Car insurance data, research and statistics

Car insurance has been through a turbulent time of late, however 2024 actually showed signs of premiums stabilising.

Although the decline in prices was minimal, it’s a step in the right direction.

2025 will be a tough year to predict as inflation fluctuates and prices remain high across parts, repairs and

labour, but the hope is that this decline in premiums will continue.

One major issue which isn’t helping car insurance premiums is extreme weather. With storms bringing excessive rain, wind and plummeting temperatures, the volume and price of claims has been increasing, inevitably making premiums more expensive.

It also doesn’t help the condition of our roads which are already riddled with potholes. With the cold, wet weather increasing the potholes and lack of funding to invest in fixing them, our roads are now more of a hazard than ever.

As the roads deteriorate, the volume of claims for damage to cars caused by potholes is likely to escalate, and in turn boost the price of insurance premiums.

This may also feed into the regional variations we’re seeing on car insurance premiums across the country.

For the average regional statistics across the various age groups, see our Car Insurance Index page.

Surveys

Given the importance of these issues, we asked over 1000 drivers across the UK about their thoughts and feelings on the topic of potholes:

How long would you estimate it takes to fix potholes in your area?	Survey Response
Under a week	3%
1-2 weeks	5%
2-4 weeks	6%
4-6 weeks	7%
6-8 weeks	7%
3-6 months	13%
6 months +	15%
Over a year	12%
Some have never been fixed	29%
Not applicable	2%
Do you think potholes are fixed quickly enough?	Survey Response
Yes	3%
No	96%
Not applicable	1%
Have you ever had to swerve to avoid a dangerous pothole?	Survey Response
Yes	94%
No	5%
Not applicable	1%
Did you know it’s illegal to swerve to avoid a pothole?	Survey Response
Yes	33%
No	66%
Not applicable	1%
Have you ever witnessed a reoccurring pothole once fixed?	Survey Response
Yes	78%
No	20%
Not applicable	2%
Do you ever report potholes, either to local authorities or on your car navigation app?	Survey Response
Yes – to local authorities	37%
Yes – on my car navigation app	3%
No	59%
Not applicable	1%
What do you think needs to be done to fix the current pothole problem?
Answer:	% of answers
More money invested in our roads	29%
More staff employed to help monitor the situation	12%
Diversions put in place to avoid hazardous areas	4%
Better quality materials to fix repairs	26%
Clearer reporting tool so public can raise awareness of problem areas	16%
More guidance on how to handle potholes when behind the wheel	5%
Specialist insurance for pothole only damage	5%
Not applicable/other	1%

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Quotezone.co.uk’s findings are based on a randomised survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK during July 2024, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.

What The Research Shows

However, there are always ways to save. Quotezone research found several simple hacks drivers need to know to help reduce premiums.

Quotezone.co.uk’s top 3 car insurance saving hacks:

1.Pick the right day – save up to £347

Never leave renewing your policy until the last minute as it means you won’t have a chance to shop around and compare quotes from different insurers. The sweet spot for renewing a car insurance policy is 15 to 24 days before the policy is due to start, as data reveals drivers purchasing during this time save themselves an average of 33-45%.

2.Choose the best time – save up to £170

Although generally there could be small variations in car insurance prices throughout the day, it’s best to avoid obtaining quotes in the middle of the night. Data reveals drivers who obtain car insurance quotes between midnight and 6 am are being quoted around 22% more – statistically, people quoting during those hours may have higher risk profiles with more frequent or more costly claims.

3.Park up somewhere safe – save up to £185

The safer you can park your car, the cheaper your car insurance premium is likely to be, with potential annual savings reaching up to £1,000. If possible, it’s worth rethinking where you keep your car, especially if you’re parking on the road and away from home as this can cost you £2,298.21 per year on insurance.  You can save on average, up to 24%, by moving your car from the road in front of your house to the driveway.

For further data or press enquiries you can reach the Quotezone press team at press@quotezone.co.uk.