Save £195* on your Car Insurance
*51% of new car insurance clients saved an average of £195 between Feb 2024 and July 2024. Insurance savings are based on a sample of 3,481 car insurance clients.
Why choose Howden for your Car Insurance?
We know, as an insurance broker, that each car policy needs to be as individual as its owner, and that’s why we provide a personalised service, focused on getting to know you and finding out exactly what you want from your comprehensive car insurance cover.
When it comes to sourcing motor insurance cover for our clients, we pride ourselves on doing the heavy lifting, so they don’t have to. Thanks to the great relationships we have with our selected panel of specialist and standard car insurers, we make the process of comparing multiple policies, on your behalf, simple and easy. What’s not to like?
Ultimately though just know, that whether you need to make a claim, purchase a new car policy, or renew an existing one, we’re here to help.
Benefits of working with Howden:
- Benefit from a tailored service that comparison sites can’t provide.
- Speak with your local insurance broker, within your community.
- You can trust us – we’re rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
- We’re driven to save you time, money, and hassle.
- We’re right by your side in the event of a claim.
What is Car Insurance?
So what exactly is car insurance?
Well, to put it simply, car insurance is a type of coverage that can provide protection for your car against a wide range of risks, beyond just damage.
With comprehensive car cover, you can rest easy knowing that you're covered for things like theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, and more. So, if a tree falls on your car during a storm or someone dinks your bumper pulling out of a parking spot, you're covered.
Why do I need Car Insurance?
Essentially, having car insurance cover is all about securing peace of mind. Accidents can happen at any time, and having a policy can help protect you financially in case of an accident, theft, or another unexpected event.
Not only does car cover provide financial protection, it’s also a legal requirement. Driving without insurance can result in hefty fines or even legal trouble. But, with the right coverage, you can feel confident that you're protected no matter what the road throws your way.
What type of Howden Car Insurance do I need?
The type of car insurance you will need depends on the level of cover you’re after. For instance, if you're looking for the bare minimum, third party insurance might be the way to go, whereas if you want to be fully protected, you’ll need a more comprehensive insurance package. Below are the different types of insurance we offer:
Fully comprehensive
Offers the highest level of protection, designed to keep you as financially unaffected as possible in the event of an accident.
Third party, fire and theft
If your car is stolen or damaged in a fire, you’ll be protected under this cover. A third party’s injuries and vehicle damage with also be covered, but damage to your own car will not.
Third party only
This is the lowest level of car cover, required as a bare minimum to drive on UK roads. Third Party only protects you if other people are injured or their property is damaged.
It is important to know that the exact details of each of these levels of cover differs for each insurer, meaning the cover you’re looking for may depend on the provider you choose.
Read more about the different types of car insurance via the Howden Blog: The 3 types of car insurance explained
Optional upgrades and enhancements
Your vehicle insurance does not need to come as standard, as insurers will often offer you optional extras you can add to your policy. The most common additional cover options include:
- Breakdown cover
- Courtesy car cover
- Windscreen cover
- Wrong fuel cover
- Cover for lost or stolen keys
- No claims discount protection
- Personal injury cover
Each insurance provider is different – some will charge you to add upgrades to your policy, whilst others offer them free of charge. It’s important that you find out exactly what an insurer does or doesn’t offer before taking out a policy, so you can make sure you can protect yourself however you deem fit.
What isn’t covered?
Each insurance provider is different, so being aware of exactly what isn’t included in your policy is crucial to ensure you don’t feel unexpectedly out of pocket.
Typically, fully comprehensive car insurance policies will not cover you for:
- Driving with an invalid driving license.
- Any damage or injuries caused as a result of the driver being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Theft resulting from carelessness.
- Any general wear or tear.
Speaking to an insurance broker though can help you with comparing your policy options, as they can source you all the options that meet your criteria and provide you with adequate cover.
Other types of motor cover
We know standard car insurance policies aren’t always enough to adequately protect drivers in the event of an accident. That’s why here at Howden we offer an array of specialist cover options.
- Black box
- Breakdown cover
- Business & Commercial
- Classic car
- Electric car
- Learner Driver
- Modified Car
- Motor Trade
- Over 50s
- Temporary cover
- Van cover
How to get cheaper Car Insurance
Who doesn’t want to know how they can get a cheaper car insurance quote? The good news is, there are ways you can reduce your car insurance premiums, and they are as follows...
Shop around and compare
It is worthwhile weighing up your options and comparing what different insurers have to offer. An easy way to do this is to speak to a car insurance broker, who will take your details and source you deals based on your information.
Reduce your annual mileage
The further you drive your car each year, the more likely you are to make a claim, in the eyes of an insurer. So, if you can afford to drive a little less each year, it could reduce your insurance premium.
Keep your driving record clean
Insurance companies often offer lower rates to drivers with a clean driving record, so it's important to drive safely and avoid accidents and traffic violations.
Stay safe and secure
Driving a car equipped with safety features such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, and anti-theft devices may qualify for lower insurance rates. Insurers will also bear in mind where you park your car overnight, as home driveways for example are deemed safer and more secure.
Avoid large engine cars
Looking for a new car? Cars with larger, more powerful engines typically cost more to insure.
We also remind our clients though that the cheapest option may not always be the best option. It's important to weigh the cost and benefits of different policies before choosing car insurance that’s right for you.
Is it cheaper to use a car insurance broker?
It doesn’t have to cost you more to get expert advice and guidance when you’re looking for car cover.
Differently to comparison sites, we offer a personalised, bespoke service which is tailored around getting to know you personally, whilst fully understanding what you’re looking for from a car policy. Moreover, our goal is also to get you our best value car insurance deals available on the market via our panel of insurers. We aim to save you time, money and hassle when comparing cover options.
What else can affect car insurance prices?
Yes, there are ways that you could potentially lower the overall cost of your car insurance premium. However, there are also aspects that can affect your premium price, which are out of your control. Your car insurance premium cost could be influenced by:
Your occupation – insurers deem some jobs riskier than others, influencing insurance premiums.
Your age – younger drivers will typically be charged more than older drivers.
Your car’s insurance group – you’ll pay less if your car is in a lower insurance group.
Where you live – the number of claims made in the area you live in will affect the cost of your premium.
Your driving experience – New drivers are deemed to present a higher risk to insurers, so the more driving experience you have, the better.
Additional drivers –a named driver on your policy could potentially lower a premium, especially if they are an experienced driver with a clean driving record.
What do I need to get a Car Insurance quote?
It's easy to get your hands on a car insurance quote. All you have to do is provide us with the following information:
- Your personal details – your name, your age, where you live, your job title etc.
- Information about your car – the registration number, its make and model, how old the car is.
- How you’ll intend to use the car – will you be driving the car for pleasure or business? What is your annual mileage?
- Your driving record – we’ll need your driving license number, how long you’ve been driving for, and whether you’ve made any claims in the past.
Looking for a more personalised service? Come visit us in branch or just give us a call and we’ll ask you all the necessary questions before compiling together a quote that’s right for you.
Car Insurance Guides
Want to learn more about car insurance products and how they work? Read our Car Insurance Guides, or read some of our articles below which you can find on the Howden Blog!
- Car Insurance Groups [A Complete Guide]
- Car Insurance Group Checker
- Car Tax Checker: check if your car is taxed
- How to check your car insurance expiry date
- When is My Car Insurance Due?
- Car insurance for new drivers: all you need to know
- When’s the best time to renew car insurance?
- What is legal cover on car insurance?
- What modifications affect car insurance?
- Insurance Premium Tax: A Guide for Insurers
- What are car insurance occupation categories?
Car Insurance FAQs
What are car insurance groups?
Car insurance groups are used by insurance companies to categorise cars based on their risk factors. Insurance groups range from 1 to 50, with cars in group 1 being the least expensive to insure and cars in group 50 being the most expensive.
The group rating is determined based on several factors such as the cost of the car, the car’s performance, its safety and security features and the amount it would cost for repairs.
Want to find out which car insurance group your car sits under? Try out our free-to-use Car Insurance Group checker. Or, take a look at our Car Insurance Group List, where you can find out more about each of the 50 car insurance groups.
Is car insurance compulsory in the UK?
To drive your car on roads in the UK, yes, you’re legally required to have car insurance. The minimum level of cover you’re required to have is third party car insurance.
Can you tax a car without insurance?
No, you can’t tax a car without car insurance. In order to tax a car, you typically need to provide proof of insurance, which confirms that the vehicle is covered in case of an accident or incident.
When is my car insurance due?
You can figure out when your car insurance is due by keeping an eye out for any communications you’ve received from your car insurance provider, such as emails or letters, letting you know that your policy has either expired, or is about to expire. Most insurers also offer an online portal where you can log in and view your policy details, including your insurance status.
You can always contact your insurance provider via email or over the phone to check the status of your policy too. Ultimately, remembering when you first purchased a car insurance policy will allow you best to keep track of when your car insurance needs renewing.
How can I check if a car is insured?
You can find out if a car is insured by searching the Motor Insurance Database. You can access this by visiting the askMid website.
Here you can enter the car’s registration number, and then the database will confirm if the car is insured. Otherwise, you can expect to see a message saying "Sorry, we couldn't find any record of insurance for this vehicle".
If you're having trouble finding out if your car is insured, you can also contact your insurance provider directly and ask them to confirm if your car is insured or not.
To find out more about making sure your car is insured, read one of our articles:
Can you insure a car you don't own?
Yes, some insurers will allow you to insure a car you don’t own. However, you’re required to tell the insurer or an insurance broker that you don’t own the car, and you’re also obliged to have the car owner’s consent before insuring it.
Can I cancel my car insurance policy?
Yes, you can cancel a car insurance policy whenever you like. Just be sure to check the terms and conditions of your policy first, as your insurance provider may charge you a fee for cancelling.
Most insurers will now allow you to cancel your policy online, but some might still expect you to speak to a representative over the phone. Speak to an insurance broker and they can compare policy cancellation options on your behalf.
Can I drive someone else's car on my insurance?
You’re only able to drive someone else’s car if you’re marked down as a named driver on their car insurance policy, and belongs as you have the car owner’s permission.
There is some confusion with this as previously fully comprehensive policies allowed policyholders to drive any car they wished, but this is no longer the case. You should never assume that you’re insured to drive another person’s car.
What types of cars can I insure?
There’s no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to car insurance. No matter what type of car you own, we want to find you the perfect policy. As well as standard cars, we’ll assists owners of:
Is it better to pay car insurance annually or monthly?
Whether you pay your car insurance annually or monthly is completely dependent on what you’d prefer.
Whilst paying monthly in the long term may be more expensive than paying annually and in a one-off payment, making monthly payments might be much easier for you to manage. However, the cheapest way to pay car insurance premiums is to pay for it in one go.
What is third party car insurance?
Third party car insurance is there to cover you if you damage someone else’s vehicle or injure someone, and it is your fault.
It is compulsory for drivers to have car insurance, and third-party car insurance is the most basic level of cover drivers are legally allowed to have in the UK.
What is a no-claims bonus?
A no-claims bonus, which you may see abbreviated as NCB, is a reward offered to policyholders by insurers, on the condition that the policyholder makes no claims throughout the duration of the policy. These are also known as no-claims discounts.
This reward is offered as an incentive by insurers, to encourage safe driving, thus reducing the number of claims they need to pay out for.
For instance, an insurer might offer a discounted policy renewal price to a new policyholder if they manage to go the length of the policy’s duration without making any claims. That discount may be increased as well for each consecutive claim-free year.
However, unless the policyholder has a protected no-claims bonus, which allows them to make a number of claims without losing the discount, the policyholder could lose their no-claims bonus if they make a claim. This is dependent on the terms and conditions of the car insurance policy.
What does car insurance excess mean?
Car insurance excess is the amount of money you pay yourself towards a claim you make on your insurance, regardless of who’s to blame.
For example, if you set your excess at £50, and you claim £500, your insurer will pay up to £450 and you’ll pay £50. If your car can’t be fixed, your insurer will take £50 off the money they pay you to replace your car.
How does telematics insurance work?
Telematics insurance, also known as black box insurance, uses technology to monitor a driver's behaviour and adjust their insurance premium based on their driving habits.
The driver installs a small telematics device, usually a small box or a mobile app, into their car. The device collects data on the driver's behaviour and sends it to the insurance company.
The insurance company uses the data to calculate the driver's premium. Drivers who are safer on the road are rewarded with lower premiums, whilst more reckless drivers may face higher premiums or penalties.
Can I get insurance for a modified car?
Yes! Contact a member of our team today and we can help you find a modified car insurance quote, which not only ticks all your boxes, but also meets your budget.
Can I get car insurance for a high performance car?
Yes, we can help you get your hands on car insurance policies for high performance cars.
In fact, our Private Client Motor team are experts at sourcing a wide range of policies, whether it be supercar insurance, high performance car insurance or cover for specific car brands. Click here to access the Private Client area of our website.
What is a car insurance broker?
A car insurance broker is an intermediary, acting essentially as the ‘middle-man’ between you, the client, and one or multiple insurance companies.
We have a great relationship with a panel of trusted motor insurance providers, and we work with them on your behalf to find you the best value deal we have available. Part of that process also involves getting to know you, and fully understanding what you want from your comprehensive car insurance cover, before relaying that information over to our insurance panel.
Breakdown cover
Roadside assistance 24/7, 365 days a year
Don’t be left stranded. Get your hands on breakdown cover that responds when you need it most.
Electric Car Insurance
Need insurance for your electric car? No problem.
Take ‘charge’ and go to dedicated industry specialists who can help you find your own, individual electric car insurance.
Van Insurance
Van insurance tailored to you
We strive to help you save time and money when searching for van insurance.
Modified Car Insurance
Cover for modified cars doesn’t need to be complicated
We have a great understanding of how technical car modifications work, and that helps us determine what modified car insurance policy would suit you best.