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Compare Insurance

Find the right cover at the right price. Compare quotes from leading UK insurance providers — free and no obligation.

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How it works

Three steps to better insurance

1
Choose your cover type
Pick what you need to insure — your car, home, life, travel or pet.
2
Compare quotes
See what's available from leading UK insurers, side by side.
3
Get covered & save
Found better cover? Switch through our partners. It takes minutes.
UK insurance in numbers

Why comparing matters

£500+

Average car insurance premium

The average UK car insurance premium exceeded £500 in 2025, according to the ABI. Comparing could save you hundreds.

67%

Don't compare at renewal

Two-thirds of UK policyholders auto-renew without comparing. Loyalty penalties mean you're likely overpaying.

£130

Average saving on home insurance

Switching home insurance provider saves the average household around £130 per year.

3 min

Time to compare

Getting quotes from multiple insurers takes just minutes. The savings last a full year.

Decision helper

Do you need it? Insurance types at a glance

Not all insurance is legally required, and some types are more valuable than others depending on your circumstances. This guide summarises the main types, who they are for, whether they are compulsory, and typical costs to help you prioritise your cover.

Insurance type Who it's for Required? Avg. annual cost Worth it?
Car insurance Anyone who drives on UK roads Legally required £500–£800 Essential
Buildings insurance Homeowners (required by mortgage lenders) Required by lender £150–£300 Essential
Contents insurance Anyone with belongings worth protecting No £60–£150 Highly recommended
Life insurance Anyone with dependants or a mortgage No £120–£400 Highly recommended
Travel insurance Anyone travelling abroad No £30–£80 (annual) Highly recommended
Pet insurance Pet owners (dogs, cats etc.) No £250–£600 Recommended
Income protection Anyone reliant on their salary No £300–£600 Consider it
Private medical Those wanting faster treatment No £800–£2,000 Depends on needs
Gadget insurance Owners of expensive phones/laptops No £60–£120 Often not worth it

Costs are indicative averages for UK adults in 2026. Actual premiums depend on your personal circumstances, location and level of cover. Sources: ABI, MoneySuperMarket, Defaqto.

Before you buy

Watch out for these insurance pitfalls

Insurance policies are full of fine print, and the cheapest premium is not always the best value. Here are the most common traps to watch out for when buying or renewing any type of insurance in the UK.

Excess levels — compulsory and voluntary

Your total excess is the compulsory amount (set by the insurer, often £100–£350) plus any voluntary excess you choose to reduce your premium. A £250 voluntary excess sounds appealing for the discount, but if your total excess is £500 and your claim is worth £600, you are only receiving £100. Make sure the excess makes sense relative to the value of potential claims.

Exclusions buried in the small print

Every insurance policy has exclusions — events or circumstances it does not cover. Common examples include wear and tear, gradual deterioration, intentional damage and "acts of God" that go beyond standard storms. The Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) is a standardised summary that every UK insurer must provide. Read it before buying, not after claiming.

Auto-renewal at a higher price

Insurers must now send you a renewal notice showing last year's price alongside the new one, and the FCA's 2022 rules ban price walking on home and motor insurance. But your premium can still rise legitimately due to claims inflation, tax changes or alterations to your risk profile. Always compare before renewing — even if your current insurer's price looks reasonable, a competitor may be cheaper.

Claims inflation

Even without personal claims, your premiums can rise because of industry-wide trends. Increasing repair costs, supply chain disruptions, and more frequent extreme weather events all push up the cost of claims across the market. The ABI reported a 25% rise in car insurance claims costs between 2022 and 2025. There is no way to avoid this entirely, but comparing ensures you are not paying more than necessary.

Price walking — banned but not extinct

The FCA banned the practice of charging loyal customers more than new ones for home and motor insurance in 2022. However, the ban only applies to these two products. Other insurance types — pet, travel, life, gadget and business insurance — are not covered by the rule. Loyal customers in these categories may still be paying a loyalty penalty, making comparison even more important.

Questions

Insurance comparison FAQs

You can compare car insurance, home insurance (buildings and contents), life insurance, travel insurance and pet insurance from leading UK providers. We also cover business insurance including public liability and professional indemnity.

Yes, completely free. We earn a commission from providers if you take out a policy through us. This doesn't affect the price you pay — you get the same premium whether you come through us or go direct.

No. Getting insurance quotes uses a soft search which does not appear on your credit report or affect your score. Only when you actually take out a policy might a provider run a hard search, depending on their process.

For car insurance, comparing 3–4 weeks before your renewal date typically gets the best prices. For home insurance, compare as soon as your renewal letter arrives. Don't auto-renew without checking what else is available.

The excess is the amount you pay towards any claim before the insurer covers the rest. It has two parts: compulsory excess (set by the insurer and non-negotiable) and voluntary excess (an amount you choose to add in exchange for a lower premium). A higher voluntary excess reduces your annual cost but means a bigger outlay when you claim. Choose an excess you could comfortably afford to pay at short notice.

A named perils policy only covers specific events listed in the policy wording, such as fire, theft, storm, flood and escape of water. An all-risks policy covers any event unless it is specifically excluded. All-risks policies provide broader protection but cost more. Whichever type you choose, read the exclusions list carefully so you know what is and is not covered.

Paying annually is almost always cheaper. Monthly payments are effectively a credit agreement, and insurers charge interest that typically adds 15–30% to the total annual cost. If you can afford to pay in full upfront, you will save a significant amount. A small number of insurers offer genuine 0% monthly payments, but these are the exception rather than the rule.

The FCA banned price walking for home and car insurance in January 2022, preventing insurers from charging loyal customers more than new ones for equivalent cover. However, premiums can still increase at renewal due to genuine factors like claims inflation, higher repair costs or changes to your risk profile. The ban also does not apply to other insurance types like pet, travel or life cover — so comparing at renewal is still essential.

This depends on the insurance type. Travel insurance typically excludes or loads premiums for pre-existing medical conditions, though specialist providers cater to travellers with health conditions. Pet insurance will not cover illnesses or injuries that existed before the policy started. Life insurance may apply exclusions or higher premiums for existing health conditions. Always disclose all relevant information honestly — non-disclosure can void your entire policy.

You can cancel most insurance policies at any time. During the first 14 days (the cooling-off period), you are entitled to a full refund minus a small admin fee and the cost of any days of cover already used. After 14 days, most insurers will refund the unused portion on a pro-rata basis, but some charge a cancellation fee of £25–£75. Check your policy terms before cancelling.

Don't overpay at renewal

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