Cool it with a hot hatch to save cash

As motoring costs slide ever upwards, drivers are searching for more ways to cut the price of their car insurance. swiftcover.com has discovered that drivers can help reduce their premiums by opting for standard models, rather than ‘hot hatches’. Opting for a sporty model instead of a standard version of the same car can cost more than twice as much to insure, even for experienced drivers.

A 30 year old man driving a VW Golf GTi would shell out over £1,000 compared to under £500 for the more standard Golf S. Because of their higher performance, insurance claims figures show that hot hatches and sports models are more likely to be involved in accidents, cost more to repair and more often fall prey to thieves, all of which pushes up the premiums for even the safest of drivers. In fact ‘hot’ models cost on average £500 a year more to insure than more standard versions of the same vehicle.

So don’t choose a new car based solely on looks and engine capacity - it can leave you paying out considerably more. In particular, thinking about different models or cheaper cars can help keep insurance premiums lower and more affordable for younger drivers, helping to build up a no claims bonus to keep costs consistently low.