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Multi car insurance

Insure multiple cars on one manageable policy

What is multi car insurance?

Multi car insurance allows you to insure multiple cars on a single insurance policy. It can be a convenient option for households with more than 1 car, saving you the hassle of insuring each vehicle separately.

We work with Admiral, Lancaster and RAC to offer multi car insurance, though the cover and policy options vary between insurers. Some may also offer a multi car discount, so it’s worth checking which best suits your needs. 

Some of the benefits of these policies are:

Admiral insurance logo

Benefits of Admiral multi car insurance

With Admiral you can add family members to your policy even if they live at a different address. You'll get a discount for each car you add to the policy and a full years NCB for every car on the policy for 3 months or more. Admiral has been voted the UK's best car insurance provider 8 years in a row.*

Lancaster insurance logo

Benefits of Lancaster multi car insurance

Lancasters flexible policy allows you to add or remove cars throughout the year. They insure a range of cars from classic to modern to commercial. Call Lancaster for a quote on 01480 400 880** or request a quote online and they'll call you back with your multi car price.

RAC logo

Benefits of RAC multi car insurance

With RAC family and friends can benefit from multi car discount even if they don't live at the same address. Every car has a separate NCB and keeps its existing renewal date. RAC offer a 10% discount for the first 3 cars added to the policy. You can get a quote online or call them on 0330 159 8705

*Admiral has won best Car Insurance Provider in the Personal Finance Awards since 2015
**Lancasters phone lines are open Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 17:30. If you submit a quote request on a Saturday or Sunday, you should receive a call from Lancaster on Monday.

How does multi car insurance work?

Multi car insurance provides cover for multiple cars for a standard 12 month period. Usually if you add more cars to your policy during this time, the renewal dates sync up. This means your insurance for all cars renews at the same time once the initial 12 months are over.

It’s also possible to get a linked multi car insurance policy, which allows each car to keep its own renewal date. When your policy runs out, you're offered a quote for each car. These policies may also allow you to have different levels of cover for different cars on the policy.

Multi car policies usually allow you to cover up to 5 vehicles on a single policy, although this can be up to 7 with some insurers. They can be helpful for families living at the same address as you'll be able to drive any car on the policy as long as you’re listed as a named driver. This may have an impact on the price of the policy, though.

Most multi car policies require all cars on the policy to be registered to the same address. But some insurers also cover family members living at different addresses, such as children studying or working away from home.

Is multi car the right option for me?

Multi car policies can help you save on your car insurance. But there are many types of car insurance out there, and multi-car may not be the best option for you.

To help you decide whether its the right policy type for you, here are the pros and cons of multi-car cover:

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Pros of multi car insurance

  • You may pay less overall than you would be having multiple policies
  • Families at different addresses can be added, depending on the insurer
  • Insurance is less time-consuming with less paperwork and renewals to manage
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Cons of multi car insurance

  • It can be a lot to pay in one go compared to spreading the cost with policies for each car with different renewal dates
  • Young or newly qualified drivers may increase the overall policy cost
  • Any claims could affect the price of future policies for all drivers

What our consumer champion says

“If your family or household have more than one car, a multi-car policy may be a savvy way to organise all your car insurance policies in one fell swoop, cutting down on your admin and possibly saving you money at the same time. They’re not just for families though, anyone with more than one car registered to the same address can apply for a policy.

The same money saving tips for a standard car insurance policy also apply to multi-car policies. For instance, having an experienced named driver, such as a family member, on the policy can help bring down costs. Additionally, buying your insurance ahead of time is another way to save money.”

Alice Beer, Consumer Journalist of ITV'S This Morning
Consumer Journalist

Are multi car insurance policies cheaper?

Multi car insurance can be a cheaper option if you need to insure multiple cars, but there’s no guarantee. Because it works in the same way as standard car insurance, the price depends on:

  • The driving history and age of all drivers to be insured
  • Each vehicle on the policy
  • Where you live

You can get multi car insurance for as few as 2 cars. But typically, the more cars you list on a policy, the more you save. Not all insurers advertise how much of a saving or discount they offer on multi car policies. So the easiest way to find out how much you could save is to get a multi car quote.

If you only have a couple of cars to add to the policy, multi car insurance might not be the cheapest option for you. Things like pay as you go insurance, or even black box policies could save you more.

To help you decide, you can get a car insurance quote for each car individually, add them all up and see how much it costs. Then get a multi car insurance quote and compare the difference. Multi-car quotes should give you a breakdown of the costs for each car, so you can see how the costs are split and make sure all the cars are worth having on the policy. Remember to compare cover levels as well as the cost.

How are multi car insurance prices calculated?

Multi car insurance is calculated the same way that standard car insurance prices are worked out. Insurers look at dozens of factors to build up an idea of how big of a risk your driver profile is, and offers you a prices based on that risk. The main difference is that some insurers add a discount at the end for multiple cars.

Depending on the provider you choose, they may let you add more cars to the part-way through a policy. When you do this, they'll quote you a price based on the amount of time the car will be on the policy. For example, if you add another car when you're 3 months into a policy, they'll quote you a price for insuring the car for the remaining 9 months of the policy.

The insurer considers every person and car on the policy. So when comparing policies, it's worth thinking about the following for each driver and car:

Your address is used by insurers to judge your likelihood of making a claim. Certain postcodes will have higher crime rates than others.

Your age and driving experience are considered as younger, less experienced drivers tend to pay more for car insurance as they're more likely to be in an accident.

Your occupation can give insurers insight into your driving habits. Some jobs require more time spent driving, which increases your risk of an accident.

The type of car you drive and what group it’s in. All cars are assigned an insurance group ranging from group 1-50. Generally, the higher the car insurance group the more expensive your policy is.

Your mileage should be as accurate as possible. The number of miles you drive each year affects your prices.

What optional extras can I get with a multi car policy?

Each provider offers a range of add-ons that you can add to your multi car insurance policy. If these aren't included with the policy, you can usually add them on fan additional cost:

  • Breakdown cover to help you get your car fixed or provide recovery to a garage for repairs.

  • Courtesy car cover so you can still drive while your car is being repaired. This could be an important one if any of the drivers rely on their car for work.

  • Personal accident cover for injury or death caused by an accident.

  • Motor legal protection, or legal cover, could cover what your car insurance policy doesn't if you’re involved in a road accident that's not your fault.

  • Windscreen cover insures your windscreen and windows for repair or replacement. Some insurers let you make a claim on windscreen cover without affecting your no-claims bonus (NCB).

Usually, any optional extras you add to a policy covers all cars and drivers. But this is likely to increase your costs, so think carefully about which add-ons you actually need. For example, you might already have a standalone breakdown policy, so don't need to double up on cover.

Some multi car insurers allow you to choose separate add-ons for each car, but it's worth checking how doing this may affect your policy price.

Will a multi car insurance policy affect my no claims bonus?

Not always. Claims made by another driver on a multi car policy don’t always affect your no claims bonus (NCB), but you’ll need to check the terms of your insurance. For linked multi car policies, each driver has their own NCB so none of the other drivers on the policy are affected if they make a claim. 

For policies where cover is synced up for all cars, you may need to consider how a change in renewal date affects your NCB. If you add a car onto a multi car policy before its existing renewal date, you may lose out on your NCB for that year. There are some ways around this, such as choosing a multi car policy that allows you to add new cars throughout the year.

What do I need to get a multi car quote?

To get a multi car insurance quote, you'll need to have these details ready:

Car details

  • The number plate or make and model of all cars you want to add
  • Existing renewal dates, if any
  • Any modifications to the cars

Personal details of each driver

  • Date of birth and full name
  • Any previous insurance claims or motoring convictions
  • Existing no-claims bonus from your last renewal documents
  • Driving licence numbers

What levels of cover can I get with a multi car policy?

Like a standard single-car policy, you can choose from three levels of cover:

  • Third-party car insurance
  • Third-party fire and theft
  • Comprehensive car insurance

You'll also need to state how you use your car. Social use only covers normal day-to-day driving, so if you use your car to get to work you need to select social and commuting. If you use your car for work at all away from your normal place of work, you need business use.

  • Third-party car insurance is the lowest cover level available and the minimum legal level of cover required to drive. It covers you if you damage someone else's property or injure them while driving. It also covers your passengers.
  • Third-party, fire and theft car insurance covers everything that third-party does. But it also covers repairs or replacement if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.
  • Comprehensive car insurance offers the highest level of protection. It covers you and your car, plus other people and their property. It can also be the cheapest option.

Want to get a quote for just one car?

Types of car insurance

Car insurance guides

Page last reviewed: 29 January 2024.

Reviewed by: Louise Thomas

There is no charge for using our service. We compare a range of trusted insurers that are household names. Confused.com is an intermediary and may receive a fee from our insurer partners if you decide to buy through our website. We pride ourselves on impartiality and independence – therefore we don't promote any one insurer partner over another. Admiral multi car insurance is arranged and administered by EUI Limited (trading as Admiral), who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office; Ty Admiral, David Street, Cardiff, CF10 2EH. Registered in England and Wales, No 2686904. Lancaster multi-car insurance is arranged and administered by Lancaster Insurance Services which is a trading name of Insurance Factory Limited. Insurance Factory Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (No. 306164). Registered in England and Wales number 02982445. Registered office Markerstudy House, 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB. Insurance Factory is part of the Markerstudy Group of Companies. RAC Insurance is a trading name of RAC Financial Services Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 5171817. Registered office: RAC House, Brockhurst Crescent, Walsall, WS5 4AW. RAC Car Insurance and RAC Home Insurance are arranged and administered by BISL Limited, which is an independent intermediary. Registered in England no. 3231094. Registered office: Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6YS. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.