Car insurance premiums could be on the rise as insurers face up to the current economic climate and pass costs down to the customer.

With everybody needing to tighten their belts and save money, the last thing we want is for the cost of our car insurance quote to go up.  But as with any business, insurance companies need to make money too.  With that in mind it looks like consumers will find themselves getting more expensive insurance renewals and quotes.

HOW TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST QUOTE

The single best way to ensure you are getting the lowest possible price for your car insurance is to simply shop around and compare quotes.  You could be surprised at what you might save just by taking a little time to either get quotes online or making a telephone call.  Make a straightforward list of the company name, the quote amount, the reference number and the name of the person you spoke to if you called.

In addition, create another column where you can jot down any extra features and benefits provided by the company as part of the deal.  This may help you decide which quote to opt for if prices are roughly the same between the lowest quotes.

When getting quotes be sure to not limit yourself to the "Compare" website services only.  These sites do a great job of looking around many companies for quotes but they may not always have the best rate from that company.

RATES COULD BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN BROKERS AND INSURERS

Also remember that there is a difference between a broker and an insurer.  The broker will be able to compare many car insurance quotes from lots of companies wheras the insurer will only provide you with their own rates.  However, in some circumstances the insurer may be able to offer special deals and offers on their insurance products that a broker or compare service does not have access to.

IGNORE AT YOUR COST

Spending a couple of hours on this should provide you with a decent number of quotes on your list and could open your eyes to the difference in premiums and the savings you could make.  It's very easy to just accept or worse forget about your car insurance renewal and let it automatically renew.  You should not feel obliged to be loyal to any one insurance provider.  After all, the insurance companies have made it easier than ever for you to compare quotes.