“Car insurance prices are at the lowest in more than 2 years. And this means if you’re due to renew soon, then you’re likely to see great savings when shopping around. But we also know that those renewing may not see the same savings. This is why it’s important to take a note of your renewal price, and shop around to see if you can do better.
“It’s important to take advantage of prices when they’re dropping. The cost of motoring is still very high, so any savings made can help you elsewhere - whether that’s money in your savings, or towards other living costs. And shopping around 3 weeks before your renewal is due could be the best time to get the lowest price.”
What is the average car insurance cost?
The cost of car insurance in the UK is its lowest in more than 2 years
The average cost of car insurance in the UK is now £735. This marks a significant decrease of £136 (16%) compared to 12 months ago. Additionally, prices have fallen by £22 (3%) in the past 3 months, resulting in the lowest recorded price in more than 2 years.
These figures come from the latest Confused.com car insurance price index, powered by WTW.
Average price of car insurance by region
Manchester & Merseyside and the North West see the biggest decreases
Car insurance prices have dropped across all UK regions, but some areas have seen bigger decreases than others. In particular, prices in Manchester and Merseyside and the North West have fallen by 19% in the past 12 months. In Manchester & Merseyside, this equates to a £204 saving, bringing the average premium in the region to £859. In the North West, drivers are now paying £154 less year-on-year, with the average price now £676.
Meanwhile, Inner London is the most expensive area for car insurance in the UK, with premiums now £1,149, on average.
Complete regional insurance pricing data
Region | Average premium | Annual change (%) | Annual change (£) |
---|---|---|---|
Inner London |
£1149 |
-17% |
-£228 |
Outer London |
£939 |
-16% |
-£181 |
West Midlands |
£896 |
-17% |
-£179 |
Manchester & Merseyside |
£859 |
-19% |
-£204 |
Leeds & Sheffield |
£818 |
-17% |
-£173 |
East Midlands |
£718 |
-16% |
-£140 |
South Central England |
£703 |
-15% |
-£125 |
North West |
£676 |
-19% |
-£154 |
North Midlands |
£675 |
-16% |
-£126 |
North East |
£646 |
-15% |
-£112 |
North of England |
£628 |
-16% |
-£116 |
East of England |
£625 |
-13% |
-£97 |
South East |
£621 |
-16% |
-£115 |
South of England |
£588 |
-14% |
-£93 |
South Wales |
£573 |
-17% |
-£116 |
West of England |
£573 |
-14% |
-£90 |
Central & North Wales |
£514 |
-12% |
-£70 |
South West |
£499 |
-14% |
-£82 |
Average price of car insurance by age
Biggest annual decrease for 17 year olds
Young drivers continue to battle some of the highest prices for their car insurance. However, they’ve also seen some of the biggest price drops this year. In particular, 17-year-olds are now paying £780 (-28%) less compared to 12 months ago. This puts the average price for drivers this age at £2,008. Meanwhile, 18-year-olds are now paying £2,342, following a £569 (20%) drop in prices year-on-year.
Find out how age and other factors can determine how much you pay for insurance.
Average price of car insurance by gender
Men pay more than women for car insurance
While insurers can’t price based on gender, men typically pay more for their insurance than women. However, both are benefitting from a drop in prices. Premiums for male drivers fell by £139 (15%) over the past year to £791, on average. Meanwhile, women now pay £642 on average following a £130 (17%) decrease compared to this time last year. Men tend to have higher risk profiles than women, which is why they might see higher prices for their car insurance. For example, men are more likely to drive expensive cars with larger engines.