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The cheapest day to buy home insurance
We reveal how early you should start comparing prices to secure the best deal
Picking the wrong day to renew your home insurance could result in you paying 20% more for cover.
That’s according to new research from Go.Compare, which reveals that shopping around well in advance and timing your purchase right could shave a hefty chunk of money off your premium.
Here, Which? reveals the cheapest day to renew your insurance and offers tips on how to save when taking out a policy.
The cheapest day to buy your home insurance
The price comparison site Go.Compare has revealed the cheapest and most expensive days to renew your home insurance, based on the average annual cost of policies.
The data shows that the best time to buy your home insurance is 29 days in advance, with policies costing an average of £189 a year.
By contrast, waiting until the day your policy is due to renew could set you back £227 — costing you around 20% more.
As the data shows, prices generally rise as the policy start date approaches. This shows the benefit of buying early to lock in a lower premium.
Here’s a breakdown of how prices change depending on how far in advance you purchase your policy:
| Days until policy start date | Average (median) price paid* |
|---|---|
| 29 | £189 |
| 27 | £190 |
| 28 | £191 |
| 26 | £192 |
| 25 | £200 |
| 23 | £202 |
| 22 | £202 |
Table note: *All average median costs are calculated from home insurance policies purchased through Go.Compare from 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024. Home insurance policies refer to combined buildings and contents policies in this case. The table is listed in order from the cheapest to the most expensive quotes.
What's happening to home insurance premiums?
Home insurance premiums have been on the rise this year.
The average cost of a combined buildings and contents policy jumped by 6% between April and June to £396. This was up from £375 in the previous quarter, according to data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Comparison sites echo these findings. Go.Compare reports an 8% increase in the cost of combined home insurance cover from April to June, with premiums rising from an average of £224 to £241. Compare the Market’s data shows an even steeper climb of 39% year on year, with premiums hitting an average of £363.
The largest spike was recorded by Consumer Intelligence in June. It found home insurance prices in April to be 42% higher than the same month last year – the most significant annual increase recorded since 2014.
- Find out more: best home insurance companies
How to save more on your home insurance
- Shop around: start by comparing quotes from different insurers. Price comparison websites like Confused.com, Go.Compare, Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket are great for viewing multiple quotes at once. However, some of our Best Buy insurers such as Direct Line and NFU Mutual don’t appear on these sites, so check them separately. For a more in-depth comparison, see our guides on the best contents insurance and buildings insurance. This will help you choose the right coverage based on your needs.
- Don’t auto-renew: auto-renewal often comes at a higher price. Instead, gather quotes from different providers before your policy ends and use them to negotiate a better rate with your current insurer. If they don’t offer a better deal, consider switching.
- Pay annually instead of monthly: while paying for your insurance monthly might feel more manageable, it usually ends up costing more overall because of interest added to the instalments. Paying the full premium in one go can save you money in the long run.
- Be cautious about cheap policies: going for the cheapest policy you find isn’t always the best option. These may come with high excess fees or limited coverage, which could cost you more if you need to make a claim. Make sure to review the policy details carefully to ensure it covers everything you need. Our in-depth reviews of home insurers highlight which policies include cover for accidental damage, complete with our expert ratings.
- Find out more: how to find cheap home insurance
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