8 surprising things that can affect the cost of your car insurance

Living in a built-up area will increase your chance of accidents through sheer probability, as there will be more vehicles on the road.

If you live in an area with a high crime rate, you could see the added risk to your car reflected in your premium costs since vandalism and theft may be more common.

In classic UK fashion, the weather might also throw a spanner in the works… If you live on the coast or near a river prone to flooding, your insurance payments will consider the cost of potential water damage.

You could choose to park your car overnight in a garage, however, there are still some risks involved. 

Insurance providers could deem garage parking a risk as there’s a possibility you could damage your car on entry or exit.  

Parking your car on a driveway will reduce the chances of being hit by a passing motorist but still gives a criminal access from the street. 

Although there are some simple things that could put off thieves. Using a motion-sensor light that overlooks the driveway and putting down noisy gravel as your driveway surface are both good deterrents. 

Neither of these would directly impact the price you pay for insurance but could prevent you needing to make a claim in future by reducing the risk of your car being damaged or stolen.

Occupations associated with high stress levels are considered a ‘higher risk’, so whilst a senior position may indicate responsibility, some insurance providers may charge high-powered professionals a costlier insurance premium.

If your job involves a lot of driving, you can also expect to pay more for your car insurance. 

Salespeople or delivery drivers who spend more time on the roads are more likely to be involved in an accident and their premiums will be higher in order to cover this additional risk.

The more you drive your car, the more likely it is that you’ll end up in an accident – it’s a basic principle for car insurers. 

However, some insurers might charge drivers who cover fewer miles more than the average driver, as they could be viewed as being accident-prone and lacking in confidence. 

If you’re not sure how many miles you drive a year, check your previous MOT or service certificates where it will be shown. 

It may well be worth looking into low mileage or pay-as-you-drive insurance, as this can work out cheaper depending on how much you drive.

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Statistics from road safety charity Brake show that drivers aged 17-19 only make up 1.5% of UK licence holders, but are involved in 9% of fatal and serious crashes when driving. 

Learner, young and new drivers are less experienced on the roads and this means they are more likely to find themselves in a car accident, increasing premiums. Specialist insurance like learner driver insurance and black box car insurance could help lower costs. 

Many car insurers consider drivers over 75 years of age as being ‘higher risk’ and so many older motorists may also see their premium costs increase. 

This is despite the fact that older drivers tend to use the road less often than other motorists and are more likely to avoid driving during busy times.

Modifications to the performance or appearance of your vehicle can seriously impact the cost of your car insurance. 

Expensive speakers and in-car entertainment systems are a huge draw for potential thieves and are likely to bump up costs. 

However, not all modifications will result in a price hike. As immobilisers will make your car more secure and rear sensors reduce your chances of a prang while parking, you can expect to make a saving on your premium by fitting them. 

Remember to declare all modifications to your insurance provider to avoid any difficulties when making a future claim.

If your husband or wife intends to drive your car, you could add them as a named driver. By sharing the driving, you limit the amount of time any one person spends behind the wheel and therefore spread the risk of accident between more people.

If your other half has a history of no claims, you can sometimes benefit from an even cheaper premium. 

Adding a more experienced driver as the main driver of a car rather than an added driver to get a cheaper premium is known as fronting. This is illegal – you could see your insurance invalidated and the more experienced driver could face a criminal conviction. 

When applying for insurance, you’re usually asked about any claims you may have made over the past five years. These will heavily influence the cost of your premium. 

Providers will take up to five years of no-claims bonus into consideration when discounting your premium. Non-fault claims should also be declared to your provider. 

Your driving experience is the most heavily weighted factor in calculating the cost of your insurance. This includes things such as speeding offences, which suggest that you take less time assessing the road and are therefore more likely to be involved in an accident. 

Non-motoring offences can also affect the cost of your premium and you may require specialist insurance for cover.

• Did you know if you're looking to borrow a car for a short-period of time, we offer temporary car insurance

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