Drivers are always on the lookout for the best car insurance deal, it has been advised that the search is carried out once a year because the market is forever changing. Whether it is a new provider that has been added to the insurance community or the addition of a new scheme, aimed to provide discounts for a specific demographic it is important to check the market as thoroughly as possible when it is time for you to renew.

When it is time to renew and you begin your search there are few things you should make a note of before you start getting clicker happy and start scrolling away. Are the policies you are looking at skewed to benefit a particular demographic, if they are its very important that you are part of that demographic for if you aren’t then there’s a high chance you will end up wasting money and not saving it.

Similarly if you are a heavy user, using your car to ferry the kids to school and then get to work, come 3oclock it all starts again, the school run only not it’s off to ballet, football or piano lessons. When that's all said and done its back home to prepare for the next day, come the weekend and it’s a drive to the coast or to visit relatives. All that to-ing and fro-ing ads up in mileage and its important you declare the right amount to your prospective insurer. It makes sense for the more you use your car the more likely it is that things will go wrong, not from abuse but simple wear and tear.

If you proclaim to only drive for social reasons and enter only 7,000 miles per annum when in reality it’s closer to 13,000 in the event of an accident regardless of fault your entire policy may be rendered null and void. When it comes to insurers, honesty is crucial as any hint of dishonesty and your entire policy may be called into question, meaning any claims may be stuck in the system for longer periods of time as each and every aspect of your vehicle and the circumstance related to the claim is painstakingly scrutinised.

If you claim to use your car solely for social use when in reality you also use your car for work purposes. That is to say you actually use your vehicle to carry out your job’s necessary tasks, not that you use it to get to and from work. If this is applicable to your vehicle and its usage and in the unfortunate even of an accident and a claim needs to be processed and it comes to light that you were actually on your way to or from meeting a client then that particular trip can be deemed as business use.

In such an instance the insurer will be forced to question the entire policy, for the risks associated with a vehicle used only for social trips are different to those of business trips. As they haven’t factored that in when calculating your policy they may feel it is enough to nullify your cover as when the numbers and calculations are crunched out again they may find the risks associated with being a business user would have increased your premium and you were driving without sufficient cover, leaving you to pick up the tab for any costs related.

It is potently important that you take the time to look at yourself and your car usage critically so you get not only the best price but the best policy for you as an individual.

Onome is an author of several articles pertaining to Car Insurance. He is known for his expertise on the subject and on other Business and Finance related articles.