Car insurance
Save up to £473 on your car insurance^
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^ Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during June 2025, 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.
[1] Correct as of June 2025.
What do I need to get a car insurance quote?
To compare car insurance quotes, you’ll need to tell us about:
Your car and how you use it
We’ll need the registration number or the car’s make, model and age. We’ll also need to know whether you use your car for pleasure or business, and how many miles a year you drive.
Your details
We’ll need 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 other drivers you want to add.
Driving history and licence number
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.
Compare cheap car insurance quotes from 175 trusted provider products[2], including:
See a full list of our car insurance providers
[2] Correct as of June 2025.
Do I need car insurance?
Yes, you need car insurance to drive legally on UK roads. Car insurance offers financial protection if your car is involved in an incident that damages property or a vehicle, or injures another person.
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?
There are three main types of car insurance, offering different levels of cover.
Comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive insurance is the highest level of car insurance cover, but for many drivers it can be the cheapest option.
Policies vary, but typically cover:
- Damage or injuries to other people
- Fire damage
- Theft
- Repair costs if your car is damaged in an accident, regardless of who’s at fault
- Replacement costs if your car is written off.
Comprehensive car insurance won’t usually cover you for driving someone else’s car or theft from an unlocked vehicle.
Third-party, fire and theft
Third-party, fire and theft insurance is the middle tier of car insurance. It can cover you for:
- Damage or injuries to other people
- Fire damage
- Theft.
If you’re at fault for an accident, it won’t cover repairs to your own vehicle or your medical costs. You’d need to pay for those yourself.
Third-party only
Third-party only insurance is the minimum level of cover you need to legally drive on UK roads.
- You’ll only be covered for damage and injuries to other people
- It won’t cover you or your car
- It usually works out more expensive than comprehensive cover, and some providers no long even offer it.
Compare car insurance quotes now to see if you could save
You could save up to £473^ by comparing through us
^ Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during June 2025, 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.
How much does car insurance cost?
The price of car insurance 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.
It also takes the driver into account, including 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 annually and monthly:
| Policy type | Price per year | Equivalent price per month (does not include any interest charges for paying monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive[2] | £636 | £52.97 |
| Third-party, fire and theft[3] | £1,104 | £91.97 |
| Third-party only[4] | £1,497 | £124.67 |
| Over 50s[5] | £371 | £30.92 |
| Over 60s[5] | £351 | £29.25 |
| Over 70s[5] | £388 | £32.34 |
| Learner drivers (17-24 years old)[5] |
£684 | £57 |
| Young drivers (17-24 years old)[5] |
£1,435 | £119.59 |
As you can see from the figures, age, driving experience and level of cover can all have an impact on the cost of your car insurance.
The type of car you drive can also impact the cost of your premium. If you’re after a cheaper car insurance deal, choosing a car in a lower insurance group when you replace your vehicle might help.
Learn more about how your car insurance premium is calculated.
[2]51% of our customers were quoted less than £635.59 for their comprehensive car insurance in June 2025.
[3]51% of our customers were quoted less than £1,103.64 for their third party fire and theft car insurance in June 2025.
[4]51% of our customers were quoted less than £1,496.09 per year for their third party car insurance in June 2025.
[5]51% of over 50s, over 60s, over 70s, learner drivers and young drivers between 17-24 years old could achieve these quotes for their car insurance. Based on Compare the Market data in March 2025. Monthly cost is based on the annual lump-sum payment, excluding any interest charged on monthly instalments.
Why is comprehensive car insurance cheaper than third-party?
It’s natural to assume that comprehensive car insurance is the most expensive level of cover, because it offers the most protection. However, third-party policies are often more expensive, because drivers who choose them are considered higher risk by insurance providers.
For instance, younger or less experienced drivers are more likely to choose third-party cover to save money, leading to higher claims for this type of policy.
This is why it’s worth comparing all cover types to find out which level of cover is right for you.
Expert car insurance tips and guides
- What are the cheapest cars to insure? – we take a look at some of the cheapest cars to insure this year.
- Save money on your car insurance – top tips on how to get a cheaper premium.
- Is my car insured? – find out how to check whether your car is insured if you’ve forgotten your driving insurance details or lost your policy documents.
- MOT checklist and guide – everything you need to know about the MOT, plus a handy MOT checklist.
- Top tips for new drivers – check out our 12 top tips to help new drivers stay safe on the roads.
Car insurance tools and calculators
- Car insurance group checker – check what group your car is in.
- Car insurance calculator – use our car insurance comparison tool to get a new car insurance quote in minutes.
Why compare car insurance with Compare the Market?
Our car insurance comparison service is quick and easy to use. Just add your details and see if you can find the cheapest car insurance quote for your new car or beat your current insurance provider’s renewal quote.
We compare insurance from some of the most trusted car insurance providers to find you a great price from our panel.
Automated quotes
We can automatically look for quotes for your car insurance, ahead of renewal
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[6] Correct as of June 2025.
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As of July 8th 2025, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 from 93,668 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.9 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’. Learn more about our rating
How can I get cheaper car insurance?
There are a range of ways you could save money on your car insurance policy, including setting a higher voluntary excess, paying annually instead of monthly and cutting out unnecessary add-ons. You can find out more in our guide to getting cheaper car insurance.
What our expert says...
What’s happening to car insurance premiums in the UK?
"In early 2025, car insurance prices fell slightly, but many households are continuing to feel the squeeze. To offer more affordable options, providers have introduced new ‘essentials’ cover tiers. While these could save you money, it’s vital to make sure they include all the features you need.
As always, we’d recommend comparing car insurance quotes with Compare the Market.”
- Julie Daniels, Motor insurance expert
Additional car insurance cover
There are more specific car insurance options you may want to consider. These come with different levels of cover – for example, you can get comprehensive telematics insurance.
- Business car insurance – if you use your car for work purposes other than commuting.
- Temporary car insurance – can cover anything from one hour to 28 days.
- Multi-car insurance – when you insure more than one car registered at the same address.
- Black box insurance – involves installing a telematics device in your car to monitor your driving. Could reduce premiums for younger drivers.
- European car insurance – covers driving abroad in Europe.
Automate your car insurance renewal quotes
Save yourself time and effort. Set up once and let us automatically search for quotes for your car insurance before it’s time to renew.
Get startedOptional car insurance upgrades and add-ons
There are plenty of optional car insurance upgrades available, but you’ll have to pay to add them to your policy. Think carefully about the cover you want so you don’t end up paying more than you need to.
Breakdown cover
Breakdown cover could 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
Motor legal protection can cover legal expenses up to an agreed limit that result from a car accident that wasn’t your fault.
Car keys cover
Lost keys cover could cover the costs of replacing and reprogramming lost or stolen car keys.
No-claims discount protection
A no-claims discount is your reward for not making a claim. You can 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 if yours is in the garage being repaired after an accident.
Wrong fuel cover
Misfuelling cover could reimburse you for the cost of draining and cleaning your tank, and any additional repairs, if you fill up with the wrong type of fuel by mistake.
Personal belongings cover
Possessions cover could cover your personal belongings if they’re stolen from your car.
Excess protection
Excess insurance can cover the cost of your excess – the amount you have to pay towards a claim on your insurance.
GAP insurance
GAP insurance can cover the difference between what you paid for your car and its current market value if it’s written off or stolen.
You can’t get a GAP insurance quote with Compare the Market, but you can find specialist providers that offer it.
Make sure you understand your add-ons
All these add-ons will come with restrictions and exclusions. Check your policy carefully to make sure you understand what’s covered and that you have the level of cover you need.
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 that drivers, including younger or inexperienced drivers, may be able to reduce the cost of car insurance – telematics policies could be cheaper, for example.
What do our customers say about our car insurance comparison service?
Based on 93,685 reviews, customers who bought car insurance rated our comparison service 4.6 out of 5.
Quick, easy and found a good, cheap car insuranceJosephine • 20/07/2024
Good choice of insurers and gives prices for extrasJoanne • 22/06/2024
Obtained good insurance for car which was better than other comparison sitesColin • 18/06/2024
Easy to use this siteSandra • 08/06/2024
Are there any specialist vehicle insurance policies tailored to me?
Very possibly. Some providers specialise in covering different types of drivers – for example:
Learner drivers
If you have a provisional licence.
Young drivers
If you don’t have much experience.
New drivers
If you’ve just passed your test.
Student drivers
If you’re away at college or university.
Over 50s
If you’re an experienced driver.
Named drivers
If you’re named on someone else’s policy.
Disabled drivers
If you have health issues or drive an adapted vehicle.
Occasional drivers
If you borrow a car from time to time.
Drivers with convictions
If you have points on your licence or have been disqualified.
Just fill in your details when you start a quote, and we’ll look for policies that match your situation.
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 set 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 car insurance cover for your classic car, so long as it was manufactured in 1970 or later.
Sports car
High-performance cars can be attractive to thieves, and they’re likely to be driven faster than regular cars. So, it’s not surprising that sports car insurance can be expensive. Compare car insurance quotes to see if you can find the right deal for your pride and joy.
Imported cars
Cars imported into the UK can sometimes be more expensive to insure.
This can partly depend on where they’ve been imported from: ‘grey’ imports, from outside the EU, can be pricier to insure – particularly if they’re more powerful or high-spec than the average car.
‘Parallel’ imports come from the EU and might not cost much more to insure than a car bought in the UK. Whichever import type it is, 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. Others may increase it.
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.
How can I check if my car is insured?
The simplest way to see if your car is insured is to check your registration number on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). This is a national register of all the cars insured in the UK.
The free search will tell you whether your vehicle has a current, valid insurance policy, but not the details of your specific cover.
How does telematics work?
Telematics, or black box car insurance, uses technology to monitor the way you drive and sends the data to your insurance provider. If you drive safely, it could lead to a cheaper car insurance premium when you come to renew your policy.
This makes it particularly useful for young and inexperienced drivers. Older drivers with low mileage may also find it can help save them money.
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 of car insurance excess:
- Compulsory excess – set by the insurance provider.
- Voluntary excess – the amount you agree to pay on top of the compulsory excess. A higher voluntary excess can reduce your premium, but you’ll need to make sure you can afford to pay it if you make a claim.
Excess exampleNatalie has a £150 compulsory excess and a £100 voluntary excess. So if she makes a successful claim for a £2,000 repair bill, she'll need to pay the first £250 herself (£150 + £100). Her insurance provider will then cover the remaining £1,750. |
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.
Your NCD can cut the cost of your car insurance when you renew. You can also protect it so that it’s not affected if you do make a claim.
Frequently asked questions
Does your job title affect your car insurance?
Yes, your job title can affect the cost of your car insurance. If your job means you spend more time on the road, there’s more risk of you being involved in an accident. A courier, for example, may be considered a higher risk than an office administrator.
Jobs that tend to attract younger workers could also result in a higher premium. This is because statistically young drivers are more at risk of having an accident.
Is it better to pay for car insurance annually or monthly?
Paying your car insurance annually, in a lump sum, is usually cheaper than paying monthly. A monthly payment plan could be more manageable for your budget, but you’re likely to pay more as you’re usually charged interest on the instalments.
Whether it’s better to pay for your premium annually or each month will depend on your circumstances.
Do I need a credit check to buy car insurance?
Not necessarily. The insurance provider will only carry out a full credit check if you want to pay for your car insurance monthly.
Providers do look at your credit score (a soft search) when you compare car insurance quotes. But this is just to check your details and won’t affect your score.
How do I estimate my mileage? And does mileage affect my premium?
To estimate your mileage:
- Work out how many miles you drive every day or week, then multiply to work out your annual use.
- Or check your MOT certificate or car service record, which will show how many miles you’ve driven. You can use this as a basis to calculate your future mileage.
Yes, mileage can affect your car insurance premium – the more you drive, the more of a risk providers consider you to be.
It’s important to be as accurate as you can when you estimate your annual mileage too. 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 such as the one from AutoTrader. Or look at used car listings to see the prices of models similar to yours for age, condition and mileage.
When you compare car insurance quotes with us, we’ll give you a valuation figure based on the car’s current market value, where possible. You can change this if it doesn’t look right.
How long is my quote valid for?
Some insurance quotes last as long as 60 days, but some can change at any point. Check your quote to see how long it’s valid for.
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 after 14 days have passed, you might have to pay a cancellation fee 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.
How do I claim on my car insurance?
To make a claim on your car insurance:
- 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 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 why your insurance claim might be rejected. It could be that:
- You’re not covered for what you’re trying to claim for
- There’s a dispute over who’s at fault in an accident
- The provider believes you’ve invalidated your car insurance – for example, not telling them about something they should know.
If your claim is turned down and you don’t think it’s justified, there are steps you can take to dispute a rejected claim.
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 on renewal.
In fact, your premium may go up even if you had an accident and didn’t make a claim. This is because the insurance provider might consider you a higher risk of having another accident. Even if it wasn’t your fault, an accident could affect your car insurance premium.
Your no-claims discount shouldn’t be affected if it’s protected, but your basic premium is still likely to go up.
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 insurance fraud called fronting and it’s illegal.
Do I need insurance if my car is off the road?
You don’t need insurance if your car is off the road as long as you officially declare a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). However, this means your car won’t be covered if it’s damaged while it’s parked up.
And you won’t legally be able to park or drive the car on a public road until insurance is in place and the SORN has ended.
Will a comprehensive policy allow me to drive someone else’s car?
Sometimes. You’ll need to check the policy details to be sure that you’re covered to drive someone else’s car with a comprehensive policy.
If your policy doesn’t include this cover, you could be added as a named driver to the other person’s policy.
Alternatively, you could opt for temporary car insurance.
What admin fees should I expect?
If you make alterations to your car insurance policy, such as adding a named driver, you may have to pay an admin fee. And you’ll usually need to pay a fee for cancelling your policy or missing a payment.
With a telematics policy, you might have to pay a fee if you go over the specified mileage.
Fees can vary widely among providers, but they will all be set out in your policy documents. You may be able to avoid some of them if you make changes via your online account.
Do driving courses lower the cost of insurance?
Doing a driving course such as Pass Plus might lower the cost of your premium, but this is entirely up to the individual provider.
Based on their own claims experience, some insurance providers may assume that taking an advanced driving course may make you less likely to be involved in an accident. And if the course makes you a safer driver, this should help keep down the cost of your car insurance in the longer term.
