While millions of shoppers scour the high street every January in search of those new-year bargains, millions of drivers could enjoy similar savings without leaving the comfort of their own home.

January is car insurance renewal time for a large number of the nation’s drivers who either picked up their vehicles as Christmas presents in years gone by, or took advantage of new-year rebates from dealers and manufacturers.

For most people, buying a car is one of the biggest financial commitments they will make, accounting for between four and five per cent of household income. However, the payments don’t stop once you've made your purchase – maintenance, petrol, and crucially, car insurance premiums all eat away at our bank balances.

Yet you could save hundreds of pounds each year by shopping around for cheap car insurance.

The emergence of car insurance comparison tools means that you can receive quotes from dozens of providers in seconds just by entering some simple details about yourself and the car you drive. When you compare car insurance in this way, not only will you receive numerous quotes instead of just one (helping you to finder a cheaper policy), but you’ll save a lot of time too.

You can even search for manufacturer specific policies – such as BMW car insurance – helping you find the cheapest quotes for the car you drive.

It is important however, to look beyond price and consider what is included and excluded in each policy. Does your insurer offer a courtesy car in the event of a breakdown? What is the excess charged? Always read the small print.

The deals are out there, so don’t just accept your current insurer’s renewal quote. Shop around and you could have more money to spend on the high street.

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