Insurance costs can be a heavy burden on a motoring budget, but shopping around carefully will often bring a substantial saving when renewal's due.
At one time, drivers would remain loyal to a single insurer for years but a quick glance at Yellow Pages or on the Internet will show just how many insurers and brokers are ready to sell you products.
And the crazy thing is that while some companies will quote you a high premium, a broker might give you a quote for the same policy at much lower cost because of special arrangements with the insurer concerned.
Direct insurance has grown considerably in recent years, with many big name companies setting up their own telephone sales operations to cut out the brokers and save on commission payments.
As many of these use freecall telephone numbers, it costs nothing apart from a little time to ring several and then take the best offer. But beware use of 08 numbers - they are not free, instead racking up the charges at local or national rates.
Internet sites are also a good place to shop and buying over the web can typically save 10 or 15 per cent on premium costs, sometimes more. But getting internet quotes for anything unusual is often more difficult.
Remember, too, that the same price does not always bring the same policy. Two brokers quoted through the same firm for identical premiums, the big difference was that one offered a protected no claims bonus while the other did not.
These hidden costs are often what makes one quote competitive against another so ask - and read the small print when the documents arrive.
Don't always assume the cover is instant, either. Many direct insurers give this, allowing you to sign and pay later, but many brokers do not. If you go out assuming you are covered and you are not, the financial and legal consequences could be horrific if you have an accident.
Maurice Hardy
