Renewing your car insurance on this date could save you £540

Drivers could slash more than £540 off their car insurance bill simply by shopping around at the right time – and making a handful of small tweaks to their policy.

There is a clear 28-day ‘sweet spot’ before renewal that delivers the biggest savings, with motorists cutting their premiums by £541, on average, compared with leaving it until the last minute.

With average car insurance premiums now standing at £726, experts say many drivers are still paying far more than they need to – often without realising it.

According to new data from price comparison experts at Confused.com, motorists who searched for quotes 28 days before renewal paid £511, on average, compared with £1,052 for those who waited until the day their policy was due to expire.

Those shopping between three and four weeks ahead consistently secured the cheapest deals, while last-minute drivers were typically paying £900+.

But timing isn’t the only factor. The comparison site says a series of small, perfectly legitimate changes can knock hundreds of pounds off a quote.

Five changes drivers can make to save on their car insurance

One of the biggest savings comes from adding another named driver. Motorists listed as the sole driver paid £917, on average, while those with an additional named driver paid £650 – a saving of £267.

Adding a spouse delivers even bigger benefits. Drivers who specifically named their spouse paid just £418, which is £499 less than the average sole driver.

Experts stress motorists must only add drivers who genuinely use the car, but say the data shows it is often cheaper than relying on third-party cover.

Protecting a no-claims bonus (NCB) can also pay off. While it usually costs extra upfront, Confused.com says drivers with 10 years’ no-claims could still save up to £75, on average, as their discount is preserved even if they make a claim.

Providing a driving licence number is another easy win. Drivers who did so paid £90 less, on average, than those who didn’t, as insurers can more accurately verify driving history.

Even household details matter. Motorists declaring more than one car paid £732, on average, compared with £780 for those saying they owned just one – a saving of £48.

According to the latest Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index, powered by WTW, average premiums fell to £726 by the end of 2025 – down £111 (-13%) over 12 months. Despite the drop, prices remain far higher than in recent years, with drivers also facing rising VED and fuel costs.

Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com, said: “When it comes to buying car insurance, there are a lot of details that we might overlook which could in fact save us money. Things like protecting no-claims or adding a licence number can result in significant savings. Even adding a named driver rather than relying on third-party cover could save you hundreds.

“But it’s important that you are always accurate and honest when it comes to your car insurance quote. Flexing a few details to save money could put you at risk of invalidating your policy. The biggest saving comes from shopping around early – saving hundreds of pounds compared to leaving it until the last minute. Even a few small changes could really help at a time when the cost of motoring is increasing.”