting for the cheapest cover could mean you forfeit protection in key areas.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I have to get insurance?

  To drive legally in the UK you must have basic liability insurance.

• Is budget car insurance a good idea?

  Budget car insurance companies can offer a good rate for drivers who have trouble getting covered, but they’re not for everyone. You might find better customer service, mobile apps and cover from bigger national companies, but those benefits don’t always come with the lowest insurance rates.

• How much can I save on my car insurance with discounts?

  Just about every car insurance provider offers discounts, and you could save big with driver and vehicle discounts if you qualify.

  • Defensive driver. Take and pass a defensive driving course to get a discount with some providers.
  • Anti-theft device. A car alarm will deter would-be thieves, which lessens the insurer’s risk. Today, these alarms come standard on most cars. But don’t forget about other anti-theft devices, like a steering wheel lock bar, an electronic immobiliser or a vehicle tracking system.
  • Multiple policies. Bundling your policies can bring big savings. If you and a member of your household both have car insurance, make sure you get both cars on the same policy. You can get even greater savings by bundling other insurance policies like homeowner’s and life insurance.
  • Safety devices. A car with safety features or above average safety ratings can save you money.
  • Paid in full. If you are financially able to pay your full premium upfront instead of in monthly payments, you are likely to get a discount.
  • Homeowner. If you own a home, you can save on insurance, even without bundling it. Insurance providers assume homeowners are more financially stable and are, thus, less of a risk.

• How can I get a lower rate on my car insurance?

  One way to lower your rates would be to go for a less expensive cover or opt for simple liability insurance. It also helps to improve your driving record and reducing claims. Shop around to get better rates, and then talk to your current provider to see if you can get a lower rate before switching car insurance.