A new study has found that drivers who keep their cars in garages pay more for car insurance on average – and the reason may surprise you11:50, 02 Jun 2026Brits with a garage have been warned they could be hit with a sneaky £24 charge. Fresh research has revealed that motorists who store their vehicles in garages are forking out more for car insurance.‌Despite appearing to be a more secure parking spot, the average annual premium stands at £647 for those who keep their car in a garage, compared with £623 for those who typically park elsewhere.‌Go.Compare Car Insurance examined sales data and discovered the biggest difference amongst drivers with third-party-only cover. On average, third-party-only policies cost £790 for those who leave their car in a garage overnight, while those who park elsewhere pay £54 less at £736.‌However, Go.Compare discovered that fewer motorists are using garages to store their cars, with a 3% decline from 2023 to 2025 in car insurance policies for drivers who parked their car in a locked garage overnight.Many are transforming their garages into additional rooms. Nearly a fifth (17%) of people living in a property with a garage say they have converted it in the last five years, with popular uses including home gyms, utility rooms and home offices.‌The most popular parking spot is the driveway at home, used by nearly two-thirds overnight, while a fifth said they leave their vehicle on the road outside their property, reports the Express.Tom Banks, car insurance spokesperson at Go.Compare, said: "Car insurance is often cheaper for those who park in more secure locations, so it might be a surprise to see that those who park in a garage actually end up with higher costs on average."One possible reason for this is likely related to cars increasing in size over recent years.‌"This steady growth has made it much harder to fit cars in garages, which could be leading to an increase in claims for scrapes and bumps while parking in a garage, driving up premiums as a result."While parking in a garage could lead to more expensive premiums, we'd still suggest that drivers prioritise their vehicle's security when choosing where to leave their car overnight.Article continues below"This will minimise the risk of theft and, in turn, the possibility of you having to claim. Whereas leaving it in a less secure location could increase this risk."If you have to claim, your premiums will likely go up as a result, meaning you could cancel out any savings you made by parking elsewhere in the first place."Ultimately, you should pick your parking spot based on where it's least likely to be damaged or stolen. If that means leaving it in the garage, even if it results in a slight rise in your premiums, it could be the better option in the long run."