Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Revolutionary new MSE tool launches today
Cheap car insurance 
Multi-Compare

For years I've said don't just use one comparison site, combine 'em, and follow key tricks. Now our new tool easily, speedily does much of that for you

Getting the cheapest and best insurance has long been about elbow grease and knowledge. Different comparison sites include different insurers, and even where the same firms are listed, they can have different prices for them.

A while ago I had an idea of how we could do a chunk of the work for you at speed. Now the brilliant MSE team have taken my blueprint and built a great new tool. I hope it's a game changer.

The best way to see how it's different is to try it... The MSE Car Insurance Multi-Compare tool Today's launch day, but we want to keep improving it, so please give us feedback & suggestions & let us know of any bugs (hopefully not). PS: Not at renewal? Put in for your cover to start in about 25 days' time. If owt is cheaper now, see how to switch if not at renewal.

Last week I asked my Facebook followers if they fancied playing with my tool (sorry) and the early feedback was good. Kerry said: "Easy to use. I like the ways to cut costs, especially the best time to buy. Would definitely use again. Saved £40 with better cover."

Claire said: "I saved £248 with a lower excess, courtesy car and legal cover."

1. Fill in just one comparison site's questionnaire. At the start of the Multi-Compare tool you answer MoneySupermarket's question set (we're part of the same parent group, so can get permission). If you've filled that in before, it can auto-fill in the questionnaire for you.
   
   
2. We add MSE extras as you answer, eg, JOB PICKER. We try to make filling in the question set easier, with lots of info, plus we've got unique widgets.
   
   The MSE Job Picker tool is a key example - it shows which slight, legit changes to your job description might save you money.
   
   
3. You then find your cheapest insurers to start the saving. These are your benchmark quotes from the MoneySupermarket comparison, so you can see straightaway any saving, but of course we want you to beat them...
   
   
   

4. We analyse your % chance that other big comparison sites - and 'not on comparisons' Direct Line - are cheaper. A 'compare the comparison sites tool' would be great, and we're asking the other sites, but for now this is the nearest I could get.

   Using INDEPENDENT 3rd party data we analyse your situation to show the chance you could make a 'material saving' (lower of £10 or 5%) for each site.
   
   We also do this with Direct Line, the one big insurer not included on comparison sites (and we're working with it so hopefully it'll be quicker to get a full quote from Direct Line too at some point). So you know if spending more time may be worth it.
   
   
5. Timing it right can halve your price - we'll tell you if you're too early, too late or you're Goldilocks. Insurers factor how early before renewal you do your quote as part of their behavioural risk analysis, and it can have a huge impact on costs. If you're too early, we'll tell you when to come back. If you're too late, you can opt for a reminder so you get it right next year.

   
   

6. Personalised tips on how YOU can cut your costs, with one-click tests, eg, whether to add another driver. From our analysis of your data, we will show you other things you should try (all are trial and error though) to cut costs further. Plus where we can, we've added one-click buttons so you can quickly try these within the original search to see if it works. The type of things I mean here is...
   
   - Should you add a responsible additional driver?
   - Would comprehensive be cheaper than third party?
   - Can you save with a multicar policy?

If you want to see how it works (or diarise it for a month before your renewal) give our new MSE Car Insurance Multi-Compare tool a go.

Quick FAQs:

Here are some key questions we were asked by the trial-user group. If you've further questions or feedback, please let us know.

- Will car insurance searches affect my ability to get credit? No. You can see them on your credit file but lenders can't. See full credit impact answer.

- What about cashback websites? We can't give a percentage chance of whether they're cheaper, as there's no data on it, but we do include them as a further option within the tips dashboard.

- Don't comparison sites give perks? Yes. Within the tool we evaluate each site's so you can decide whether to factor that into which you use.

- Does MSE get paid as part of this? We hope so - lots of people have been employed building this tool, and it costs to keep it up to date. So as always if a link in the tool has an *, that means a click through it may result in MSE being paid. Yet it'll never cost you more than going direct and the editorial line (what we write) is never affected. See How MSE is financed.

Fuel duty was cut by 5p a litre this week, but that's still just a drop in the slick, compared with the huge prices at the pumps. So if you're looking to save on motoring, here are a few extra trip tips...

• Find the cheapest petrol or diesel near you in seconds. The difference between the cheapest and priciest forecourts can be sizeable. Luckily there's a cheap fuel finding tool - eg, in Durham on Monday we found that petrol ranged from 158.9p/L to 174.9p/L, so about £9 on a typical tank.
  
  
• Stop using your brake... and save up to 30% on fuel. Many could make their fuel use more efficient by decluttering their car (ditching roof racks and junk in the trunk) and driving more evenly and efficiently. This can really slam down costs - see 13 efficient-driving tips.
   
• DIY checks to help you pass your MOT. Many fail needlessly with broken lights, bald tyres and more. A simple 5-min check can help to fix that. See our 9 pre-MOT checks. Related: How to pick the right MOT test centre.
  
  
• Full breakdown cover, including home start and onward travel, for TWO, for £56/year. Newbies via this link can get an AutoAid* policy and pay £61.50 for a year, and then get £6 automatic cashback, whereas the big providers cost well over £100 for similar.
  
  If you want to stick with the big providers, never just renew - always haggle. You can often slice down the price or alternatively use cashback sites or Clubcard vouchers. Full explanation and more options in Cheap breakdown cover.