Written by Menswear Style in Cars on the 2nd November 2015

Shopping around for good deals on your car insurance can help to bring your cover costs down, but unless you pay careful attention to your driving habits, you might struggle to access the most competitive policies. If you’re wondering whether your behaviour on the roads is pushing your premiums up, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you get behind the wheel too readily? 

If you automatically reach for your car keys each time you leave your house, you could be putting upward pressure on your policy prices. The fact is, the more time you spend behind the wheel, the more you may end up shelling out for insurance. Specialist broker Chill.ie highlights this fact, noting that some insurers offer limited mileage policies at discounted rates. This means that by agreeing to stay within a lower annual mileage range, you might be able to cut your costs. Of course, if you have to travel long distances for work, you may not have this option. But if you often find yourself climbing into the driver’s seat to make short journeys you could easily do on foot, by bike or using public transport, now might be the time to rethink your approach.

Are you a rule breaker? 

Struggling to stick to the rules of the road could hit your pocket too, and it’s not just fines you have to watch out for. Racking up penalty points on your licence for offences such as speeding or reckless driving could result in big increases in your insurance premiums. You are obliged to declare unspent convictions to cover providers, and they are likely to up your charges as a result. Three points on your licence could lead to price rises of over £50, and the added expense associated with more serious offences can be much higher. So, next time you’re tempted to speed or commit another breach of the law, think about the impact this could have on your finances.

Do you take risks on the roads? 

Building up a no claims bonus is an effective way to keep your insurance costs in check, but if you fail to drive defensively, you could be putting your clean sheet at risk. It’s impossible to completely rule out the possibility of having an accident, but by driving carefully, you stand a much better chance. This means leaving plenty of room between you and the car in front, always looking ahead for potential problems, taking road positions that mean you can see and be seen by other motorists and never letting your attention wander. By taking precautions like this, you stand the best possible chance of keeping any no claims bonus intact. If you’ve answered yes to any or all of these questions, the chances are you’re paying more than you need to for your car cover - and so you may want to revisit your driving habits.

A look at the etiquette of driving and insurance premiums. Are Your Driving Habits Hurting Your Wallet? They could be.