How To Compare Car Insurance
Compare car insurance by gathering your vehicle and driver details, running the same search on at least two comparison sites, and checking the excess, cover level, and claims reputation alongside the price.
Premiums for the same driver and car can vary by hundreds of pounds between insurers. Spending 30 minutes comparing properly is the single most effective way to avoid overpaying.
Premiums for the same driver and car can vary by hundreds of pounds between insurers, so spending 30 minutes comparing across at least two sites is the single most effective way to avoid overpaying.
Start comparing car insurance quotes to see how much prices vary for you.
What information do you need before comparing?
Have your vehicle registration, driving licence number, claims history for the past five years, and details of how you use the car ready before you start.
Vehicle details
You’ll need your registration number, make, model, year, current mileage, estimated annual mileage, and any modifications. Comparison sites pre-fill some of this from your reg, but you’ll need to confirm everything.
Driver details
Your licence number, how long you’ve held it, any convictions or points in the last five years, and your full claims history including non-fault claims.
Why accuracy matters
Be completely accurate with every detail. Underestimating mileage or forgetting a modification can invalidate your policy, meaning your insurer could refuse to pay out on a claim.
Our guide on how car insurance is calculated explains how each detail affects your premium.
How do you use comparison sites effectively?
Run the same search on at least two comparison sites, because each site works with a different panel of insurers and you’ll see different quotes on each.
Which sites should you use?
The main UK sites are Compare the Market, GoCompare, Confused.com, and MoneySupermarket. No single site includes every insurer, so using two or three gives you a much wider view.
You can also compare through SimplyQuote for an additional panel of providers.
How to get the most accurate quotes
Enter identical details on each site. Even small differences in how you describe your job title or parking location can change quotes by £50 or more.
Try different voluntary excess amounts to see how they affect your premium. Increasing from £0 to £250 often produces a noticeable drop.
How to compare like-for-like
Get quotes for all three cover levels: third-party only, third-party fire and theft, and fully comp. Fully comp is often cheaper than third-party only because lower-risk drivers tend to choose it.
Strip out bundled extras like breakdown cover or legal expenses so you’re comparing the core policy cost. You can add them back once you’ve found the cheapest base quote.
Should you check insurers not on comparison sites?
Most major insurers now appear on at least one comparison site, but a few still sell directly. Checking our car insurance companies page shows which providers are available and how to get quotes from them.
Why direct quotes can differ
Some insurers price differently for direct customers than for comparison site traffic. Getting a direct quote from one or two larger providers takes five minutes and occasionally turns up a cheaper deal.
What about your renewal quote?
Since the FCA’s pricing rules came into force in 2022, insurers can’t charge existing customers more than new ones for the same product. But your renewal quote may still not be the cheapest available, so always check the market.
Related: Car Insurance Not On Comparison Sites
What should you compare beyond price?
Price matters, but the cheapest policy isn’t always the best value. Compare the excess, cover level, courtesy car provision, and claims handling reputation before you buy.
| Factor | What to check | Why it matters |
| Total excess | Add compulsory and voluntary excess together | This is what you pay out of pocket on every claim |
| Cover level | Fully comp, TPFT, or third-party only | Determines what damage and losses are covered |
| Courtesy car | Whether one is provided during repairs | Without this you could be without transport for weeks |
| Windscreen cover | Whether claims affect your no-claims bonus | Chips are common and repairs are cheap if covered separately |
| Claims reputation | Trustpilot, Defaqto ratings, FOS complaint data | A low premium means nothing if claims are hard to settle |
Where to check claims reputation
Defaqto rates policies from 1 to 5 stars based on the quality of cover. A policy with a higher star rating may cost slightly more but give you better protection when you need to claim.
The ABI publishes data on how quickly insurers settle claims. Check this alongside Trustpilot reviews to get a balanced picture.
How can you lower the quotes you get?
Several practical adjustments can reduce your premium without reducing your cover level.
Quick wins
Increase your voluntary excess to £250 or £350, but only if you could afford to pay it. Park off-street overnight if you can, and reduce your estimated mileage if it’s genuinely lower than what you entered.
For younger drivers
Adding an experienced named driver can help, but they must actually use the car or it’s fronting. Black box insurance can cut premiums by 20 to 40% for safe drivers.
Payment method
Pay annually if you can afford the lump sum. Monthly instalments include interest, typically adding 15 to 20% to the total cost over the year.
When is the best time to compare?
Start comparing quotes 21 to 26 days before your renewal date. Check when your policy expires and set a calendar reminder for three weeks before.
Why timing matters
Quotes too far in advance tend to be higher because insurers price in more uncertainty. Too close to your renewal date and you may feel rushed into accepting a poor deal.
Should you ever auto-renew?
Not without checking the market first. Even with the FCA’s fair pricing rules, your renewal quote may not be the cheapest available.
If you find a better deal, use it to negotiate with your current insurer. Many will match a competitor’s price rather than lose your business.
This matters even more for young drivers where premiums are high and the savings from switching can be hundreds of pounds.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
No, each site works with a different panel of insurers. Using two or three sites gives you a much wider view of what’s available.
No, fully comp is often cheaper because lower-risk drivers tend to choose it. Always get quotes for all three cover levels to compare.
No, insurance quotes use soft credit searches that are only visible to you on your credit file. They don’t affect your score and other lenders can’t see them.
Not automatically. Check the total excess, what’s covered, whether a courtesy car is included, and the insurer’s claims handling reputation.
At every renewal, which is typically once a year. Start comparing 21 to 26 days before your renewal date for the best prices.