Are car insurance comparison sites a good idea?
What is an insurance comparison site?
An insurance comparison site is an online service provider that offers to analyse each motorist’s situation and direct them to the most competitive insurance contract. By searching the competition, you can obtain the best quotes at the best price. Otherwise, comparing offers by getting multiple quotes from lots of different providers would be a tedious job and of limited effectiveness for motorists. Insurance comparison sites aim to solve the problem by offering a simple, automatic tool for comparing a large number of offers available on the market. The comparison site doesn’t provide insurance itself! The platform provides a connection between the internet user and the insurance companies.
Are insurance comparison sites worth using?
Insurance comparison sites first appeared in the early 2000s and have proved their effectiveness. They use technology capable of instantly publishing quotes from dozens of insurance companies. There are now numerous comparison sites in the UK, including the following:
It is worth remembering that these insurance comparison sites are available free of charge to internet users and future policyholders: they are paid for directly by their partner insurers.
How do you use a car insurance comparison site?
To use a car insurance comparison site, you will need to fill in the fields relating to:
- your marital status;
- your occupation;
- your driving licence;
- your spouse, if any;
- your dependent children, if any;
- the vehicle to be insured;
- its use and parking;
- your history as a policyholder;
- any claims made in the last 3 years;
- your current policy, if any;
- your needs (third party, fire and theft, comprehensive etc.);
- your personal details.
Once you have filled in all the required fields, the calculator will determine the most competitive offers according to your situation. The quotes you are presented with are legal, i.e., firm and definitive. The comparison site will then put you in touch with the chosen insurance company.
Do not hesitate to use several comparison sites to be sure you find the most competitive insurance contract. As not all comparison sites have the same partners, you can optimise your search and save money. Don’t limit your comparison of quotes to only the price: take into account the excess to be paid in the event of a claim, the quality of coverage and the extent of the offered guarantees. The right quote is always the best quote but rarely the lowest!
Tip: You can change car insurance companies at any time. Almost all insurance providers allow you to transfer or cancel your policy.
If you want to take out a new contract, online comparison sites allow you to compare a large number of car insurance solutions with just a few clicks. They are practical solutions that save time and money!
