gocompare.com
Insurance comparison website for drivers over 30.

Motor insurance is mandatory in the UK but for drivers over the age of 30 it needn`t be overly expensive. In fact, according to one insurance comparison website, annual young driver car insurance premiums are equivalent to around 69% of the value of the car - but both male and female drivers in their 30s pay much less.

The statistics show that male drivers in their 30s pay just £262 on average every year. That`s more than £100 less than a man in his 20s (£370) and more than £1,500 less than an 18-year-old male who will typically pay £1,815. The gaps are similarly large among female drivers with an 18-year-old paying an average of £954, a woman in her 20s typically paying £320 and a female driver in her 30s paying just £250.

Choose your policy options carefully

In theory, the more experience you have behind the wheel, the less you should be paying for your car insurance - providing you have avoided claims and convictions of course. So once you`re in your 30s, you may wish to add on various cover options that were previously unaffordable to you as a young driver. Some of the options you might wish to consider include:

• Guaranteed courtesy car. This is one of the most popular policy features not necessarily included as standard. It ensures you will stay on the road if your own car is damaged etc.

• Breakdown cover. Many car insurance companies also offer breakdown cover, with features including onward travel and home repairs.

• No-claims discount protection. Don`t let those years of building up a no-claims bonus go to waste. Add no-claims protection, usually available for a small additional premium, and you won`t lose your bonus in the event of an accident.

• Legal protection. Protect yourself against loss of earnings, and costs incurred as the result of an accident. Some car insurance providers offer legal cover in the region of £100,000.

Remember you`re likely to pay more for the options you add on, so read the terms and conditions of each policy thoroughly to ensure there are no notable exclusions.

Choose your insurer carefully

According to a 12month analysis of quotes published by a comparison website, Kwik-Fit and Swiftcover.com return the cheapest average premiums for all drivers at £276.74. Also making it to the top ten were QUINN-Direct (£282.80), RAC (£289.59), Admiral (£295.75), Endsleigh (£297.58), My Motor Quote (£302.43), Diamond (£307.26), LV= (£312.13) and Bell (£316.99).

However, while these insurers may be the cheapest on average this does not mean they will be the cheapest for everyone. Insurance quotes are dictated by circumstances - such as where you live, the car you drive, your driving history, your occupation and how many miles you drive per year. You may also wish to consider the different policy features available from various providers such as:

• Sheila`s Wheels/Diamond - Specialists for female drivers with incentives such as handbag cover and female friendly repairers.

• Bradford & Bingley - Includes cover in the EU for up to 60 days.

• Churchill - Has a price guarantee to beat like-for-like renewal quotes if you have been claims free for three or more years.

• Direct Line - Includes a vandalism promise where any claim for an act of vandalism will not affect your no-claims discount.

• Lloyds TSB - Includes two months` free insurance when you buy online.

As a driver in your 30s, you`ll also be able to access a number of insurance companies that no longer offer insurance to young drivers, these include: Axa; More Th>n; Swiftcover; Marks & Spencer; and Saga.

Finding cheaper car insurance quotes

The majority of car insurance providers offer their cheapest quotes online where they can save on overheads - so always buy your motor insurance via the internet if you want to take advantage of these discounts.

If you wish to find cheap car insurance quickly, use a comparison website. It takes just a few minutes to compare quotes from dozens of insurance companies, whilst also comparing policy features. That way, you can be sure you are getting the right car insurance for your needs.

[Offers referred to in this article were available at the time of writing. 23/07/2008.