The UK’s best car insurance companies in 2024

The best car insurance gives you the right cover at the right price and is there in your hour of need. As well as surveying hundreds of customers, we’ve given comprehensive policies a policy score for the level of cover they provide. And we’ve picked out policies that excel in specific categories like multi-car or for young drivers. Once you have your shortlist, you can save hundreds if you compare quotes to make sure you’re getting the best value.

Best for

Cheaper rates

Best for

Multi-car

Best for

Temporary insurance

Best for

Convicted drivers

Summary: Best car insurance companies in the UK 2024, by category

• LV=: Best for cheaper rates
• Admiral: Best for customer service
• Admiral: Best for multi-car
• Saga: Best for over-50s
• Tempcover: Best for temporary insurance
• Hastings Direct: Best for young drivers
• Swinton: Best for convicted drivers
• Churchill: Best for black box cover

Best car insurance for cheaper rates

The cheapest policy for one driver might not be cheapest for another, because insurers price risk in different ways (risk is calculated using your driving history and personal details). But some providers tend to offer good rates.

How to get the cheapest car insurance

LV= Comprehensive

4

★★★★★

Finder score

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We chose LV= car insurance as our top pick because, after running quotes for a range of different age groups, we found that LV= tended to offer competitive insurance quotes across the board. Other features that could make LV= a good option if you're looking for cheaper-rate car insurance include discounts for insuring multiple vehicles (up to 20% off per extra vehicle), an uninsured driver promise so you won't lose your valuable no-claims discount or have to pay an excess, and a good choice of cover levels to suit different needs and budgets. LV= offers a range of car insurance policies for standard, classic and electric cars.
Need to know: There's an admin fee for changing the vehicle or a named driver on your policy.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • 99% of claims paid
  • Multi-vehicle insurance
  • Claims line is open 24/7

  Cons

  • A change in vehicle or named drivers may result in an administration fee.

• More details

  Policy term	12 months
  EU Cover
  Courtesy car
  Windscreen repair
  Multi-car discount
  Child seat cover
  Accident cover
  Key replacement
  Breakdown cover
  New car replacement
  Onward travel
  Liabilities to third parties
  Personal belongings	Up to £300.

Multi-car discount
Windscreen repair
EU Cover

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Best multi-car insurance and best for customer service

Many households in the UK own more than one car. The good news is many insurance companies offer a discount for insuring multiple cars with them. Some even let you throw a motorcycle or van into the mix.

Finder Award Admiral MultiCar

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Admiral was a winner in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2024. We chose Admiral car insurance as our top pick for multi-car because you can make substantial savings by insuring more than one car with Admiral rather than buying its insurance for each car separately. Admiral's multi-car policy allows you to have just one renewal date, aligning each time a new car is brought onto the policy. Each car has its own no-claims bonus, and you can have different levels of cover for different cars on the same policy. If a claim is made on one car, the no-claims bonuses of other cars won't be affected. Every car gets a full year of no-claims bonus added, provided it's been on the policy for at least 3 months. Cars don't need to be registered to the same address, provided they belong to immediate family members.
Need to know: Claims helplines aren't open 24/7.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Discount for additional cars
  • European cover as standard
  • Customer satisfaction award winner

  Cons

  • There isn’t that much information about Admiral’s third party only or third party, fire and theft policies on its website.
  • Claims helplines are not open 24/7. Calling outside of the opening hours will mean you’ll be redirected to a contracted third-party recovery service.

• More details

  EU Cover
  Multi-car discount
  Accident cover
  New car replacement

Multi-car discount
EU Cover

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Best car insurance for over-50s

All providers offer insurance to older drivers – and non-specialists can offer great rates – but over-50s car insurance policies offer tailored extras, and age limits tend to be more flexible.

Saga Plus comprehensive

4

★★★★★

Finder score

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We chose Saga car insurance as our top pick because of its specialist cover, which is tailored to over-50s with no upper age limit. Features that older drivers might appreciate include discounts for insuring additional cars registered to the same address, an uninsured driver promise (so your no-claims discount won't be affected if you're hit by an uninsured driver) and unlimited cover for driving in Europe with Saga Select and Saga Plus policies (Saga Standard policies include up to 90 days of cover). If you opt for a Saga Plus policy, you can choose to fix your premium for 3 years (assuming nothing about your policy changes, and subject to T&Cs).
Need to know: Cancelling a policy can incur an admin fee of up to £50.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  Cons

• More details

  Policy term	12 months
  EU Cover
  Courtesy car
  Windscreen repair
  Multi-car discount
  Child seat cover
  Accident cover
  Key replacement
  Breakdown cover
  New car replacement
  Onward travel
  Liabilities to third parties
  Personal belongings	Up to £1000.

Multi-car discount
Windscreen repair
EU Cover

Compare with Confused

Best temporary car insurance

If you’re travelling a short distance or only plan on using a car for a short time, it doesn’t make sense to get long-term cover.

With temporary car insurance, if you have to make a claim, the no-claims discount of the car’s named driver won’t be affected.

Compare the best temporary car insurance companies

Tempcover

4.5

★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review

We chose Tempcover car insurance as our top pick because of its very flexible insurance, which offers instant cover for anything from 1 hour to 28 days. Any annual no-claims discount you've built up on an annual policy is protected, so making a claim on a temporary Tempcover policy won't affect it. You can also customise the policy to meet your precise needs by adding features such as temporary breakdown cover, gadget cover and excess reimbursement cover. Tempcover offers temporary car insurance for learner drivers, students and others with a full UK driver's licence (up to age 78) and has a super-quick quotation process, taking just 90 seconds according to Tempcover.
Need to know: You have to pay up front for your policy.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Comprehensive cover as standard.
  • The cover can begin instantly.
  • Making a claim won’t affect a no-claims discount built up on an annual policy.
  • Cover can be enhanced with extra protection.

  Cons

  • No discount available for buying temporary cover online.
  • Limited third party EU cover as standard.
  • Cover for a maximum of 28 days only.
  • Can only pay upfront.

• More details

  Excess	Varies
  Max age	75
  Permanent UK residents only

Cover length	1 hour - 28 days
Min age	18
EU Cover

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Best car insurance for young drivers

It can be tough being a new driver, especially when you see how much you may have to pay for insurance. Drivers under the age of 25 typically need to pay more than £1,300 a year for car insurance.

While most providers will cover a young or inexperienced driver, a few offer deals that won’t break the bank, and some may even offer discounted premiums.

Marmalade insurance deserves a mention here. The company has scored well in Finder’s customer satisfaction surveys. Marmalade’s black box policy is not the most comprehensive, but it is a strong option, especially if you value good customer service.

Hastings Direct Standard

4

★★★★★

Finder score

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We chose Hastings Direct car insurance as our top pick because it offers a range of reasonably priced policies for drivers aged 17-25, incorporating telematics (black box) and multi-car options. Its 5-star Defaqto-rated black box telematics policy, YouDrive, includes a courtesy car, an uninsured driver promise and personal belongings cover as standard. There's a 24/7 claims line if you're involved in an accident or another type of incident.
Need to know: The Hastings Direct website isn't easy to navigate.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Windscreen and personal belongings cover included as standard in the Direct and Premier comprehensive policies
  • Hastings Direct has multi-car and ""black box"" cover options and cover is available to new and young drivers
  • The claims line is open 24/7

  Cons

  • It doesn't offer third-party only cover
  • There isn’t a lot of information about its third-party fire and theft policy available prior to quote stage.
  • The Hastings Direct website could be easier to navigate.

• More details

  Policy term	12 months
  EU Cover
  Courtesy car
  Windscreen repair
  Multi-car discount
  Child seat cover
  Accident cover
  Key replacement
  Breakdown cover
  New car replacement
  Onward travel
  Liabilities to third parties
  Personal belongings	Up to £300.

Multi-car discount
Windscreen repair
EU Cover

Get a quote Read review

Best car insurance company for convicted drivers

If you have a driving conviction, such as speeding or drunk driving, getting car insurance can be a struggle. This disclosure calculator, run by Unlock and Home Protect can help you gauge whether a past conviction is now “spent”.

Swinton Comprehensive

4

★★★★★

Finder score

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We chose Swinton car insurance as our top pick for convicted drivers in part because it has a dedicated section on its website for convicted drivers, which indicates that it is willing and able to cater to those with speeding or other motoring offences. As a broker whose policies are underwritten by several insurers, there's a good chance Swinton can offer cover for you, whatever your circumstances. Choose from 3 levels of comprehensive cover, all of which include a courtesy car and personal belongings cover (up to £200). Swinton's claims helpline is open 24/7, which could come in handy if you have a prang outside of normal working hours.
Need to know: There's no option to have third-party cover only.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Excess refund available
  • 24/7 claims helpline
  • Extra car hire offered

  Cons

  • Protected no claims and breakdown cover are optional extras.
  • No third party only cover available.

• More details

  EU Cover
  Courtesy car
  Windscreen repair
  Multi-car discount
  Child seat cover
  Accident cover
  Key replacement
  Breakdown cover
  New car replacement
  Onward travel
  Liabilities to third parties

Multi-car discount
Windscreen repair
EU Cover

Get a quote Read review

Best black box insurance

Black box cover is when a telematics device is installed in your car to track your driving. If you drive well, your premiums reduce. Consistently breaking the rules and restrictions of the policy will end up costing you in higher premiums.

Compare the best black box insurance companies

Churchill Comprehensive

4

★★★★★

Finder score

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We chose Churchill car insurance as our top pick because its black box policy includes a range of features that may appeal to those looking to manage the cost of car insurance through careful driving. Churchill's telematics cover, called DriveSure, is available for younger drivers (aged 17-25) who may not have had a chance to build up a no-claims bonus and prove their driving credentials. You're guaranteed a discount on your first year for using the black box technology, provided you've passed your test. Premiums won't go up mid-term during your first year. Your driving is monitored using the DriveSure smartphone app, and you can view your driving score on the app at any time. Your score is determined by factors such as your speed, how smoothly you drive, when and where you drive and any use of your mobile phone while driving.
Need to know: No 24/7 claims line (but an emergency helpline is available).

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Uninsured driver promise
  • If your car is vandalised and you have a crime reference number, you won’t lose your no claims discount
  • Access to a 24/7 legal advice helpline
  • Telematics cover, called DriveSure, available

  Cons

  • No 24/7 claim line (emergency line available)
  • No third party only cover available

• More details

  Policy term	12 months
  EU Cover
  Courtesy car
  Windscreen repair
  Multi-car discount
  Child seat cover
  Accident cover
  Key replacement
  Breakdown cover
  New car replacement
  Onward travel
  Liabilities to third parties
  Personal belongings	Up to £250.

Multi-car discount
Windscreen repair
EU Cover

Compare with Confused

Top 10 car insurance companies in 2024, by comprehensive policy score

For all results, including customer satisfaction ratings, skip to our full table.

How did we rate car insurance companies?

Finder insurance expert Danny Butler shares our research

To come up with the league table, our team looked at 29 different elements of a car insurance policy from 35 providers across the industry. Those at the top have the most comprehensive cover, in our view.

We looked at the range of ages they cover, cover limits, whether essential benefits are included as standard, the payment options, the ease of claim and whether you can manage your policy online. For essential benefits, such as courtesy car, old-for-new car replacement and key cover, if they weren’t included as standard, we judged them on how much extra you had to pay to add these benefits to your policy.

With other benefits, such as driving in the EU and continuing your journey if your car’s out of action, insurers lost points if they impose restrictions on cover, like the number of days and distance from home.

Some elements got extra weighting based on how important they are to drivers. In a couple of cases, 2 insurers received the exact same score, and so they share the same spot on our list. We also feature the results of our satisfaction survey of 1,654 customers so you can hear what companies are like from the people who matter most.

We picked out policies we think are outstanding in certain categories, such as great rates or multi-car. Choose which benefits are important to you. Insurance is highly personal and rates change often, so these picks are just a steer.

How to find the best car insurance company for you

Car insurance premiums are highly personalised – a tweak to your job role or the amount of excess you’re happy to pay can make a big difference to your premiums. We explain more in our guide on how premiums are calculated. The key is to get the right cover level, plus good service at the cheapest price. This is why we survey customers. All our best picks are at least 3-star rated for service.

1. Compare policies. Different insurers can offer the same level of cover for very different prices. Shop around and compare car insurance quotes with as many providers as you can to make sure you’re getting the best deal for you. Comprehensive cover can sometimes work out cheaper than third-party, so compare all options.
2. If your quotes are too high, consider a higher excess. An excess is the amount you would contribute to any claim before your insurer will pay out. If you voluntarily increase your excess, your insurance company sees you as less likely to make a claim, which will help to bring down the cost of your premium (but always make sure you can actually afford to pay it should you have an accident).
3. Consider different options, such as pay-as-you-go cover. Some providers, like By Miles, offer pay-as-you-go cover. This is good for people who don’t drive very often and don’t want to pay for annual cover.
4. Review your provider’s quote every year. When renewal time rolls around, it’s crucial to shop around a few weeks before your policy starts. Consider switching as you’re likely to save – some people save hundreds of pounds. If you want to stick with your insurer, try haggling, as that’s common and usually effective.

Car insurance customer satisfaction league table 2024

Bottom line

The algorithms that insurers use to calculate their premiums are a dark art and are all different, so it will always pay to get a range of quotes from different providers each year. Then consider the extra benefits a policy might offer you, and check our ratings to see what customers think of any brand you haven’t tried but are considering.

Frequently asked questions

• Which are the best and worst cars to insure?

  Generally, the more expensive a car is, the more it’s likely to cost to insure it. If you’re thinking high performance and sports cars will be expensive to insure, then you’d be right as they tend to cost more to buy and are unfortunately more appealing to thieves.

  Every new car in the UK is given a car insurance group rating, which helps insurers understand which cars will cost more to insure and which cars will cost less. Sports cars and high-performance models have some of the highest group ratings out there. On the other end of the rating scale are the smaller and safer cars – these usually cost less to buy and repair, which is likely to result in lower premiums.

  If you have your heart set on a particular car, research before making the purchase to assess whether you can afford the insurance premiums that will follow.

• What is the best way to save on my car insurance?

  Tips for saving on your car insurance

  • Increasing security. If your car is not currently fitted with an alarm, think about adding one to reduce your premium.
  • Having a secure location to park your car. Cars kept in a garage or on a secure driveway are usually cheaper to insure.
  • Reduce mileage. If you start working part-time or your long commute becomes much shorter, letting your insurer know about a reduction in your mileage could result in cheaper car insurance.
  • Limit optional extras if you don’t need them. Think carefully about which optional extras you really want as adding extra protection to your policy will generally push the price up too.
  • Advanced driving skills. You could be in line for a discount with certain providers by taking an advanced driving course, such as those offered by the Pass Plus scheme.
  • Fewer drivers. Only add drivers to your policy who regularly drive your car.
  • Consider telematics insurance. Having a “black box” fitted to your car to monitor your driving could result in discounts if you drive safely.
  • Larger excess. Agreeing to pay a bigger voluntary excess could make your overall premium cheaper. But remember that your insurer won’t pay out for a claim that costs less than your excess. So, be careful about making it too high, as it could leave you out of pocket if damage occurs.

• How do I get the best car insurance rates?

  Firstly, it’s important to work out exactly what you want from your car insurance by deciding on the level of cover. Shop around and compare your options from the insurers willing to cover you and your car. Price will likely be a big factor for you, but it shouldn’t be the only detail you look at. Check out the policy benefits as well as the price. Keep in mind that the cheapest policies don’t always work out to be best when something goes wrong. Continue to build your no-claims bonus to keep your premium low. You may also want to consider multi-car insurance if you own more than one car, which could see a discount added to your premium.

• How can I cut costs and still get the best level of cover?

  There are several ways in which you can cut the cost of your premium without limiting your cover. Consider some of the following:

  • Enhance your car’s security with an alarm and think about where you park your car at night. Keeping your car on your driveway or locked up in your garage should mean lower premiums.
  • Reducing your mileage could lower your costs as you’ll physically be on the roads less.
  • Increasing your excess should reduce your premium, but be sure you can cover the costs if you make your excess very high, as an insurer won’t cover any claims that cost less than this amount.
  • If you can, try to pay for your insurance upfront for the year, as paying monthly could see interest being added to your premium.
  • If you’re a safe and careful driver, telematics insurance, which records your driving and braking habits, could lower your premium.
  • If you know you’re classed as a high-risk driver because of your age or driving history, adding an older and experienced driver onto your cover could bring the premium down.
  • Insurers may offer you a discount for participating in advanced driving skills courses. Not only should your premiums reduce, but you may even become a safer driver.
  • If you can, select a safe and small car to driver rather than a sporty high-performance model.
  • Finally, always shop around and compare your options.

• When is the best time to renew car insurance?

  There is no definitive answer to this. However, most agree that renewing before the last minute can save you a lot of money.

  Savings estimates vary, but recent studies have found that renewing your car insurance at least a couple of weeks before your existing policy expires could save you anywhere between 17% and 42%, compared with leaving it until the day it expires.

• What features should I look for to get the best car insurance policy?

  What you need out of a car insurance policy may be very different to what someone else needs. With this in mind, do your research to look at what a policy actually offers compared to other similar policies out there on the market. While comprehensive policies may share several cover features, such as accidental damage and a courtesy car, there will be other features that differ and may actually cost you more if a particular insurer classes the protection as an optional extra.

  Think about the optional extras on offer to enhance your cover and check to see if there are other insurers that include what you need as part of their standard policies. If you think you do need one or more of the optional extras, weigh up the extra cost with the peace of mind it might give you. Do you really need breakdown cover, European cover or enhanced legal protection? Extra protection will come at an extra cost, so only add cover that you really want.

Customer satisfaction scores

In December 2023, we ran a customer satisfaction survey on insurance providers. We had 750 responses about car insurance providers.

The survey asked respondents how satisfied they were with their current insurance company (on a scale from 1 to 5 and also whether they would recommend the brand to a friend or not). We turned the results into star ratings and shortlisted the top-performing brands for our awards. If there was a draw, we used the recommendation score (that is, the percentage of customers who said they would recommend the brand to a friend) as a tie-breaker.

Full details of our star ratings for this sector are on the insurance ratings methodology page.