Why does my car insurance quote keep changing?

Driving

7 min read

It’s a scenario you’ll probably be familiar with: You log onto your computer or phone up your insurance broker, give your details and get a car insurance quote.

Then, a day or two later, you’re ready to buy your policy, so you get a quote again - only to find that the price you were given before has gone up.

Several factors can cause your car insurance quote to fluctuate, even over short periods of time. Understanding these factors can help you when shopping around for car insurance in 2025.

The factors that cause car insurance quotes to change

Firstly, it’s important to understand exactly how your insurance premium is calculated. Essentially, insurance providers calculate risk and will offer you a premium based on how likely they think you are to make a claim.

Simple, right? In theory yes, but in practice it’s a lot more complicated.

Insurers analyse all sorts of statistics and patterns and if they spot something which might suggest an increase in risk, it can often result in you being charged a different premium. This includes:

1. Personal Factors

These include where you live, your driving history, and how you use your car.

If you live in – or have recently moved to - an area with high incidences of theft, vandalism or road accidents, your car insurance premium may increase.

Likewise, if you’ve had any recent claims or increased your annual mileage, your premium might go up.

Additional drivers can also cause your car insurance quote to change; adding a driver with more experience can reduce your premium, and vice-versa.

2. Challenging current market conditions

2025 is a challenging time for the car industry, especially for repairs businesses. High levels of inflation and disruptions to the global supply chain has led to a perfect storm of high costs and a shortage of parts.

This inevitably means it costs more to repair cars, and as a result, insurers might increase the cost of a car insurance premium to cover the increased cost of potential claims.

These market conditions can vary wildly from one day to the next – resulting in fluctuations in car insurance quotes.

3. Modern technology in cars

Many modern cars, especially those with higher specs, are equipped with the latest safety features. These include automatic breaking, collision alerts, parking sensors and cameras, and driving aids.

This can reduce accidents and insurers may offer premiums as a result.

However, the advanced technology also means more complex repairs, which can increase costs. All of this affects the car insurance quote provided to you.

4. Regulatory or legal changes

Recent regulatory changes, like the introduction of 20mph zones in many UK cities (including Belfast), have been associated with less accidents.

This can influence the car insurance quotes that insurers can provide to you.

5. Bad timing

When do you start looking for a car insurance quote? A few weeks before your renewal is due?

Insurance companies often adjust their rates based on demand; getting a quote well in advance of your renewal date can sometimes result in a better rate.

If you got a quote six weeks before your renewal date, and another three weeks later, you’d likely see fluctuations in the price.

6. Competition from other insurers

Like any business, insurers want to stay competitive and will adjust their prices accordingly.

This can result in your car insurance quote changing over short time frames.

How can you manage changing car insurance quotes?

There are a couple of ways to manage fluctuating car insurance quotes:

Shop around: As we’ve explored here, prices are changing constantly. Shop around to find the best car insurance quote that meets your needs and fits within your budget.

Maintain a clean driving record: This is key – a clean record shows insurers that you have safe driving habits, which can lead to lower premiums, especially when maintained over time.

Consider what coverage you need: Make sure your policy reflects your current situation. For example, if you work remotely, do you need to cover your car for social and commuting? Avoid unnecessary add-ons that increase costs.

If you’d like to speak to a local car insurance expert who can tailor a quote to your exact circumstances, call us on 08000 66 55 44 or get a car insurance quote today.