The cost of car insurance has been on the rise over the past two years, particularly affecting drivers with points on their licence. Not all insurers react the same to points, but they will push premiums up across the board.

Celebrities such as Jeremy Clarkson, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard have all been caught talking on the phone while driving, an offence which results in fines and points. Increased premiums may not be a great deal to the rich and famous, but others struggle to meet the costs.

After receiving 6 points in 6 months, for speeding and running a red light respectively, Stuart southern found that his insurance premiums increased by 33%.

He points out that he was fined for both offences and finds it unfair that he is saddled with the prospect of high premiums for at least three years, after which the points are removed.

If you do receive pint on your license it is your duty to inform your insurer immediately. If you do not inform your insurer your policy could be invalid.

All insurers treat convictions with differing attitudes, but it is evident that the biggest increase in premiums was for penalised drivers. Allianz treats convictions for using a mobile phone while driving with the same severity as dangerous driving, making a bad choice if you have been convicted for this offence.

The biggest leap in price was found to be for those who were banned from driving after accumulating 12 points on their license. Returning to driving after the ban they found that their premiums had changed dramatically.

However, there is some good news for drivers, as the advent of price comparison sites makes it easier than ever before to shop around for the best deal. This is particularly important for ‘non standard drivers', those with points and convictions. 5 or ten years ago it was much harder for penalised drivers to find a good deal.

If you have points on your license or you feel that you are paying too much, don't delay in seeking out a better deal. Steve Grainger, head of insurance.co.uk urges drivers not to wait until their cover has run out saying:

“You can save money by switching to cheaper insurance at any time” and pointing out “Once you've found cheaper cover, paying annually in one go rather than monthly will usually also save money.”

Premiums continue to rise, making shopping round for a better deal more important than ever. In the last quarter of 2007 alone, premiums rose by 2.4%, pushing the average price of cover today up to £629.04

Even the job you have can affect the price of your cover, with office jobs considered among the safest and those working in the entertainment sector one of the highest risk areas. Any job which means you will often be driving at night or carrying expensive equipment in your vehicle is guaranteed to push premiums up. In order to cut costs it is often advisable to be as specific as possible about your job, as your job may not be as risky as the insurer first assumes.

Other ways to cut costs involve paying as much voluntary excess as you can, cutting annual mileage as much as possible, driving a car with a smaller engine, parking off the street, especially at night, and taking a pass plus test, which will define you as a safer driver.