Car insurance
Hit the road, not your wallet
- Meerkat your car insurance to save up to £374[1]
- Savings from trusted providers
- Plus, enjoy fantastic rewards, on us*
[1] Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during November 2022. 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.
Compare cheap car insurance quotes from 150 trusted provider products[2], including:
See a full list of our car insurance providers
[2] Correct as of December, 2022.
What do I need to get a car insurance quote?
To get a car insurance quote, you’ll need to tell us about:
1. Your car and how you use it
Either your registration number or the car’s make, model and age. Plus, whether you use your car for pleasure or business and how many miles a year you drive.
2. Your details
Including your name, how old you are, where you live, your job title and the type of industry you work in. We’ll need the same for any drivers you want to add.
3. Your driving and your licence
Tell us about your no claims discount (NCD) if you have one, plus your driving history. If you can provide your driving licence number, it might lower the price with some insurance providers.
Get a quoteWhy compare car insurance with Comparethemarket?
Our comparison service is quick and easy to use. Just pop in your details and see if you can find a cheap car insurance quote for your new car or beat your current insurance provider’s renewal quote. We compare some of the best car insurance providers to find you a great price from our panel.
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You could save up to £374[1] by comparing through us
[12] Correct as of December, 2022.
[1] Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during November 2022. 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Comparethemarket.
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Expert tools, tips and guides
Our impartial and rewarding car insurance comparison service has excellent customer reviews. With huge market coverage, it’s a great choice for car insurance price comparison.
Expert car insurance tools
- Car insurance premium tool – See how the cost of your car insurance compares to others.
- Car insurance group checker – Check what group your car is in.
- Car insurance calculator – Use our calculator comparison tool to get a new car insurance quote in minutes.
- Car finance calculator – Find out how much you could afford to borrow and what your monthly car finance repayments are likely to be.
- Young driver car running cost tool – If you’re 17-24, find out how much car insurance and driving is likely to cost you based on where you live and what car you have.
Expert car insurance tips and guides
- Save money on your car insurance – 20 top tips on how to get a cheaper premium.
- Hacks to cut your petrol bills – Discover how you could cut your fuel spend.
- Is my car insured? – Find out how to check if your car is insured if you’ve forgotten your insurance details or lost your policy documents.
- MOT checklist & guide – Everything you need to know about the MOT, plus a handy MOT checklist.
- Top tips for new drivers – Our 12 top tips to help new drivers stay safe on the roads.
Compare car insurance quotes now to see if you could save
Start a new quoteWhat is car insurance and why do I need it?
Car insurance could cover your costs if your car is damaged in an accident, stolen, vandalised or catches fire.
You’re legally required to have insurance if you own or drive a car, unless you officially declare your car off the road with a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
You can be fined a minimum of £300 and given six penalty points if you’re caught driving without car insurance. If you end up in court, you face an unlimited fine and could be disqualified from driving.
What type of car insurance do I need?
The type of car insurance you need depends on the level of cover you want.
Fully comprehensive
Comprehensive policies offer the best car insurance protection, and can be the cheapest level of cover for many drivers. It’s worth comparing car insurance quotes and their level of cover to see if it’s the right car insurance option for you.
Average price: £629/year[3]
Third party, fire and theft
Could pay out if your car is stolen or damaged by fire. While it protects you against the cost of damage or injury to third parties, it won’t cover you for the cost of damage to your own car in an accident.
Average price: £928/year[4]
Third party only
Third party cover is the minimum level of cover needed to legally drive on UK roads. It covers you for injury or damage caused to other people and their property. There’s no cover for you or your car.
Average price: £1,356/year[5]
51% of our customers were quoted less than [3]£628.58 for their fully comprehensive car insurance, [4]£927.77 for their third party fire and theft car insurance, [5]£1,355.43 for their third party car insurance.
Prices correct as of November, 2022.
How can I get cheaper car insurance?
There’s plenty of things you could do to help you save money on your car insurance policy:
The information in this video is available as a text transcript.
How much does car insurance cost?
The price reflects the risk the insurance provider faces. It factors in the value of your car, including how expensive it would be to replace or repair and how likely it is to be stolen. It also factors in whether you’re likely to drive responsibly and how many miles you drive.
Here’s how much UK drivers can typically expect car insurance to cost monthly and annually (excluding interest):
£629/year £52.38/month
for comprehensive cover[6]
£314/year £26/month
for over 50s[7]
£290/year £24.17/month
for over 60s[8]
£313/year £26.08/month
for over 70s[9]
£581/year £48.42/month
for learner drivers[10]
£1,354/year £112.83/month
for young drivers[11]
What can affect your price?
There are several factors that can influence your overall car insurance cost. These include:
- Insurance group – the lower the insurance group your car is in, the less you’re likely to pay for your premium.
- How much you drive – there’s less chance of you having an accident if you have low annual mileage, so your car insurance could be cheaper.
- Your job – some occupations are considered less risky than others and therefore result in cheaper premiums.
- Your address – if you live in an area with low claims, this could translate into lower premiums.
- Your age – older drivers will generally pay much less than young drivers as they’re seen to have more experience.
- Your driving experience – experienced drivers with no claims will typically pay less than new drivers and young drivers as they present a lower risk.
- Any criminal convictions – avoiding points on your licence keeps your premiums low. Convicted drivers are considered a higher risk, so are likely to pay more.
- Any claims – your claims history, including any no claims discount, can make your premium cheaper.
- Additional drivers – adding a named driver to your policy could lower your premium if they’re an experienced driver with no claims.
Learn more about how your car insurance premium is calculated.
[6] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £629 a year for comprehensive car insurance, or £52.38 per month.
[7] 51% of over 50s could achieve a quote of up to £314 a year for their car insurance, or £26.17 per month.
[8] 51% of over 60s could achieve a quote of up to £290 a year for their car insurance, or £24.17 per month.
[9] 51% of over 70s could achieve a quote of up to £313 a year for their car insurance, or £26.08 per month.
[10] 51% of learner drivers between 17-24 years old could achieve a quote of up to £581 a year for their car insurance, or £48.42 per month.
[11] 51% of young drivers between 17-24 years old could achieve a quote of up to £1,354 a year for their car insurance, or £112.83 per month.
Based on Comparethemarket data in November 2022 on the monthly cost when paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalment payments.
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Get startedOptional upgrades and add-ons
You can get plenty covered with these optional extras. This includes everything from a broken windscreen and breakdown cover to legal expenses and personal accident cover. Be aware, though, that you’ll have to pay extra to add them to your policy. Think carefully about what you need; you don’t want to end up paying more than you need to.
Breakdown cover
Breakdown cover can help you carry on with your journey if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere or won’t start outside your home.
Personal accident cover
If you or your partner are killed or seriously injured in a car accident, personal accident cover could provide compensation.
Motor legal protection
If you’re injured in an accident or have a car-related dispute that results in legal action, motor legal protection could help cover your legal expenses.
Car keys cover
Lost keys cover could cover the costs of replacing and reprogramming lost or stolen car keys.
No claims discount protection
Your no claims discount could cut the cost of your premium. Protect it by adding this cover to your insurance.
Windscreen cover
Broken or chipped car windscreens can be expensive to repair. Windscreen cover could take care of the cost.
Courtesy car cover
Courtesy car cover gives you a car to use when yours is in the garage being repaired after an accident.
Wrong fuel cover
Misfuelling cover could take care of the cost of draining and cleaning your tank, the cost of repairs or both.
Personal belongings cover
Possessions cover could cover your personal belongings if they’re stolen from your car.
What our expert says...
“As living costs and bills continue to rise, many families across the UK are feeling financially squeezed. Saving on your car insurance is always attractive, considering that the average cost of car insurance is more than £600[3]. Although it might seem easier to make smaller monthly payments, if you’re in a financial position to be able to pay your car insurance policy annually, you’ll save on the monthly interest.”
[3] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £628.58 for their fully comprehensive car insurance in November 2022.
- Alex Hasty, Insurance and finance expert
What types of cars can I insure?
As well as insurance for standard cars, we can help you find the right cover for cars that are a bit different.
Classic car
There’s no one definition of a classic car, but insurance providers consider it to be one that’s at least 15 years old.
We can help you find cheap car insurance cover for your classic, provided it was manufactured from 1970 onwards.
Sports car
High-performance cars can be attractive to thieves, and they’re likely to be driven faster than regular cars. With this in mind, it’s not surprising that sports car insurance can be expensive. Compare car insurance quotes with us and see if you can find the right deal for your pride and joy.
Imported cars
Cars imported into the UK can be more expensive to insure because insurance providers may find it harder to assess their risk. Whether yours is a parallel import or a grey import, it’s important to find the right cover for your imported car.
Modified cars
Some modifications, like fitting an immobiliser, could cut the cost of your car insurance. However, cosmetic and performance modifications can make them riskier from an insurance provider’s point of view.
Understand how car modifications can affect your car insurance quote and find the right cover for you.
Electric cars
Sales of electric cars are growing. However, these vehicles can be more expensive to insure than conventionally fuelled cars. This is because the sophisticated technology they use can make them more expensive to repair.
Green cars
Green cars include electric and hybrid vehicles as well as cars that run on biofuel, hydrogen or LPG. Find out about insuring your hybrid car.
What other types of cover can I get?
Get cover to suit the way you use your car. You might want to look at:
Business use cover
If you use your car for work, business car insurance could cover you.
Short-term cover
Temporary car insurance can cover you for anything from 1 hour to 28 days. It’s ideal if you want to share the driving or borrow someone else’s car or van.
Driving abroad
Going to be driving in Europe? Make sure you have the car insurance cover you need.
Multiple cars
Insuring several cars registered at the same address under a multi-car policy could be cheaper than insuring them separately.
Telematics insurance
Younger drivers in particular may benefit from telematics insurance, also known as black box insurance. Your premium is based on data about your driving from a telematics device installed in your car or a telematics smart phone app.
Excess protection
Excess insurance can cover the cost of your excess – the amount you have to pay towards a claim on your insurance.
Get a car insurance quote in minutes to see if you can save
Start a quoteFrequently asked questions
Why is car insurance for new drivers more expensive?
New drivers are considered more of a risk by insurance providers. This is partly because of inexperience, but mainly because most new drivers are young drivers.
There are ways you can reduce the cost of your insurance – telematics policies could be cheaper, for example.
Is it better to pay car insurance annually or monthly?
Typically, paying your car insurance annually offers the best price. Whether it’s better to pay for your premium annually or each month will depend on your circumstances.
Paying an annual lump sum is usually cheaper than paying monthly. A monthly payment plan could mean you pay more as you might be charged interest on the instalments.
Which is the cheapest month to buy car insurance?
According to Comparethemarket’s motor insurance expert, Julie Daniels, December can be one of the cheapest months to buy car insurance. Premiums typically increase in spring because there are generally more cars on the road as the weather begins to improve.
Do I need a credit check to buy car insurance?
The insurance provider will carry out a credit check if you want to pay for your car insurance monthly. Providers will also look at your credit score (a ’soft search’) when you compare insurance quotes, but this is just to check your details and won’t affect your score.
How do I estimate my mileage?
To estimate your mileage:
- Work out how many miles you drive every day or week, then add them up to work out your annual use.
- Or check your MOT certificate or car service record, which will show how many miles you’ve driven. Use this as a basis to calculate your future mileage.
Mileage can affect your car insurance premium – the more you drive, the more of a risk providers consider you to be. Be as accurate as you can when you estimate your mileage. If you underestimate, it could invalidate your policy. If you overestimate, you could end up paying more than you need to.
How do I work out my car’s value?
To work out your car’s value, you can use a free valuation tool like the one from Autotrader. Or look at used car listings to see the prices of models the same as yours that are of a similar age, condition and mileage.
When you compare car insurance with us and enter your registration number, where possible we’ll give you a valuation figure based on the car’s market value – the amount you’d receive if your car was written off.
How long is my quote valid for?
Some insurance quotes last as long as 60 days, but some can change at any point.
When you compare car insurance with us, you can save your searches. Remember though, you won’t necessarily get the price that you saved when you come back to buy your policy.
Will I be charged if I cancel my policy?
If you cancel your car insurance policy within the 14-day cooling off period, you might have to pay an admin fee but you’ll get a refund minus the days the policy was active for.
If you cancel later on, you may have to pay cancellation fees and admin fees. You may or may not get a refund, depending on the circumstances and whether you pay for your policy annually or monthly.
Find out everything you need to know about cancelling car insurance.
How do I claim on my car insurance?
To make a claim on your car insurance:
- Check your policy documents for details of how to claim and any time limits.
- Contact your insurance provider directly.
- Get a crime reference number from the police if your car has been stolen or vandalised.
- Gather the information you need to give to your insurance provider, including details of the other driver(s) and any witnesses. You’ll need to get all these details at the scene.
You must always tell your insurance provider if you’ve had an accident – whether you claim or not. If you don’t tell them, you could invalidate your policy.
When might a claim be rejected?
There are a few reasons an insurance provider might not pay your car insurance claim. It might be that:
- You’re not covered for what you’re trying to claim for
- There’s a dispute about who’s at fault in an accident
- The provider believes you’ve invalidated your car insurance – perhaps by giving inaccurate information or not telling them about something they should know.
If your claim is turned down and you don’t think it’s justified, you can take action. Find out what to do if your car insurance provider won’t pay out.
I had to make a claim last year. Will my insurance go up?
If you made a claim last year, you’re likely to pay more for your car insurance. In fact, your premium may go up even if you have an accident and don’t make a claim.
This is because the insurance provider might consider there’s more of a risk of you being in another accident.
Your no claims discount shouldn’t be affected if it’s protected, but your basic premium is still likely to go up.
See more on how an accident can affect your car insurance premium.
What does car insurance excess mean?
Car insurance excess is the amount you’ll have to pay towards a claim on your insurance. There are two elements to car insurance excess:
- Compulsory excess – this is set by the insurance provider. You might have to pay an additional compulsory excess if you drive a high-performance car or if you’re a young driver.
- Voluntary excess – this is the amount you agree to pay in addition to the compulsory excess. Agreeing a higher voluntary excess can reduce the cost of your insurance, but you’ll need to make sure you can afford to pay it if you make a claim.
How does telematics work?
Telematics or ‘black box’ insurance uses technology to monitor the way you drive and transmits the data to your insurance provider. If you drive safely, it could lead to cheaper car insurance.
Telematics works either through a GPS device – a black box – fitted in your car or a smartphone app. It records how you corner, brake, your speed, the time of day and how far you drive, for example.
Black box insurance provides evidence that you’re a safe driver and could reduce your premiums. This makes it particularly useful for young and inexperienced drivers.
Also older drivers with low mileage may also find it can help save them money.
Find out about telematics insurance.
Can my parents help me get cheaper car insurance?
If you share your car with one of your parents, having them on your policy as a named or additional driver could reduce your premium. But they mustn’t be on the policy as the main driver if they’re not. This is a type of fraud called fronting and it's illegal.
What is a no claims bonus?
A no claims bonus, also called a no claims discount or NCD, builds up every year you have car insurance without making a claim. You can accumulate up to five years and sometimes more, depending on the insurance provider. Your NCD can cut the cost of your car insurance when you renew. You can also opt to protect it so that it’s not affected if you do make a claim.
What do our customers say?
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Saved £160 and stayed with same ProviderBritpart • 09/09/2021
I got a great price for my car insurance, I would definitely recommend to friendJTHOM • 09/09/2021
So easy and fast. Got a great deal half of what my current insurers quoted.Jak60 • 09/09/2021
Love the way your details are kept which make it easy to review and choose each.Carol G • 02/11/2021