The amount drivers pay to insure their vehicles varies widely depending on where in the country they live, new data has revealed.
The average insurance premiums paid by drivers show massive regional differences according to newly released data from insurance comparison platform Quotezone.co.uk
Motorists in London are forking out considerably more than drivers in other parts of the UK, with average premiums in the capital nudging close to £800. In the South West of England, average premiums are little more than half those in London at just over £400 a year.
Across the UK as a whole, drivers paid an average of £548.52 for their annual motor insurance policy. But regions comprising large rural spaces generally enjoy lower premiums than those that include large cities and urban areas where road accidents and car thefts are statistically more likely to occur.
Drivers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all paid less than the UK average at just £500 a year for their insurance.
Conversely, motorists in regions such as the North West and West Midlands, which are largely made up of highly populated urban areas, both paid more than £630 a year on average.
As well as the likelihood of accidents and thefts, cities and densely populated urban areas generally have a younger population – which is also a factor contributing to higher average insurance premiums. The average vehicle value can also be higher in big cities, pushing average premiums up even more. This is particularly true in the capital.
Quotezone.co.uk crunched the numbers on a sample of over 1,000,000 policies, naming London as the most expensive place in the UK to insure a vehicle, with drivers paying £781.01 on average. The North West of England was the second most expensive place to insure a car with an average premium of £634.36.
Perhaps surprisingly, the South East of England region offers motorists good value once those living in London have been factored out, with the average premiums being just £498.25.
Quotezone.co.uk founder, Greg Wilson, said: “When it comes to paying for car insurance there are huge variations depending on where in the country drivers live.
“Insurance companies are very specific and can vary the cost of a policy depending on which postcode the driver lives in but by zooming out a little we can see there are some interesting regional differences as a whole.
“Motorists in big cities tend to pay more and this is particularly true in London. With a greater population density, there are more cars on the road and the likelihood of a prang does increase.
“But there are also other factors at play including the local crime rate, the average age of drivers and the value of the vehicles they are insuring.
“So while the data may tempt some drivers to up sticks and move down to Cornwall, they should be warned that the cost of their premium won’t necessarily decline. There are several other factors insurance providers must consider and each premium is calculated on an individual basis for the person in question.
“It is essential for all motorists to accurately inform their insurance company of their home address as well as any other location where their vehicle is likely to spend more than 30 days. Failing to do so may cause their policy to be invalid if they were to make a claim.”
