The Internet has changed not only the face but the ways which we do business these days.
Products can be brought directly to the consumer easily without the need for a middle man or even a retailer in many instances.
Plus, selling things is cheaper than before with no need for walk-in stores and the extra costs they need - everything can work out of a warehouse or someone's garage, with the customer merely going online to buy.
The insurance industry has felt the effects of this trend as well.
Smaller insurance companies now have a chance of getting more business than ever before and competing realistically against the big and more established companies.
This is because, unlike before, they can now sell their insurance to the whole of the UK much easier (not bound by geographical location) and compete in the same space as the more established companies (the Internet levels the playing field in a big way because people have easier access to you).
When you're looking for cheap car insurance rates the Internet provides plenty of options these days, as now you have access to the (literally) hundreds of UK insurance companies at the touch of a button.
No longer do you have to just settle for the known companies, but now can much more easily find the smaller, yet reputable, insurance companies out on the market.
And the truth is - they need your business just as much as you need them.
So, unlike the more established companies, they are more prone to offer you cheap insurance - and more keen to give cheaper insurance to young drivers.
There are three types of basic insurance that covers the needs and stipulations of the law.
These are Third Party Only (TPO), Third Party Fire & Theft (TPFT) and Fully Comprehensive (Fully Comp.
) cover.
The first, TPO, satisfies the basics of the law the most and is therefore the cheapest - although, of course, it covers much less as well.
We all have different needs from insurance.
A lot will depend on your needs and what kind of car you have.
Generally, younger people prefer TPO because they are not driving a very expensive car and also don't intend driving too much.
For this reason, there are also many specialised insurance companies, offering insurance for women only, or for modifiers only, bike owners or van owners.
Finding a smaller insurance company who also specialises is a real plus, especially if you fall into these categories.
Young women, in particular, are at an advantage here.
The Internet also provides the convenience of price comparing without needing to do considerable phoning around.
Firstly, you can get quotes online and answer all of the necessary questions online.
Secondly, you can use price comparison websites to check out cheap car insurance rates all at once.
Thirdly, many insurance companies are offering a ten percent discount just for accepting a policy online.
Once you have made a decision on the top insurance companies you are interested in, you can then begin to negotiate an even better price with them.
You can do this by checking the policy and erasing any extras you don't need (like free gym contracts and that sort of thing).
You can also lower your policy by getting an alarm or immobiliser for your car, or by raising your excess.
With all of this you should be able to find cheap car insurance rates much more easily and quickly.