Myth or fact: Families pay less for car insurance than singles

Anyone who has had a bad experience on the road knows that car insurance is an absolute necessity. Paying for repairs to your car or having to buy a new one if yours is written off is simply not an affordable option for most people. However, even though you know you need it, you might still begrudge paying for it a little bit. That is why looking for ways to lower your monthly car insurance premium could bring some relief. Find out more with these insights from Budget Insurance. 

Does your relationship status affect your car insurance rates?

There are many factors that affect the rate of insurance costs, but did you know your relationship status is one of them? Studies reveal that married people do in fact pay less car insurance premiums. If you think this sounds a bit far-fetched, think again. Let’s take a look at the reasons why married people are paying less for car insurance.

Reasons married people pay less for car insurance 

Simply put, married people are calculated as being a lower risk than singletons so they qualify for cheap car insurance. It sounds a bit old-fashioned, but the stats from insurance companies back up the claim.

• First of all, single people are often younger. Because younger drivers have less experience on the road, they are naturally at greater risk of having an accident. Also, studies have proven that younger people are hardwired to behave in risky ways – the part of the brain responsible for decision-making only matures around the mid-20s. This is one of the reasons why most auto insurance policies have the potential to become cheaper once a person reaches 25 years of age.

• Second, married drivers are seen to have more responsibility – a spouse and often children. The logic is that they would be more inclined to be cautious on the road because they have their family to consider. They may have their children in the car which can make them more careful – using seatbelts, keeping to the speed limit, and obeying road signs.

Married people may pay less for other insurance types too!

It is not only affordable car insurance that married people can enjoy over the singletons. Because of the increased responsibilities and commitments that married folk usually have, they often take out multiple types of insurance, like life, home contents, and building cover. If they do this all through one insurer, they may get a special rate for bundling their cover. At Auto & General, we offer discounts for multi-vehicle policies and for bundling Car, Home Contents, and Buildings Cover. Make sure you ask our consultants about it to find out if you qualify.

Other ways marriage affects car insurance

Married couples regularly put their individual cars on the same insurance policy. As with bundling other types of insurance, insuring multiple vehicles under one policy can lead to generous discounts on car insurance for each vehicle. If there are children old enough to drive in the family, the discounts will extend to their cars as well if they are all on the same policy. Having said that, there are exceptions to every rule. If you are married to someone with a history of bad driving behaviour (numerous claims and accidents), it might be best to keep your insurance policies separate, because you could be penalised for your partner’s record. Even then, if they are listed on your policy as someone who may occasionally drive your car, it is probably going to hike up your car insurance premiums. This is because your partner poses a greater risk to the insurer. 

In addition, the next step after marriage for many couples is having children, and this can lower your insurance rates even more. Families with children often upgrade their cars, opting for bigger, safer, and newer vehicles to carry their baby. Depending on the model, this can mean it is less risky for an insurer to cover a family vehicle due to all the safety features, which means lower premiums. 

10 tips to reducing your car insurance premiums

It is true that families pay less on car insurance than singles. Unfortunately, this is not one of those factors you can change. There are, however, many other ways to bring your insurance costs down. Here are some tips you can self manage:

1. Drive carefully. The more vigilant you are on the road, the less chance there is of having an accident. The longer you don’t claim for, the better your auto insurance rate will be because your risk stays the same or gets lower.

2. Don’t claim unless necessary. If you have a small scratch that can be buffered out with polish and a bit of elbow grease, rather do not submit a claim. In some cases, your excess might be more than the cost of the repairs, so think twice before submitting a claim to your insurer.

2. Take a driving course. Many insurance companies will reward their customers with a lower or more affordable car insurance premium just for taking an advanced driving course. The more you know about driving safely and defensively, the less likely you are to have an accident. Insurance companies love this because it means there is less risk of a payout.

3. Install a tracking device. The safer your vehicle is, the lower your risk will be. That means you benefit from lower premiums. Make sure the tracking device you install is approved by your insurance company though - some have deals with specific tracking companies that will optimise your reduced rate.

4. Keep your car insured. If you have any gaps in your insurance history, even if just for a few months, you will be penalised when you do get car cover again. The longer you have uninterrupted insurance, the better it is for your premium. 

5. Consider the type of car you drive. Perhaps the biggest factor in determining your car insurance premium is the type of car you drive. Bigger cars often come with great safety features that can make them more capable of withstanding severe damage in an accident. Older cars can have parts that are difficult to get hold of or that need to be imported, so they can be more expensive to repair, therefore making them more expensive to insure. 

6. Increase your excess. Most insurance companies offer policyholders the option to increase their standard excess that will be payable when they claim in return for lowering their monthly premiums. However, before you do this, make sure you can afford to pay the excess should you need to claim.

7. Reduce your insurance. Depending on the car you drive, you do not always need to choose comprehensive car insurance cover. You could also consider other options, like third-party, fire and theft cover, or third-party only cover. This makes sure you can pay to repair the damage you might do to someone else’s property.

8. Maintain a good credit record. Paying off all your debts on time will help you to build and maintain a good credit history. The reason insurance companies look at your credit score is to see your risk for non-payment. The better your score, the lower your risk, which means lower premiums.

9. Avoid modifications. The more extras and after-factory fittings you install in your car, the more you will pay. This includes installing a new sound system, which will need to be specified on your insurance policy.

10. Upgrade your home security. Something as small as putting a lock on your property gate can reduce your insurance rates. So clear out your garage and park your car in there – you could save loads of money every month.

Get a car insurance quote from Auto & General

If you are recently married, it is important to let your car insurance company know this because it just might lower your auto insurance premiums and save you some money. In fact, any time your details or circumstances change, your insurer should be the first person to inform. Get an affordable car insurance quote from Budget Insurance. 

Sources: HuffPost; Medium; Web MD 

The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or medical advice.