• Have all your details ready
Comparison sites require a lot of detail. Make sure you have it to hand. If it’s a motor insurance policy you want, have the details of your old one, and your driving licence. If you’re changing your energy provider you will need an old statement, and to know the name of the tariff you are on (not just your provider) and have some idea of how much you pay a month.
• Think about what you need
It’s easy to be seduced by the cheapest rates, and to manipulate the site so that the price goes down, but think about that £200 voluntary excess you’ve just slapped on your insurance policy. If you crash your car, do you really want to pay that on top of the insurer’s compulsory excess? The same goes for holiday insurance – in many cases the cheapest policies have excesses higher than the cost of some trips
• Read the small print
Good rates can come with sneaky surprises. With your car insurance, it might be a courtesy car or legal help that’s missing from your new policy. Check what was on your old one and consider whether it is important to you. With energy tariffs it may be termination fees, or a requirement to input meter readings online which you are unwilling to do. Whatever it is, make sure the policy fits you.
• Tell the truth
Goes without saying, this one. If you lie about your insurance it will be null and void.
• Tick the right boxes
Some comparison sites sell on your details and if you don’t tick the right 'don’t contact me’ boxes you will be deluged by phone calls. Read the terms and conditions carefully.
• Ring your current provider
This applies to insurance. Once you’ve got the cheapest relevant quote you can, give your current insurance provider a chance to beat it. They often will, and it can be less hassle all round to stick with your current provider at the cheapest possible rate – especially if you are happy with their current service.
• Finesse with cashback
If you really want to get the most out of your new insurance, energy or banking product, you are likely to get more through a cashback site. Use the comparison site to check who is the cheapest, then clear the browsing history on the web. Join a cashback site like Topcashback or Quidco, and you could get a substantial sum of money towards your premium for very little effort.
