Comparison websites love to promise that they will find you the cheapest car insurance premium. But this is not always true. Some of the largest UK car insurers on the market are not on the comparison sites, and they can often offer you substantially lower premiums and/or a better level of cover.
It is worth the time to run a few extra quotations away from the comparison sites. This will ensure you really are getting the best cover at the lowest price.
UK car insurers who are not on comparison sites:
Aviva is one of the UK’s largest insurers, despite not being available on price comparison sites. It offers a high standard level of cover on its comprehensive policy that includes vehicle recovery, motor injury protection and uninsured driver cover.
Direct Line offers cover that many others do not. For example, your no claim discount is left intact if you are hit whilst parked or sustain damage due to potholes or other road defects. They also will not charge admin fees for policy amendments.
Adrian Flux is the biggest specialist motor insurer in the UK. If you are looking to insure something a little less run-of-the-mill such as a classic car or a modified sports car it is definitely worth giving them a try to see what they can offer.
Zurich offers fully tailored car insurance and is another insurer that offers a great level of cover that the comparison sites often cannot match. This includes no excess to pay if you are hit by an uninsured driver and a courtesy car included as standard.
Should I use comparison websites?
Yes. There is no doubt that price comparison websites have been good for consumers. They have made it quick and easy to get a wide range of quotations in a matter of minutes and increased the competition between insurers, which has driven premiums down. But it is still important to look beyond the comparison sites. Here is why:
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They do not cover the entire market.
While the comparison sites would like you to think that they are searching the entire insurance market to find you the best policy, they are not. As evidenced by this site, there are a number of insurers that they cannot provide quotes for. If you want to be sure you are getting the best cover and price then you need to shop around.
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Reduced levels of cover
The comparison sites have created huge competition between the different insurers to provide the lowest premiums. Many achieve this by reducing the level of cover a policy provides, so it is really important to check what your insurance policy actually covers before going ahead with it.
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You do not always get what you think you are paying for
As detailed in this news report, price comparison websites offering car insurance policies are ‘rife with errors’. This is usually in the form of saying that something is covered when it is not, or is not covered to the value stated. If you do go ahead with a policy from a comparison site, check the policy details on the insurer’s own website to ensure they match up.
Comparison sites are a useful tool. But remember that they are businesses designed to generate profit – not a public service. To avoid any common pitfalls, use them in conjunction with the links and advice above to find the most suitable car insurance at the right price for you.