SWEET SPOT
Martin Lewis reveals perfect time to renew your car insurance in tip that could HALVE costs & save hundreds on policy
Lewis revealed the exact date when quotes are cheapest
MARTIN Lewis has revealed the perfect time to renew your car insurance - potentially halving costs and saving hundreds on your policy.
Car insurance bills have surged by a whopping 61 per cent over the past year - with renewal costs rising by 30 per cent.
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The Money Saving Expert urged fans to shop around for insurance quotes instead of automatically renewing.
But he said timing is crucial when it comes to getting the best quotes.
Speaking on his ITV show, Lewis said: "If you are near your renewal, getting quotes three weeks before may halve the costs.
"We ran 80million quotes to see exactly how the prices change.
"I've updated this a few times over the years. This isn't about renewal quotes.
"This is about going to get new quotes to see if the price is cheaper in the run-up to your renewal date."
Lewis added: "It starts to drop at around four days but you get into the sweet spot around three to four weeks before.
"It bottoms out at exactly 23 days and the price starts to rise.
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"So what everybody needs to do is get in your diary that 23 days before renewal - because that's the actual sweet spot."
It comes after Lewis revealed a "rule of thumb" which will slash household bills by £500.
He also shared how Brits can cut monthly bills and get thousands back.
Seven car insurance tips
A MOTORS expert has revealed seven car insurance tips that could save you hundreds.
Personal finance guru Cameron took to TikTok to share the handy hacks with his followers.
First of all, he warned against leaving it late to renew your policy.
Renewing on the day your contract expires is likely to see you pay significantly more, especially if you need the coverage to start the same day.
Instead, he explained that getting your renewal sorted 27 days in advance is likely to save you around 55% more, which could equate to a couple of hundred pounds depending on your car's make and model.
Secondly, he suggested increasing the voluntary excess on your policy.
This is the amount that you tell the insurance company you will pay towards the cost of repairing or replacing your motor in the event of an accident.
It usually sits between £50 and £200 but can be increased as much as you'd like.
While it does mean a bigger repair bill after a crash, if you drive safely and manage to avoid collisions it can represent a major saving.
Next Cameron said: "Limit the number of miles that you drive each year.
"The lower the miles, the less of a risk you are to insure."
Obviously, this isn't possible for everyone, especially those who drive for a living and people in rural areas.
However, where possible try and walk, cycle and use public transport to knock some zeroes off your insurance bill, while also helping the environment.
Speaking of which, Cameron recommended settling the full bill upfront and paying for your policy annually rather than monthly.
Insurers usually offer monthly payments but these result in a higher final total to accommodate the extra risk of month-to-month coverage.
If you can afford it, paying yearly can save you tens or even hundreds of pounds by year's end.
Two other good ways to bring down that cost are parking off the street (i.e. on a driveway) overnight and adding additional drivers to your policy.
The former lowers the risk of your car being stolen or damaged accidentally and so makes insurance cheaper.
This can also be achieved by installing safety features like a wheel lock, immobiliser or alarm.
Likewise, adding other drivers, especially those more experienced than you, can allow you to benefit from there no claims discount and lower risk factor.
Finally, Cameron urged drivers to shop around to find the best possible deals.
Comparison sites like CompareTheMarket or GoCompare are freely available online and can get you a quote in minutes.
They collate data from major and less well-known insurers and even sometimes have exclusive discounts or benefits, such as cinema tickets or restaurant vouchers, to entice customers.