Trim your comprehensive insurance bill

While the major factors on which comprehensive car insurance premiums are priced aren’t changeable – your age, gender and where you live – there are still ways to land a better deal.

It pays to get quotes on the various models you’re considering before you settle on a car. It’s also worth getting a range of quotes to see which policy and premium fits best.

Comparing prices is straightforward, but not all policies are created equal. Companies that ask more questions about you and the use of your car can be cheaper, depending on your circumstances. If your car is securely parked at work, rather than left at the train station, or you cover less than average kilometres for example, it could put you into a lower risk category and reduce your premium.

A clean driving record is a no-brainer, but going further by doing an advanced driver training course can help cut costs with some companies, too.

Additional savings can be made by bundling car and home insurance needs and paying premiums annually rather than monthly.

It can work out to be more cost effective not adding young family members to your policy, depending on the size of the excess for non-listed drivers.

Extras such as car hire while your car is in for repairs can be worthwhile, but also add expense, so consider how much you really need them.

Choosing to increase your excess can also bring premiums down. For some people, the role of their policy is to insure against a total loss of a valuable asset, which could occur if the car is written-off in an at-fault car accident, or stolen.

If this is you, consider increasing your excess – from, say $500 to $1500. It will reduce your premium and continue to cover you for the bulk of the car’s value, but will mean you stump up repair costs after a minor at-fault bingle.

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Get quotes before, rather than after you settle on a car
• Strike a balance between excess amount and policy cost
• Pay your premium annually rather than by-the-month.

Need help with your next new car purchase? We run you through ten questions you should be asking your car dealer.