Car Insurance Renewal Checklist: What to Do Before It Auto-Renews

Most UK car insurance policies renew automatically unless you act. The renewal notice usually arrives two to four weeks before the date, and that window is when you have the most choice. This checklist is what to do in it.

1. Find the renewal date and the renewal price

Your renewal notice states the date the new policy starts and the price for the year ahead. It should also show last year's premium beside it, which UK insurers are required to include so you can see the change. If the notice has not arrived and the date is close, check your account online or ring the insurer.

2. Check what has changed since last year

• Your address, and where the car is kept overnight.
• Your annual mileage: many people overestimate it.
• Your job title, which insurers rate.
• Any points, claims or convictions in the year.
• Named drivers who no longer drive the car, or new ones who do.
• Modifications, including a tow bar or a dashcam.
• The car's use: social only, commuting, or business.

Tell the insurer about anything that has changed. An inaccurate detail can void a claim, and a detail that has changed in your favour can bring the price down.

3. Look at the cover, not only the price

Check the cover level (third party, third party fire and theft, or comprehensive), the voluntary excess you chose, and whether extras such as breakdown cover, legal expenses or a courtesy car were added last year and whether you still want them. Removing an extra you do not use is often simpler than switching insurer.

4. Get more than one quote

Prices for the same driver vary a lot between insurers, and an insurer's renewal price is not always its best price. Comparing early leaves time to read the policy documents rather than deciding on the day.

5. Decide, then confirm the outcome

If you stay, check the renewal has gone through at the price quoted. If you switch, make sure the new policy starts the day the old one ends, and cancel the old one so it does not auto-renew alongside it. Driving without valid insurance in the UK is an offence, so a gap of even a day matters.

How Wisemium helps

Add your car insurance to Wisemium and it keeps the insurer, the premium and the renewal date on record, shows the date as needing attention as it comes close, and hands you to an FCA authorised comparison partner when you want quotes. Wisemium does not compare, recommend or arrange insurance itself.