A simple query put my Swinton car insurance quote up to £980

It was £420 last year, and I’d only asked if the policy covered mechanical damage

Car insurance: how to get the right policy at the best price

It’s worth planning ahead when you renew. Here’s how to make sure you cut cost of your premiums

Harriet O’Brien, 62, told to stay with car on remote country lane for breakdown patrol that finally arrived next day

It took a £1,000 excess upfront, although it has the numberplate information it asked for

That means it’s on the Motor Insurance Database as ‘uninsured’ – and police might seize it

We’ve been driving here for 20 years but renewals are higher if you are foreign-born. Why?

Insurer’s shares fall as higher used car prices, costlier parts and longer repair times weigh on business

They only drive 1,100 miles a year and we found other quotes for between £450 and £650

It said that using my credit card for a deposit would cost me more than buying extra cover

It is banned from charging more for renewals than new deals, but the industry still has some tricks up its sleeve

A reader was stopped by police after the insurer sent a new policy number but did not renew cover

I’m a low-risk customer, but my renewal quote is up by 24%

A reader writes that the firm let him down after a no-fault accident

From just saying ‘no’ to the hard sell, to taking photographic evidence of every possible scratch or blemish

From using a cashback card to emptying your boot, there are ways to reduce running costs