The cheapest car insurance in the UK is just £270 on average, but motorists are seeing a rise in how much they pay to have their car covered.

New data shows a rise in whiplash claims has increased insurance premiums by up to £82, a rise of 16.3% over the past year.

But drivers in the Isle of Man pay the least for car insurance, with an average premium of just £270. The most expensive premium in the UK is unsurprisingly in London, where drivers pay an average of £1,346.

Outside the capital, Manchester has the most expensive car insurance at £1,258 - a rise of 1.9% compared to earlier in 2016.

Meanwhile, Liverpool, Oldham, Uxbridge and Ilford postcodes also recorded average car insurance premiums over £1,000.

And the AA, which compiled the data, warns a rise in 'cash for crash' schemes and whiplash claims means car insurance premiums are still going up.

“We are witnessing sustained price increases once again which is bad news for drivers,” says Michael Lloyd, the AA’s director of insurance.

"I can’t see an immediate end to the current upward trend. The whiplash epidemic has dogged the British motor insurance industry for a decade and continues to do so.

“Drivers are still being pressured into making claims for often minor collisions they might have forgotten about. This is pushing up claims costs, because insurers can’t prove that an injury wasn’t suffered. "

According to government figures, in August almost 70,000 small injury claims (of up to £25,000) were made and more than 839,000 over 12 months, of which around 750,000 were for whiplash.

However, a number of UK postcodes still have average insurance premiums below £400. Drivers in Dorchester, Truro, Exeter, Taunton and the Cotswolds all make the top ten cheapest places to find car insurance, with premiums below £380 on average.

How to get cheap car insurance

We asked GoCompare for some tips on how to get cheap car insurance.

1. Is there a discount for any security features?

It all adds up so by telling your broker you have an alarm, immobilizer or if your car is kept in a garage it should make a difference.

2. Is there a discount for having more than one policy with the same provider?

The more policies you have with your insurance company the more money you could save in many cases - so ask your insurance provider if you are eligible for any discounts.

3. Will adding another driver from my household save costs?

In many cases the rate of an insured driver combined with a spouse or partner is lower than just one insured driver. So adding a driver from your household could make it cheaper.

4. Can a family insure two or more cars with the same provider at a discount?

A number of insurance companies offer second car discounts - so if there are two or more cars in the family get them both with the same insurer.

5. What's the price of comprehensive vs third party?

You should check the cost differences between third party and comprehensive.

It might not make financial sense to pay the difference because of the value of your vehicle.

For example, if your car is a banger, there’s little point in having comprehensive cover - you should only pay for the cover you require.

Enter your details into AA insurance or Confused.com to see how much your insurance would cost.