Paying Your Car Insurance Premiums by Direct Debit

Direct Debit is possibly the simplest and most convenient way to pay your car insurance premiums. It saves time, is more convenient and gives you greater control over your money and cash flow.

Direct Debit Explained
Over 75% of adults in the UK have at least one Direct Debit and around 100,000 organisation's use Direct Debit for collecting a variety of regular and occasional bills. It is the preferred payment method for over 50% of the UK bill paying population.

It offers so many advantages over paying your motor premiums in one lump sum and can also save you money, with many organisation's offering a discount to customers signing up to pay by Direct Debit. Payments are made automatically ensuring bills are never forgotten.

Paying your car insurance by Direct Debit will give you one less thing to think about. It's by far the easiest way to pay and it couldn't be simpler. Paying your regular bills by Direct Debit allows you to spread the cost over an agreed period.

Guaranteed
You're protected by three important safeguards:

1. An immediate money back guarantee from your bank in the event of an error.
2. Advance notice if the date or amount changes.
3. The right to cancel at any time.

Cancelling Direct Debits
You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time and the process is very straightforward. Simply contact your bank or building society, if this is by phone or internet, written confirmation may be required. We also recommend you notify the insurer concerned.

Your bank or building society can make the cancellation up to and including the due date, but try not to leave it until the last minute or you run the risk of a payment being made. Remember that cancelling the Direct Debit simply stops paying the organisation. If you carry on receiving the goods or service then you will have to organise an alternative payment method. The information you should provide in order to cancel is:

• The name of the motor insurer being paid
• Your bank or building society account number
• The name(s) on the account
• The branch sort code (see your cheque book)
• Your customer reference with the insurance company (if possible)

The more information you can give, the easier it will be for the bank or building society to action, so if you know the amount and payment date include this information too.

Money cannot be collected from your account after you have cancelled. An organisation would have to obtain your authority to reinstate a cancelled instruction.