The hidden cost of crime

People in the UK are facing rising car insurance premiums, possibly as a result of a rising crime rate, according to research by comparethemarket.com. In areas where crime is most prolific, the difference in insurance premiums between areas of low crime vs. high crime, can be over £250 per car.

With the most vehicle crimes per household, the North West and London are paying more for their car insurance compared with other regions in the UK. On average, motorists in the North West pay £844.74 and Londoners, £804.68 per year, an indication that crime, among other factors, may be keeping insurance premium rates disproportionately high. The South West enjoys the lowest premiums, clocking up more miles per year than the North West and London yet paying just £569.32 per year.

Jeremy Moll, insurance expert, comparethemarket.com says, "Motorists in areas of high vehicle crime can look to lower the price they pay for their car insurance in the first instance by shopping around when they look to renew their car insurance policy. The following steps can help consumers keep their vehicle as safe as possible in areas of high crime:

Use your garage to store your car and you could save around £26 a year on your policy - just make sure you do this once quoted on your policy as you will not be covered if anything should happen to your car

Don't make modifications to your car - it may increase the insurance and can attract unwanted attention

Fit a car alarm and steering lock - ideal for deterring would be criminals

Consumers need to be aware of the crime rates in their area and start to consider what they can do to get the cheapest and best deal on their car insurance without compromising the level of cover they receive. comparethemarket.com can help almost everyone save money on their insurance premiums simply by searching over 400 insurance providers to help consumers choose the best policy for them.

Regional variations in the average cost of car insurance from research by comparethemarket.com are:

North West, £844.74
Greater London, £804.68
North East, £721.73
Midlands, £696.68
Wales, £684.28
South East, £669.05
Scotland, £579.92
South West, £569.32