Lockdown brings lower insurance costs for Highland car owners
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CAR owners in the Highlands and Islands are having to shell out less on their car insurance, with prices dropping by an average £33 over the three months of lockdown.
The five per cent drop in price is in line with the Scottish national average, but drivers in the region are benefitting from the greatest savings compared to this time last year, as prices drop by £23 (for per cent) in 12 months. Drivers in the region can now expect to pay for £607 for their car insurance, on average.
North drivers already benefit from some of the cheapest insurance rates in the country. Motorists in Inverness pay just £569 for a typical car insurance policy, on average, following a four per cent in price over the last quarter.
This compares with a Scottish average of £637, rising to £744 for Glasgow drivers.
However, there continues to be a significant gender gap in insurance payments with male drivers in the Highlands and Islands paying £73 more for their car insurance than women, with prices now £639 and £566, respectively.
Louise O’Shea, chief executive of Confused.com which commissioned the findings, said: “The past few months have been incredibly challenging. So it’s a relief to see a drop in car insurance costs, which is an expense we can’t avoid.
“The UK going into lockdown caused a sharp drop in traffic levels, which means the risk of high claim pay-outs has been lower for insurers over this period. This is likely to have contributed to this U-turn we’re seeing in car insurance costs in Scotland.
"It’s likely that as lockdown conditions ease, prices will change further as insurers continuously readjust to the situation. We are keeping a close eye on things so that we can update our customers on any changes that may affect them."
