Car insurance premiums are on the rise but it’s still possible to get a good deal if you follow these tips writes Geraldine Herbert If you’re concerned about rising car insurance premiums, you’re not alone. According to the CSO premiums have fallen by 6% in the past 12 months however a report by the Central bank published at the end of last year revealed that the average motor insurance premium increased by 42% between 2009 and 2018, despite the cost of claims falling by 2.5% during the same period. An increase in claims has been blamed on the high costs associated with personal injuries and a rise in the cost of repairs and car parts are all pushing the cost of premiums upwards. But what other factors influence the cost of your premium? Age Whether you are 17  or 65 years old, your age has an effect on the cost of car insurance.  Where you live Locations that experience a higher number of claims, traffic, theft and accidents are likely to have higher premiums so where you live makes a huge difference to the cost. Your driving history If you have made any claim in the past or have points on your license this will have an impact. The longer you have been claim free the lower your premium is likely to be.  Your Occupation Whether your job involves travel or not will be one of the factors considered by insurance companies. Your Car The age of your car, the make, model, fuel type, transmission and engine size will all invariably affect your insurance premiums.  Annual Mileage The more you use your car, the more of a risk you are.  How can I reduce the cost of my car insurance? We’ve rounded up some tips to help you take the first steps to reduce your premium.  Shop around and compare – You may feel tempted to accept the renewal quote that pops through the door but don’t fall into that trap! Once you have received your renewal quote always go to the website of your current insurance provider and get a quote as a new customer and not an existing one. Insurance companies do not reward loyalty so you will always get a better one as a new customer. You can then go back to your insurance company and ask them to match the online price. Also, compare other insurance companies online for the best deal. The more quotes you get the better your chance of finding the cheapest one. Remember to compare all insurance quotes on a like-for-like basis though – some may offer breakdown cover as an optional extra for others it may come with the policy so check all these details.  Don’t over insure – Always put a realistic value on your car – When asked to value our cars most of us have a pretty inflated price in our mind so it is worth checking similar makes and models online to get an idea of the replacement cost. Remember in the case of an accident the insurance company will only pay out the market value of the car at the time of the claim. There are numerous car sites including autotrader.co.uk or whatcar.com that can be used to assess the true market value of your car.  Look carefully at the excess – Increasing the amount of the excess on your policy will bring down the cost of your premium but remember it will mean paying more when you claim. Consider Telematics – the use of a Telematics system or Black box provided by an insurance company to track your driving is becoming more popular particularly...