Over one million motorists have made a false insurance claim

Motorists are prepared to pull the wool over their insurers' eyes to make a fraudulent claim on their car insurance, according to MoneySupermarket.com.

Research conducted by the comparison site revealed over one million motorists have made a false claim in the past, and a further one in six (16 per cent) drivers state they would keep quiet about having left their car unsecured if it was then stolen as a result.

Motorists were asked to consider motoring scenarios and how much information they would tell their insurer should they need to make a claim on their policy. The results showed, male drivers are more likely to withhold information and make a false claim compared to their female counterparts. Almost one in five men (19 per cent) said they would not tell their insurer if their car had been stolen as a result of them not properly securing it; of those, 13 per cent would never tell in case it voided a claim. This compared to 14 per cent of female drivers admitting they wouldn't tell an insurer, and one in ten (10 per cent) of those feared it would void a claim.

Five per cent of drivers admit they would try and make a false insurance claim. Male drivers were found to be more prepared to make a false claim following an accident where there was no damage to their car, as four per cent said they would do it for the money, compared to just one per cent of female motorists. A further 14 per cent of men said they would think about it, compared to one in ten women.

Pete Harrison, car insurance expert at MoneySupermarket.com said: "It might be tempting to make a false claim and our research shows the worrying degree to which drivers are willing to make fraudulent claims. However, the insurance industry is fighting hard to reduce the number of false claims and will conduct lengthy investigations where necessary.

"The cost of these fraudulent claims mounts up, for example, false whiplash claims add around £90 a year to a typical car insurance policy, meaning we are all paying more for our cover as a result.  Honesty is the best policy when it comes to making a claim, as if you do get caught out, it will invalidate your cover and you may find it difficult to get insurance in the future.

"Given the impact fraudulent claims are having on car insurance premium costs for everyone, including innocent motorists, it really makes sense to ensure you get the best possible deal on your car insurance to try and mediate the increases. Shopping around for a good value policy at renewal time can help offset the cost of false claims weighing heavily on your premium. The typical saving made by those using MoneySupermarket to take out their car insurance is £411."

MoneySupermarket.com's top tips for getting a cheaper car insurance quote:

Fit an alarm: Fit an approved alarm and immobiliser, such as a Thatcham 1 or Thatcham 2. All improvements to security should help to lower your car insurance costs. Some insurers could even insist on sophisticated tracking devices before they will insure expensive cars.

Use a ‘black box' - many insurers now offer ‘black box' technology which monitors your driving habits and rewards good drivers through lower premiums.Change your excess: Changing the excess you are prepared to pay on any claim may reduce the premium. With voluntary excess the more you are willing to cover yourself in the event of an accident the lower your premium. However, this can be a false economy as the cost of making a claim, may be far greater than the difference in premiums.

Check your mileage: Check your mileage to make sure you are not paying extra for miles you are not covering in your car. If, for example, you change jobs and have a shorter commute to work you could be saving money. Try and work out how many miles you will genuinely cover - but don't get it wrong as inaccuracy could jeopardise your claim. Minimise your optional extras: Only select to have a courtesy car or legal expenses if you really need them, as they may increase your premium. The less your motor insurance company has to provide in the event of an accident, the lower your costs.

Be careful where you park: Keep your car parked in a locked garage overnight if you can - this can help reduce the premium. More than 50% of vehicle thefts occur during the night so if your car is safely locked away it makes sense that your insurance costs will be reduced as a consequence. If you don't have access to a garage, then parking on a driveway is generally considered a lower risk than parking on the road. It's less likely that vandalism, theft or accidental damage will occur when you're off the highway.

Add a partner or parent to your policy: Adding a partner or a parent to your policy details may reduce the cost of your premiums, a particular benefit to younger drivers. However, don't add a parent as the main driver if you are the main driver of the car as this will invalidate your insurance.

Opt for smaller engine sized car: Insurers calculate premiums based on a number of factors, but the type of car you drive, and the engine size of the car will impact premium prices. Opting for a smaller car with a small engine will give cheaper premiums.