Saving up to buy a car can be painstaking, but it's even worse when the insurance is more expensive than the vehicle itself.
And even if you manage to bag a fairly decent deal, there's nothing worse than being hit with a jaw-dropping renewal quote the following year.
To help drivers get on their way, Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has dished out his top car insurance tips to help drivers save hundreds.
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Speaking on the Martin Lewis Money Show, the 47-year-old financial expert explained one of the most important tips is to *never* auto renew (in which your car insurance essentially rolls over into the next year, with a new premium).
"Auto renewal is a money-saving sin, and you shouldn't do it," he explained.
But how do you know when to shop around for a good deal?
Most insurance companies will send auto-renewal quotes around three weeks before the policy is due to be renewed and Martin says the optimum time to find the best quote is between 20-26 days before, adding that premiums can actually increase after this time.
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Basically, timing is key if you want to save get the best deal possible.
"It's all bout the date when you get your renewal - 21 days beforehand. It's not an exact science, but it shows how timing it can make a big difference for everyone," said Martin.
"When it comes to car insurance, be the early bird who catches the worm."
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According to Martin, this is because insurance companies see those who renew later as being more of a risk.
Most drivers will know premiums can differ based on where you keep your car overnight. Parking your car in a garage as opposed to overnight is often seen as a way to cut costs, but Martin explained it's all about risk.
One viewer tweeted in to explain their insurer had quoted them £150 more to park in their garage as opposed to the main road, but if your provider thinks the vehicle will be more at risk of a scrape in the garage, they'll add a premium.
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To assess this, insurers will look at how many other claims have been made in the area and what other drivers do.
Other tips to try include opting for comprehensive cover as opposed to third party fire and theft as well as adding another driver, who will be using the car, on the policy.
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"Adding an extra driver can cut your costs - it's especially useful for younger drivers," Martin explained.
It's important to remember not to list this person as the main driver - something called 'fronting' which is illegal.
And when it comes to shopping around for a deal, Martin advises using as many comparison websites as possible as different insurers have deals with certain sites.
Martin himself uses three. We'll be making a note of *all* of these tips for our renewal...
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: Life News, News, Martin Lewis
