Car insurance

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has changed how and where large parts of the population work, with many of us now working from home. The increase in home working as well as the government’s lockdown restrictions mean that many drivers are making shorter and less frequent trips than they used to.

If your policy is up for renewal and the way you use your car has changed and you think it’ll stay that way, you should update your details. If you’re using your car less, it may mean you could pay less for your insurance.

If your insurance isn’t up for renewal but your occupation has changed, for example you’ve become unemployed or if you now have a second job, you should let your insurer know. If you’ve been furloughed, there is no need to let your insurer know. But once the furlough scheme ends you should let your insurer know your current employment status.

We’ve pulled together a guide detailing more information on the impact of coronavirus on drivers.

Typically it's cheaper to pay for insurance in one go. Opting to pay monthly via direct debit could end up costing you over 16% extra (based on Confused.com data - January 2020).

When you get quotes through Confused.com, you'll usually see 'soft searches' on your credit report. These are nothing to worry about. They're only visible to you and don't affect your credit rating. A 'soft search' is usually just used to confirm your identity.

The only time you'll see a 'hard' search on your credit history is if you choose to buy car insurance and pay for it monthly. This is because the monthly payment is paid over a contract period (usually 12 months) and the insurer needs to check you'll be able to cover the cost over the length of the policy.

To get an estimate, if you know on average how many miles you drive a week, you can multiply that figure by 52 to give you a yearly figure.

Alternatively, if you've had your car for a year or more, you can compare the mileage on last year's MOT document to this year's. If you don't have the documents to hand, you can use the GOV.UK MOT checker to find the details.

This is the amount you'd have to pay in the event of a claim, in addition to any compulsory excesses set by the insurer.

If you have a pickup and you're looking for insurance, you'll need to go to our van insurance page to get a quote. This is because, generally, 4x4s are classified as cars and pickup trucks aren't. This is due to their longer wheel base and the fact they often exceed 3.5 tonnes.

The majority of insurance companies will only accept your NCB if you've earned it as a policy holder of a privately insured car.

When getting a quote, please enter your total NCB years as 0.

However, you may want to contact your chosen insurer before purchasing the policy to see if they're able to accept any NCB from a company car.

If you can’t find your exact job title, it could be listed under a similar description instead. For example, if you’re an IT manager, try entering ‘computer’ or ‘manager’ to see if another option fits the bill.

If you’re worried that your choice doesn’t describe your job properly, don’t be. You’ll be able to confirm it with your insurer before you commit to buy.

Generally, yes – the price of your quote will change if you alter the annual mileage.

Your mileage is taken into account by your insurer when calculating your price. Make sure you’re as accurate as possible, as underestimating your mileage could invalidate a future claim.

If you have a standard 12-month car insurance policy in the UK, you’ll usually be covered to drive in some European countries for up to 30 days. The countries that are covered and the level of cover you have can vary depending on your insurer.

If you have comprehensive cover in the UK, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have the same cover while driving abroad. You may only have the most basic third-party cover when you’re driving in Europe.