Car insurance is a topic most people dread, the mere mention of the words "car" and "insurance" in the same sentence can make people shudder at the thought of arranging another year's cover.

This really needn't be the case - arranging your car insurance policy can be quite easy if you know what to look for.

To make the process that little bit easier I've broken it down into 4 parts as listed below:

• Shopping around; utilising the internet will speed things up and making use of a price comparison site whilst also visiting a few online insurers will help you gather an even spread of quotes. You should aim to gather at least 3 quotes in order to get a good idea of the variety in terms of price and features on offer.

• Levels of cover; There are currently 3 levels of car insurance available - third party (the minimum level required in the UK) which as the name suggests covers only the third party. Third party fire and theft which includes protection if your vehicle is stolen or damaged in a fire. And lastly comprehensive cover which covers the above plus your own vehicle and variable extras such as personal injury, legal protection, courtesy car, etc. In relation to van insurance you will usually find it best to opt for comprehensive cover to ensure the contents and driver are covered.

• Factors effecting price; the level of cover will greatly affect the premium price along with your age, sex, past claims and convictions, vehicle, modifications, mileage and the location in which the vehicle will be kept overnight. Obviously you can do nothing about the first four but choosing a vehicle which is suitable for you age and driving experience is a good start and will avoid ridiculously high premiums.

• How to save extra money; opt for a smaller engine, install an alarm or immobiliser - if you don't already have one. Ensuring your vehicle is kept on the drive or in a garage will reduce the premium slightly. It is important to remember that all insurance is a matter of risk assessment so anything you can do to decrease your risk to the insurer will help decrease the price of your premium. The same also applies in the case of bike insurance - installing an alarm and storing the motorbike in a locked garage (if possible) will greatly decrease the cost of your insurance policy.

It is important not to accept your current insurer's renewal quote as you will often find a much cheaper quote when utilising online services.