WHAT CAR? magazine is urging car drivers to spend as much time shopping around for their insurance as they do when purchasing their new car.

Rob Aherne, editor of What Car? magazine, said: “Insurance premiums have been rising at alarming rates over the last few years, but our consumer research team has discovered that drivers who take the time to conduct a thorough search can save £150 on their policy.

“With the number of escalating costs that drivers can do nothing about such as fuel, tax and congestion charging, the majority of road users today cannot afford to pay over the odds for their insurance.”

Insurance premiums have risen by 57 per cent over the last five years according to AA figures. One of the main reasons for the increase in premiums is to recoup losses from uninsured drivers.

A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: “Accidents involving uninsured drivers cost £500m a year – enough to put £30 on the average premium.”

What Car? magazine will be commencing a campaign to encourage the DVLA to record details of a driver’s insurance policy against their driving licence and vehicle details.

Mr Aherne said: “This valuable information would enable the authorities to root out uninsured drivers which could result in reduced premiums for the consumer.

“It is unjust that law-abiding drivers are penalised by the system’s inability to clamp down on the lawless minority on our roads.”