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We surveyed over 2,793 car insurance customers to discover the best car insurance companies and policies in the UK
DS
Dean SobersSenior researcher & writer
In this article
- How to choose the best car insurance provider
- Best UK car insurance companies: the Which? Recommended Providers
- Best UK car insurance companies and policies compared
- Why is car insurance so expensive?
- Are the best car insurance providers always the most expensive?
- Why you need to compare with care
- Car insurance FAQs
- How we analyse car insurance
How to choose the best car insurance provider
With car insurance premiums higher than last year, it's never been more important to get the best car insurance deal available.
To identify the top providers, we surveyed more than 2,700 customers who have recently made insurance claims to gauge how they've been treated by their providers. Our experts also analysed individual policies.
We found huge differences between the best and worst cover.
Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an insurer before committing to any financial products.
Compare car insurance deals
Check Which? insurance ratings and compare deals using the service provided by Confused.com
Best UK car insurance companies: the Which? Recommended Providers
We compared 28 car insurance providers – examining the cover in their policies and analysing feedback from their customers. See our results in the tables below.
Just two offered sufficient levels of cover and the high standards of service needed to earn our Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) award.
NFU Mutual car insurance
- 76% policy score on its standard car insurance policy, 4th out of 61 policies we rated
- 81% customer score, 1st of 27 insurers we had customer scores for
- 84% claims score,1st out of 25 insurers we had claims scores for
We like: NFU Mutual doesn't charge admin fees or interest if you want to pay monthly, and motor legal protection is included as standard. NFU Mutual has been a Which? Recommended Providersince we launched our scheme more than a decade ago.
We don't like:You have to call to get a quote, and it favours customers in rural areas so NFU Mutual may not offer cover if you live in a major city.
- Read our expert review of NFU Mutual car insurance
LV car insurance
- 78% policy score on its standard car insurance policy, 3rd out of the 61 policies we rated
- 70% customer score, 2nd out of the 25 insurers we had customer scores for
- 74% customer score, 2nd out of 25 insurers we had claims scores for
We like: LV is one of a minority guaranteeing repairs for a vehicle's life, and its policy is one of about a third offering a temporary replacement car if yours is stolen. It also offers protection for no-claims discounts against an unlimited number of claims.
We don't like:A replacement car after an accident doesn't come as standard – it must be bought for an additional premium. However, you might not need a replacement car.
- Read our expert review of LV car insurance
Get a quote for LV car insurance using the service provided by Confused.com.
Best UK car insurance companies and policies compared
The first list compares insurers we rated for both policy and customer experience. It's ordered by customer score, and we've labelled the 2 Which? Recommended Providers.
The second list compares policies – we've labelled the policies that are Best Buys and the ones from Which? Recommended Providers.
Car insurers with policy and customer scores
Get a quote | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER NFU Mutual | 81% | 76% | 84% | 17 / 80 years old | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | - | ★★★★☆ | Check you're getting a great deal and search for a new car insurance policy using the service provided by Confused.com |
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER LV | 70% | 78% | 74% | 17 / 80 years old | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
AXA | 70% | 57% | 69% | 21 / 85 years old | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
Aviva | 68% | 74% | 66% | 17 / 84 years old | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
AA | 66% | 66% | 62% | 17 / 99 years old | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | |
Churchill | 66% | 64% | 61% | 16 / 80 years old | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | |
Co-Op Insurance | 65% | 72% | 66% | 17/ 99 years old | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
Table note: last updated in February 2024. Next update in January 2025. Customer survey: Based on an online survey of 2,793 adults (Customer Score) and 2,807 (Claims Score) - members of the Which? Connect panel and members of the public - who had made a claim in the past two years. Survey conducted in November 2023. Sample sizes given in brand 'info'. 'Customer score' reflects the general satisfaction of customers with their insurer and their likelihood of recommending it. The 'Claims Score' reflects how satisfied they were with how their most recent claim was handled and their likelihood of recommending the insurer for claims. A dash ('-') means not enough responses to include a star rating.
For information on Which? Best Buys and policy score see our full methodology below.
Check you're getting a great deal and search for a new car insurance policy using the service provided by Confused.com. Get a quote now
Why is car insurance so expensive?
The average private motor insurance premium has hit a record high at £622 (April - June), according to the latest figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
That's slightly down (-2%) on the average premium from January to March.
However, it's 21% higher compared to the same period in 2023.
The ABI attributes this rise to inflationary pressures, higher vehicle repair costs and theft and replacement vehicle prices all rising. ABI data shows insurers paid out £2.9bn in motor insurance claims in the second three months of 2024, up 18% on the £2.5bn paid during the same quarter last year.
Are the best car insurance providers always the most expensive?
Our research reveals substantial differences between companies and policies in their standards of service and levels of cover. However, this doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to pay through the nose for worthwhile cover – or that a steep price means you're getting the best.
Insurers set you an individual price to reflect how they see your risk. If one insurer views you as risky or just doesn't want to compete for your custom, then even its lowest offers are likely to be pricier than policies from other providers, which could also provide much better cover.
Find out more about how to get cheap car insurance.
Why you need to compare with care
Dean Sobers, Which? car insurance expert says:
'Steep rises in premiums have forced many of us to reconsider the level of car insurance we have – or if our current provider is giving us real value for what we're paying. Meanwhile, insurers have been similarly scrutinising their own lineups of products, in some cases making deep cuts to their more basic policies to keep them as affordable as possible.
'We think good-quality cover (the policies and insurers you'll see scoring highly in our tables, above) are still worth paying a bit more for – but at the end of the day, what's crucial is finding cover that matches your specific needs. When reading our reviews, have in mind a list of cover elements that you want or expect to be in your policy, then check these against the policy wording before you buy.
'And don't ignore our customer and claims scores, which are based on feedback from policyholders who have actually put their insurers to the test in a recent claim. Ultimately, the policy wording is a list of promises and some insurers have a better track record of delivering on them than others.'
Car insurance FAQs
The main three types of standard are third party, third party fire and theft, and comprehensive.
Third party is the most basic level and is the legal minimum. It covers damage you cause to other drivers on the road, but not damage to your own vehicle.
Third party, fire and theft is the next band up. It also pays out if your car is stolen, vandalised or severely damaged.
Comprehensive car insurance offers the widest coverage for you and your car. It will cover you, your car, the other driver and their car in an accident.
Within these categories there are specialist types of policy including classic car, multi-car and learner driver car insurance.
From haggling with your provider to using comparison sites, there are ways to find cheap car insurance. Shop around and do your research to understand what a competitive price looks like before making a decision.
Insurance companies are no longer allowed to offer better deals to new customers, so it is in your best interest to find out what your current provider is willing to offer as well as checking out the best deals on price comparison sites.
Direct Line car insurance is only available directly and NFU Mutual are not online at all, you need to call them to discuss their policies.
- Find out more:7 surprising details that could lower your car insurance premiums
From April to June 2024, the average annual premium paid by drivers was £622, according to the Association of British Insurers - equating to £52 a month.
Your excess, car model type and your age can increase your premiums.
Bear in mind that spreading payments monthly, rather than paying for a year in one go, can cost you more. We've seen cases of insurers charging over 30% interest - similar to a bank overdraft.
One solution is to pay annually using an interest-free purchase credit card, which you then pay off over 12 months.
The simplest way to find out if your car is insured is to use the Motor Insurance Bureau, which is a national register of all cars insured in the UK.
Enter your vehicle's registration number, confirm ownership, and receive a quick response indicating your insurance status. Keep in mind that updates could take some time if you have recently purchased insurance coverage.
Beware of potential scam callers claiming to be from the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) and avoid sharing personal information over the phone.
Yes, accumulating three points on your driving licence can significantly increase your car insurance premiums.
If you're convicted of driving using a mobile phone (CU80) and get one to three penalty points on your licence, your average insurance premium could go up by 55%. If you have multiple convictions, the increase could be even higher, possibly 71% or more, according to data from Admiral in October 2023.
Insurance companies typically see penalty points as signs of risky driving behaviour, which increases the likelihood of future claims, so they adjust premiums accordingly to reflect this increased risk.
If your insurance quotes are high due to penalty points, you could consider comparing insurance quotes, exploring policy options like black box cover, or negotiating with insurers to potentially help bring the quotes down.
- Find out more: Millions have points on their driving licence — what it means for car insurance
Yes. It's standard for your agreement to auto-renew after 12 months - however, we would suggest that you don't let your car insurance policy auto-renew, as you could be losing up to £388.64 by not shopping around.
When it comes to auto-renewal, your provider will let you know between 21 and 30 days prior that your policy is up for renewal, and if you take no action it will auto-renew with the same details including excess, no-claims bonus, add-ons, fees and charges.
Some policies have a 10-month option, so check your agreement to see how many months until your auto-renew kicks in.
Don't just renew - your existing insurer may not be the cheapest option, especially if you haven't switched for a while.
Start with price comparison sites but bear in mind not all insurers are on them - Direct Line and NFU Mutual are prominent exceptions. Also make sure the price comparison site is listing your details (such as profession) correctly.
If you've got a complicated claims history you could use a broker to find cover, through the British Insurance Brokers Association. Watch out for fraudulent 'ghost brokers', particularly on social media; these claim to offer cut price cover but leave you with little or no insurance.
- Black box: consider black box insurance, which adjusts premiums based on driving habits. Opt for a car with a small engine, avoid modifications, and drive less to reduce risk. Adding an experienced driver might help, but don't 'front' to avoid legal trouble. Compare quotes and consider raising the excess. While black box insurance offers fair pricing, make sure you understand the rules and penalties for bad driving -how black box car insurance works.
- Learner driver insurance: you could consider learner driver insurance if you're practicing in your own or someone else's car to help cut costs. Choose between a dedicated learner driver policy or being added as a named driver. Compare quotes, opt for insurers with restrictions, increase voluntary excess, and consider comprehensive coverage as it might be cheaper. Temporary learner driver insurance is available for shorter practice periods. Additionally, shop around, as rates vary widely among insurers - see our guide on learner driver insurance.
Younger drivers could also benefit from multi-car insurance.
Your 50s and 60s should be among your cheapest years for car insurance, as long as you choose the right policy.
However, as you age, expenses may start to rise, and some insurers could refuse to provide coverage altogether.
Whilst specialist over-50s policies exist for older drivers, they may still find that standard insurers are cheaper. Make the most of your no-claims discount, which can be eroded by rising premiums, and if switching, check your new insurer will recognise it.
- Find out more: Best car insurance for the over-50s
Increasing your car insurance excess can reduce your premium - but is effectively a reduction in your cover. Check the excess you've chosen is an amount you'd be able to afford in a claim.
It's also worth checking which admin fees your policy comes with. These can apply if you change any details on your policy or cancel it.
Add-ons, such as personal accident cover, European cover and key cover, are highly profitable for insurers - but may be of less value to you. Cancellation fees may also be added if you end your policy early.
- Find out more: See our guide on insurance add-ons and fees.
Yes. Your policy can be transferred to your new car even if you are midway through your 12-month policy. Once the transfer is complete, your new car will be covered in the same way as your previous model.
Some providers will charge an admin fee to change your details. These changes should include your car make, model and mileage. Your new car could have an impact on your insurance premiums.
Your provider will need to know the date to switch over the policies. The best time to contact it is once you know when you are collecting your new car from the dealership or seller. This way, you can collect your car and drive it home that day with your new insurance applied.
How we analyse car insurance
Our editorial independence means we are able to work on behalf of consumers, not insurers. That means our reviews are fair and there's no hidden agenda.
Customer score
This is based on a survey of 2,793 policyholders who have recently made a car insurance claim. The score reflects how satisfied customers say they are with their provider and how likely they would be to recommend it.
Insurers must receive a minimum of 30 customer responses to be included.
Why only talk to customers who've claimed?
You'll only know how good an insurer's customer service is when you make a claim.
That's when good insurers will show their ability to deal with problems, quickly process your claim and get you back on the road as soon as possible.
As it can be difficult to find the requisite number of customers who've claimed for some insurers, in some cases we're only able to provide our expert policy scores.
Policy score
This is our assessment of the quality of standard cover comparing 78 elements of a policy. We weight certain features of cover or costs (fees and excesses) based on the impact we think they generally make, from courtesy cars to breakdown cover.
Among the highest-weighted elements are the insurer's guarantee on repairs, cover for glass damage, conditions of its no-claims discount, whether it will provide a replacement vehicle, fire, theft and accidental damage excesses, and interest rates charged for paying premiums in instalments.
We carry this analysis out every year. The next update will be in January 2025.
Check you're getting a great deal and search for a new car insurance policy using the service provided by Confused.com. Get a quote now
How we pick Which? Recommended Providers
We rank providers based on our customer surveys and policy analysis. The top scorers can be Which? Recommended Providers (WRPs) if they:
- Are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Are available to the public
- Have received responses from 30 or more customers in our survey
- Achieve high scores in our customer satisfaction survey
- Achieve an average or above policy score.
We won't award a provider our WRP endorsement if it has a poorer-than-average claims score.
Find out more about Which? Recommended Provider status.
How we pick Which? Best Buys
We review a lot of policies – and our 'Best Buy' badge recognises the individual products that stood out as being the most comprehensive in our analysis. It doesn't reflect customer service. However, we won't give a provider a Best Buy badge where there's evidence – either from our surveys or from Financial Conduct Authority data – of poor service or a poorer-than-average record of paying claims.
Policies named as Best Buys must have a minimum policy score of 65%
Additionally, we look at how consistently good the cover is in policies. To make the cut, a policy needs to have scored at least three out of five points in two thirds of the areas we've rated (see 'Policy Scores' for more).
Lastly, all Best Buy policies must provide – either as standard or as an option – the following levels of cover as a minimum:
'Comprehensive' cover (meaning it covers third-party claims, fire, theft and accidental damage to your car), a temporary courtesy car if yours is under repair or if it has been stolen or written off, a repairs guarantee period of at least three years, cover for damage to your windows or windscreen, legal expenses cover, liability cover of £20m or more and personal accident cover.
More questions on car insurance? Take a look at our guides:
- Best car insurance for the over-50s
- Best hire car excess insurance
- Car insurance no-claims bonus explained
- Car insurance: add-ons, fees and charges explained
- Modified car insurance explained
- Electric car insurance explained
- How black box car insurance works
- Learner driver car insurance explained
- Temporary car insurance explained
- Multi-car insurance guide
- Gap insurance explained
- How to insure a classic car
Compare car insurance
Find the right policy for your vehicle using the service provided by Confused.com
Get a quote nowCar insurance reviews
- How to find cheap car insurance
- Admiral car insurance review
- Aviva car insurance review
- Axa car insurance review
- Churchill car insurance review
- Co-op car insurance review
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