Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Nottingham Post

World

Charlotte Smith

Job titles that can add hundreds onto your car insurance - and their cheaper alternatives

Insurance Vanarama DWP United Kingdom

Ten job titles have been found to potentially add £100s onto your car insurance - with mechanic taking the top spot, following by an engineer and an administrator. New data by van and leasing company, Vanarama, has revealed that the average cost of insuring a car has increased by £94.61 in the past two years.

And given that a person’s profession can help hike up the prices of insuring a car, Vanarama has uncovered the 10 job titles which will see the biggest price hikes in car insurance costs in 2023, before sharing a cheaper job title to mention when renewing.

To find out which occupations will come with the highest insurance premiums in 2023, Vanarama analysed the UK’s 100 most common job titles and submitted them for an insurance quote whilst using the average UK driver profile and a VW Golf 2020 (the UK’s bestselling car) each time, so the prices were consistent.

This then revealed the top 10 job titles which will see the biggest car insurance price hikes this year. However, to help these workers, Vanarama then used MoneySavingExpert car insurance job picker to find cheaper job title alternatives for nine out of ten jobs:

Job Title	2021 Premium Cost	2023 Premium Cost	Price Increase In Past Two Years	Money-saving Alternative
1. Mechanic	£298.61	£453.44	+£154.83	Motor engineer - save £200
2. Estimator	£313.75	£448.58	+£134.83	Building engineer – save £7
3. Administrator	£308.44	£440.52	+£132.08	Typist – save £116
4. Credit Controller	£318.16	£448.58	+£130.42	Building society staff – save £37
5. Designer	£312.91	£440.52	+£127.61	Illustrator – save £79
6. Personal Assistant	£321.87	£448.58	+£126.71	Typist – save £78
7. Trader	£349.54	£474.14	+£124.60	Money dealer – save £149
8. Buyer	£319.98	£444.01	+£124.03	No option
9. Finance Director	£316.81	£440.52	+£123.71	Finance manager – save £66
10. Developer	£324.95	£448.58	+£123.63	Systems manager – save £113

Unfortunately, it’s not good news for mechanics as they will be paying a staggering £154.83 more than they were two years ago. Back in 2021, mechanics would pay £298.61 for their annual car insurance, however, that price is set to rise to £453.44 this year. However, by changing their job title to ‘motor engineer’, they can save £200.

This is then followed by estimators who will be paying an average of £134.83 more for their car insurance this year. Back in 2021, the price was much lower at £313.75, however, it’s set to cost £448.58 in 2023. However, should they change their job title to ‘building engineer’ when renewing their insurance, they can knock £7 off the total.

The average UK driver profile, according to the data (Vanarama)

Next rounding up the top three are administrators who follow closely behind costing £132.08 more. Whilst the average cost insurance premium cost £308.44 in 2021, it’s now predicted to cost £440.52. However, administrators can save a staggering £116 by changing their job title to ‘typist’ when applying for car insurance.

Six simple ways to lower your car insurance costs even further:

As you can see, the cost of insuring a car can be incredibly high, which can be a real burden for many people, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. However, there are ways to lower your car insurance costs even further than just changing your job title:

Check your credit score

If you have a poor credit score, then it’s likely that you will have to pay higher premiums, so checking your credit rating before applying for insurance is essential. If there are any mistakes on your report, get them corrected before applying for any form of financial product – including home loans and credit cards.

Get yourself an older model car

Older models tend to be cheaper than newer ones. This is because they are less likely to suffer from theft or vandalism and therefore don’t need as much protection from the insurer. They also tend to be safer than newer models because they have more airbags and other safety features fitted as standard.

Choose your own number plate carefully

The number plate on your car has a huge impact on how much you pay for insurance, so choose wisely! For example, if you choose a number that has been used previously or one that looks like another (even slightly), then this could result in higher premiums being charged by insurers because there’s a greater chance of a stolen number plate being put back on your car. If you’re looking for a personalised number plate, then you may find that it will cost more to insure than one which has been issued by the DVLA.

Reduce your mileage

If you drive less, then your insurance is likely to be cheaper. The more miles you cover each year, the more likely it is that an accident will occur, and this can be reflected in your premium. So try car sharing and/or using public transport more if you can.

Shop around for new quotes before renewing - even if you're happy with its service and price

What many motorists are unaware of is that prices can change as often as once a month, so it’s worth researching over the space of a few weeks before signing up with an insurer.

Avoid accidents, penalty points, and reckless driving

Accidents can raise your rates dramatically. Penalty points and reckless driving are even worse. If you've been in any major accidents or have been cited for speeding or other traffic violations, look for companies that specialise in high-risk drivers. They tend to offer lower premiums because they know the risks involved with insuring you.

READ NEXT: