Which car insurance providers do we compare?

Car insurance providers look at a number of factors when deciding what premium you’ll pay:  

Details about you: 

• your age – young drivers are typically seen as more of a risk to insure and may pay a bigger premium as a result  
• where you live 
• what you do for a living 
• how long you’ve been driving 
• your driving history – whether you have any driving convictions or have made any claims 

Details about your car: 

• what insurance group it’s in – buying a car in a lower group could help you save on premiums 
• how many miles you drive in a year 
• your car’s value 
• whether you’ve made any modifications to your vehicle 

Car insurance providers calculate your premium based on the risk of you making a claim. But although they ask similar questions and have broadly similar processes, they each use their own models and formulas. The amount of risk they’re willing to take on can also vary.

If you’re a careful driver, telematics or black box insurance could lower your premium. A small box installed in your car monitors your driving – this usually includes speed and mileage. Your insurance provider can then use the information sent to it from the black box, to calculate your premium. If you’re a careful driver, you could see it reflected in the future cost of your policy. 

Telematics policies can be particularly helpful for younger drivers, but there’s no reason why more experienced drivers shouldn’t consider them, too. 

Identifying the cheapest car insurance providers isn’t an exact science.  
 
Regardless of which provider you choose, your premium will depend on your individual circumstances, including where you live, the type of car you want to insure, your driving history and how you use your car.  
 
To find the right car insurance for you, compare a range of quotes and choose the car insurance provider that best suits your needs and budget.

Yes, often you can save money by switching. To stand the best chance of saving year-on-year, it’s worth comparing the car insurance market before your renewal date.  
 
While allowing your policy to renew automatically may seem like the easiest option, it’s not necessarily the answer if you’re looking to save money.  

Our figures show that 51% of customers could save up to £516^[2] by shopping around and comparing, rather than auto-renewing. It could be worth a few minutes of your time, to see what other providers have to offer.

^[2] Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during August 2023, 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.