Car Insurance Renewal Shock! My Car Insurance Almost Doubled – Here's How I Saved £777!

I've been with Hastings car insurance for a couple of years now, and last year, I admit, I made the classic mistake.  I let my insurance auto-renew, and my 2020 Kia Sportage was insured for £628.  Not terrible, but I knew I could probably do better.  This year, I was determined not to fall into the same trap.

The Shocking Renewal Quote

I had a reminder set, and a couple of months before my renewal date, I started to browse comparison sites.  Imagine my shock when my renewal quote from Hastings landed in my inbox: at a whopping £1,056!

My jaw hit the floor.  How on earth had my car insurance almost doubled?  I hadn't had an accident, nothing had changed on my policy, and my car is exactly the same! So I called Hastings to question this astronomical increase.

To their credit, they did offer to reduce the price to £669.  While this was much better than £1,056, it was still more than I was paying last year and significantly higher than quotes I was already seeing elsewhere.  So, politely but firmly, I told them I wouldn't be renewing.

The Hunt for the Right Car Insurance Quote

Now the real hunt began.  Like most people, I started with the usual suspects – the big car insurance comparison sites.  I found some decent quotes, but I knew there had to be a way to get an even better deal.

Then I remembered TopCashback.  If you're not using cashback sites for everything, you're leaving money on the table!  I often go to TopCashback before making any online purchase, especially for big-ticket items like insurance, as they frequently offer cashback with sites like GoCompare and Confused.com.

My Secret Weapon: TopCashback Compare

As I was browsing TopCashback, I noticed something I hadn't seen before: TopCashback Compare Car Insurance. They now have their own car insurance comparison service, and the cashback rate they were offering was higher than with any others.

Naturally, I gave it a shot.  And I'm so glad I did!  Within minutes, I found a car insurance quote with Budget Insurance for just £324.  A far cry from my initial renewal quote of £1,056.

The Final, Jaw-Dropping Price

It gets even better, with £45 cashback from TopCashback when using their comparison site, my effective car insurance price plummeted to an astonishing £279!  That's a huge saving of £777 compared to my initial renewal quote. 

Key Takeaways for Your Car Insurance Renewal:

• Never Auto-Renew: This is the biggest lesson.  Set a reminder and actively compare quotes.  Loyalty often doesn't pay in the insurance world.
• Don't Accept the First Offer: If your renewal quote is high, call your current insurer, but be prepared to walk away if they can't match competitive prices.
• Use Comparison Sites: Always check comparison sites such as TopCashback before buying insurance.  Their own comparison tools can offer fantastic rates.

My experience just goes to show that a little bit of effort can save you a significant amount of money on your car insurance. Don't get caught out by inflated renewal quotes – empower yourself with information and the right tools!