Motorists who park their cars in garages may be paying more for car insurance than those who leave them elsewhere, a new study has revealed. Analysis by Go.Compare Car Insurance found that the average annual premium for drivers storing their vehicle in a garage is £647, compared with £623 for those who typically park in other locations.
The discrepancy is largest among drivers with third-party-only cover, where garage parking leads to an average premium of £790, while those who park elsewhere pay £736. Tom Banks, car insurance spokesperson at Go.Compare, suggested that the higher costs could be linked to modern cars becoming larger, making it harder to fit into garages and potentially increasing claims for scrapes and bumps.
The study also noted a 3% decline in the number of policies naming a locked garage as the overnight parking location between 2023 and 2025. This may be partly due to a trend of converting garages into other rooms, with 17% of homeowners having done so in the last five years, commonly for home gyms, utility rooms, or offices.
Despite the higher premiums, Mr Banks emphasised that security should remain a priority. “While parking in a garage could lead to more expensive premiums, we’d still suggest that drivers prioritise their vehicle’s security when choosing where to leave their car overnight,” he said. He added that the risk of theft and subsequent claims could outweigh any potential savings from parking in less secure locations.
