Martin Lewis explains how to slash £100s off car insurance renewals by skipping comparison sites
DRIVERS can slash hundreds of pounds off their car insurance renewals by ditching comparison sites.
That’s what MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis says in his latest newsletter.
September, known as “registration month”, is the the busiest time of year for sorting out car insurance.
While many motorists will receive renewal notices from their current provider, Martin reckons you could actually find a better deal by switching away.
And while most of us would reach for comparison sites to shop around, the consumer guru warns that they might not offer the best value for money.
This is because even though they scour through hundreds of deals, providers including Aviva and Direct Line don’t appear on them.
How to compare car insurance
THAT time of year when your car insurance needs to be renewed can often be financially stressful.
But before you go renewing with your current provider, make sure you compare prices to ensure you’re on the best deal.
There are dozens of reputable websites where you can check prices, including and .
They’ll want to know all about your car, including the registration and when you bought it.
Don’t panic if you haven’t purchased it yet, you can still compare prices if you’re undecided on buying a vehicle.
You’ll also need to give some personal details about yourself and your driving history.
Once you’re done, the websites will then show you the quotes you can get some different providers.
If you find a better price, go back to your insurer and tell them what’s being offered elsewhere.
While no means a guarantee way to lower the price they’re offering you, haggling doesn’t cost a penny and can prove successful.
If they can’t lower their price, then you can leave them and go with the cheaper deal.
Remember, it’s a legal requirement to have car insurance and going without it could land you with a £300 fine, six penalty points on your licence and even a criminal conviction.
You might be able to save even more money by speaking to them directly instead – and it could save you hundreds of pounds over the year.
Comparison sites may also miss special offers that can only be taken out by through the provider.
For example, Age Co offers a £60 Amazon voucher and a £50 Co-op voucher if you skip the comparison sites.
Most importantly though, Martin warns that drivers should NEVER auto-renew.
Companies rely on the fact that you won’t be bothered to switch deals so will give you a quote that costs hundreds of pounds more.
Loyalty barely counts for anything any more – an investigation by Citizens Advice found that customers are being ripped off by £1,440 a year by sticking with current providers.
You’re better off taking a new deal out even if you’d prefer to stay with your current provider.
The best time to get a deal on your car insurance is 21 days before your current contract is up.
You should also try tweaking your job description to cut costs – but it has to be correct or else your policy is invalid.
Motorists may also save money by adding an extra driver to the policy or buying it through a cashback site.
Yesterday, we revealed how drivers who pay for their car insurance monthly are charged £365 MORE a year than if they paid it annually.
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