Compare Life Insurance
Protect your family's financial future. Compare life insurance quotes from leading UK providers — free and no obligation.
Life insurance provides a financial safety net for the people who depend on you. If you were to die, a life insurance payout could cover the mortgage, replace your income, fund your children's education and give your family time to adjust without financial pressure. Despite this, millions of UK adults have no life cover at all. Comparing quotes takes minutes and could give your family peace of mind for decades.
Term Life Insurance
The most affordable option. Covers you for a fixed period (10–40 years). Pays out if you die during the term. Ideal for protecting a mortgage or young family.
Whole Life Insurance
Covers you for your entire lifetime with a guaranteed payout. More expensive, but useful for inheritance tax planning and funeral costs.
Critical Illness Cover
Pays a tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with a specified serious illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke. Can be added to a life policy or bought standalone.
Life insurance explained: choosing the right cover
Term life insurance is the most popular and affordable type. You choose a fixed term — typically aligned with your mortgage length or the years until your children become financially independent. If you die during the term, your beneficiaries receive a lump sum payout. If you survive the term, the policy simply ends. Level term policies pay a fixed amount throughout, while decreasing term policies reduce the payout over time (designed to mirror a repayment mortgage balance).
Whole life insurance guarantees a payout whenever you die, as long as you keep paying premiums. This certainty makes it more expensive, but it serves a different purpose. Many people use whole life cover for inheritance tax planning — placing the policy in trust so the payout can cover the tax bill on their estate without depleting the inheritance itself.
Critical illness cover pays a one-off lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious condition from a specified list. Most policies cover cancer, heart attack, stroke, multiple sclerosis and organ transplant, among others. The money is tax-free and you can use it however you choose — many people use it to pay off their mortgage, cover treatment costs or replace lost income while they recover.
When deciding how much cover you need, think about your outstanding mortgage, any other debts, how many years of income your family would need to replace, childcare costs, and future expenses like university fees. A common guideline is 10 times your annual salary, but everyone's situation is different.
Premiums are based on your age, health, smoking status, occupation and hobbies. The younger and healthier you are when you apply, the cheaper your premiums will be — and they're usually fixed for the duration of the policy. This makes it worth arranging cover sooner rather than later. Smokers typically pay roughly double what non-smokers pay.
Placing your life insurance policy in trust is one of the most important steps you can take. It ensures the payout goes directly to your beneficiaries without going through probate, which can take months. It also means the payout doesn't form part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes. Setting up a trust is free with most insurers.
Compare cover from providers including
Aviva Legal & General Royal London Zurich LV=Three steps to protecting your family
Why life cover matters
Average cost of cover
A healthy 30-year-old non-smoker can get £200,000 of 25-year term cover from around £9 per month. It's more affordable than most people think.
UK adults without cover
Over a third of UK adults have no life insurance at all, leaving their families financially vulnerable if the worst were to happen.
Average claim payout
The average UK life insurance claim payout is around £79,000, providing families with a vital financial lifeline during the most difficult time.
Claims paid
UK life insurers pay 98% of all claims. The main reason for non-payment is material non-disclosure on the application — always answer honestly.
Life insurance FAQs
Term life insurance covers you for a fixed period — typically 10, 20 or 25 years. If you die during the term, your beneficiaries receive a payout. If you survive the term, the policy ends with no payout. It's the most affordable type. Whole life insurance covers you for your entire life and guarantees a payout whenever you die. It's more expensive because a claim is certain, but it provides lifelong cover and can be used for inheritance planning.
A common rule of thumb is 10 times your annual income, but the right amount depends on your circumstances. Consider your outstanding mortgage, other debts, how many years your children need supporting, your partner's income, and any existing savings or employer death-in-service benefits.
A healthy 30-year-old non-smoker can get £200,000 of level term cover for 25 years from around £7–10 per month. Premiums depend on your age, health, smoking status, occupation, hobbies and the amount and length of cover. Smokers typically pay double. Comparing quotes is essential as prices vary significantly between providers.
Most life insurance policies cover death from any cause, including illness and accidents. However, most policies won't pay out for suicide within the first 12 months (some say 24 months). If you made material misrepresentations on your application — such as failing to disclose a medical condition or smoking status — the insurer can void the policy. Always answer honestly.