A recent report has confirmed that smokers attract significantly higher premiums for life insurance than there non smoking counterparts, a figure that continues to rise every year.

For all this to change a smoker would need to be smoke free for a year before being considered for a lower premium but this can result in a considerable reduction in life insurance quotes .

Emma Walker, the head of protection at a price comparison website, says: "Once smokers have given up for 12 months, they should go back to their insurer and ask for non-smoker rates, subject to tests to prove they have quit.

The difference in the cost of life insurance premiums for a smoker and a non-smoker is vast and there are considerable savings to be made simply by getting the best value deal to suit your circumstances."

Gary Lumby, the head of retail at Yorkshire Bank, says: "It's all too easy for long-term smokers to forget just how expensive their habit actually is, but those smoking just 10 cigarettes a day could easily save almost £1,000 during the course of a year."