Drivers in London are being urged to shop around as the price of buying a new car insurance policy has dropped as much as 18, on average – but insurers have been ramping up the cost of renewals, new research finds.

New data shows that drivers in Outer London will have saved 18 (2%) on their car insurance by shopping around this past quarter, with the average premium now at 968. That’s according to the latest car insurance price index by Confused.com (Q3 2020), powered by Willis Towers Watson. Based on more than six million quotes per quarter, it’s the most comprehensive new business price index in the UK.

However, motorists in Inner London are paying significantly more, with the average price of car insurance now 1,234, following a 21 (2%) increase in the past 12 months. This is one of the few regions in the UK where car insurance is now more expensive than this time last year.

While car insurance prices have dropped for drivers in most areas of Outer London, some will have seen some even greater savings this past quarter. In particular, motorists in Watford are now paying 43 (5%) less for their car insurance compared to 12 months ago, with the average price now at 803.

Meanwhile, drivers in Ilford are paying the most for their car insurance. Prices in this area are now 1,286, following a 24 (2%) increase in prices over the past 12 months, on average. Likewise, motor trade insurance on the other hand, has increased by roughly 17% over the past 12 months in Ilford.

While it seems drivers who are shopping around for a new car insurance policy are seeing some significant price drops, further research by Confused.com found that loyal customers aren’t seeing these savings, but instead are being penalised for their loyalty. In the survey of 2,000 UK motorists(1), more than three quarters (77%) of those who received their car insurance renewal in the past three months (July – September 2020) saw their price increase by 44, on average, according to new research from Confused.com.

The data comes as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) released its proposal to put a stop to renewal price hikes, otherwise known as the ‘loyalty penalty'(2). According to the investigation, initiated by Citizens Advice and the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA), this has cost consumers 1.2bn(2) when opting to automatically renew their insurance or service, as providers apply price increases after their initial term.

But now, the FCA has proposed measures which means insurers must offer renewing customers prices no more expensive than if they were a new customer, which is due to come into effect towards the end of 2021. Although, research shows nearly two thirds (64%) of UK drivers still think insurers will find another way to make money from customers once this comes into force.

Louise O’Shea, CEO at Confused.com, warns that the new measures being proposed does not mean drivers will never get a more expensive price for their car insurance. This is certainly not the case. The ruling, which is expected to come into force from July 2021, simply prohibits insurers from calculating a price based on whether the customer is a new customer or a renewal customer. But an insurer could still review the way prices are calculated at any time, which means prices for some customers could continue to increase year-on-year. According to Ms O’Shea, the only way for customers to truly know if they’re getting the best price available to them is to shop around, as there’s likely to be an insurer offering a better deal. To further incentivise drivers to seek out a better deal, Confused.com is giving them the chance to save even more by guaranteeing to beat their car insurance renewal price, or give them the difference plus 20(4).

Confused.com’s research highlights that people are generally missing out on making savings, with drivers staying with their car insurer for three years, on average. And worryingly, nearly one in four (23%) will always automatically renew with their current insurance or utility provider without checking if they can get a better price. In fact, nearly two in five (38%) know they could be getting a better deal elsewhere. And it’s these habits that have caused people to fall victim to the loyalty penalty and overpay for insurance products or other services for many years. To explore the issue in more detail, Confused.com has created an expert report into consumer loyalty, which looks at how people are loyal to their providers, and how much this has potentially cost them.

The good news for drivers across the UK is that the cost of buying a new car insurance policy has dropped significantly in the past 12 months, with prices now 18 cheaper than a year ago. This brings the average price of car insurance in the UK to 765. And those looking to take out a new car insurance policy in the next three months could see significant savings when shopping around. At the end of 2019 (Q4), the average price of car insurance accelerated from 783 to 815 ( 32, 4%) in the space of three months – one of the steepest quarterly price increases in more than two years. This means drivers who bought their car insurance between October and December last year were paying some of the highest prices seen in two years. But, even if prices remained flat between now and the end of the year, buying a new policy in the next three months could result in a saving of 50, on average(5).

This is the second consecutive quarter where car insurance prices have fallen year-on-year, which coincides with the start of the UK lockdown in late-March. Since then, circumstances have changed for millions of drivers across the UK, with nearly half (48%) claiming to have used their car less since the lockdown began. And according to Confused.com data, the average annual mileage travelled has dropped by 4% between those who bought their car in the past three months(6), compared to the beginning of the year. This equates to millions fewer miles being driven per year(7). And it is this drop in traffic levels, and consequent reduction in the risk of accidents, which is perhaps one reason why the cost of car insurance has fallen over the last six months. Lockdown also saw a huge surge in the number of people applying for a SORN(8), and new car sales plummeted(8), meaning insurers had to compete and adjust their pricing in order to attract the small number of drivers who were looking for insurance during this period.

However, while the UK is facing further lockdown restrictions, some sense of normality has resumed for some drivers, as people return to work and start to drive their car more often, and new car sales have also started to pick up gradually. It’s likely that car insurance costs will return to the upwards trend we saw before the coronavirus pandemic, but at what pace remains to be seen.

Despite recent price drops, some drivers are paying more for their car insurance than others – particularly male motorists. The average cost of car insurance for men in the UK is now 805, following a 16 (2%) decrease year-on-year. Meanwhile, women benefitted from an even greater saving, with prices now 23 (3%) cheaper than 12 months ago. This means female drivers are now paying 714 for their car insurance, bringing the gap between men and women to 91, on average(10).

It’s a similar picture across different age groups in the UK, as some benefitted from great savings, while some face higher prices compared to this time last year. Those aged between 19 and 23 saw their car insurance prices drop between 34 and 92 this past year. However, 17 and 18-year-olds are now paying up to 24 (1%) more compared to 12 months ago. For 18-year-olds, this brings their car insurance cost to 2,091 – the only age group to be paying more than 2,000 – while 17-year-olds pay 1,911, on average. However, this is still 43 and 140 cheaper than the price paid by people of these ages three months ago, respectively. This fluctuation in prices is perhaps because fewer younger or ‘new’ drivers will have been shopping for their car insurance in the past six months, as driving tests have been cancelled. Typically, younger drivers face the most expensive car insurance costs, due to their limited driving experience. However, with fewer new drivers joining the road, the risk is significantly lower.

That said, there are also some older age groups where prices have increased for drivers. For example, 33-year-olds are now paying 13 (2%) more than three months ago, forking out 705, on average. Similarly, many drivers in their 50s and 60s are also paying more this quarter.

While the cost of car insurance is cheaper now for most drivers, it’s clear not everyone is off the hook, which proves the importance of shopping around to find the best deal.