Here, we'll show you how much extra you could be paying if you buy cover in the middle of the night, and how else your timing can affect your quote.
How prices change overnight
Using a leading comparison website, we ran eight sets of quotes for a London-based driver across a 24-hour period.
We were offered our cheapest prices during the daytime.
They then rose, peaking at 3am-4am - when they were £81 (18%) higher than prices we'd received between 9am and 6pm. They'd dropped again by 6am the following morning.
While the cheapest prices we were quoted rose by a fifth, other policies seemed more dramatically affected by the timing of the quote.
The price of the AA's Silver policy rose by 109% from £515 (between 9am and midnight) to £1,078 after 3am - halving again by 6am the following morning.
Find out more:Why the small hours bring big prices
The AA - which functions as an insurance broker - told us fraud was more common at unsociable hours, so some wary underwriters either don't offer quotes at those times, or raise their prices.
A spokesperson said 'We know there are legitimate customers entitled to good value throughout the day, including during unsociable hours,' adding that the industry is trying to resolve the issue by tackling fraud.
6pm'Our extensive previous claims data shows that people quoting late at night or in the early hours of the morning have historically had more claims and claims of a higher average cost than someone who quotes during the day, hence why the price we quote may be higher.'
However, the spokesperson added that the time of day a quote is run won't necessarily have the same effect on all drivers' quotes - as it 'will depend on all the other rating factors, none of which work in isolation.'
'You might see prices increase by up to 123%'
Not all insurers hike their prices late at night, but comparison websites we spoke with confirmed that prices generally rise in the small hours.
Quotezone said that average prices obtained between midnight and 6am are 22% higher than quotes offered at other times - and that this pattern holds for drivers of all ages.
Confused.com also told us its data 'shows that the cheapest car insurance premiums are often available between 7am and 9am. Conversely, if you're getting a quote between midnight and 2am, you might see prices increase by up to 123%.'
'An indicator of higher risk'
Both comparison sites pointed to various factors that could account for some of these trends.
Some changes in average prices can be explained by the profiles of customers who more often run quotes at certain parts of the day or night - for example, those who use their cars for different purposes or have different kinds of job.
Changes in demand for cover at certain times, concern around fraud by insurers, and fewer returning quotes can also tie in.
However, Quotezone's Greg Wilson speculated that insurers may have identified the time of day customers run quotes as 'an indicator of higher risk', and advised that 'it's best to compare quotes during normal daytime hours, in a bid to find savings.'
How else the timing of your quote matters
Avoiding unsociable hours when shopping around for cover isn't the only matter of timing that can affect your insurance price.
For the average driver, this is over £200 cheaper than cover bought on the day it commences.
Find out more:Which? Limited is registered in England and Wales to 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665 and is an Introducer Appointed Representative (FRN 610689) of the following:
1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635). Inspop.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales to Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd.
2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN656479), for the introduction of Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide advice and arrange Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance Contracts. LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales to 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386.
3. HUB Financial Solutions, for the introduction of equity release advice, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) to provide advice and guidance on financial products for those who have retired or are approaching retirement (FCA Firm Reference Number: 455713). HUB Financial Solutions is registered in England and Wales to
Enterprise House, Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey RH12 7RP, company number 05125701.
4. Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Ltd (FRN 301), for the introduction of non-investment landlord insurances, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide advice and arrange insurance contracts. Alan Boswell insurance brokers Ltd is registered in England at Prospect House, Rouen Rd, Norwich NR1 1RE, company number 02591252.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/the-worst-time-of-day-to-buy-car-insurance-aWODD3h0IS5F