Tips when Phoning for Car Insurance Quotes

As mentioned in the 10 Top Tips for cheaper car insurance, always sound professional, serious and polite on the telephone. Some insurance telephone staff are on commission so they are more likely to give you a good quote if you talk to them nicely, than if you come across as a timewaster.

Also, never lie as they can probably tell if you do, if not, then some insurance companies have lie detectors which may detect this. If you do lie and get away with it bear in mind in the event of a claim your insurance could be cancelled if they find out you have misinformed them.

When is the Best Time to Telephone for a Car Insurance Quote?

The jury is still out on this one, but we recommend two times to try although you may get mixed responses from different insurers.

First thing in the morning: Some staff may want to get their quota filled early so they will be really helpful to their first few customers until they have met their targets. This could also work the other way in that some people just can't be bothered in the morning so are less likely to find you a cheaper quote.

At the end of the day: If a member of staff hasn't met their targets for the day they may do you a really good deal to ensure they sell another policy. Alternatively, they may just be leaving the office and the last thing they care about is selling another policy.

What ever time you phone, if you feel the person you get isn't very helpful or enthusiastic, don't be afraid to phone back until you get someone willing to get you a cheaper quote.

Isn't it Cheaper to Buy Car Insurance Online?

Some insurers offer special 5 or 10% discounts when purchasing online. Although this is true, if you phone them up they will normally match it - if not beat it.

If you get a good quote online, phone the insurance company and state that if they can knock more off you will take out the policy then and there. Most of the time this will work, so it is always worth a shot.