Previously, mums found it easier to find cheaper deals on car insurance compared to their male counterparts. However, this is no longer the case. European law has now ruled that it is illegal for insurance providers to use a person’s gender to calculate the total premium. Regardless of this, there are still a number of steps females can take to get cheaper cover.
Before we go through the options, it’s worth noting that insurance premiums have risen over the past number of years. Although the coronavirus pandemic has seen prices drop recently, this is expected to only benefit motorists temporarily. Once lockdown measures are lifted and society returns to some level of normality, car running costs such as fuel and insurance are expected to return to previous rates.
One of the best ways to save money is to compare cheap car insurance quotes at Utility Saving Expert. You can filter deals based on price and see offers from leading industry providers, helping you find the right policy to meet your needs. There are a number of steps women can take to lower the cost of insurance, let’s take a look at each one in more detail below.
Increase your voluntary excess
Most car insurance policies will come with two different types of excesses. For example, car insurance from one sure offers compulsory excess and voluntary excess. You won’t be able to make changes to the compulsory excess as this is set by the insurer. Note: compulsory excess is sometimes referred to as ‘standard excess’ by some companies.
The second type; voluntary excess does give you some options though. You will be able to choose from a few different options and increase or decrease it as you see fit. The more you increase this, the lower your total premium will be. It’s worth remembering that no matter what you set this to, you will be expected to pay the total excess (compulsory plus voluntary) in the event of a claim. Think carefully before you set this and choose an amount you feel comfortable with. Many customers find it useful to see how much each voluntary excess option affects their total price before making their choice.
Pay in advance
If you’re able to do so, consider paying for your car insurance premium in full through one payment. Monthly payments do offer a convenient way of spreading the total cost but are not usually the cheapest option. This is because most insurers will charge you interest for choosing this method. You should also look to check what the difference would be to the final quote price for each payment method.
Reduce your annual mileage
If you limit the number of miles you drive each year, this could lower the cost of your insurance policy as you’re less of road risk. When you are obtaining a quote, an insurance provider will ask you for maximum annual mileage, setting this to a lower realistic figure can be beneficial. However, if you know you’re going to exceed this amount, be honest and do not provide false information as this could make your policy void. A void policy will mean that you will not be able to make any claims and you are no longer insured.
Improve the security of your vehicle
By installing an approved car alarm or immobiliser, this can help deter thieves and keep your vehicle safe. Insurance firms calculate premiums based on a number of risk factors and security is one area worth considering. If your vehicle is stored in a locked garage overnight, this can also help. These days dash cameras are also proving to be popular as criminals may be put off if they see a camera lens monitoring and recording them.
Consider a telematics insurance policy
Younger female drivers may want to look into a telematics car insurance policy, this is sometimes referred to as ‘black box cover’. This works by easily installing a small device in your car that will monitor your driving behaviour. It records the following data: the time of day or night you drive, the speed at which you’re travelling, your braking and cornering. This data helps the insurance firm understand how safe of a driver you are. Anyone who is considered to be a safe driver will be viewed as less of road risk and an insurer will reward them with cheaper cover. It may not come as a surprise when statistics show that women are less likely to drive dangerously.
Use a price comparison site
As we mentioned at the beginning, using an online price comparison site such as Utility Saving Expert is one of the best ways to save money on your car insurance premium. It only takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete a quote form. Once done, you will be presented with a list of options to choose from. You can filter deals by cover type, add optional extras and see which leading insurer offers the best deal.