The basic auto insurance mistake that may cost you lb677 a year – and the way to fix your policy

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BRITISH motorists might be spending way over they should on their car insurance, simply by selecting the wrong profession when obtaining a quote.

New research has found drivers could pay almost lb700 more by saying they're unemployed when looking for an insurance policy.

MoneySuperMarket found students were affected most through the simple error, that could improve their premium by as much as 51 per cent.

Those who list their occupation as "unemployed" when they are actually studying full-time often see their insurance charges rise with a whopping lb677.21.

Mature-age students also face an identical increase if they incorrectly identify themselves as "unemployed", adding an average of lb510 for their premium.

But it's not just students which are heavily affected.

Retired drivers could see their premiums rise by as much as 37 per cent if they don't put themselves within the right category.

If you've quit work, you could have almost lb100 put into your bill for claiming to become "unemployed", as the same is true for stay home parents.

The new "housewife" category means those that chose to stay home aren't penalised by having to classify themselves as either "unemployed" or "retired".

Motorists need to be sure to select the category that best describes their specific situation when searching for a new policy to make sure they get the best possible deal.

Kevin Pratt, consumer affairs expert at MoneySuperMarket, commented: “To get the best cover in the best price, you need to choose the most accurate answer at each stage of the quotation journey.

"Which often means trying options to find the one which best matches your situation, rather than plumping for whatever seems most apparent.

“It's worth taking your time and exploring your options each and every stage of the online journey.

"For instance, should you describe yourself as 'unemployed' when in fact you're a student, you're retired or else you stay at home to maintain the home and family, you can wind up paying up to 50 per cent more for the cover than you need to.

"No matter occupation or status, drivers should avoid settling for the renewal quote they receive from their existing insurer, because firms have a tendency to reserve their finest prices for brand new customers."