So your car insurance has gone up. Nobody likes the idea of having to pay more for a service they’re already receiving. But in most cases, there’s a perfectly good reason why your car insurance might have gone up.
Reasons why your car insurance might go up
Let’s take a look at a few reasons why this may have happened.
You Finally Passed Your Driving Test
Why do drivers who have just passed their driving test have to pay more for car insurance than learner drivers? Surely the successful test has proven that you’re a safe and capable driver!
Not really. For much of the time you’re learning to drive, you have a qualified instructor or an experienced driver sat in the car with you. They know the roads, and they may even have their own set of pedals. If they see that you’re about to cause an accident, they’ll intervene before things go wrong.
Once you pass your test, you’re on your own. You no longer have a trained instructor watching your every move. And you no longer have those extra pedals to save you should anything ever go wrong. On top of this, new drivers can get nervous. Or they can get reckless. And sometimes, their lack of experience means that they don’t spot an emerging hazard until it’s too late.
So in short, new drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents, insurers consider new drivers to be higher risk than learner drivers. It’s nothing personal, and it’s backed up by the stats.
If you’re wondering why your insurance has gone up after you’ve passed your test, it’s simply because, as far as your insurer’s concerned, you’re now more likely to make a claim. And this is reflected in the price of your premiums.
You’ve Changed Your Car
Any time you change your car, you need to tell your insurer. This is because not all cars are created equal and some cars simply cost more to insure than others. You are also likely to be less familiar with your new car. The biting point, the brakes and the controls, as well as the size of the car could all take some getting used to.
Why? Once again, it’s all about risk. For example, some cars are:
- Safer than others – they might have more advanced safety features, for instance
- More often targeted by criminals
- More expensive to repair if they’re ever involved in an accident
High-performance cars, for example, are often more likely to be targeted by criminals and be expensive to repair.
You’ve Modified Your Car
It’s for a similar reason that you have to tell your insurer about any modifications you get for your car. Some modifications can not only make your car more likely to be targeted by thieves, they could increase the brake horse power or they could make your car less reliable.
For example, the following modifications might increase your car insurance:
- Turbocharged engines
- Bonnet bulges and flared wings
- Roll bars and roll cages
- Specialised paint work
However, modifications like Dash Cams or tinted rear windows can even lower the price of your insurance. Find out more about modifications and how some of them will affect the price of your insurance.
You Don’t Change Your Car (and it Keeps Getting Older)
Your insurance might go up if you don’t change your car. As cars get older, they:
- Get more unreliable
- Fall behind safer and more advanced models
- Might require significant, regular work
Insurers constantly re-evaluate vehicles and they may consider yours to be a higher risk as time goes on and the car gets older.
You Have Points on Your Licence
If you ever get any points on your licence, you need to tell your insurance provider as soon as possible. Depending on why you accrued the points, they may raise the cost of your premiums. Once more, it’s all about risk. Through getting points on your licence, you’ve demonstrated yourself to be a high-risk driver. You’re more likely to make a claim, so you’ll have to pay more for your insurance as a result.
How to Reduce the Cost of Car Insurance
There are a few things you can do to reduce the cost of your car insurance:
- Build up a no-claims discount.
- Take an advanced driving course.
- Choose a safe and sensible car that doesn’t cost so much to insure in the first place.
What’s the one thing that these three tips have in common? It’s that they all revolve around you demonstrating that you’re a trustworthy driver who’s less likely to get involved in an accident, and less likely to make a claim. And ultimately, if you want to pay less for insurance, that’s the best thing you can do – drive well!
Choose an insurance company that understands your needs, whether you’re a learner, a young driver, a new driver, or an experienced driver. At Go Girl, we specialise in providing you with the cover you need at a price you can afford. For more information, and for a free quote, get in touch.
