Revealed: The £150 timing trick that could cut your car insurance bill

Car insurance prices remain a major cost for UK drivers. The latest insight from Go.Compare Car insurance shows the average premium between April and June 2025 was £414 – the lowest it’s been since the same period in 2023, when the average premium cost £371.*

According to the price comparisons website’s latest price index, the cost varies dramatically depending on who you are and where you live.

• Age: Young drivers (17–24) face average premiums of £779, compared to just £363 for drivers aged 65 and over – a 53% reduction.*
• Location: A driver in Greater London pays an average of £594, while those in Wales pay just £339 on average – 43% less.*
• Policy type: Surprisingly, comprehensive cover is the cheapest option, averaging £413, while third-party only (TPO) policies cost £549 – 33% more, despite offering less protection.*

But one of the easiest ways to save money isn’t about age, postcode or policy type – it’s about timing. Go.Compare analysis shows that drivers who buy their policy 26 days before renewal pay an average of £390, compared to £554 on renewal day.** That’s a saving of £164, or 30% cheaper.

Days before renewal	Average price	Saving vs Renewal day
0 (renewal day)	£554	–
14 days	£409	£145 cheaper
21 days	£398	£156 cheaper
26 days	£390	£164 cheaper (30%)

Tom Banks, spokesperson at Go.Compare car insurance, said, “While the cost of car insurance has come down, with the cost of living still high, having to pay your car insurance bill isn’t welcome news to any driver. But while there are factors you can’t change – like your age or where you live – there are plenty of practical ways to bring down your premium. One of the simplest is when you buy. Leaving it until the last minute could cost you 42% more, while being organised and renewing early could save you over £150.

“We’ve put together our list of top tips for saving money on your car insurance: 

• Be accurate with mileage: Overestimating could add unnecessary cost, but be honest about how far you drive in a year.
• Think about the policy type: It often costs less to go with more cover in a comprehensive policy, than a third-party only policy. 
• Pay annually if you can: Most monthly instalments include interest charges, driving up the cost.
• Check your job title: If there are multiple ways to describe your job, try them out; your premium could vary depending on which you use. But make sure you are truthful and accurate about your role, as misrepresenting your role could void your cover.
• Shop around: A comparison site makes it easy to compare cover and price across insurers.”

For more tips on how to save money on your car insurance, visit: Go.Compare Car Insurance – Top Tips

Average car insurance cost by age (Apr–Jun 2025):

Age group	Median premium*
17–24	£779
25–34	£526
35–44	£468
45–54	£423
55–64	£381
65+	£363

Average car insurance cost by region (Apr–Jun 2025:)

Region	Median premium*
Greater London	£594
West Midlands	£497
North West	£486
Northern Ireland	£486
South East	£442
North East	£423
East Midlands	£421
Scotland	£403
South West	£371
Wales	£339

Mileage :

Annual mileage	Average premium*
6,000 miles	£409
8,000 miles	£427
10,000 miles	£445

To read the full car insurance report, visit here.