Can anyone recommend any decent (read cheap) car insurance comapnies?

So far the cheapest I've found is Admiral at £523.

That's through confused.com. Also tried direct line, swift cover and compare the market.

Any others I should try?

TVM

Just tried Go Compare and they came up with a quote for £469 but that's with a £750 excess.

Is it worth risking a higher excess for a lower premium (given that I haven't had to make a claim in 11 years of driving)?

Can't answer that, but I will tell you that I think that's a lot of money given you're tiny car and full no claims.

Fact is though, with a non-enthusiast car I don't know anyone who can help you out!!

It's up to you if a higher excess is worth it. Having had to go through the claims process, I would never do it. Insurance is already enough of a rip off without a higher excess, but it's your choice.

The thing is that the quotes from the other companies have excesses of around £500-£600 anyway.

So £700 is high but relatively not that much extra.

WTF are you driving?

£250 excess is the most you want to pay unless someone offers cheap as chips insurance in return for a higher excess

8 year old Toyota Yaris T-sport 1.5l

It's fracking ridiculous.

My renewal quote was £692 so I rang up an cancelled.

Aviva quoted me about £1500 for one year.

I really can't understand why it's so expensive?!

I think I might just not insure my car.

It's cheaper in the long run.

How about not protecting my no claims discount? It knocks a lot off the price but I risk having to fork out hundreds more if I make a claim next year.

OK, what if I put the insurance in someone else's name and put me on as a named driver?

Is that allowed?

i.e. put my step mum as the main driver.

Technically yes, but if you are the main driver it could invalidate the entire insurance. If you are an occasional driver then do it, but make sure that the policy is one that allows you to build up a no claims history while you are on someone else's policy.

wow what ripoff quotes for a 1.5l car?? is this for fully comp?

I pay £390 for 3rd party for a 2.0l

In a bizarre twist, I can add my step mum as a named driver (not the main driver) to the policy at it also reduces the quote by a hell of a lot!

I've now got £480 premium with £310 excess.

Bratty, it's because I'm not 30 yet

I never thought I'd be wanting to get to 30. If I put the quote through and change my DOB it cuts the premium almost in half.

I don't know where you live, but I suspect it's your address.

It could be... who knows?! I don't even think an insurance broker would be able to tell you.

I think their pricesd depend on the phase of the moon and the direction of the wind at the time of producing the quote.

Ah, the word SPORT is the problem. That's why they're charging so much.

I think age is affecting it more.

If I put my old car in (same car but 1l and not sport) and the price is about the same.

If I change my age, sex or address it cuts the insurance in half.

As it is though I've saved about £250 and reduced my excess just by adding my step mum as a named driver so I'm happy Not bad for 3 hours work!