Latest car insurance secrets revealed

In an effort to crack down on drivers without insurance, the Government has introduced a law that means all cars must have cover - even if they're locked away in a garage with no engine.
Under the old rules, cars didn't need their own insurance if they're not being driven on the road. For example, if you're going on holiday or working away for a significant period of time, and the car will be sat on your driveway or in your garage for weeks on end, then there was no need to renew that pricey policy.
Since the new regulations - called Continuous Insurance Enforcement - came into play, this is illegal, and you could face a £100 fine. The car could even be clamped, towed away or destroyed.
Owners have to apply for a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) from the DVLA if they want to avoid paying their next insurance bill and steer clear of the crusher.
Applying for a SORN is a simple enough process, but the big issue here is that drivers who forget to renew their car insurance, or are away from home when the renewal is due, could end up with no car at all.
Read on to find out how you can avoid falling victim to the strict new regulations. We've even included some largely unknown hints and tips to help you keep your car insurance premiums to a minimum.
The new rules: how to avoid the pitfalls
Don't forget your renewal date. Insurance companies will usually send a letter or email to remind you of this, because it's very much in their interests to do so. However, if you think you might be away when the policy expires, then make a note of it. That way you can take action before you go.
Apply for a SORN. It only takes a few minutes and costs nothing. Either ring up the DVLA or to do it online. You must be the registered owner of the car to make the application and it has to be parked on a private driveway or in a garage for the SORN to be valid. Cars parked on the road could still be involved in an accident and therefore require insurance. You will also need to return the existing tax disc to the DVLA.
Set up a direct debit. Paying your car insurance by direct debit on a monthly/yearly basis ensures that you'll never miss a payment. The downside is that if your premium goes up then the provider will continue helping themselves to your cash, and potentially rinse you for some extra funds. Again, if you're not around at renewal time, this is a worthwhile option. Otherwise, we'd recommend keeping a close eye on your premium, and making sure you shop around before each renewal.
Five top tips to lower your premiums
1. Ask for third party and fully comprehensive quotes. Most people assume that third party insurance is always cheaper than fully comp' - but that's not always true. The latter sometimes costs less, and even if it turns out slightly pricier, it's often worth paying a little extra for the additional cover.
2. Add a second driver to the policy. Young drivers with high premiums can see massive savings by adding an older, more experienced motorist as a named driver to their policy. A middle-aged female with a clean driving licence and plenty of no claims is usually a good bet. The same goes for those with jobs that insurance companies deem risky - they assume that people like journalists and musicians are more likely to have an accident, even if the reality is untrue. Adding someone like a teacher or an NHS worker to the policy can reduce the price. Note that the main driver of a vehicle cannot be insured as a named driver on somebody else's policy unless the insurer is explicitly told.
3. Reapply to your existing insurer. Insurance companies can be slippery and will often increase your premium year-on-year. Many people don't notice and end up paying much more. If you reapply for the same policy, with the same company as a new customer, then it may turn out to be cheaper.
4. Drive somebody else's car. Make sure you check the small print, but most fully comprehensive policies allow you to drive other cars with third party cover. The vehicle in question needs to have its own insurance, and obviously you should get permission from the owner before you drive it, but this can reduce your annual mileage and, as a result, your own insurance premiums.
5. Don't be fooled by gender-specific insurance. Female-only insurance companies are common enough, but they don't necessarily offer cheaper premiums than conventional firms. All insurers base their prices on risk assessments, so gender is always taken into account when the quote is drawn up.