Does where I park affect my car insurance?

Key takeaways

• Where you park your car, especially overnight, influences your car insurance cost

• MoneySuperMarket data shows driveways and carports are the cheapest options, while parking away from home tends to lead to higher premiums

• You must accurately tell your insurer where you usually park your car, or your claim could be refused

Does my parking spot affect my car insurance premiums?

Yes. Where you usually keep your car, especially overnight, can increase or reduce your car insurance premium.

That's because car insurance prices are calculated by looking at various risk factors. Where you keep your car influences how likely it is to be stolen, vandalised or hit by another car.

In general, the more likely insurers think you are to make a claim, the higher your premium will be. So parking in a riskier spot will generally increase the price of your car insurance. Nighttime parking has more of an impact than daytime parking because more car crime and car accidents happen at night.

📣 Did you know? 83%^{^} of thefts of vehicles or items inside them occur during the evening or at night, according to the latest Office for National Statistics data.

Where is the best place to park my car?

Carports and driveways are often the cheapest places to park for insurance purposes. MoneySuperMarket data shows that drivers who park in a carport overnight pay £451^{^} on average, compared to £605^{^} for parking on a street near their home.

In general, parking is cheaper when your car is:

• Off the road

• On private property

• Close to your home

Where is the worst place to park my car?

Car insurance premiums are generally higher when you park:

• On the street away from your home

• In shared or public spaces

• In areas with higher crime rates

That's because parking your car in a space used by other drivers increases the risk of it being damaged. Parking away from your home makes it more attractive to thieves and means it will probably take you longer to realise if it is broken into, vandalised or stolen.

Will keeping my car in my garage reduce my car insurance costs?

Not always. In fact, our data shows you’ll generally pay less for your car insurance if you park overnight on a driveway (average insurance cost £488^{^} ) or in a carport (£451^{^} ) than in a locked garage (£576^{^} ).

This can feel counterintuitive given the extra security you get from an enclosed, lockable space. And indeed, only 3%^{^} of vehicle-related thefts happen when the car is parked in a private location like a garage, compared to 45%^{^} for semi-private spaces like driveways.

The problem is that garages come with other risks that insurers factor in, and these risks are much more common than car theft. This includes the increased likelihood of the car getting bumped or scraped when driving in and out and the car being damaged by other garage items (for example, a shelf of tools collapsing).

If you do keep your car in a garage, make sure it's always locked. Parking in an unlocked garage will generally push your car insurance premiums up, to an average of £639^{^} for nighttime parking.

Will my car insurance company check where my car is parked?

Car insurers may check where your car was parked when you make a claim. For example, if your car was vandalised while parked on the street one night, your insurer will likely ask the location of the crime and may then check if you declared street parking on your application.

Intentionally giving your car insurer inaccurate parking information when asked is called 'deliberate non-disclosure' and is a type of insurance fraud. Your provider could respond by refusing to pay any claim you've made, leaving you to cover all the costs yourself.

Insurers also have the right to void your car insurance policy for deliberate non-disclosure. You would need to secure new cover before you could legally drive again, and you would likely face higher premiums as car insurers see having a voided policy as an increased risk factor.

Does my car insurance black box know where I'm parked?

Yes, if you have black box or telematics car insurance the data tracked can include your car's location, and your insurer can use this information when calculating your premiums.

Which should I declare on my car insurance if I use different parking spots at day and at night?

If your day and night parking spots fall into two different car insurance parking definitions, you should declare both to your car insurer.

For example, if you keep your car parked at a work car park during the day and on your home driveway at night, you'll need to put both car park and driveway on your insurance application.

What should I declare on my car insurance if my parking area varies?

Declare where your car is most commonly kept on your insurance if your parking spot varies.

For example, if you normally park on your driveway but occasionally leave your car in a supermarket car park or on the street outside your friend's house, you would declare your driveway as your parking location.

Insurers understand that drivers won’t park in the same place all the time. It is the place you park most often that they use to assess your risk.

Do I need to tell my car insurer if I change where I park?

Yes. If your regular parking location changes, for example because you've moved house or are renovating your garage, you should tell your insurer as soon as possible.

If the details you’ve given don’t match where your car is usually parked, your insurer could refuse a claim or cancel your policy.

Do I need to tell my car insurer if I'm temporarily parking somewhere different?

No. You don’t usually need to tell your insurer if you’re parking somewhere different for a short period, such as while on holiday or visiting family.

How will my car parking location impact my car insurance price?

MoneySuperMarket has looked into some common car parking options and how much they impact car insurance premiums on average:

These are average figures, and your own quotes may be higher or lower. Different drivers who park in the same type of location may be quoted significantly different prices because of other risk factors like their age or where they live.

Does my location matter when it comes to parking cars?

Yes, your location is an important factor for insurers. Areas with high crime or accident rates present a higher claim risk, even if you park at home. You can enter your postcode into our car crime hotspot tool to see the overall risk for your local area.

How can I get cheaper car insurance?

If you have a choice on where you park your car - for example, you have a garage and a driveway - try inputting both options when looking up car insurance quotes to see which one would be better value. You can compare quotes from up to 191^{^} car insurance providers at once through MoneySuperMarket.

Even if you don't have a choice on where you park, comparing quotes is one of the most effective ways to save money on your car insurance because there can be a lot of variety in the prices different insurers charge. Our data shows that comparing quotes can save drivers up to £513^{^} a year.