How to Get Car Insurance in the UK (Best Quotes)
By law, you must have car insurance in the UK. The lowest level is third party only. Prices vary a lot between insurers for the same cover. You save money by comparing well. Be accurate about your details. Know which add-ons to skip.
At a glance
- Cost:
- £300–£1,200/year depending on age, area, car
- Total time:
- 1–2 hours
- Steps:
- 7 steps
- Where to apply:
- gov.uk, hmrc.gov.uk, or your local council
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked annually · next review due October 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UK sources(October 2026).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go 10 min
Understand the three levels of cover
Third party only is the legal minimum. It covers damage you cause to others. Third party, fire and theft also covers your car if it is stolen or burnt. Comprehensive also covers damage to your own car. It is often the CHEAPEST tier, which may surprise you. Insurers set prices by the type of driver who buys each tier. So always get a quote for all three.
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- Before You Go 15 min
Know what drives your price
These things affect your price. Your age and postcode. Your car insurance group. Small cheap cars sit in low groups. Your yearly mileage. The words you use for your job. Where you park the car at night. Your record of claims and convictions. A garage or driveway is better than parking on the street. A low mileage figure only helps if it is true. Fronting is naming a low-risk driver as the main user when they are not. Fronting makes the policy invalid.
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- Before You Go 20 min
Immigrants: check your licence status
EU/EEA licences are valid in the UK until age 70. With other foreign licences, you can drive in the UK for 12 months. After that, you must exchange your licence or take a UK test. Some countries are designated countries, like Canada, Australia, and Japan. They can exchange without a test. Others must start fresh. UK insurers charge a lot more for foreign licences. If you exchange your licence and start UK no-claims, your premiums can drop a lot. A letter of experience from your old insurer overseas may get you a no-claims discount.
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- Fill / Prepare 1 hour
Compare quotes on at least two comparison sites
Use Confused.com, Compare the Market, GoCompare, and MoneySupermarket. No single site has every insurer. Direct Line, Aviva, and Zurich are not on them. Get quotes from them directly. Use the same excess and the same cover level on every site. Then you can compare fairly. Prices move daily. Quotes are usually valid for 30 days.
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- Fill / Prepare 20 min
Choose excess and skip the gimmick add-ons
Voluntary excess is the amount you pay towards each claim. A higher excess cuts your premium. £250–£500 is typical. Legal cover, personal accident cover, and courtesy cars often come with the policy already. Or you can add them cheaply elsewhere. Windscreen cover is truly useful. Check the policy, not the brand. Some "comprehensive" policies do not cover the windscreen. Some have low third-party limits.
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- Submit & Pay 20 min
Buy before the cover start date
You can buy up to ~30 days in advance. This locks in the price today. If you switch insurers, start the new policy on the day the old one ends. This leaves no gap. It also avoids paying twice. Cancel the old one. If you paid for a year, refunds are pro-rata minus fees. Insurance links to the MID database automatically. Driving without insurance has a fixed penalty of £300 + 6 points. A court can give an unlimited fine and disqualify you. The police can also seize the vehicle. Keeping a vehicle without insurance, and not SORN, brings a £100 fine. The fine can rise to £1,000 in court.
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- Follow Up 30 min/year
Re-quote at every renewal
The FCA banned price-walking. These are loyalty penalties. But renewal quotes are still rarely the best price. Run fresh comparisons a week before renewal. The difference is often £50–£200. Also get new quotes after you move house. Do the same after you change jobs, add a named driver, or have another year of claim-free driving.
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Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Assuming comprehensive is always the most expensive tier. Comprehensive also covers damage to your own car, and it is often the cheapest tier, which may surprise you. Insurers set prices by the type of driver who buys each tier. Always get a quote for all three tiers every time.
Fronting: naming a low-risk driver as the main user. Fronting is naming a low-risk driver as the main user when they are not. Fronting makes the policy invalid.
Giving inaccurate details, like a false low mileage. Be accurate about your details. A low mileage figure only helps if it is true. Price is affected by age and postcode, car insurance group, yearly mileage, the words you use for your job, where you park at night, and your record of claims and convictions.
Leaving a gap between policies, or driving without insurance. If you switch insurers, start the new policy on the day the old one ends. This leaves no gap. Driving without insurance has a fixed penalty of £300 plus 6 points. A court can give an unlimited fine and disqualify you. The police can also seize the vehicle.
Auto-renewing without re-quoting. Renewal quotes are still rarely the best price, even though price-walking is banned. Run fresh comparisons a week before renewal. The difference is often £50 to £200. Also get new quotes after you move house, change jobs, add a named driver, or have another year of claim-free driving.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is comprehensive always better than third party?
It is not always better priced. But it is always worth getting a quote. Insurers set prices by the risk of drivers who usually buy each tier. Drivers who buy comprehensive are lower risk. So it often comes out cheaper than third party only. Get quotes for all three tiers every time.
Will a black box (telematics) policy save me money?
For drivers under 25 usually yes. It also helps if you drive few miles each year. Premiums can drop 20–40% for many drivers. In return, the insurer monitors your speed, braking, and the hours you drive. Read the curfew and mileage rules before you accept. If you break the rules, the insurer can cancel the policy.
Can I insure a UK car with a foreign licence?
Yes. But expect higher premiums. Fewer insurers will give you a quote. Once you exchange to a UK licence, tell your insurer. Many will lower your price straight away. Keep proof of any foreign no-claims history. Some UK insurers honour it.
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