Job titles 'affect the cost of car insurance'
(27 June 2007)

A clever rewording of your job title could help cut the cost of your car insurance by 33 per cent, according to a new study.

Research from confused.com found that describing your job in a different way could reduce the cost of cover significantly.

For example, a legal professional who described themselves as a barrister rather than a lawyer would have to pay £459 for car insurance for a Fiat Brava, rather than just £376.22 if they had described themselves as a lawyer.

Similarly, media professionals calling themselves 'newspaper reporter' rather than a journalist or correspondent would pay out £376.22 for the same care rather than £282.45.

Commenting on the study, Debra Williams, managing director of confused.com, said: "Insurance premiums are influenced by a host of factors ranging from the number of miles you drive per year through to your job title.

"Adjusting the way you describe your job can have a surprising impact on premiums."

She said that this was because insurers keep a record of claims history against specific occupations.

"If an insurer finds a glut of claims associated with a specific job title, anyone with that title is likely to be penalised with higher premiums," Ms Williams said.