One in three of us is paying over the odds for car insurance. Nearly half of us do not bother to seek a number of quotes and one in four renew their car cover instantly, without using the opportunity to save hundreds of pounds. When buying car insurance, the following should be taken into account:

• Shop around for the best deals but make sure that you are comparing like for like cover. Some policies may seem cheaper, but you may find you don't have the same level of cover when you have to make a claim.
  
• Ensure that only regular drivers are named on the policy. You can always add someone for a few days when they really need to drive the car.
  
• Protect your no-claims bonus. This may increase the premium by a few pounds, but this fades into insignificance against the potential loss of a 60% discount on a premium of several hundred pounds.

• Increase your voluntary excess. Agreeing to pay more towards the cost of any accident repairs will bring down premiums. If you are not at fault in an accident, the excess can be recovered.
  
• Agree to a mileage restriction. The fewer miles the car covers, the greater the saving.
  
• Don't add a young, inexperienced driver to your policy, as it's a false economy. The premium will still be calculated on the youngest driver and he or she will not have a no-claims bonus.
  
• Fitting an approved alarm, immobiliser or tracking device can attract a discount of around 5%.
  
• If you decide to change your car, check with your insurer if the model will have a significant effect on the premium. Sporty cars can attract a high premium and often a slightly different model or smaller engine can make a big difference in your favour.
  
• If your garage is full of junk, clear it out and use it for your car. Keeping it in the garage will be reflected in your premium.