Four ways to slash your motoring premiums

Comprehensive car insurance can seem like a lot of money, particularly when you’re faced with a large initial outlay. And if all goes well, you may never see a return on your premium. But there are a number of ways to trim your insurance policy, maintain your safety, and save you a bundle.

Park securely

Parking your car on a busy street will almost always set you back more upfront than if your pride and joy is tucked away under lock and key at night. Similarly, parking in potentially dangerous situations – such as under a precariously-hanging tree branch or in a dingy alley – may increase your likelihood of making a claim. Avoidance means less claims and therefore a better no claim bonus discount, so start searching for a secure parking spot.

Shop online

Bargain hunting is another great way to reduce your outlay significantly, because comprehensive car insurance quotes can differ drastically on inclusions and cost. So before you renew with your existing provider, take some time to compare quotes online. By shopping around for a better deal you may find a policy that best suits your lifestyle and shave hundreds of dollars from your premium.

Mileage matters

One of the criteria that car insurance brands base their policy prices on is the number of kilometres you cover each year. So check your current usage and make sure you’re not paying for kilometres that you’re not actually using. It’s best to try and work out exactly how far you’re driving during the year – and whether that increases during the colder months, for instance.

The downside to limiting your coverage based on how much you drive is inaccurate estimates. If your figures aren’t correct and you go over your agreed mileage, your policy may be invalid. Get it right, however, and you may save yourself a decent sum. Take, for example, a female driver in her late 20s with an unblemished driving record and driving a new small car up to 10,000km each year. This driver might be offered a best price $60 less than the same driver covered for more than 35,000km driven each year, so it pays to do the sums.

Alter excess

Finally, when it comes to voluntary excess, the more you’re willing to pay at claim time, the lower the premium. So you may be able to save plenty by increasing the excess on your policy.

By adopting some of these simple money-saving techniques you could slash your premium significantly. The hardest part of the process may be deciding how to spend the extra cash savings!