LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Footballers have long been known for scoring own goals in the car insurance market, but comedians, fortune-tellers and bin men have now joined the list of people with the highest premiums, a survey shows.

An analysis of quotes from 13 insurance providers for 365 different professions found a difference of up to 850 pounds a year between those jobs that command the highest car insurance costs and the lowest.

Price comparison service Confused.com used the template of a 32-year-old man driving a Ford Mondeo LX and living in London postcode area NW1, with a maximum no-claims bonus.

Its research found that footballers took the biggest kicking, being forced to fork out 1,348 pounds per year for
fully comprehensive insurance.

Premiums for comedians were also no laughing matter. They ranked second highest at 1,227 pounds, followed by stuntmen, fortune-tellers, circus employees, minicab drivers, national press journalists and builders.

Firewood merchants and cleaners rounded up the top 10, while bee-keepers, mechanics, driving instructors, bin men and telephone salesmen made up the 15 most expensive occupations.

At the other end of the scale, secretaries were found to enjoy the cheapest premiums, at just 501 pounds per year.

Police officers - commonly upheld as among the safest drivers - came second in the cheap premium league, with average car insurance costs of 574 pounds.

Others in the top 15 included computer consultants, paramedics, bank managers, doctors, lawyers, teachers and
firemen. Naturalists, chauffeurs and underwriters were also low-risk.

Debra Williams, managing director of Confused.com, said: "Insurers assess risk in many different ways - one of which is profession."

However, she said insurers based their quotes on their own claims experience, making it important that drivers searched the entire market when looking for the best deal.