The task of finding car insurance can be time consuming and sometimes confusing for car owners. The most important aspect is to ensure you purchase the correct insurance that provides the best cover for you and your car. Attention to detail is the key to not only getting you, but also your car safely on the road. Everyone knows car insurance can be expensive but there are ways to reduce your costs and find the right insurance for you within your price range and without the hassle.

First it's important to understand why car insurance policies have varying costs and cover. Any insurance company that offers you a policy does so by assessing the risk you are to them and then calculates this into a cost, which is passed on to you. This alters considerably depending on a few factors such as age, experience, your previous driving record and even the make and model of your car all of which can have a dramatic effect on your final price. To try and ensure that you are offered the lowest fee that still ensures you the right amount of cover here are a few tips to help reduce your costs.

Decide on the best cover for you : With the various levels of cover available through insurance companies you need to consider what your needs are and what is important to you before you choose. Are you looking for the minimal level of insurance or do you want full cover with all the benefits? Are you looking for yourself or another member of the family? For you to obtain the best insurance you need to answer these questions first. Whether you decide on Third Party Only, Third Party Fire and Theft or Fully Comprehensive there is a big difference in the cost you are likely to pay in terms of policy rates and excess charges. First consider the cost of your car and what you are willing to pay in the event of an accident. If you have a car worth little you may decide Third Party Fire and Theft is for you, then you are able to research the prices on offer for this policy. By knowing what you want you can cut out a lot of the confusion when shopping around.

Small engine capacity: Cars with smaller engines are considered less of a risk on the road than those of a bigger capacity. This in turn relates to the calculated risk for the insurer and what they will most likely charge you to be insured plus any associated costs and premiums. To get the lowest policy rate for your insurance it is more beneficial in the long term to choose a smaller car. Not only will it help your pocket when it comes to insuring but it's a bonus at the petrol pump too.

Build no claims bonus: It pays to stay with an insurer in the long-term as many companies offer drastic reductions if you build your no claim bonus with them. You can save as much as 65% with some insurers if you avoid making any claims during this time which is a massive reduction on your final payment. A good no claims history also reflects in any excesses you may have to pay which are also lowered for good driving. If you are a new or young driver take advantage of the short-term policies many insurers offer to build your no-claims bonus quicker.

Restrict named divers: Although it can sometimes be cost effective to name an older more experienced driver on the policy of a new or young driver, the same cannot be said for the reverse. Your rates will increase quite significantly if you name an inexperienced driver on your policy. To keep costs down to a minimum keep additional drivers down to just one other. Hereby lowering your perceived risk and therefore your costs.

Young drivers: If you are a young or first driver or are wishing to purchase cover for someone who is, it's a good idea to apply for the Pass Plus Course. It's a series of practical driving tests in all road conditions. On passing you are able to apply for a Pass Plus discount, which can be as much as a 30% on various policies as your risk is decreased through the practical experience gained.

Shop Online : With the hundreds of different policies and benefits available it can be quite complicated sifting though them to find the right one for you. Now with the convenience of the Internet the task of shopping around has become so much easier. Not only can you view more policies there are a variety of discounts available to policy holders if you purchase online. Most insurers offer a 10% discount but also offer a variety of special offers only available of you purchase this way. To ensure you get the best on offer get online and make the insurers fight for your business instead of you making all the moves.

High Voluntary excess: An excess or premium is the amount you elect to pay in the event of a claim. This is the amount that you pay before your insurance company covers the rest of what needs to be paid. Depending on what cover you purchase initially the amount of excess you pay also changes. Obviously the higher the cover you attain the lower the excess required. If you wish to lower the total cost of your insurance policy you can elect to pay a higher excess therefore causing the insurers to have to pay less in a claim and essentially tipping the scales in your favour when it comes to your rates.

By following these simple tips you can be more confident in your car insurance purchase and more likely to find the right policy for you at a lower price without l the hassle.