Can you change your job title to save on your car insurance?<\/h3><\/div>![\"Danny](\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/07\/Danny-Butler.jpg\")
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Finder insurance expert Danny Butler<\/a> answers <\/em><\/div><\/div>Changing career to save on your car insurance premium is probably a little drastic, so we don\u2019t recommend that.<\/p>
And outright lies about what you do for a living could land you in deep water. If you claim you\u2019re a teacher, when you\u2019re really a stunt man or woman, this is likely to invalidate your cover and could see you accused of insurance fraud.<\/p>
What you may be able to get away with is a tweak to your job title, which could save you money. For example, according to the Vanarama study mentioned above, insurance for a \u201cgraphic designer\u201d cost \u00a3711.96 per year. But, for reasons known only to insurance pencil pushers, a \u201cweb designer\u201d was quoted \u00a3696.97 and a straight \u201cdesigner\u201d only \u00a3672.90. So, while still answering truthfully<\/b>, consider how you phrase what you do for a living.<\/p>
It\u2019s important to note that the best time to adjust your job title is while getting a quote or applying for cover. If you change it midway through your term, you might have to pay an administration fee to make the change. That said, if your job changes completely during your cover term (for example, from a shop assistant to a massage therapist), you must inform your insurer of the change straight away to avoid invalidating your policy.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article>
Case study: the impact of an honest job title tweak<\/h3>
To give you an idea of how a legitimate tweak to your job title could affect the price you pay for car insurance, in April 2024 we created a couple of fictional guinea pigs, and played around with their job titles on a leading price comparison site to see what difference it made.<\/p>
Designer vs graphic designer<\/h4>
Vanarama\u2019s research suggests that designers pay some of the most expensive car insurance premiums. Sarah (44) works for a graphic design consultancy, lives in Berkshire, and drives a Vauxhall Corsa.<\/p>
By putting her profession down as simply \u201cdesigner\u201d, her cheapest quote is \u00a3511. By specifying \u201cgraphic designer\u201d, it\u2019s \u00a3505. It\u2019s not a big difference. But the fact there\u2019s a difference at all is bemusing.<\/p>
Personal assistant vs office administrator<\/h4>
In Sarah\u2019s case she\u2019d only save a few quid, but some savings can be more substantial. 31-year-old Alex lives in south London, also drives a Vauxhall Corsa, and works for a bank in an administrative role that includes some personal assistant responsibilities.<\/p>
If Alex selects \u201cpersonal assistant\u201d as his profession, his cheapest premium is \u00a31,067. But, by putting down \u201coffice administrator\u201d instead (also a valid description of his role), he shaves more than \u00a3250 off his cheapest quote (\u00a3798). We know, bonkers right?<\/p>
A good rule of thumb when playing with job titles is to think to yourself: would a reasonable person describe my job in this way? If yes, you\u2019re probably good to go. If not, it\u2019s not worth the risk.<\/p>
How big a role does your job title play in in car insurance premiums?<\/h3>
As our case studies show, even a slight adjustment to your job title can make a big difference to the price you\u2019re quoted for car insurance. But it\u2019s far from the only, or even the most important, thing.<\/p>
Other factors that can have a big impact<\/a> on how much you\u2019ll have to shell out for car insurance include:<\/p>- Your age<\/strong>. Drivers in their mid to late 60s pay, on average, just a third what 18-20-year-olds pay, according to data from the Association of British Insurers<\/a>.<\/li>
- The car you drive<\/strong>. More expensive and\/or more powerful cars will typically fall into a higher car insurance group<\/a>. The higher the car insurance group, the more you\u2019ll pay to insure the car.<\/li>
- Your driving history<\/strong>. If you\u2019ve made a recent car insurance claim, or picked up a driving conviction<\/a>, insurers will regard you as a higher risk and typically charge you more.<\/li>
- Where you live.<\/strong> If you live (and drive) in an area with high rates of car theft, for example, you\u2019re likely to pay more than those who live in low-crime areas.<\/li><\/ul>
How can I save money on car insurance if my job makes it expensive?<\/h3>
If no amount of job title tweaking will get your car insurance down to reasonable levels, there are other tactics you can use.<\/p>
- Shop around every year.<\/strong> Always compare prices<\/a> rather than just renewing with the same insurer. The best-value insurer last year may not be the best value when renewal rolls around.<\/li>
- Increase your voluntary excess.<\/strong> Your excess is the amount you need to pay towards any claim. Opting for a higher voluntary excess (within reason) can cut your premium.<\/li>
- Pay annually rather than monthly if you can<\/strong>. If you pay in monthly instalments your insurer will apply interest. This means you\u2019ll end up paying more overall.<\/li>
- Add an experienced driver. <\/strong>If you\u2019re a young, inexperienced driver in particular, adding a lower-risk, experienced named driver<\/a> to your policy could lower your premiums.<\/li>
- Drive safely and avoid claiming.<\/strong> Every year that you drive safely and avoid needing to claim will increase the no-claims discount<\/a> on the following year\u2019s premiums.<\/li>
- Avoid cosmetic modifications.<\/strong> A bespoke paint job or a pumped up engine is likely to drive premiums up.<\/li>
- Consider telematics insurance. <\/b>This uses a small device \u2013 a \u201cblack box<\/a>\u201d \u2013 installed in your car to track your driving habits. Careful driving is rewarded with lower premiums.<\/li><\/ul>
Bottom line<\/h3>
The job you do is one of a number of factors that insurers take into account when setting your car insurance premiums. You mustn\u2019t lie about your employment (or anything else) as this could invalidate your insurance and even see you convicted of fraud. But it\u2019s worth playing around with job titles that legitimately describe what you do for a living, as you could save money by doing so. Though, as always, the best way to cut the cost of car insurance is to shop around for the best combination of cover and price<\/a> every time you need to renew.<\/p>Frequently asked questions<\/h3>- \n \n
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<\/p>
Changing career to save on your car insurance premium is probably a little drastic, so we don\u2019t recommend that.<\/p>
And outright lies about what you do for a living could land you in deep water. If you claim you\u2019re a teacher, when you\u2019re really a stunt man or woman, this is likely to invalidate your cover and could see you accused of insurance fraud.<\/p>
What you may be able to get away with is a tweak to your job title, which could save you money. For example, according to the Vanarama study mentioned above, insurance for a \u201cgraphic designer\u201d cost \u00a3711.96 per year. But, for reasons known only to insurance pencil pushers, a \u201cweb designer\u201d was quoted \u00a3696.97 and a straight \u201cdesigner\u201d only \u00a3672.90. So, while still answering truthfully<\/b>, consider how you phrase what you do for a living.<\/p>
It\u2019s important to note that the best time to adjust your job title is while getting a quote or applying for cover. If you change it midway through your term, you might have to pay an administration fee to make the change. That said, if your job changes completely during your cover term (for example, from a shop assistant to a massage therapist), you must inform your insurer of the change straight away to avoid invalidating your policy.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article>
Case study: the impact of an honest job title tweak<\/h3>
To give you an idea of how a legitimate tweak to your job title could affect the price you pay for car insurance, in April 2024 we created a couple of fictional guinea pigs, and played around with their job titles on a leading price comparison site to see what difference it made.<\/p>
Designer vs graphic designer<\/h4>
Vanarama\u2019s research suggests that designers pay some of the most expensive car insurance premiums. Sarah (44) works for a graphic design consultancy, lives in Berkshire, and drives a Vauxhall Corsa.<\/p>
By putting her profession down as simply \u201cdesigner\u201d, her cheapest quote is \u00a3511. By specifying \u201cgraphic designer\u201d, it\u2019s \u00a3505. It\u2019s not a big difference. But the fact there\u2019s a difference at all is bemusing.<\/p>
Personal assistant vs office administrator<\/h4>
In Sarah\u2019s case she\u2019d only save a few quid, but some savings can be more substantial. 31-year-old Alex lives in south London, also drives a Vauxhall Corsa, and works for a bank in an administrative role that includes some personal assistant responsibilities.<\/p>
If Alex selects \u201cpersonal assistant\u201d as his profession, his cheapest premium is \u00a31,067. But, by putting down \u201coffice administrator\u201d instead (also a valid description of his role), he shaves more than \u00a3250 off his cheapest quote (\u00a3798). We know, bonkers right?<\/p>
A good rule of thumb when playing with job titles is to think to yourself: would a reasonable person describe my job in this way? If yes, you\u2019re probably good to go. If not, it\u2019s not worth the risk.<\/p>
How big a role does your job title play in in car insurance premiums?<\/h3>
As our case studies show, even a slight adjustment to your job title can make a big difference to the price you\u2019re quoted for car insurance. But it\u2019s far from the only, or even the most important, thing.<\/p>
Other factors that can have a big impact<\/a> on how much you\u2019ll have to shell out for car insurance include:<\/p> If no amount of job title tweaking will get your car insurance down to reasonable levels, there are other tactics you can use.<\/p> The job you do is one of a number of factors that insurers take into account when setting your car insurance premiums. You mustn\u2019t lie about your employment (or anything else) as this could invalidate your insurance and even see you convicted of fraud. But it\u2019s worth playing around with job titles that legitimately describe what you do for a living, as you could save money by doing so. Though, as always, the best way to cut the cost of car insurance is to shop around for the best combination of cover and price<\/a> every time you need to renew.<\/p>How can I save money on car insurance if my job makes it expensive?<\/h3>
Bottom line<\/h3>
Frequently asked questions<\/h3>
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