1) Switch Insurer The best way to cut the cost of cover is to switch insurers. Call several telephone based insurers, including some of the Direct companies as listed above. If you have access to the internet, you can also get online quotes from many big insurers by clicking on the above links.  

2) Secure Your Car Fitting your car with security devices may cost money but the expense can often be recouped through lower premiums. An immobiliser costs between £75 and £100 but should knock about £50 a year off the insurance for a Ford Sierra.

3) Increase Your Excess Most policies insist you pay the first £100 of any claim. But you can ask for a higher excess and qualify for a discount. For example, by increasing the excess to £250, you could save about 10%. But the savings could be wiped out if you made a claim.

4) Cut Your Mileage The fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to have an accident - and your insurance premium will reflect your lower usage. For example, if you drive fewer than 3,000 miles a year, your insurance could be cut by 10%

5) Buy a Popular Car British made cars, such as Ford Mondeos, Vauxhalls and Astras are cheaper to repair and therefore insurance premiums are lower. For example, insurance for a 1.8 litre Ford will cost around £100 less than for a 1.8 litre bmw 3 series.

6) Restrict You Claims When you make a claim, you have to work out whether it is worth losing your no-claims bonus. Insurers reward drivers who do not make claims, with up to 70% off the premium.

7) Insure with Owners Club People who drive classic or sports cars, should get quotes from insurance schemes run by clubs for enthusiasts. Most clubs negotiate cheap deals with specialist insurers. Affinity group insurance can quote competitively eg Age Concern, National Trust, Farmer's Union for example.

8) Check Insurance details Make sure you are not paying for features you will not use. For example, many policies automatically add on and charge extra for overseas cover.

Oddly, comprehensive cover can be cheaper than third party cover, which does not pay out for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident. Records show that motorists with third party cover are riskier drivers.

Make sure that you know exactly what the vehicle will be used for. If it is purely for leisure, say so.

9) Restrict Number of Drivers Policies are cheaper if only a husband and wife drive the car because they are less likely to claim. Insuring children can be expensive.

10) Change the main Driver Your policy may be cheaper if the car is insured in a woman's name. Particularly if a member of your family is employed in a risky occupation. However, be careful. You must not give fraudulent or misleading information. The person who drives the car for the majority of the time must be named as the main driver, or any future claim under the policy may not be covered.