Exact dates to reduce car insurance while the driver uses a trick to halve the premium

A SAVVY driver has revealed how she reduced the cost of car insurance with a simple trick.

There are plenty of ways to save money on car insurance as premiums rise, including locking in a new price before renewing.

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Consumer champion Martin Lewis has previously said that it takes around three to four weeks for the renewal to get you the cheapest deals.

And now a driver has revealed how she cut costs by locking in a new price weeks in advance.

Post to the Extreme Coupons and Bargains UK Facebook group, she said: “Reminder to check car insurance prices 23 to 30 days before renewal.

“I passed my exam last March and pay £96 a month with a black box.

“I checked car insurance prices last week and the best quote was £91.

“I've just got 30 days to renew and it's virtually halved at £55 a month, with only one year of no claims!”

Drivers were quick to point out that the driver's monthly costs were so low because of the high deductible, which you have to pay to your insurer in the event of an accident.

But others still praised the hack that previously saved them money.

One said: “I've been doing this for many years now thanks to Martin Lewis… it works for me.”

Another said: “Extending three weeks before the insurance expires turns out to be the cheapest time.”

Keep in mind that this tip won't always save you money, but it's worth a try with such high car insurance costs.

How else can you reduce car insurance costs?

Renewing your policy at the right time is just one way to save money on your car insurance.

A woman previously told The Sun how she reduced her premium by £250 after taking out a black box policy.

The gadgets keep track of how you drive and determine how safe you are. The better you drive, the lower your premium.

But it may mean that if you have an accident, your premium will increase.

Another way to reduce costs is to get a pay-per-mile policy, if you are someone who doesn't drive much.

Payments are based on the miles you actually drive, rather than a fixed monthly or annual amount.

Adding a named driver to your policy can also reduce costs.

Do I need car insurance?

Yes, because it is a legal requirement if you own and drive a car.

Car insurance offers you financial protection if you are in an accident, with three different levels of cover.

You can opt for a fully comprehensive third-party or third-party fire and theft policy.

Comprehensive policies provide the highest level of protection, covering you, your car and anyone involved in an accident. That makes them the most expensive.

The lowest level is third party – this is the legal minimum you must have.

This insures you against the costs of injury or damage caused to other people or their property.

However, you will not receive any protection if your own car is damaged or stolen.

You can pay for your car insurance in one lump sum prior to the 12-month policy, or in monthly instalments.

If you don't make a claim during this period, insurers then reward you by, typically, reducing your premium for the next twelve month period.

This is called the 'no-claim bonus' and your premium can drop by 30% after one year to 65% or more after five years.

That said, many drivers have still seen their premiums rise in recent months, despite not making any claims or having their circumstances change.

This is partly due to energy inflation and the rising costs of carrying out vehicle repairs that are passed on to consumers.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

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