Auto and Car Insurance

Best way to get car insurance?

I have heard that it may be better to get car insurance from a broker rather than online. I am 18, and I want to get my own policy. I am currently a named driver on my dads policy, as it is much cheaper to do it that way but I want to buy a car in my name and start earning my own ncb. I currently drive a Jaguar X Type and the insurance costs £2100 from Tesco (with my dad as the main driver). It would cost me about £3200 to insure it myself with Tesco. I want to get a smaller car that is easier on petrol and road tax, but I am having trouble finding a realistic quote. I am thinking about either a Smart Roadster coupe, a honda civic or ford fiesta. With Tesco, I dont get 1 year ncb as I would have done with Direct Line, and the insurance would be OK if I did. Its tempting me to lie on the insurance if I cant find a decent quote (under £2000), although I wouldn't want to. Can anyone offer me any advice on how to find cheaper car insurance or recommend any companies ?

Public Comments

1. Have you tried http://www.confused.com http://www.gocompare.com and http://www.comparethemarket.com - you only have to fill in your details once on each website and they will get quotes from loads of brokers and insurance companies. I have found Quinn Direct (http://www.quinn-direct.co.uk ) best for young drivers, especially if you are a named driver on your parents policy. If you decide to be the policy holder they will give you a big discount for being a named driver on last years insurance (I would still try adding your dad as a named driver on your policy as this often lowers the price further). If you use the comparison sites above they will get a quote from Quinn Direct for you and save you filling in yet more forms. I wouldn't lie about having a no claims bonus as most (if not all) companies ask for you to send proof and will cancel you policy if they don't receive it within 14 days. It's worth changing your details to see the difference in price (annual mileage etc.). Once I found fully comprehensive was the same price as third party fire and theft, so it's worth checking all levels of cover. Good luck ;)
2. Quinn insurance was the cheapest by far when I was searching for insurance for my son, he's just turned 20. Last year when he was learning he bought a renault clio 1.2 and insurance in his name with a provisional licence was under £400 for third party.
3. Quinn direct are by far the cheapest for younger drivers with no NCB. But insurers do take into account the amount of time you have been driving, even if you do not have any NCB. Online quotes are effiecent and rather accurate, but the best quotes are if you ring up, they have been progressively cheaper than the online quotes that i have recieved.
4. Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please dont hide under your father's name and tell porkies. It is a criminal offence to do so. With regards to young motorists - the insurance companies in the broker market have virtually decided to pull out of writing business for young men (especially for high performance cars). The loss ratio is horrendous i.e. they pay out a lot more than they take in premiums. The usual market I suppose is Admiral - I can't recommend them as I know nothing about the policy or cover or claims service..