Confused.com - Petrol price drops
Will Thomas, Head of Motor Insurance at Confused.com comments on petrol price drops: "News that petrol costs are starting to decrease will come as a welcome relief to motorists who are already overstretched keeping their cars on the road.
With the Confused.com/EMB motor insurance index finding that prices in Q1 rose by a substantial 4.3%1, it has never been more crucial for motorists to make sure they are getting the best deal for their circumstances.
Price isn't the only factor, motorists should look to take advantage of all the benefits available that might help them when it comes to budgeting. Some insurance providers offer extras like reduced price MOTs, free breakdown cover, or free winter health checks for your car and websites like Confused.com make it easy to compare these policies side by side. "
Will Thomas offers these tips to drive down the cost of motoring :
Most insurance providers will base their premiums on the amount of miles a person drives in a year, so don't overestimate your mileage. Drivers should remember they can always contact their insurer to adjust mileage should they find themselves using the car more often than first anticipated
If the car is low-value drivers might wish to consider a TPFT policy, as excesses may make the comprehensive cover a pointless exercise
Advanced driving course Pass Plus can be key to driving down premiums and could see young drivers reducing their costs substantially.
Avoid modifications, they can be deemed to pose an extra safety risk and therefore drive up the price of cover.
Typically, premiums will dip in price when drivers hit 25 but whilst they're waiting, building no claims bonus can lead to valuable discounts
Consider voluntary excess; increasing this can bring the cost of the cover down but it is important not to pledge more than you can afford, as it may stop you from being able to claim. It is worth noting that the effect of increasing an excess on smaller, less expensive policies can be considerably less than for younger drivers who have much higher premiums. Drivers should ensure that they don't increase their excess needlessly.
Adding an experienced driver to your policy as a named driver can result in cheaper quotes for the young, so if there's any chance a parent will need to borrow the car then it may be worth putting them on, but do not be tempted to make them the policyholder if you are the main driver, this is known as fronting and is considered fraud.
If possible, pay for your premium up front, as spreading the cost over instalments can lead to extra charges
Consider taking out breakdown cover: In the event of a disaster, not only could you be subject to charges that run into hundreds of pounds for roadside repair and recovery, and possibly a long wait in the cold, you also need to consider the associated benefits that a breakdown policy would offer- overnight stay, alternative travel, car hire cover, things you would not necessarily think about until you were in an emergency situation.
Think about a warranty. A typical policy will cover the car's main working parts, like the engine, drive train and suspension. Such things as the air conditioning can also be included. Although a warranty is an additional cost it offers the peace of mind in knowing that you won't have to cover the full cost of repair should your car suffer an expensive mechanical fault, such as engine failure.
Roof racks make your car less aerodynamic, which, simply put, means it takes more fuel to move your car. Therefore, remove roof racks when not in use.
Ditch the junk in your trunk. The heavier your car, the more fuel it takes to move it.
Change the way you use your car's pedals. Accelerate gradually away from a standstill and leave a suitable gap between the car in front to allow you time to break gently. Both practices will save you petrol and therefore cash.