Those of you who have moved around in the UK and then renewed your car insurance will probably have discovered there are certain areas of the country that are better to live in than others. If you live in the middle of the Welsh mountains, then you might pay next to nothing for your premium, but if you live in Greater Manchester or Greater London then you might find it’s three or four times as much. This isn’t really very fair but it makes sense. What doesn’t seem to make sense is that the whole of Northern Ireland is suffering with higher prices and these are set to rise even higher this year.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, premiums are 10% higher for those living across the Irish Sea. This is true for those in most walks of life, from civil servants to journalists. The total difference between Northern Ireland’s car insurance and the rest of the UK is a staggering £136 million per year, according to the Consumer Council. As usual, it’s the low-income households that are hit the hardest with these larger bills and, in particular in Northern Ireland, it’s those living in more rural areas. The trouble is, nobody really knows why this is. It has led to the Consumer Council launching an investigation.

One of the suspected reasons for the price difference is simply that a much smaller number of insurance companies cover those living in Northern Ireland. There aren’t many insurance companies actually from Northern Ireland either. Some insurance companies, such as Quinn Direct, are finding success in the Republic of Ireland and are then very popular with those living in Northern Ireland. But with a difference of £400 a year between NI and the rest of the UK, something has to be done.

As with all insurance quotes, the advice is to shop around. A few searches on any of the price comparison websites will generate some vast savings. The people of Northern Ireland aren’t taking advantage of these internet capabilities enough compared to the rest of the UK and are buying from brokers or straight from the insurers. This is how those living there could save money this year.

If you are still bouncing around with the ecstasy of just passing your driving test, then one thing that’s guaranteed to bring you back to earth is your car insurance quote. Welcome to the world of sky-high premiums and price comparison websites, and it’s all because ‘they’ think you’re going to crash as soon as you get your license through in the post. This might not be the case, but you are sadly fighting a battle that has already been won. Thankfully there are some new insurance companies out there who take pity on the rookies. Like Ryan Air did with cheap flights, the Irish have done it again with cheap car insurance.

Quinn Direct have been going since 1996 from their home in Ireland. They are part of the bigger Quinn Group, with Chairman Sean Quinn at the helm, whose services range from industrial supplies, such as radiators and cement, to health and car insurance. They expanded in the last few years to cover customers all over the UK and have grown rapidly since crossing the Irish Sea. But what do they actually offer and is there a catch?

Some of the benefits include: free breakdown cover, low claims excess, monthly payment plans, named driver experience discount for first time customers, possible courtesy car (although unlikely in most cases), and, if you plump for the premium policy, personal accident and medical cover. But then a lot of these things are quite standard with car insurance companies so what makes Quinn Direct so special?

They are one of the cheapest for new drivers without a no-claims bonus and for many people that’s enough. They take into account the Pass Plus driving qualification too, as a way of reducing your premiums. Unlike a lot of telephone systems, customers with Quinn Direct have found it quite easy and quick to speak to a real human being on the help and sales line. They don’t always offer the special extras in their packages, and a few customers have had to threaten writing a letter to the Insurance Ombudsman before they get their claims processed, but overall if you’re a new and young driver with a small car, then Quinn Direct is well worth a look.

Being a SADDO could cost you dearly and not just in terms of losing friends. The acronym stands for "Speeding and Drink Drive offender" and being a SADDO could lead to you being unable to obtain motor insurance, or at the very best, having to pay over the odds for the privilege.

According to Moneysupermarket.com motorists who have a DR10 conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol are likely to find their premiums costing over 90% more than they did prior to their conviction. Since the penalty code can remain on your licence for eleven years this could add up to a hefty £5000 extra over the period. This is of course in addition to the fine, the ban and the possible prison sentence.

Drivers with a speeding conviction can expect insurance companies to take an equally dim view of their misdemeanour. A first offence will add around 10% to the premium with a second offence costing around 30% more. If you are foolish enough to be convicted a third time the premium is likely to rise by over 80%.

Dire financial consequences are likely to be imposed too on those caught using their mobile phone at the wheel with an average increase of around 20%, although some insurance companies will not even quote for those with convictions of this type.

Andy Leadbetter of Moneysupermarket.com says that the “rules of the road are there for a reason” and advises motorists to think carefully of the consequences of their action or face the fact that their pockets will be hit hard by their insurers.

If you are a true car enthusiast then you will know how difficult it can be to get cover for your classic, collectable, or modified vehicle which reflects its true value. The listed market value is unlikely in these cases to mirror what you would get were you to sell the vehicle.

HIC (Herts Insurance), the specialist insurance broker which numbers many enthusiasts amongst its own staff, has always been one of the best places to go to get such cover. However, it has now gone one step further by introducing the facility for an online version of its agreed value scheme.

Andy Morton of HIC explained that, in the past, agreeing a valuation with an insurer has often been a minefield involving letters, phone calls, e-mails and, in some cases, physical inspection. They have now decided to “call time” on this tortuous procedure and it is now feasible to agree a valuation online by answering a few questions, uploading photos through the company’s system and explaining your valuation.

In the majority of cases, HIC accepts the owner’s valuation and will cover almost any vehicle from the restored collector’s piece to the customised motor home.

Motorists who have spent a lifetime, to say nothing of the expense, modifying or restoring a vehicle will naturally not want to think of it being written off or vandalised, but if the worst comes to the worst then having an agreed valuation can ease the pain. The agreed value scheme costs £11.75 if done online and £15.75 if done offline.