10 ways to get cheaper car insurance
Your renewal letter isn't the final word. These 10 tricks put the power back in your hands, and the savings back in your pocket.
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 21 July 2026 | 5 mins read
Car insurance renewal letters have a nasty habit of landing on the doormat with a number that makes you wince. For years, the industry banked on the fact that most drivers wouldn't bother shopping around, quietly loading up premiums for loyal customers who stuck around out of habit rather than choice.
Rules have since forced insurers to stop charging existing customers more than new ones for the same cover, but plenty of the old tricks still linger, and plenty of drivers are still paying more than they need to. Getting a fair price isn't about luck. It's about knowing where the savings are hiding, and refusing to just accept whatever number lands on your doormat.
So if you're fed up with overpaying for cover, here are 10 ways to fight back and get your car insurance for less.
1. Shop around before you renew
Auto-renewal is convenient, but it's rarely the cheapest option. Insurers can no longer charge existing customers more than new ones for the same policy, but that doesn't mean every provider prices you the same. Get quotes from a few comparison sites around three weeks before your renewal date, when prices tend to be at their most competitive, and don't be afraid to walk away from a provider that won't budge.
2. Pay annually if you can afford to
Paying for your car insurance in one go, rather than spreading the cost monthly, almost always works out cheaper overall. Monthly instalments usually come with interest built in, sometimes adding a significant amount onto your total bill over the year. If you can put the lump sum aside, or use a 0% interest credit card to spread the cost yourself, you'll keep more of your money out of the insurer's pocket.
3. Increase your voluntary excess
Your excess is what you pay towards a claim before your insurer covers the rest, and the more you offer to pay voluntarily, the lower your premium tends to be. It's worth doing the maths carefully, though. Only raise your excess to an amount you could genuinely afford if you needed to claim, otherwise you risk being caught out at the worst possible time.
4. Consider a black box or telematics policy
A telematics or 'black box' policy tracks how you actually drive, rewarding smooth, safe driving with lower premiums instead of judging you purely on age or postcode. It's a particularly good option for newer or younger drivers, who are often quoted eye-watering premiums under standard policies. Just bear in mind that harsh braking, speeding or a lot of late-night driving can work against you at renewal time.
5. Protect your no claims bonus
Every claim-free year on your policy chips away at your premium, and a healthy no claims bonus can be one of the biggest discounts you'll ever earn. If you've built one up, it's usually worth paying a little extra to protect it, so a single claim doesn't wipe out years of careful driving in one go.
6. Choose a car in a lower insurance group
Every car sold in the UK sits in an insurance group from 1 to 50, based on factors like its value, performance, repair costs and safety features. Two similar-looking cars can end up in very different groups, so it's always worth checking before you buy. If you're weighing up your next car, browsing used cars with a lower insurance group in mind could save you money for years to come.
7. Tighten up your car's security
Insurers reward cars that are harder to steal. A Thatcham-approved alarm or immobiliser can bring your premium down, and where you park matters too, a car kept in a locked garage or on an off-street driveway overnight is generally cheaper to insure than one left on the road. Some insurers also offer a discount for fitting a tracker.
8. Get your mileage and job title spot on
It's tempting to underestimate your annual mileage to bring the price down, but an inaccurate figure can invalidate your policy entirely if you ever need to claim. The same goes for your job title. Be precise rather than vague, as the exact wording you use can genuinely move the price up or down, so it's worth checking how insurers categorise your role rather than guessing.
9. Add a named driver, but never ‘front’
Adding an experienced named driver, such as a parent, can sometimes bring the cost down, particularly for younger or newer drivers. What you can't do is make an experienced driver the policyholder when they're not actually the main driver of the car, known as 'fronting'. It's illegal, it can invalidate your cover entirely, and it could leave you facing a much bigger bill than the one you were trying to avoid.
10. Fit a dash cam
A growing number of insurers offer discounts for cars fitted with a dash cam, as the footage helps settle disputes quickly and discourages fraudulent claims against you. It's a relatively small outlay that can pay for itself many times over, both in premium savings and peace of mind if you're ever unlucky enough to be involved in an accident that wasn't your fault.
Take back control of your premium
None of these tricks rely on luck, just a bit of time and a willingness to question whatever number lands on your renewal letter. Put a few of them together, and you could knock a genuinely significant chunk off your annual bill.
And if part of your plan for cheaper cover involves switching to a car that's easier on your insurer as well as your wallet, browse Cazoo's range of used cars to find one that ticks both boxes.