They are expensive to buy
Automatic cars are generally more expensive to buy than manuals resulting in higher premiums
*51% of consumers could save up to £235.93 on their annual car insurance premiums. Consumer Intelligence, March 2021.
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Automatic car insurance
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Are automatic cars cheaper to insure?
No, automatic cars tend to be more expensive to insure than manual cars.
Our research found that drivers of automatic cars pay nearly £1001 a year more on average for their insurance than owners of models with manual gearboxes.
The typical cost of a yearly insurance premium for a motor with a manual transmission is £6811 compared to £7851 for automatic cars - or a fifth cheaper1.
1Average premiums for drivers who are main and only driver, on fully comprehensive policy. Data collected by MoneySupermarket, January – September 2020, accurate November 2020.
Why are automatic cars more expensive to insure than manual?
There are many factors that affect the price of your car insurance premium, including the type of car you have.
In general, automatic cars are more expensive to insure than manuals. This is for several reasons:
They have higher claim costs
Because automatic cars tend to cost more, they also have higher repair prices
They have more complex gearbox
An automatic gearbox is more complex than a manual gearbox, so costs more to replace
License type
Having an automatic only licens may result in higher premiums as more claims are made with this license
How much is automatic car insurance?
There are three main types of automatic car insurance to choose from:
Fully comprehensive
Usually the chepeast option, fully comprehensive cover will cover you for damage, repairs, medical expenses, fire damage and theft, as well as damage done to someone else, their car or their property.
£785 on average2
Third party, fire and theft
Third-party, fire and theft policies offer cover for other people, their vehicles and their property, as well as protection for your own vehicle if it’s stolen or damaged by fire
£1,070 on average2
Third party only
Third-party only car insurance is the least comprehensive type of cover available, and it’s the minimum legal requirement you must meet to drive on UK roads. It’s also usually the most expensive of the three
£1,392 on average2
2Average premium prices, based on all business policies sold, according to MoneySuperMarket data accurate as of November 2020
What are the most popular automatic cars, and how much do they cost as manuals?
Volkswagen Golf
Automatic: £1,019
Manual: £854
Landrover Range
Automatic: £999
Manual: £750
Mercedes-Benz C
Automatic: £781
Manual: £735
Audi A3
Automatic: £1,236
Manual: £937
Does the licence type affect your insurance?
Yes, you’ll find that if you’re only licensed to drive an automatic car, your premiums will go up significantly because insurers tend to believe that motorists who only know how to drive an automatic car are less skilled drivers – and therefore make more claims and pose a higher risk. If you have a full UK car license, you can drive both manual and automatic cars, meaning you’ll be rewarded with cheaper premiums.
Remember, there are many factors that affect the cost of car insurance, including driver’s age, experience and even location.
3MoneySuperMarket data from 1 June 2020 to 1 September 2020, accurate November 2020
| Age group | Full UK car licence3 | Automatic only3 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 to 19 | £1,978 | £2,669 |
| 20 to 24 | £1,328 | £1,847 |
| 25 to 29 | £896 | £1,339 |
| 30 to 39 | £700 | £953 |
| 40 to 49 | £511 | £764 |
| 50 to 64 | £339 | £523 |
| 65 or above | £313 | £375 |
How can I reduce my premiums if I drive an automatic car?
There are a few ways you might be able to get cheaper car insurance for your automatic car, including:
Check the insurance group before you buy
Try to pick a make and model in a lower insurance group, as they’re safer on the road and cheaper to cover
-
Increase your excess
Pay a higher voluntary excess – as long as you can still afford it – as this shows insurers you won’t bother with frivolous claims
-
Improve the security for your car
Keep the car safe and secure, as storing vehicles in a locked garage reduces the chances of theft or vandalism occurring
-
Pay premiums annually
Pay annually, because insurers generally charge interest for the benefit of spreading the cost of cover over 12 months
-
Add a named driver
Add an experienced named driver to your policy, so insurers see you won’t be solely responsible for the vehicle
-
Consider a telematics policy
Using a telematics policy monitors how safely you drive via an app or a black box installed in your car. If you drive carefully, you could see a significant saving
Which car insurance brands do we work with?
Find cheap car insurance quotes and stay on the road with MoneySuperMarket
Can anyone drive an automatic car?
Is it easier to learn how to drive automatic cars?
What additional extras do I need if I drive an automatic car?
Anyone holding a manual license can legally drive and rent an automatic car. Letting the car handle the gears might feel a bit strange at first but you’ll soon get used to it.
An automatic car is said to be easier to learn to drive than a manual. All you need to do is put your car in ‘D’ for ‘drive’ and off you go. Manual cars will usually have up to five gears, and you’ll need to make sure you’re in the right gear for the speed and road conditions you are driving in. Check out our manual vs. automatic guide for more guidance.
When you take out automatic car insurance, you may want to consider some additional features to bolster your cover. Depending on your provider, you’ll usually have the choice of:
- Breakdown cover, which gives you access to roadside assistance if your car breaks down
- Windscreen cover, which lets you claim for the cost of replacing a cracked or shattered windscreen
- Legal cover, which will pay out for certain legal costs related to a claim by you or another party
- Driving abroad cover, which insures you for taking your car overseas and driving in the EU
- Courtesy car cover, which provides a replacement vehicle for you to use while yours is in repair
- Multi-car cover, which lets you drive more than one car under a single policy
- Personal accident cover, which pays out in the event that you’re injured or killed in a road accident
- Replacement keys, which covers the cost of replacing a set of keys if they’re lost, damaged or stolen
- Wrong fuel, which pays for repair costs if you accidentally top up the tank with the wrong fuel
Classic car insurance
Compare classic car insurance quotes online
Student car insurance
Study our student car insurance service
New driver insurance
Get a good deal on your first car insurance policy
European car insurance
Find a policy that covers driving on the continent
Teenage driver cover
Get a good price on teenage car insurance policies
Car insurance guides
MoneySuperMarket's definitive car insurance guides
Multi-car
A single insurance policy to cover several cars
Temporary car insurance
Get covered for periods shorter than 12 months
Car insurance check
Find out if your current motor insurance policy is valid
Third party only
Compare cheap third party insurance quotes
Young driver insurance
Fight back against expensive young drivers insurance
Business car insurance
Get a specialist Business car insurance policy
Car insurance groups
Find out why the type of car you choose affects the cost of car insurance
Learner driver insurance
Will you need to pay for learner driver insurance on top of tuition fees?
Fully comprehensive cover
Find out why the most complete level of cover isn't always the most expensive option.
Excess insurance
Insuring against high excess costs could save you money if you ever have to claim.
Gap insurance
If you're buying a new car, it's well worth considering gap insurance.
Named driver insurance
How adding a named driver can lower the cost of car insurance.
Telematics Car Insurance
Find out what telematics insurance is and whether it's right for you.
Third Party Fire & Theft
Find out more about third party, fire and theft car insurance with our helpful guide.
Explore more car insurance
Car insurance guides - Car insurance articles - Car insurance providers
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