Picture this: Your bestie just got their hands on the latest electric car, and they’re all like, “OMG, I’m saving the environment, #ClimateGoals!”. You’re low-key jealous, but then you remember that you’d heard about green car insurance somewhere.
Green car insurance can mean lots of things. It could be insurance that’s aimed at people with electric cars, like your friend above. Or, it could simply be a type of car insurance that aims to curb your driving impact. We’re going to discuss the latter. Because, let’s face it, you’ve just paid off Gertie the Golf, and there’s no way you’re getting your hands on a Tesla until you win the lottery.
Now, we know what you’re thinking: “Just tell me how much it costs already!” But, the truth is, the world of car insurance is more complex than your fave true crime podcast. Prices can vary like your mood after binge-watching a season of Euphoria, and they depend on a whole bunch of factors.
We’re here to spill the tea on why green car insurance might just be your new BFF. So read on, as we dive into the world of eco-friendly insurance and explore how you could save some serious coin while doing your bit for Mother Earth. Trust us; you’ll want to stick around – because when it comes to green car insurance, the FOMO is real.
What is green car insurance?
Green car insurance can mean a bunch of different things, but for the sake of simplicity, let’s focus on one definition: temporary car insurance designed with the planet in mind. Yup, you heard it right – insurance that cares about the environment more than your fave vegan influencer on Instagram.
Now, the concept of car insurance “designed with the planet in mind” can take on different forms, like carbon offsetting your miles when you drive, or even analysing your driving and offering tips on how to be a more eco-conscious driver – like, “Hey, maybe don’t rev your engine like you’re in the Fast & Furious every time you hit the road?”
At Zixty, we do both. We carbon offset your miles up to 100 miles a day every day while you’re a customer when you enable the free Zixty Miles add-on. But, we also take a look at your driving behaviours to give you an EcoScore. This gives you a score between 1 to 10.
We also only offer temporary car insurance. This means you can insure a car for anywhere between an hour to a few weeks in minutes once you download our app, or buy on the website. On its own, temporary car insurance can be “green”. It allows you to borrow a car for those rare car journeys rather than having to buy one. And that means less driving and one less car on the road. We call that a win.
How much will your green car insurance policy cost?
Okay, so you’re probably wondering how much your green car insurance could actually end up costing. Well, this type of insurance actually uses similar parameters to your basic, run-of-the-mill car insurance when calculating car insurance premiums.
Now, let’s talk about those popular factors that make your green car insurance premium go up or down like a rollercoaster ride. Some of these factors are straight-up no-brainers, like your address, for instance.
Yup, that’s right – where you live can seriously impact your car insurance costs. If you live in a crime-ridden neighbourhood, you might see those premiums creep up. Also, if you live in central London you’ll probably pay more than someone living in a sleepy village that sees barely any traffic on the road.
Now let’s talk about your driving experience – or lack thereof. If you’ve been cruising around like a pro since you were 18, your green car insurance costs could be lower than a newbie who’s still trying to figure out how roundabouts work.
Your job title could have an impact too. If people with the same job title as you tend to make lots of claims, then you could see your premium shoot up as a result.
While these are some popular factors that could impact your premium, there could be other reasons your green car insurance costs are higher than expected – like maybe you’re a secret Formula 1 driver, or perhaps you’ve got a seriously souped-up EV.
Whatever the reason, just remember there are ways to lower that premium. And we have a whole article that delves into exactly how to do that right here.
Do green car insurance policies cost more than a standard car insurance policy?
It’s time to address the elephant in the room, or should we say… the polar bear on the melting iceberg. Does eco-friendly car insurance cost more than regular insurance? In other words, do you pay a premium to do the right thing?
So here’s the tea: green car insurance companies that are actually committed to helping you reduce your carbon footprint shouldn’t charge more for carbon offsetting. And if they do charge extra for their eco-friendly policies, they better make it crystal clear before you sign on the dotted line (or tap “accept” on your screen).
At Zixty, opting for eco friendly car insurance is …drum roll… FREE! Yup, you read that right – you pay the same for a Zixty policy with carbon offsetting as you do without. Your car insurance becomes green as soon as you enable the free Zixty Miles add-on.
We then get to work carbon offsetting your miles in collaboration with Eden Reforestation, while also planting a tree every time you take out a policy. You shouldn’t have to pay more to do the right thing, which is why we don’t charge you more if you choose to do so.
Green car insurance: Get started with Zixty
So to sum up – green car insurance shouldn’t really cost any more than a traditional car insurance policy. And that’s why we offer our Zixty Miles add-on for free here at Zixty. If you’re ready to get started with green car insurance, download our app and get a quote now.
