Motorists urged to shop around during peak month

Motorists are being advised to challenge their existing insurer to ensure they get the best premium.

With the car insurance business set for its peak month in August, motorists are being advised to challenge their existing insurer to ensure they get the best premium.

The August peak is a legacy of when car registrations were issued on the first day of August, a policy which became bi-annual in 2001.

Many insurers, including Privilege Insurance, experiences an annual upswing in application in August, with the number of website hits and phone calls doubling in the first week of the month last year.

Privilege Insurance advises that taking a slightly more expensive deal, or one with a larger policy excess, could be a better value propositon in the long term.

Additionally, just because your insurance was the cheapest around last year, this does not mean this will be the case a year down the line.

"Shopping around for car insurance can seem like a chore, particularly during the summer, but customers should use it as an opportunity to challenge their existing insurer by comparing their renewal quote with the competition," said Ian Parker, managing director of Privilege Insurance.