A new research poll has revealed the cheapest and most expensive regions for car insurance premiums across England.
By a large margin, the South West of England, which includes popular cities such as Bristol, Plymouth and Exeter, came out as the cheapest places for car insurance premiums.
As prices have been rapidly increasing over the past few months, the South West saw monthly car insurance premiums average £512 per month in the last quarter of 2023, compared with £459 recorded at the beginning of last year.
Car insurance prices last year jumped by roughly 25 per cent and were sparked by the cost of living crisis, inflation and the increase in car thefts which have been sweeping across the nation, with the capital city being the worst affected.
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South West England saw monthly car insurance prices rise £512 per month in the last quarter of 2023
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The East Midlands came out as the second cheapest region for car insurance premiums, with average prices in large cities such as Leicester and Nottingham reaching £562 at the end of last year, up slightly from £560 at the start of 2023.
Up next was the East of England which saw car insurance prices hit £571, an increase of £29 since the beginning of the year.
Other hotspots include the South East where coverage costs £591, with drivers in Kent and Brighton seeing prices jump by around £80.
London was unsurprisingly the most expensive region for car insurance premiums with average prices set at £854, nearly double that of the South West.
Throughout the year, London's car insurance prices remained much higher than the rest of the country, resulting in £342 extra compared to the cheapest region.
Speaking to GB News, Greg Wilson, CEO of Quotezone, said: "Londoners have witnessed probably the most dramatic surge in car insurance premiums over the last 12 months as inflation and claims rates spike insurance costs to a level never seen before.
“These drivers are caught in a triple threat where the value of the vehicles, the crime rate and traffic volumes are high – increasing the probability of an incident and a costly one at that.”
He detailed how car insurance premiums rose 25 per cent across the UK in 2023 with the average cost surging over £100 in some cases.
Wilson added: “There are ways however, for Londoners to save, finding a safe place to park the vehicle overnight has the greatest potential for savings but is likely to be tricky given the limited space in London.”
“Reducing mileage, choosing a smaller car with a smaller engine and reviewing the excess options can all help make insurance more affordable.
“Approximately three weeks before the insurance is due for renewal is when the price should be most competitive, pay annually if possible and always shop around and compare products to avoid being under or over insured.”
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Bristol is one of the cheapest cities for car insurance premiums
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UK average car insurance premiums by region
South West England - £512.03
East Midlands - £562.25
East of England - £571.17
South East England - £591.87
North East England - £617.36
Yorkshire - £655.47
North West England - £673.95
West Midlands - £707.91
London - £854.41