Martin Lewis has revealed how tweaking your job title can significantly cut car insurance costs, with some drivers saving hundreds of pounds. The MoneySavingExpert.com founder explained that insurers base premiums on occupation, and small changes in job description can lead to vastly different quotes.
GoCompare.com found that describing yourself as a 'chef' rather than 'kitchen staff' adds £98 to the average quote. Similarly, 'music teachers' pay £86 more than 'teachers', 'office managers' pay more than 'office administrators', and 'construction workers' pay more than 'builders' or 'bricklayers'. Lewis cited a viewer who saved hundreds by changing from 'artist' to 'illustrator'.
However, Lewis warned that while you can legitimately choose between multiple accurate job titles, knowingly misrepresenting your occupation could invalidate your cover. He also advised full-time parents and retirees to select 'full-time parent' or 'retired' rather than 'unemployed', which could save almost £300.
Other tips include adding an experienced secondary driver to your policy, which saved one man £200. Switching insurance three weeks before renewal, rather than on the day, saves an average of £280, according to Comparethemarket. Paying annually rather than monthly avoids interest charges averaging £62, and using cashback sites like Topcashback can yield up to £70.
Lewis also urged drivers to check if extras like breakdown cover are already included in other policies, and to review their excess levels. He stressed that nearly 6 million drivers auto-renew, costing them £113 a year on average.
