Compare 10 Best-Rated Cheap Car Insurance Companies UK (2024)
Erin Yurday, Founder - June 12, 2024Compare car insurance quotes with NimbleFins
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Table of Contents
List of 10 Best-Rated Cheap UK Car Insurance Companies
Our NimbleFins car insurance experts have developed a new data-driven scoring system for car insurance. And it's based on... a romantic relationship? Indeed! Insurance is not so different from romance. Whether you're looking for insurance or a partner, you ideally want good features, easy communication, support in tough times, financial stability, popularity with your friends and family, and even some hope that a break up (if necessary) won't be a nightmare if you decide to move on.
With this in mind, our NimbleFins car insurance experts have dug into FCA filings, policy wordings, and customer reviews, then developed a new, data-driven car insurance scorecard (read more about it below) and used this to rank 10 large UK insurance providers—ensuring you receive information you can trust. Who's the best at communication, ticking all the boxes, and breaking up? Find out here!
| Rank | Company | Basics | Dream | Flexibility | Breakup | Communication | Support | Popularity | Financial | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LV= | 10 | 10 | 2 | 6.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 7.39 |
| 2 | Aviva | 7.5 | 10 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9.1 | 7.35 |
| 3 | Admiral | 5 | 7.5 | 4 | 4.8 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 7.02 |
| 4 | Direct Line | 5 | 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 | 8.5 | 6 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 6.96 |
| 5 | NFU Mutual | 10 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4.8 | 8 | 5 | 9.3 | 6.34 |
| 6 | 1st Central | 5 | 7.5 | 3 | 7.8 | 9 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 6.08 |
| 7 | Hastings | 2.5 | 7.5 | 8 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 7.5 | 9 | 5.9 |
| 8 | AXA | 5 | 7.5 | 5 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 5 | 6.3 | 3.9 | 5.73 |
| 9 | Ageas | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3.8 | 6.5 | 9.5 | 3.8 | 6.9 | 5.72 |
| 10 | Allianz | 7.5 | 7.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 8.9 | 5.59 |
Reviews of Top 10 Best, Cheap Car Insurance Companies
When comparing car insurance companies, are you looking for the cheapest quotes, easy-to-access customer service, the most features, or something else? Check out how popular UK car insurance brands like Admiral, Direct Line/Churchill, Allianz, Aviva and AXA compare using the new data-driven NimbleFins Scoring System. While no single insurance provider is the cheapest or best for everyone, some companies stand out for their combination of features. Use this information to help you decide which might be best for you.
1. LV=
LV=
Overall Score: 7.39
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
In a detailed analysis conducted in 2024, the NimbleFins Scoring System found that LV= is the best overall car insurance company. LV= ranked particularly well in the basics and dream categories in which they scored 10 out of 10 because they offer a solid set of policy features, such as windscreen cover, higher personal accident cover, solid belongings cover (£300), long EU stays (180 days), a lifetime repair guarantee, misfueling cover, vandalism no claims protection, higher cover for accommodation or transport after an accident (up to £500) and more.
LV= also had the highest score of 9.0 for communication (tied with First Central) because of long phone and webchat customer service opening hours (26 hours per week), because you can speak with a human right off the bat on their webchat (instead of suffering through a chatbot) and because the opening hours and phone numbers are easy to find on their website.
LV= also scored the highest in terms of support, by offering a 24/7 claims line, solid cover for accommodation/transport after an accident and lower levels of claims complaints.
The company didn't perform as well in the flexibility category, because motorists have less ability to customise their cover (e.g. choosing a bare bones policy if they prefer, in order to lower their premium) and also in the finance category, primarily because premium costs were on the higher side for our sample driver and the company's solvency ratio (from their Solvency and Financial Condition Report) is somewhat low compared to other insurers.
Quick Takeaway: LV= is usually moderately priced, so those looking for the cheapest premium are likely to find a more suitable plan elsewhere. But LV is a solid choice for those looking for good features, communication and support, who don't mind paying a bit more for this. Read our in-depth review here.
2. Aviva
Aviva
Overall Score: 7.35
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
Aviva scored a mere 0.04 points behind LV= in the NimbleFins Scoring System for car insurance, ranking a solid #2. Like LV=, Aviva is particularly strong in features, especially when you buy all of the add ons (the dream score). And they offer high cover for keys up to the vehicle value (this could be useful given the high cost of replacing lost or stolen keys) and unlimited days in the EU and essentially unlimited cover (up to vehicle value) for audio equipment. Plus you can get the highest personal accident cover with Aviva, which is optional. Their basic score is a bit lower than LV='s, partly because a courtesy car for repairs is not included as standard (but you can get it as an optional add on).
The category in which Aviva is the weakest is breakup, primarily because there is only one way to cancel your car insurance (you fill in a form online)—instead of being able to call or do via webchat if you'd like a human to walk you through it.
Aviva scores well for popularity, now the 3rd largest motor insurance company in the UK, and you may recognise some of their 'budget' brands from the comparison sites. Depending on where you live, you may see their Quotemehappy.com (including the new 'Essentials' line) or General Accident brands with some of the cheapest rates on offer on PCWs. Aviva also support customers struggling with the high cost of living, e.g. by offering payment deferrals and lower cost, no-frills general insurance products.
Aviva won the Customer Care Award at the 2023 British Insurance Awards. Customer service satisfaction is high, with more than 50% of personal lines direct customers holding more than one general insurance product with Aviva.
Aviva has recently invested heavily in digital and claims management, enabling UK motor customers to start and complete their claims online with no underwriter touch points. Customers seem happy with online claims processing, as 80% book their car repairs online. The Aviva Zero motor proposition offers customers the opportunity to offset car emissions and has sold over 500,000 policies since launch in 2022.
Quick Takeaway: Depending on where you live, an Aviva-branded policy might be quite competitive. However if you’ve had an accident in the past 5 years, our tests indicate you may receive a less favorable price from Aviva than you'd find elsewhere. Read our review.
3. Admiral
Admiral
Overall Score: 7.02
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
Admiral ranked #3 in the NimbleFins Scoring System for car insurance, with particularly strong showings in the popularity and financial categories. Admiral is the most popular car insurance company in the UK, having written the highest level of premiums for every year we've tracked this metric. And the company also has the highest Trustscore of the companies we've studied here, at 4.5 out of 5 stars (tied with Allianz). Perhaps these two metrics go hand in hand—when customers are happy and rate a company well, sales will naturally be higher. Especially if the price is right...
Admiral's strong performance in the financial category is due to consistently offering really competitive premiums in our test scenarios.
In the basic category, Admiral doesn't do quite as well (e.g. their lowest Essential tier doesn't cover windscreens, keys, driving others cars, the same cover in the EU, personal belongings, etc.), but we don't mind this too much—this really stripped back policy might suit those who prioritise paying a low premium for comprehensive cover. Their dream score is not as high as LV= and Aviva because you can't get a few niche features at Admiral, such as mis-fueling cover and vandalism no claims protection. But that's unlikely to affect most motorists.
The Admiral Group sells policies through their Admiral, Bell, Diamond, elephant.co.uk and Gladiator brands. Admiral also writes the car insurance for Ford-branded car insurance. Technically speaking, Admiral is the trading name of EUI Limited.
Top tip: One of Admiral's stated corporate goals is to increase customer retention, which is good to know if your policy is up for renewal.
Quick Takeaway: Admiral remains the most popular car insurance company in the UK, with policies that are usually quite quick and easy to arrange online for a good price. Their brands can be found on most price comparison sites, such as our partner QuoteZone. Read our review.
4. Direct Line
Direct Line
Overall Score: 6.96
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
Ranking #4 in the NimbleFins Scoring System for car insurance, Direct Line showed strong, consistent performance across the board. With a relatively new Essentials tier, motorists now have more choice and flexibility to design cover that suits their needs. Those looking for core comprehensive cover can opt for that lowest tier of cover, which does well at the basics, including features such as a courtesy car and windscreen cover, and those looking for niche features like mis-fueling can get more dream features with the higher tier offerings and add ons.
Direct Line scored really well in the communication category, because they have the most customer service open hours per week—28 hours for phone lines and 33 hours for webchat each week. Plus their open hours and phone number are easy to find on their website (this is not always the case with other insurers).
The Direct Line Group sells Direct Line car insurance directly to customers—you won't find the 'Direct Line' brand on comparison sites, but you will find The Direct Line Group's Churchill, Darwin and Privilege motor insurance brands on comparison sites. (That said, the company is apparently mulling whether or not they should put the Direct Line brand on PCWs and will announce their decision at their investor Capital Markets Day in 2024!)
A bit over one third of the group's motor insurance sales are through the Direct Line brand (38%), another 39% is via their 'budget' brands in the PCW channel and 23% through partnerships. Broadly speaking, the main 'Direct Line' brand does offer slightly better features, such as a courtesy car in event of theft or total loss (not just repairs after an accident), as well as cheaper admin and cancellation fees, compared to the PCW brands.
Quick Takeaway: Direct Line has made a name as the insurance company that is not available on comparison sites (although this could change in 2024!), but if you're looking to save more money on your premium then their Churchill, Darwin or Privilege brands might offer even lower rates through price comparison websites. Read our review.
5. NFU Mutual
NFU Mutual
Overall Score: 6.34
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
NFU Mutual may not be a name you're familiar with, because they don't have a big online presence, but their solid scores in a few categories have earned them the 5th spot in the NimbleFins Scoring System for car insurance. Most notable is NFU Mutual's strength in the following categories: basic (e.g. their core cover that gives all policyholders a solid set of features), support (e.g. a low 0-5% of claims complaints as a % of claims) and financial (e.g. our sample quote that was surprisingly competitive; a strong solvency ratio indicating financial health of the company).
One important point of note is that you cannot get a quote from NFU Mutual online—only over the phone. This may be a drawback or a strength for you. We tested out getting a quote from NFU Mutual and were assisted by a very kind and helpful woman who walked us through our quote. It took a lot longer than getting an online quote—24 minutes in total, and we didn't ask a lot of questions so it could take a lot longer if you do have questions. That said, the woman made a suggestion that helped reduce the premium by over £100, and anyone looking for a human touch and some guidance might really like dealing with NFU Mutual.
Because of the lack of online provision (e.g. webchat, an app, an online account), and because their phone opening hours are on the short side, NFU Mutual performed less impressively in the communication category.
Quick takeaway: NFU Mutual can be a good option to consider for those who are looking for solid cover and helpful service, but who aren't in a rush and don't mind the lack on online account or quotes. Read our in-depth review here.
6. 1st Central
1st Central
Overall Score: 6.08
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
Ranking #6 in the NimbleFins Scoring System, 1st Central is a touch less consistent across the categories than the higher-ranked companies, but they show some real strengths. Particularly in the communication and support categories.
In terms of communication, where they scored 9 out of 10, it's pretty easy to get a hold of 1st Central, with long opening hours (24 hours each week, including 4 hours on Sundays) for both phone lines and webchat. Also, their webchat connects you with a human right away (without needing to suffer through a chatbot first). And their opening hours and number are easy to find on their website.
In terms of support, where they scored 8.5 out of 10, policyholders can benefit from a 24/7 claims line and cover for transportation and/or accommodation that is top notch (up to £500). Plus, they have a low 0-5% claims complaint rate.
1st Central scores less impressively in the features categories of basic and dream because their lowest tier of cover doesn't include windscreen cover, personal accident, belongings, after-market audio equipment, an uninsured driver guarantee, and more. But these features are available if you step up in tier. But without features like mis-fueling, higher personal belongings cover and a lifetime repair guarantee, they fall short on the dream score as well.
Surprisingly to us, they were not as competitive with their quote for our sample driver, but the excess was nice and low, so it's always worth checking the quotes for yourself. Also, note the £50 arrangement fee, which is non-refundable. This contributed to a weaker score in the financial category.
Quick Takeaway: Given the strong communication and support ratings, it's worth checking prices with 1st Central, which you can do with a comparison site like our partner QuoteZone. Or read our ind-depth review of 1st Central car insurance.
7. Hastings Direct
Hastings
Overall Score: 5.9
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
Ranking #7 in the NimbleFins Scoring System for car insurance, Hastings Direct offer three different policy types, so you can choose the car insurance that’s right for you. Their lowest tier is pretty stripped back, however, yielding a low 2.5 out of 10 score for our basic feature category. For example, their lowest tier doesn't include cover for hotel/transport after an accident, windscreen cover, personal accident cover, and more. This policy provided for pretty inexpensive rates for comprehensive cover for our sample driver, however, contributing to a strong 9.0 out of 10 score for the financial category.
Their higher tier Direct and Premier policies are more highly rated for features, contributing to a better dream category score, and include:
- Courtesy car
- Windscreen cover
- 24/7 claims helpline
- 90 days of EU cover
- Driving other cars
- Vandalism promise
- Uninsured driver promise
- Personal accident cover
- Personal belongings cover
But even these higher tiers don't provide a lifetime guarantee on repairs and their cover for transport/accommodation after an accident is on the low side (max £250). And their after-market audio cover is a bit low (max £300).
But they also offer a range of optional extras, such as enhanced personal accident cover, breakdown, motor legal expenses and key protection (costs for these vary but can be around £20 for legal and £35 for breakdown, for example).
Finally, we like that Hastings Direct pride themselves on simple and straightforward insurance. This shows in their policy documents, which we think are easier to understand than some other providers in the market.
Quick Takeaway: If you're after good quality, affordable car insurance and don't need all of the niche features/highest coverage levels, then Hastings Direct is definitely a company to consider. Read our review.
8. AXA
AXA
Overall Score: 5.73
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
AXA earned the #8 spot in the NimbleFins Scoring System v1.0 in June 2024, with consistent performance across the categories, with no real positive or negative stand out categories to report.
In the financial category, we were a bit surprised by the relatively higher quote and higher excess, compared to many of the other companies. For example, AXA was £300 more expensive than Admiral and while their policies differ, we would have expected their premiums to be closer in cost.
In the support category, AXA shows some weakness with a higher proportion of claims complaints as a proportion of accounts. And their cancellation fees are on the higher side, contributing to a lower breakup score.
But they sell a lot of policies in the UK and report a strong Trustscore, contributing to a good popularity score.
AXA is one of the largest car insurance companies in the UK. They sell policies under their own brand and for brands owned by them, like Swiftcover, and they also underwrite policies for a number of other brands such as mypolicy.co.uk. So if you have bought car insurance from a brand that doesn't underwrite their own policies, the odds are high that your cover ultimately lies with AXA.
A lot of features are optional/available for upgrade with AXA, helping their flexibility score—so be sure to notice what you're signing up for. But the company has some of the best personal belongings cover (up to £1,500 is available!).
Quick Takeaway: AXA offers customers the standard coverage and discounts that you’d expect from a large international insurance company, and their prices can be very competitive for some drivers. They can be found on most price comparison sites, including our partner QuoteZone. Read our review.
9. Ageas
Ageas
Overall Score: 5.72
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
Ageas ranked #9 overall, but it's certainly worth mentioning their very high performance in the support category (9.5 out of 10, tied with LV=). Why? The company receives a low 0 - 5% of complaints on claims, and a low proportion of claims complaints as a proportion of accounts as well. Plus, their provision for accommodation/transport after an accident (up to £400) is close to the highest available amongst the companies we studied (£500).
Their policy features are less exciting, with scores of 5.0 out 10 for basic and dream categories, because their cheapest cover doesn't include features like windscreen cover, key cover, personal belongings, etc. And you're not able to get niche features like mis-fueling or higher levels of cover for personal belongings, after-market audio equipment, personal accident or keys.
Quick takeaway: Ageas doesn't have any glaring shortcomings, so one to consider for sure if the price is right and you're happy with the features offered. Read our review.
10. Allianz
Allianz
Overall Score: 5.59
Tested With NimbleFins Scoring System
Allianz is a really big German multinational company with 88 million customers in more than 70 countries, who deliver a wide range of insurance and asset management products. In the UK, Allianz has recently rebranded (from Flow) to just 'Allianz'. They offer one tier of car insurance, but it has lots of great features (giving them a solid 7.5 out of 10 for the basics category) and some add-ons are available as well, such as legal cover and misfuelling cover. In fact, checking the text of their policy wording for the misfuelling cover gives a good indication of the thoroughness of their cover. Some companies that 'cover' misfuelling only cover damage, not draining, but (like LV=), Allianz says they will:
"... pay to drain and flush it and fix any engine damage."
They also include higher levels of key cover, windscreen cover, a courtesy car for covered repairs, a lifetime workmanship warranty for repairs, driving other cars, new car replacement, onward travel/hotel cover and more.
They ranked only 11th in terms of gross premiums written last year, but their popularity score is brought up by really strong customer ratings on Trustpilot (4.5 out of 5).
One potential issue is that Alliaz is online only, which brings down their communication score to a mere 1.0 out of 10—customers cannot call customer service, nor is there a webchat function. That said, we want to mention that we emailed their customer service with a question about their cover and they responded within an hour, which is nicely responsive, in our opinion.
Offsetting this low category score, they scored really well in the financial category, primarily because they have been offering really competitive premiums in our test cases.
Note, Allianz now owns LV=.
Quick takeaway: Allianz is a definite contender for those who don't mind an online-only company who are looking for a lower premium. Read our in-depth review of Allianz.
We are not recommending any one brand in particular and these brands are certainly not guaranteed to give you a cheap price and you may find cheaper or better, more suitable cover elsewhere. Please just use the information in this study to support you in learning about the market. Remember to shop around for car insurance, since some companies may be much more affordable than others for your profile. Choosing the best car insurance for your needs will depend on factors like price points and car insurance features you desire, such as breakdown, motor legal, windscreen, repair guarantees or courtesy car cover.
In addition to the insurance providers listed above, we also calculated figures for esure and Tesco Bank; their overall scores of 5.05 and 4.94, respectively, earned them #11 and #12 spots in the ranking.
NimbleFins Scoring System Explained
The NimbleFins Scoring System compares car insurance providers based on objective data. Our 8 scoring factors are equally weighted and our model is standardized, which helps make our reviews easier to understand. Our current scoring system is version 1.0.
Basics
Do they provide the bare basics of what you'd look for in a partner?
If you go for their cheapest policy, does it offer a good set of features?
Our 'basics' score reflects the core features included as standard on a provider's lowest tier of cover, without any add ons, and is based on 20 policy features including: courtesy car, windscreen cover, personal belongings, audio cover, EU cover, types of customer service access, repair guarantee, 24/7 claims line access and more. Some factors with varying levels of coverage are weighted accordingly, such as key cover, personal belongings, repair guarantee and audio cover.
Dream
Do they offer all of the traits you've ever dreamed of in your prince or princess charming?
If you want the highest coverage, can you get a fully loaded policy with many features?
Our 'dream package' score reflects the features included as standard on a provider's highest tier of cover, including optional add-ons, and is based on 20 policy features including: courtesy car, winscreen cover, personal belongings, audio cover, EU cover, types of customer service access, repair guarantee, 24/7 claims line access and more. Some factors with varying levels of coverage are weighted accordingly, such as key cover, personal belongings, repair guarantee and audio cover.
Flexibility
Are they a flexible and adaptable partner who can cater to your specific needs?
Can you customise your insurance policy to accommodate your needs? How costly is it to make a change?
Our 'flexibility' score reflects the ability to customise policy features and coverage to suit an individual's specific needs as well as the financial burden of making changes to a policy (i.e. admin fees). Customisability is weighted at 60% and admin fees are weighted at 40%.
Breakup
How painful and costly would it be to break up?
What are their cancellation fees, and how easy is it to cancel your policy - do you need to call or can you cancel online?
Our 'breakup' score assesses how difficult and costly it is to cancel your car insurance policy. Factors include cancellation fees and how many different ways a policyholder can cancel their policy (i.e. phone, account/app and/or webchat).
Communication
Do you they pick up the phone when you call? Is it hard to find a time you're both available to talk?
Do they have phone customer service, or is it online only? What are their customer service hours?
Our 'communication' score reflects how easy it is to reach customer service and is based on 6 factors including phone hours, webchat hours, easy of finding opening hours, ease of finding a phone number, and if you can reach a human on webchat without first suffering through a chatbot.
Support
Will they come through when things go wrong? Are they available 24/7 if you have a problem? What are the odds they'll come through for you?
Do they have a 24/7 claims line? What are their claims complaint stats?
Our 'support' score reflects the level of support in case of a road traffic accident, and is based on 5 metrics covering 24/7 claims lines, provision of cover for a hotel and/or transportation after an accident and claims complaints rates.
Popularity
Do your friends and family like them?
How do they rank in terms of popularity?
Our 'popularity' score reflects how UK motorists generally perceive a car insurance provider, and is based on two primary metrics, which are equally weighted: gross written premiums in the latest financial year and customer ratings from a popular customer review site.
Financial
Are they financially stable? Are they good at managing their finances? Will they be able to contribute?
How do premium and set-up costs compare? Is the company financial stable? How many claims complaints do they have?
Our 'financial' score assesses aspects of your financial relationship such as premium costs and the company's ability to cover claims (e.g. solvency ratios from Solvency and Financial Condition Reports). When gathering sample premiums to compare, we used a 50-year-old driver with a good driving history and a new 2024 Ford Puma.
Compare Car Insurance Quotes
The latest survey by our comparison partner, QuoteZone, determined that motorists can save up to £530^, simply by comparing car insurance quotes. This finding is supported by extensive NimbleFins market comparison tests, which consistently show that some companies quote prices multiples higher than other companies. Utilizing platforms that aggregate quotes from multiple providers allows you to view a comprehensive landscape of your options, as recommended by consumer financial experts.
Car insurance comparison with NimbleFins
- You can save up to £530*
- 4.8 out of 5 stars on Reviews.co.uk**
- Cheap quotes from 110+ providers
When is the best time to set up your cover? According to an analysis by NimbleFins car insurance experts, the best time to buy car insurance is 3 weeks before cover starts. It was shown that buying car insurance early can save you up to 50% or more. This NimbleFins research is supported by commentary from Martin Lewis, who said on ITV1's 4 April 2024 Tonight program (for which NimbleFins provided research):
"The perfect time to get car insurance is 23 days before your renewal. That is (the time) for going onto comparison sites to get different quotes. You may pay nearly double if you wait to the last minute to get your car insurance."
There's no time like the present, especially when it comes to car insurance.
Cheapest Car Insurance UK
In 2024, a comprehensive analysis conducted by NimbleFins identified Admiral, Direct Line's Churchill and Allianz as the providers of the UK's cheapest car insurance. This finding is supported by customer satisfaction indices and verified customer reviews, as well as a survey of important product features by NimbleFins car insurance experts, emphasizing their standing as top choices for economical car insurance.
It's important to see which companies have the best cheap car insurance deals for you, as they may vary. The easiest way to find your best cheap car insurance is to compare car insurance quotes.
| Cheapest car insurance companies in the UK | As of 2024 |
|---|---|
| Allianz | £380 |
| Direct Line Group (Churchill Essentials) | £419 |
| Admiral (Essential) | £465 |
| AXA (Swiftcover) | £515 |
| Aviva (QuoteMeHappy) | £682 |
| UK average price paid for car insurance | £635 |
Importantly, the cheapest car insurance can be 50% cheaper, and the cheapest deal for you will vary, depending on where you live, the car you drive, your driving history and other factors. Consequently, it is critical to compare deals to find a cheap car insurance company. Prices and the best deals will vary from person to person and even from week to week.
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies
Brands like GoSkippy and Hastings also prove popular for certain niche driver profiles.
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Compare car insurance quotes by age
Young drivers in particular are affected by difficult pricing and less choice of providers. In our tests, Admiral is the best at catering to drivers of all ages, from 20 to 80, and beyond. Other providers either wouldn't cover very young drivers (e.g. flow by Allianz and Aviva's Swiftcover) or very mature drivers (e.g. Churchill, Swiftcover and Quotemehappy). Rates are much higher for young drivers (e.g. 20 years old), then drop quickly as a driver ages through their 20s, then will rise again from age 70 or 80.
The cheapest car insurance for young drivers in our tests were Hastings youdrive for telematics plans and Admiral Essential for non-telematics (Admiral also offers a telematics policy called LittleBox, which cost our sample driver about the same as the Essential policy). Quotemehappy offered a telematics policy to our 20 year old, but not a regular policy. Interestingly, telematics is not always cheaper).
Compare car insurance for drivers with a speeding conviction
The big insurers typically raise premiums under 20% for a SP30 speeding conviction. Of the main insurers, we found that Allianz (previously 'Flow') was the cheapest for drivers with a speeding conviction, raising rates 16% for our sample driver. Drivers with speeding convictions are deemed to be more dangerous and a higher insurance risk, so rates typically rise after a conviction. But some insurers raise rates more than others.
Read more in our article on car insurance for convicted drivers.
Compare car insurance for drivers with a drink and drug driving conviction (DUI)
For those with a drink and drug driving conviction, our research showed that the majority of the big insurers will not even offer cover, even at a high premium. But Hastings offered the most competitive quotes via their youdrive telematics offering. And Admiral was the large insurance company likely to provide the best quotes for non-telematics cover post DUI conviction (the cheapest being Admiral Essential but higher tiers of cover were also available). Expect rates to go up 50% or more in most cases after DUI.
In general, fewer insurers are willing to insure motorists after these types of under-the-influence convictions. Those with a DUI will have a more limited selection of options and other than Admiral, may need to look at niche providers. For example, our sample driver could not get quotes from Allianz, Direct Line (including their Churchill and Privilege brands), Aviva (including QuoteMeHappy) or AXA (including Swiftcover). Other large companies may underwrite cover to convicted motorists who use a specialist broker who can work on their behalf.
Compare car insurance for drivers after an at-fault accident
At-fault accidents can increase car insurance rates by 20% or more, but our research showed that Admiral tends to raise rates the least after a claim (on a percentage basis), but Allianz (previously 'Flow') had the cheapest for our sample driver (due to a lower rate pre-accident).
How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes
Comparing car insurance quotes is especially important now, since car insurance rates have increased 34% in the past year alone. The ABI has been tracking average prices paid since 2012 and from January to March 2024, motorists paid the highest rates since tracking began (an average of £635). Explaining this, Jonathan Fong, the ABI’s Manager of General Insurance Policy, said:
"Significant and sustained cost pressures faced by insurers, such as a 31% rise in repair costs over the last year, have impacted on the cost of cover... shop around to get the policy that best meets your needs at the most competitive price."
For people who are new to buying car insurance or who haven't switched companies in a long time, below we explain how the buying process works. Specifically, what information you'll need to hand to get the best prices (e.g. providing your licence number can result in cheaper prices and/or more companies willing to provide a quote), the decisions you'll need to make when choosing the best car insurance products for your needs, and finally tips on how to go about getting quotes.
1. Gather your personal information
Online car insurance comparison tools can provide quotes from a wide range of companies, but the prices are only as good as the information you provide. Correct and true information is critical to get the most accurate quote and ensure that your policy is valid. Make sure you have the following information to hand before getting quotes online.
To get accurate car insurance quotes have the following information ready:
About you:
- full name
- date of birth
- years with current licence (e.g. years with a full UK drivers licence)
- address
- current licence number, type, years held and place of issue (e.g. UK, EU, Europe)
- history of accidents and claims (including dates of incidents)
- history of convictions in last 5 years (including type and date of offence; points, fines and driving bans given)
- claims history (and years of 'no claims discounts')
- equivalent information of any other drivers on the policy
About your car:
- Model (including make, trim, engine size, year of manufacture)
- Current value
2. Decide on the right level of cover (Comprehensive, TPFT or TPO)
There are three tiers of car insurance in the UK, which differ on whose property is covered (e.g. your vehicle and/or other vehicles) and the types of incidents that are covered (e.g. road traffic accidents, fire, theft):
The 3 tiers of car insurance in the UK
- Third Party Only. The lowest tier of car insurance, and the minimum coverage required by law. Third party only (TPO) only covers damage to other people's property or injuries to other people. TPO does not cover damage to your own car.
- Third Party, Fire and Theft. Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) car insurance provides the mandatory third party coverage required by law and also covers damage to your car resulting from fire, theft or attempted theft.
- Comprehensive. The best tier of car insurance, comprehensive covers third party damage or injury (TPO); damage or loss of your car due to fire or theft; and damage to your car from an accident where you're at fault (only comprehensive policies cover this last bit).
3. Choose extra coverages
One factor that affects car insurance quotes are the extra features included in the price. Some car insurance quotes will include extra features within the price; other times there will be an extra premium added to secure these features, where they are available. When comparing car insurance quotes you should make sure you select the same extra coverages for a fair comparison.
Also ensure that quotes have comparable excess levels (the excess is the amount you pay towards a claim; all else equal, a plan with a higher excess should be cheaper).
Types of optional car insurance coverages
- Courtesy car: The 3 options for courtesy cars are 1) none offered, 2) a courtesy car while yours is being repaired after a covered accident and 3) a courtesy car if yours is written off due to severe damage or stolen. Motorists often have to buy an 'enhanced courtesy car' add on to get cover in the case of theft or a write off.
- Windscreen cover. Can cover crack repair and replacement.
- No claims protection. A buffer of protection for your no claims discount if you need to claim. Protection varies.
- Key cover. Money to pay for a replacement key and/or key fob if yours is lost or stolen, but protection varies.
- Breakdown. Typically many different levels of protection for roadside assistance in case of a breakdown, from towing to onward travel.
- Legal cover. Legal assistance if you're sued after an accident.
- Personal accident. Money to cover medical costs if you're injured in a crash as well as compensation for a temporary or permanent disability.
4. Collect and compare car insurance quotes
Once you have your information to hand and you've decided on the coverage tier and extra features, it's time to compare car insurance. If you want to compare cheap car insurance, you can use our comparison tool below or try other comparison sites like confused.com or GoCompare.
You can also get prices individually from car insurance companies, by visiting their websites and filling in their online quote forms. This takes longer, however, as you need to enter your information on each site. But some people prefer to buy directly from an insurance company rather than go through a third party. You can also do this after using a comparison site and picking the brand you like best (although then the comparison site does lose out on a potential commission for introducing you).
If you have a specific car insurance company in mind (e.g., one of the top-rated brands in our list above), you can see which car insurance comparison quote systems include them in our article on Best Car Insurance Comparison Sites.
Those with an unusual situation such as a modified car or a particularly poor driving history might have fewer options available to them. If you’re finding it difficult to get suitable car insurance, try contacting the British Insurance Brokers' Association. Their "Find a Broker" service can be reached at 0370 950 1790 or biba.org.uk.
What's the Best Car Insurance Comparison Site?
According to our analysis of customer review sites Trustpilot and Reviews.co.uk, the best car insurance comparison sites are Compare the Market and QuoteZone. QuoteZone boasts scores of 4.7 out of 5 stars from Trustpilot and 4.8 out of 5 stars from Reviews.co.uk, while Compare the Market earned 4.8 stars from Trustpilot and 4.2 from Reviews.io. Applying a weighted averaging to these scores using the relative number of reviews left for each, both companies scored 4.8, which is higher overall than GoCompare, MoneySupermarket and Confused. This is part of the reason we chose to partner with QuoteZone for car insurance comparison!
The table below ranks the top car insurance comparison sites according to their customer ratings from Trustpilot and Reviews.co.uk—note that QuoteZone comes out on top. Get quotes via the QuoteZone comparison panel here.
| Best Car Insurance Comparison Sites | Trustpilot Score | Reviews.io Rating | Weighted Average (based on the number of reviews) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Compare the Market | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.80 |
| 2 | QuoteZone | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.76 |
| 3 | Moneysupermarket | 4.7 | 3.5 | 4.69 |
| 4 | Go Compare | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.67 |
| 5 | Confused | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.49 |
To see which car insurance companies are in each of the panels, read more in our article What's the best car insurance comparison site?
Who Gets the Cheapest Car Insurance?
Drivers around 55 years old typically get the cheapest car insurance, according to NimbleFins analysis. While the average cost of UK car insurance is around £500 per year, prices vary widely depending on many factors, including the insurance company, type of cover (TPO, TPFT or Comprehensive), details of your car (age, make, model, trim level, value, etc.), driving record—and your age.
For example, in the table and chart below see how cheap car insurance quotes change according to the age of the driver of a used Ford Fiesta.
| Average Cost of Cheap Comprehensive Car Insurance, by Driver Age | |
|---|---|
| 20 Years | £851 |
| 25 Years | £719 |
| 35 Years | £639 |
| 45 Years | £575 |
| 55 Years | £468 |
| 65 Years | £491 |
| 75 Years | £752 |
New Poll
When choosing between potentially dozens of car insurance offers, we often wonder what other people are paying for cover. Please take a moment to tell our other readers what you pay for car insurance in the poll below. Thank you!
How to Save Money on Car Insurance
As we discuss in more detail in our article, 10 Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance, there are loads of ways to bring your rate down. The easiest tip is to get many cheap car insurance quotes before you buy, for instance through a comparison site like our car insurance partner QuoteZone.
- Don't get extra cover you don't need: think carefully before you add extra add on features to decide if you really need them
- Don't buy last minute: Buying with only a day or two to go until your car insurance needs to start can you you an extra 30%, or even more! For the best rates, it usually helps to buy your policy around 2-3 weeks out.
- Compare prices to get multiple quotes every year: head to a comparison site to make this easier
- Pay your premium upfront instead of monthly: paying monthly nearly always means you'll pay extra interest charges
- Type of Cover: If your car is very old and not worth much you might decide that a lower level of cover is sufficient for your needs, but generally speaking it's best to get comprehensive cover (and it usually doesn't cost that much more money anyway)
- Pick a car with a low insurance group rating: some cars cost 2X, 3X or more to insure versus other cars, so check a car's insurance group before buying (insurance groups are administered by Thatcham)
- Install a telematics black box tracker: especially for young drivers
- Increase the voluntary excess: as long as you're comfortable paying this excess if you claim
- Don't automatically renew: generally speaking, insurance companies don't reward loyalty so be sure to check prices for a brand new policy from your current insurer—if it's less, negotiate
- Avoid business driving: Business use car insurance nearly always costs more than social, domestic, pleasure, and commuting driving
- Multi car insurance: If there's more than one vehicle in your household, you could save 15% or more with a multi-car policy. With some insurance providers you can even put different types of vehicle on one policy (e.g., a family fleet policy can cover cars, motorbikes, vans and more).
- Don't get in an accident: building up your no claims bonus can save you 50% or more
Another way to save is to carefully choose your occupation, because car insurance companies factor in your job when calculating your risk profile and some professions are deemed riskier than others. You must be accurate and honest, but it's worth looking through this list of occupations to see which ones describe your job. Sometimes one job can be described in different ways, falling into more than one occupation category. Just remember to be honest, because if you're not then your insurer could declare your policy void in event of a claim leaving you uninsured—and driving without insurance is illegal.
The following list includes the occupations available at our car insurance partner QuoteZone, but other comparison sites or insurance providers might have slightly different lists of occupations to choose from.
Car insurance occupation list
- Accountant
- Accounts Manager
- Administration Manager
- Aircraft Engineer
- Bank Clerk
- Bricklayer
- Bus Driver
- Carpenter
- Chef
- Cleaner
- Clerk
- Computer Consultant
- Computer Operator
- Consultant
- Delivery Driver
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Technician
- Firefighter
- Furniture Remover
- HGV Driver
- IT Consultant
- Laboratory Technician
- Local Government Officer
- Machinist
- Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Nurse
- Office Manager
- Personal Assistant
- Postman
- Production Hand
- Receptionist
- Sales Administrator
- Sales Manager
- Secretary
- Shop Assistant
- Social Worker
- Solicitor
- Supervisor
- Teacher
- Van Driver
- Accounts Assistant
- Administration Assistant
- Administration Staff
- Applications Programmer
- Bank Manager
- Builder
- Buyer
- Cashier
- Civil Engineer
- Clerical Assistant
- Company Director
- Computer Engineer
- Computer Programmer
- Courier
- Design Engineer
- Electrician
- Engineer
- Fitter
- Graphic Designer
- Hospital Doctor
- IT Manager
- Labourer
- Lorry Driver
- Maintenance Engineer
- Managing Director
- Mechanical Engineer
- Nursery Nurse
- Operations Manager
- Plumber
- Printer
- Project Manager
- Recruitment Consultant
- Sales Assistant
- Salesman
- Security Guard
- Shop Keeper
- Software Engineer
- Staff Nurse
- Systems Analyst
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Warehouseman
- Accounts Clerk
- Administration Clerk
- Administrator
- Assistant Manager
- Bank Staff
- Builders Labourer
- Care Assistant
- Chartered Accountant
- Civil Servant
- Clerical Officer
- Computer Analyst
- Computer Manager
- Computer Technician
- Customer Advisor
- Doctor
- Electronic Engineer
- Factory Worker
- Fork Lift Truck Driver
- Hairdresser
- Insurance Consultant
- Joiner
- Lecturer
- Machine Operator
- Management Consultant
- Manufacturing Technician
- Motor Mechanic
- Office Administrator
- Painter And Decorator
- Police Officer
- Prison Officer
- Proprietor
- Research Scientist
- Sales Executive
- Secretary And PA
- Security Officer
- Shop Manager
- Soldier
- Storeman
- Taxi Driver
- Telesales Person
- Welder
In addition to your occupation, you'll be asked for the industry you work in. Here's the list of car insurance occupations:
Car insurance industry list
- Accountancy
- Airline
- Banking
- Business Consultancy
- Carpentry
- Chemical Industry
- Civil Engineering
- Communications
- Computers
- Construction Industry
- Delivery Service
- Distribution
- Education - Private
- Electricity Industry
- Employment Agency
- Estate Agency
- Finance Company
- Food Production
- Gardening
- Graphic Design
- Haulage Contractors
- Health Care - Private
- Hotel - Licensed
- Insurance
- Investment
- Lawyers
- Local Government Authority
- Manufacturing
- Motor Manufacture
- Nursing Home
- Pharmaceutical Supplier
- Post Office
- Prison Service
- Publishing
- Residential Home
- Roofing Services
- Security Services
- Steel Industry
- Technical College
- Transport - Road
- Water Industry
- Advertising
- Architecture
- Builder
- Business Training
- Catering - Unlicensed
- Chemical Manufacturer
- Civil Service
- Computer Sales
- Computers - Hardware
- Consulting Engineering
- Dentistry
- Double Glazing
- Education - State
- Electronics
- Engineering
- Farming
- Financial Services
- Furniture Remover
- Gas Industry
- Hairdressing
- Health Authority
- HM Forces
- Housing Association
- Insurance Broker
- Joinery
- Leisure Centre
- Maintenance Services
- Marketing
- Motor Trade
- Oil Company
- Plastics Manufacture
- Printer
- Public House
- Railway
- Retailing
- School
- Social Services
- Supermarket
- Telecommunications
- Travel And Tourism
- Welding
- Aerospace Industry
- Bakery
- Building Trade
- Car Sales
- Charity
- Child Minding
- Cleaning Services
- Computer Services
- Computers - Software
- Courier Services
- Design Consultancy
- Education
- Electrical Contractors
- Emergency Services
- Engineering Consultants
- Fast Food
- Food Manufacturer
- Garage
- Government - UK
- Hardware Retailer
- Health Care - NHS
- Hospital
- Information Technology
- Insurance Company
- Law and Order
- Local Government
- Management Consultancy
- Motor Factor/Parts
- Nursery
- Painter And Decorator
- Plumbing
- Printing
- Public Transport
- Recruitment Agency
- Road Haulage
- Scientific Research
- Solicitors
- Taxi Service
- Textile Manufacturer
- University
- Wholesaler
Windscreen Insurance
Many of our readers wonder if they should get a policy that includes (or pay extra for) windscreen cover. To help them make this decision, we've looked into the cost of windscreen repair and replacement. Because once you have those costs to hand, it can help you decide if you should get insurance for it—and how much it might be worth to you.
We contacted 4 major windscreen repair companies to ask about the cost to repair or replace a windscreen on the very popular Nissan Qashqai (still one of the most popular cars in 2024). Here are the prices we found:
| Windscreen repair/replacement costs for Nissan Qashqai | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| Repair | £50 | £300 |
| Replacement | £990 | £2,500 |
As you can see, the cost to repair or replace a windscreen is not cheap. In fact, a replacement is likely to set you back £1,000 or so, even if you shop around for a low price. Keep that in mind when deciding on car insurance options.
Prices can vary from one company to the next, depending on how an insurer views your age, car make and model, driving history, post code, and other factors. This means a car insurance company that is cheap for your friend or neighbour might not be cheap for you. See our methodology section to learn about the driver and car for our test prices above. Your quotes will certainly vary from the sample quotes listed in this article based on your own details—and they may even vary from one comparison service to another. You can read more in our article about car insurance costs.
FAQs
While there is no cheapest car insurance company for everyone, these companies tend to offer lower prices than their competitors: AXA, Admiral (including Diamond and Elephant), Aviva (Quotemehappy), the Direct Line Group (Privilege and Churchill). To see how these companies compare in terms of customer service, customer ratings and features, see our comparison here.
Among the more affordable car insurance brands in the market, LV= ranked as the best rated in our study of the best cheap car insurance brands, due to Excellent customer ratings (TrustPilot score of 4.4), a strong set of features and a solid Fairer Finance score of 65.4%.
There is no one cheapest car insurance comparison site for all people. In order to find the cheapest car insurance for you, you must compare prices at a few sites before you buy. Get started with quotes from our car insurance comparison site partner QuoteZone to see if they have the cheapest deal for you.
Your insurance provider or broker should deliver the certificate of motor insurance to you within 4 days. They will either email it to you or make it available via a customer portal on their website. (They won't post it to you unless you ask, and there might be a charge for receiving it this way.)
Car insurance companies earn an average profit margin of 16%, which means 84% of the money they earn from revenue sources like premiums, add ons and premium finance is used in running the business and paying out on insurance claims. The other 16% is profit.
If you have convictions, it is crucial to compare prices from many insurance providers, because many of them will charge an exorbitant price—an insurer's pricing will depend on their appetite for that type of risk and the number of points and seriousness of the offences. Comparison sites and popular car insurance companies are a good place to start if you have a minor offence and just a handful of points. However, if you have more points or a more serious offence (e.g. drink driving) then you can engage the services of a specialist broker.
How Much Do Car Insurance Companies Earn?
In the UK, car insurance companies earn an average profit margin of 16% a year. This means that for every £100 of revenues, the company makes £16 of profit and has costs of £84. These figures reflect an average across all policies—money-making policies (e.g., with no claims or small claims) and money-losing policies (e.g., policies with large claims). Interestingly, the core underwriting businesses tend to be money losers. Insurers turn a profit thanks to selling add-ons like breakdown cover, charging fees and selling premium finance (lending policyholders money to enable monthly payments).
Further Information
For comparisons of the cheapest car insurance providers in this section, we used a 45-year-old driver of a 2017 Ford Fiesta Zetec 999cc worth £7,000. The car is driven 6,800 miles each year and is parked on a private driveway. The driver has 10 years of no claims. Then we varied the quotes by age and driving history. We received quotes if the driver had had at fault accident one year ago, if they were caught speeding and got 3 points and a £100 fine one year ago, and for a drink driving 36 mg conviction, with no fine and 3 points.
We took prices from two major comparison sites for plans with comprehensive car insurance, including windscreen and courtesy car cover where possible. Note that Admiral and Hastings both have an 'Essential' policy that is typically cheaper but doesn't include windscreen cover as standard or an add-on feature. Also, please note that to glean more information about the market in the specific sections on speeding, DUI, accident and by age, where an underwriter had a lot of policies in the marketplace, we reflected their cheapest offering only. For example, there were tests where U K Insurance Limited (aka Direct Line) offered policies by Churchill Essentials, Churchill, Churchill Plus, DriveSure, DriveXpert from Privilege, Privilege and Privilege Plus. In that case, we only reflected one policy from that underwriter.
Companies included:
- LV
- Aviva
- Allianz
- esure
- Privilege (Direct Line Group)
- Direct Line
- AXA
- Churchill (Direct line Group)
- Elephant (Admiral Group)
- Diamond (Admiral Group)
- Admiral
- 1st Central (a broker)
- Budget
- Tesco Bank
- Hastings
- QuoteMeHappy (part of Aviva)
- Swiftcover.com
- General Accident
- GoSkippy
- Marshmallow
- BeWiser
- Apricot
- Marshmallow
Please remember that any prices shown in this article are for educational use only are you are likely to receive different quotes. Car insurance rates are highly variable between one person and the next; and even one person might get different quotes from a company from one day to the next. Always compare prices before buying to see how the market is rating your risks at the time of purchase. And the 'best' policy for you will depend on your specific needs, which will vary from one person to another.
Note regarding savings figures: ^*For information on the latest saving figures, pay-less-than figures, and pay-from figures used for promotional purposes, please click here.
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