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Contrary to widely held opinion, insurers don't just pluck a figure out of the air when it comes to deciding your car insurance premiums. In most cases, they'll start with a base premium - ask you some applicable questions - and use these as a foundation for calculating a final amount. Some of these factors will increase your premium, and some will reduce it (see reducing your premium). The questions put to you by an insurer allow them to shape the insurance policy to your specific needs. Some sites ask the bare minimum of questions, which is great if you want a quick quote, but it also means you're being offered a fairly general car insurance policy. Nevertheless, a quick quote is usually a pretty good starting point, as you can use it as a basis for price comparisons with other car insurance sites. In general though, the more questions you are asked, the better idea the insurance company should have of the kind of risk that you represent, and may offer you a lower premium.

Questions you’ll need to answer

When comparing car insurance online, it's a good idea to have all your relevant documentation in front of you, so you can provide the insurance company accurate information. It also means you won't be searching for paperwork in mid-quote! Whilst not a complete list, these are some of the questions that you may well be asked:

Your age or date of birth
Test pass date
Your sex, occupation and marital status
Have you had any accidents, or made any claims, regardless of blame in the last three years?
Have you any driving convictions?
Are there any anti-theft devices fitted to the vehicle?
Your estimated annual mileage
What you'll be using the vehicle for
Vehicle type, colour, fuel type and registration number
Where the vehicle is kept overnight
Has the vehicle been modified in any way?
Your postcode

It pays to answer these questions as accurate as possible. Failing to mention an accident or speeding conviction when asked about it may well bring down your premium, but it will also mean that in the event of an accident, you may find yourself without any insurance cover due to falsities stated at the time of attaining the policy. In any case non-disclosure when applying for car insurance is an offence under the Road Traffic Act. In addition, if you have a car insurance policy annulled in this way, you'll find it both difficult and expensive to get cover with another insurer.

When comparing UK car insurance online, it's important to contemplate what each policy offers. Some have higher premiums, but may offer extra features like breakdown cover, legal expenses cover or windscreen replacement. Some may offer lower premiums in return for a higher voluntary excess (see: Reducing your premium). It's up to you to decide how applicable these features are to you, and if they are worth paying that little extra for.