How to reduce the cost of car insurance after an accident

You might have narrowly avoided your car being written off, but that shouldn’t mean you now have to pay over the odds for your car insurance. In fact, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the cost after an accident.

Perhaps your premium will stay exactly the same, but the likelihood is that it will rise. Exactly how much you have to pay will vary from company to company and will also depend on how bad the accident was and whether anyone was seriously injured or not.

Tell your insurer about even the smallest of accidents

Even if you’ve had nothing but a small bump, it’s still worth your while informing your insurance company about what’s happened. Failing to report an accident could mean that – in the event that the other driver that was involved decides to sue you – your insurer could be well within their rights to refuse to honour your policy. In that case, you’ll be stuck with all of the legal bills and repair costs. It’s also likely that withholding information will result in an increase in your premium. 

Does your current policy include accident forgiveness?

There are a lot of insurance companies out there that have simply accepted that accidents are a part of life and will offer accident forgiveness as part of their policy.  If this is the first driving mishap you’ve had and you have your policy out with one of these companies, you may be in luck.

Increase your deductible

In the case that your insurance company has decided to raise your premium after an accident, there’s nothing stopping you from increasing your deductible. This is the amount you’re able to afford in the case of an accident. Find out how much your deductible currently is and see if you’re able to raise it.

Take a refresher course

Insurance companies will look favourably on you if you choose to take a refresher course after a car accident. They’ll see it as a sign that you’re looking to improve your driving skills and may be more willing to keep any premium increase to the minimum. Of course, this won’t help you at all if you were caught driving recklessly or under the influence.

Look for a new policy

If feel as though you still haven’t been given a good rate on your insurance then it may be time to shop around for a new policy. Comparison websites such as Call Wiser will be your best option for finding a policy that suits your needs and requirements and you’re much more likely to fork out less than if you were to approach a company directly.