If you\u2019re hunting for a good new car insurance deal \u2013 and, let\u2019s face it, we should all be on the prowl every time our car insurance is up for renewal \u2013 chances are your first step will be a comparison site. But some insurers choose not to be on comparison sites. We explore why they\u2019ve made this decision and whether it\u2019s a good idea to get quotes from them, too.<\/p>
As the name suggests, car insurance comparison websites \u2013 such as Finder \u2013 let you compare tens or hundreds of car insurance deals on a single site. They don\u2019t sell car insurance themselves. Instead, they work with insurers to list details and prices of each insurer\u2019s policies.<\/p>
Most car insurers will ask you for similar information to generate a quote. Using a price comparison site means that, rather than entering your details on multiple individual sites, you can enter them just once on the comparison site and get quotes from potentially hundreds of companies.<\/p>
When you think of providers that aren\u2019t on comparison sites, the first brand that likely springs to mind is Direct Line<\/a>. Not only is it not on comparison sites, but it makes quite a song and dance about the fact. Many of its TV and other ads centre on this USP.<\/p> It\u2019s not the only one, though. Other leading brands that aren\u2019t on price comparison sites include NFU Mutual<\/a> (or, to give it its full name, National Farmers\u2019 Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited) and Zurich \u2013 though Zurich car insurance policies aren\u2019t currently available to new customers.<\/p> Another brand that has stayed off comparison sites to date is broker Adrian Flux. Brokers work slightly differently from other insurers in that they work with a panel of other leading insurers to seek out the best quote on your behalf. The policy will still often be branded under the broker\u2019s name. The fact that they work differently hasn\u2019t stopped some brokers from listing their deals on price comparison sites.<\/p> You may have also heard in the past that Aviva<\/a> isn\u2019t on price comparison sites. Instead, it listed its sub-brands QuoteMeHappy and General Accident. But as of 2021, Aviva moved its flagship brand onto price comparison sites, too. So, you can now compare it with most leading brands.<\/p> Let\u2019s delve into a bit more detail about the 3 big brands that have chosen not to feature on price comparison sites (and offer car insurance to new customers as of April 2023).<\/p> Around since 1985 and underwritten by UK Insurance Limited, Direct Line<\/a> Group is one of the biggest car insurers in the UK (second only to the Admiral Group in 2022, according to Statista).<\/p> It\u2019s been quoted in the past slating the lack of transparency of price comparison sites, stating, \u201cWhilst comparison sites provide a useful overview of what\u2019s on offer, the online aggregator approach is not necessarily a shortcut to value, service or quality.\u201d<\/p> On its website, it says it wants to provide quality cover at a reasonable price, offering benefits that some other insurers don\u2019t. Key features include a guaranteed hire car if yours is being repaired by one of its approved repairers and a taxi for onward travel if your car is undriveable after a crash. And, unlike many, it doesn\u2019t charge a fee if you need to make mid-term amendments.<\/p> NFU Mutual<\/a> started out as an insurer for farmers but has since broadened its reach to offer cover to most people. Not everyone, though \u2013 it\u2019s a bit picky over who it will offer cover to. Some Trustpilot reviews report prospective customers being turned down for cover due to their postcode or job.<\/p> As a mutual, it\u2019s owned and run by its customers and prioritises a personalised approach to offering cover \u2013 a key reason it\u2019s not on price comparison sites \u2013 and high standards of customer service.<\/p> RAC Mutual assist breakdown cover is included with all car insurance policies, and it charges no cancellation or mid-term adjustment fees. Unusually, nor does it charge extra for paying monthly by Direct-Debit. If you want to (and live near one), you can pop into one of its nearly 300 local agency offices to discuss your insurance needs.<\/p> Adrian Flux is a broker working with a panel of more than 30 insurance providers. Rather than featuring on price comparison sites, it asks prospective customers to call its Norfolk-based call centre for a quote (or request a call back). It analyses the deals on offer for you based on your personal circumstances. It says its individually tailored approach means that most people get a cheaper deal than if they got a quote online.<\/p> As well as its standard car insurance policies, it also offers temporary car insurance<\/a> and cover for higher-risk drivers. These might include convicted drivers, young and learner drivers and those in high-risk professions. Legal cover comes free with its policies.<\/p> Car insurers that aren\u2019t on comparison sites are in the minority. The vast majority of the UK\u2019s leading car insurers appear on price comparison sites, likely because such sites are so well used that they feel not featuring would limit their audience.<\/p> Some of the biggest companies on price comparison sites include:<\/p>3 providers not on comparison websites<\/h3>
Direct Line<\/h4>
NFU Mutual<\/h4>
Adrian Flux<\/h4>
What big companies are on comparison websites?<\/h3>