Following a recent study from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) that showed insurers paid out £395 million to insured motorists during December and January, Moneyextra.com is advising drivers how to avoid making car insurance claims despite bad weather.

Head of insurance at Moneyextra.com, Peter Gerrard, points out that while weather conditions cannot be controlled, car insurance policies can.

He suggests drivers should avoid claiming for every small dent they have because although many insurers say these small claims do not influence the premium, they will in the long term as subsequent insurers factor this into future quotes.

Mr Gerrard suggests road users should get the best value policy by reviewing areas where they could save money. “Increasing your excess, for example, can reduce your premium,” he says.

Thinking about the type of vehicle people drive can also make a big difference, he says, and customers should consider downsizing if their policies are becoming too expensive. “There are some fantastic economic cars that will not only save you money on your insurance but also on your fuel costs another increasing motor expense,” says Mr Gerrard.